Meeting Disney characters has always been one of those experiences that can completely change the direction of a day at Walt Disney World.Guests may enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios planning to ride a few attractions, grab lunch, and catch a show. Then they spot a favorite character, and suddenly everything else can wait.That could happen quite a bit inside the newly opened Magic of Disney Animation.Credit: DisneyDisney has now revealed meet-and-greet times for several characters appearing inside the experience, giving guests a much better idea of when they should visit if character interactions are high on their priority list.There is also an important detail to remember before building an entire day around these times. The operating schedule for Magic of Disney Animation is expected to change in the coming weeks, meaning character hours could move along with it.For now, however, guests have a surprisingly long window to meet several Disney favorites.Several Characters Begin Meeting at 9 A.M.Magic of Disney Animation has brought a much stronger character presence to this section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.Inside the experience, guests can find the Off the Page! character area. That is currently home to Chip ‘n’ Dale, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Stitch, Mulan, and Rapunzel.That lineup gives guests quite a bit of variety.Credit: DisneyInstead of focusing exclusively on Mickey Mouse and his closest friends, Disney has mixed classic characters with popular names from different eras. Guests can potentially meet everyone from Donald and Daisy to Stitch, Mulan, and Rapunzel without leaving the experience.According to the initial schedule listed in the My Disney Experience app, these characters began meeting at 9 a.m. on September 14.That early start could be particularly helpful for families who want to prioritize characters.Rather than waiting until later in the afternoon, guests can potentially make Magic of Disney Animation one of their first stops of the morning. It also creates another option for visitors who may not want to immediately head toward one of Hollywood Studios’ major rides.However, guests should not assume 9 a.m. will remain the permanent starting time.Meet-and-Greet Times Could Change SoonThis is where checking the My Disney Experience app becomes especially important.The initial 9 a.m. start lines up with the current operating schedule, but Magic of Disney Animation will have fluctuating opening times over the coming weeks. Because of that, the character schedule could shift as well.In other words, a schedule that works today may not necessarily be the schedule guests encounter later this month.Anyone planning a Hollywood Studios visit specifically around these characters should check the app before arriving and again once inside the park.Credit: Patrick McGarvey, FlickrDisney lists character information through My Disney Experience. Guests can search for individual characters or locate them through the map, making it easier to see who is scheduled and when.That could become particularly useful as Magic of Disney Animation settles into its regular operations.For now, guests should treat these first published times as a starting point rather than assuming they will remain unchanged throughout the fall.Some Characters Stay Until 6:30 P.M.The good news is that guests currently have much more than a short morning window.Chip, Dale, Goofy, Mulan, and Rapunzel are scheduled to continue meeting guests until 6:30 p.m.That gives visitors a lengthy period to work these meet-and-greets into their Hollywood Studios plans.Guests who want to focus on attractions early in the morning don’t necessarily need to rush over immediately. Likewise, families arriving later in the day could still have an opportunity to meet several characters.That flexibility matters at Hollywood Studios.Credit: DisneyA day at the park can fill up quickly between attractions, dining reservations, shows, and other experiences. Character appearances with extended schedules give guests more room to adjust when something unexpected changes their plans.Still, not every character currently remains available quite as late.Donald, Daisy, and Stitch are scheduled to meet until 6:15 p.m., putting their listed ending time 15 minutes earlier than the other group.That difference may seem small, but it could matter for anyone waiting until the end of the afternoon.Guests hoping to see Donald, Daisy, or Stitch probably shouldn’t leave those meetings until the last possible moment.Pluto Has a Different Schedule OutsideNot every character is meeting inside Off the Page!Pluto can currently be found outside in Animation Courtyard, where his appearances run periodically from park opening through 4:20 p.m.The word “periodically” is important.Unlike a character listed with one long continuous window, Pluto may not necessarily be standing in the courtyard every time a guest walks through the area. Visitors hoping to meet him should check the current schedule rather than assuming he will be available throughout the entire period.His earlier ending time is also worth remembering.Credit: Univaded Fox, FlickrWhile several Off the Page! characters continue meeting until after 6 p.m., Pluto’s appearances currently wrap up much earlier at 4:20 p.m.That means guests interested in meeting everyone may want to prioritize Pluto earlier and save some of the indoor characters for later.It is a small planning detail, but one that could prevent guests from returning to Animation Courtyard late in the day only to discover that Pluto’s scheduled appearances have already ended.Surprise Characters Could Appear, TooThe scheduled meet-and-greets aren’t necessarily the only characters guests could encounter.Suzy and Perla have also been making appearances in Animation Courtyard, but those visits are not announced ahead of time.That adds a different element to the experience.Most Disney World character planning now revolves around checking schedules, finding locations in the app, and figuring out how everything fits into the day. Unannounced appearances bring some spontaneity back into the mix.Of course, that also means guests shouldn’t plan their entire visit around seeing Suzy or Perla.Since Disney isn’t publishing specific appearance times for them, encountering either character may simply come down to being in Animation Courtyard at the right moment.For frequent visitors, that could also make repeat trips through the area more interesting. The scheduled lineup may remain similar, but an unexpected character appearance could make one visit feel completely different from another.The My Disney Experience App Will Be ImportantAnyone hoping to focus heavily on characters during an upcoming Hollywood Studios visit should keep the My Disney Experience app handy.Right now, the basic schedule is fairly straightforward.The indoor characters begin at 9 a.m. Chip, Dale, Goofy, Mulan, and Rapunzel currently continue until 6:30 p.m., while Donald, Daisy, and Stitch finish at 6:15 p.m.Pluto appears periodically outside through 4:20 p.m., and surprise characters could appear without published times.Credit: DisneyBut those hours aren’t something guests should memorize weeks before their vacation and assume will remain identical.Magic of Disney Animation itself will operate on changing hours in the weeks ahead. If the experience opens later on certain dates, the character schedules could move along with those changes.Checking My Disney Experience on the actual day of a visit should provide guests with the most useful information.Magic of Disney Animation Becomes a Major Character StopThe new schedule gives guests another reason to spend time exploring Magic of Disney Animation instead of simply passing through the area.Hollywood Studios has plenty of experiences that encourage guests to move quickly from one attraction, reservation, or show to the next. Character interactions work differently. Sometimes the best part is simply seeing who is around and deciding to stop.With eight scheduled characters meeting inside Off the Page!, Pluto outside, and the possibility of additional unannounced appearances, the area has quickly become an important character destination.Credit: DisneyThe current hours provide plenty of flexibility as well.Guests who arrive early can begin meeting characters at 9 a.m., while visitors who prioritize rides in the morning can circle back later. Most of the indoor lineup remains scheduled into the early evening, giving families several opportunities throughout the day.The biggest thing to remember is that these times aren’t set in stone.As operating hours for Magic of Disney Animation change, Disney could adjust its character schedule too. Guests visiting in the coming weeks should check My Disney Experience before making firm plans.For now, Disney has given Hollywood Studios visitors a sizable new window for character hunting. Anyone hoping to meet Chip ‘n’ Dale, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Stitch, Mulan, Rapunzel, Pluto, or perhaps even a surprise character now has several important times to keep in mind.The post 8 Characters, 3 Different Cutoff Times: Disney World Reveals New Hollywood Studios Schedule appeared first on Inside the Magic.