Do Characters Sign Autographs? What Parents Should Know About Character Meet and Greets at Universal Orlando

Meeting characters is one of the most fun parts of visiting theme parks with kids. There are plenty of characters to meet at Universal Orlando and just as many reasons why Universal is one of our favorite spots to take kids for character meet-and-greets. But before you and your little ones head to Universal Orlando Resort to meet characters like the Minions, Beetlejuice, and The Cat in the Hat, it’s good to know how character meet-and-greets at Universal work.

Here’s what parents should know about meeting characters at Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, Universal hotels and resorts, and Universal Epic Universe.

How to meet characters at Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe

Meeting characters at Universal Orlando is incredibly easy. In fact, it’s not uncommon to run right into characters like The Lorax or Betty Boop while just strolling through the parks.

Most of the time, if a character is out and about at Universal, it’s totally OK to approach them for a meet-and-greet. If a character is not doing meet-and-greets for some reason, there’s usually a handler (someone in a Universal uniform who walks with the character) who will let you know.

If you’d prefer not to leave meeting characters to chance, lots of character appearance times and locations are listed on the Universal Orlando app.

If your kid really wants to meet the Minions or the Transformers, simply check the app for times and make plans to arrive at the listed location a few minutes before they’re greeting guests.

Can you take photos with characters at Universal Orlando?

Taking photos with characters at Universal Orlando is welcome and encouraged. While there’s rarely a Universal-sanctioned, professional photographer present at a character meet-and-greet, the character’s handler will take photos for you with your phone or camera.

One of our favorite places for characters is DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios Florida.

As you and your family interact with characters like Popeye and Marilyn Monroe, the character handlers will happily snap away with your phone or camera, capturing all the giggles and silliness that most character interactions bring.

Do characters at Universal sign autographs?

Characters at Universal do sign autographs. While gift shops all over the property sell autograph books, one of my biggest parenting hacks is to bring something more meaningful to get signed.

Recently, my son and I took a white faux-leather backpack all around Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (along with some Sharpie markers) and had everyone from Storm to Sam I Am sign it.

Each character has a special, unique-to-them signature, and some handlers even keep permanent markers on hand in case you forgot yours at home.

How do character meet-and-greets at Universal compare to Disney?

As a mom of two with about a decade of experience taking kids to Universal and Disney, I can confidently say that, when it comes to character meet-and-greets, Universal reigns supreme. There’s no need to use a park reservation system to meet the characters at Universal (with the exception of popular seasonal characters like The Grinch and Earl the Squirrel), and the lines are rarely more than a few people long.

Meeting characters at Universal is easy breezy and requires little-to-no planning … or stress.

My kids, who grew fed up with waiting in Disney lines to meet Disney characters years ago, wait to meet characters at Universal without complaint, which is saying a lot since they’re sometimes-angsty teens now. At Universal, I’m way more likely to get a cute family photo because my kids aren’t hot and sick of waiting in line by the time we get to the character.

Which characters are at Universal theme parks?

At Universal Studios Orlando, you’ll find characters straight from the movie screen. From Beetlejuice and the cast of Scooby Doo in the Hollywood area of the park to Characters from Despicable Me and Sing in Minion Land, there are lots of familiar faces for kids to meet.

At Universal’s Island of Adventure, you’ll find storybook characters like The Lorax and The Cat in the Hat at Seuss Landing, X-Men and Marvel superheroes in Marvel Super Hero Island, and Olive Oyl and Popeye in Toon Lagoon. You can encounter a velociraptor in Jurassic Park and pose for photos with the conductor of the Hogwarts Express in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade.

In DreamWorks Land, which opened in summer 2024 at Universal Studios, characters from Gabby’s Dollhouse, Shrek, Kung-Fu Panda, and Trolls greet guests throughout the day.

From characters from The Simpsons to the driver of Harry Potter’s Knight Bus, there are unique-but-recognizable characters everywhere in the parks, so keep your eyes (and your apps) open.

What new characters are in Universal Epic Universe?

Universal Orlando’s new theme park, Universal Epic Universe, offers a whole new host of characters available for guests to interact with. Universal’s website lists opportunities to meet characters from How to Train Your Dragon, the Super Mario Bros. franchise, and there are plenty more.

Read more: All the Characters at Epic Universe

Is there character dining at Universal Orlando?

There aren’t many options for character dining at Universal Orlando at the moment. At present, the only option for character dining on property is at Islands of Adventure: the Marvel Character Dinner with superheroes like Wolverine, Storm, and Captain America. Prices start at $57 for grown-ups and $32 for kids, and the experience can be reserved online. Note: a park ticket is required for this experience, as you have to enter Islands of Adventure to get to the restaurant.

During the holiday season, Universal usually does a character dining breakfast with the Mean One himself, Mr. Grinch.

Other places to find characters at Universal Orlando Resort

Characters at Universal aren’t only at the theme parks. We’ve met Lucille Ball and King Julien in the lobby at Cabana Bay Beach Resort and ran into holiday favorite Earl the Squirrel at Universal CityWalk at Christmastime.

There are also plenty of shows at Universal Orlando that are good places to spot characters, from the DreamWorks Imagination Celebration in DreamWorks Land to the Dr. Seuss-inspired Oh The Stories You’ll Hear show in Seuss Landing.

And, when Universal runs parades like the Mega Movie Parade and the Universal Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s, characters like the Minions and the Ghostbusters walk through the streets. If your little one is intimidated by one-on-one meet-ups, these opportunities are a great way to see characters from a distance.

Tips for a great character experience at Universal Orlando

• While you wait in line to meet a character, prep little ones by pointing out how the characters are interacting with the guests in line before you.
• Giving kids an idea of what to expect when it’s their turn can make for a more relaxed interaction and make the chances of a great photo more likely.
• If your child is uncomfortable with one-on-one interaction with characters, consider seeing a show or parade that features characters instead.
• Have your cameras ready when meeting characters, as Universal team members will take photos for you during your meet-and-greet.
• Universal characters will sign autographs, so have those autograph books, pillowcases, and other keepsakes ready.
• Characters aren’t just at parks at Universal! Be on the lookout in hotel lobbies and at CityWalk, as you never know who you’ll run into.
• Use the Universal app to keep tabs on which characters are coming out, at what time, and where.