While some franchises, including Frozen, Toy Story, and Star Wars seem to be everywhere in Disney Parks, references to less popular films take more work to scout out. That being said, there are character meet-and-greets, merch, and Easter eggs hidden across Disney's properties. Today, we're here to scout out the best of these.
While this is not an extensive list, we're here to share a few things we've discovered from your favorite underrated Disney films in the parks. And of course, what is presently available could change at any time.
Its time to head to Disney and see what we can discover.
10 The Emperor’s New Groove
While The Emperor’s New Groove is hilarious and beloved, finding any hint of the film in the parks is a challenge. We’re still waiting on Disney to decide to turn Yzma’s secret lab coaster into a ride.
Despite this, you might be able to come across pins featuring the characters at Disney World. Word has it that Panchito’s Gifts & Sundries at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort or Plaza de los Amigos at the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot might be a good place to try to scout these out. You can also purchase Emperor’s New Groove MagicBands.
If you find yourself in Japan, you can find a nod to the film at the Raging Spirits ride at Tokyo DisneySea. One of the stone idols at the ride’s exterior resembles the face on Kuzco’s palace. Finally, Yzma makes an appearance in the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game at the park for which it is named for in Disney World, but more on that later.
9 Hercules
While its easier to find Hercules than The Emperor’s New Groove, it still proves to be a challenge. You can sometimes find the characters making appearances at the end of Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Fantasmic! show, and Meg and Hades are known to show up during the specially ticketed Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
If you’re looking for merch, the World of Disney in Disney Springs and the Emporium Shop on Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom have been known to sell a Pegasus plush. Hercules sidekick can also be purchased online at shopDisney.
Otherwise, check out Pin Traders in Disney Springs for Hercules MagicBands and pins.
8 The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Disney used to have Hunchback shows at Disneyland and Disney World. The keywords are used to, though. These days, locating Hunchback entertainment is close to impossible.
What you can find is Clopin's Music Box at Fantasy Faire in Disneyland. It plays the song "Topsy Turvy" from the film. If you instead find yourself overseas in Hong Kong Disneyland, you can find an entire restaurant themed after The Hunchback called Clopin's Festival of Foods. Finally, back in Florida, the Happily Ever After firework show at the Magic Kingdom features a clip from "Out There" and Hollywood Studios' nighttime show Fantasmic! features Frollo as one of its villains.
7 The Rescuers
While The Rescuers' leading characters have been put into retirement in the United States, you can still meet Bernard and Bianca at Tokyo Disneyland. And boy, are they cute!
Right now, there's also a Rescuers women's tank top existing somewhere in the world (and online at shopDisney). Fans have also spotted pins in the past, so keep your eyes open at Pin Traders now and in the future. Just because there are not many roads that lead to these characters now doesn't mean there won't be in the future.
6 Wall-E
This beloved Pixar movie doesn't get the same treatment as Up, which is all over the Animal Kingdom or The Incredibles, which is scattered across many Disney parks. However, you can catch a glimpse of Wall-E during the Magic Kingdom's Happily Ever After firework show.
There's also tons of Wall-E merch. In the past, people have spotted pins in Tomorrowland and Disney Springs. They've also found Wall-E mugs, earrings, earhats, MagicBands, totes, shirts, and artwork, so keep your eyes open!
You can also find Wall-E and Eve in the aforementioned Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game at Disney World. Guests who enter the park can play this scavenger hunt trading card game and receive a pack of free cards every time they enter. A lot of characters who are underrepresented in the parks still appear on a card.
5 Robin Hood
Hollywood Studios in Disney World has an event called Characterpalooze in which occasionally its rare characters will gather outside the entrance to the park for a brief time in the afternoon prior to the Fantasmic! firework show. Robin Hood has been known to make an appearance here, and earlier this year, he and Friar Tuck were also meeting guests on surprise days by the flagpole on Main Street in Florida's Magic Kingdom.
Don't forget to keep your eyes open for pins and play the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game for the chance to get appropriately themed trading cards.
4 Pocahontas
This Indian princess used to have her own show at Animal Kingdom. While it is gone now, she still does regularly scheduled meet-and-greets at the park, and sometimes Meeko also makes an appearance.
There's plenty of artsy Pocahontas merch and toys out right now, and you can even catch a medley from the film at Disney World's Fantasmic! nighttime spectacular. The featured Pocahontas song compilation has the Indians rowing and dancing, the men digging, Governor Ratcliffe directing, and John Smith exploring. Being that Pocahontas is a Disney Princess, references to her film are more common that for some characters, but you still have to know where to look.
3 Bambi
Bambi has been made into a topiary as part of Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival in past years and has even been given his own butterfly garden at the event. Thumper and Miss Bunny also showed up as meetable characters in 2017 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bambi.
So what about now? Well, it's likely we'll see Bambi-themed gardens again as well as more sidekick character appearances. In the meantime, you can buy a decent amount of Bambi merch, including stuffed animals, a coffee mug, and a dress at the parks. If you travel to Disneyland Paris, you can stay at Disney's Sequoia Lodge, which is actually themed after Bambi and has illustrations of the characters in every room.
2 Fantasia
Fantasia used to have a huge role in Disney World's Hollywood Studios. In fact, the giant blue hat of Sorcerer Mickey used to act as the park's icon. You could catch glimpses of Fantasia during The Great Movie Ride, but alas, both the attraction and the hat have been removed.
However, Sorcerer Mickey still holds regular meet-and-greets at Hollywood Studios and the Fantasmic! night show we can't stop talking about also features many nods to the film. Let's not forget the 4D show entitled Mickey's PhilharMagic which references the film, at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World, Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and as of this year, even Disney California Adventure.
Last but not least, there is a minigolf course hidden on Disney World property that is themed after Fantasia. It's kind of incredible, so make sure you don't miss it.
1 The Aristocats
Marie used to make meet and greets up until a few years ago. Now, she’s easier to find on merch (particularly in stuffed animal form).
There is a snack kiosk at Disney Springs called Aristocrepes. Though this food place's only nod to the film is via its name, the crepes they serve up are incredible and definitely worth trying.
If you happen to find yourself at Tokyo DisneySea in Japan, its still very possible to run into Marie. Perhaps she'll make appearances at the U.S. parks again in the future.