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Hiro and Baymax

Love them or hate them, characters are an undeniable part of the Walt Disney World experience. Whether you like walk around experiences, prefer a leisurely character meal or don't mind waiting in line for a formal meet and greet, there are several dozen character experiences currently around the resort for guests to check out. 

However, even though Walt Disney World's current character lineup is certainly impressive, there have been a staggering amount of characters over the years that have been lost to time. Whether its waning popularity, technical suit issues or even lost rights, here are ten "retired" characters that we'll probably never see at Walt Disney World ever again (as much as we'd want to!) 

1. The Orange Bird

Though the Orange Bird was all but erased from the Magic Kingdom more than two decades ago, this character has made quite the comeback in recent years, with Orange Bird merchandise available all around Walt Disney World. However, though you can bring home any number of Orange Bird keepsakes now, one thing you still can’t do is actually meet the Orange Bird!

Back when this character first started appearing at Walt Disney World, he was a popular walk-around character that would interact with guests around the Sunshine Tree Terrace. However, now the only Orange Bird you can find there is the stoic one behind the counter, which is definitely a shame. 

2. Dreamfinder 

Much like the Orange Bird, Dreamfinder enjoys a cult-like popularity among long-time Disney fans. Though this character has long since been removed from Journey into Imagination, Dreamfinder has appeared on merchandise and has even made his debut in comic book form in recent years, despite not featuring in an attraction or meeting guests for more in more than two decades. Though we'd love to see this character return to Epcot at some point, it seems very unlikely considering how long he's been gone...

3. Quasimodo, Esmerelda or Clopin

Image: Disney

Though villain Frollo is a fixture at Halloween events at Walt Disney World (including Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party) the main characters of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, including Esmerelda, Quasimodo and Clopin have not been seen in quite a long time, only briefly making appearances at a few limited-time rare character events over the years. In fact the last time these characters appeared at Walt Disney World in some meaningful way was back when the Hunchback of Notre Dame show occupied the Premiere Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  

4. Disney Fairies

Image: Disney

At the height of their popularity, the Disney Fairies (along with Tinkerbell) appeared regularly at their own meet and greet space in Adventureland, (where the forthcoming Skipper's Canteen is now under construction). However, in 2014 Tinker Bell moved to the Town Square Theater on Main Street and left all of her fairy friends behind. Though you can still find plenty of Fairies-themed merchandise around Walt Disney World, if you are hoping to actually meet Silvermist, Iridessa, Rosetta, Fawn, or any of the other citizens of Pixie Hollow, you’re unfortunately out of luck as these fairies have flown back to thier home and seem unlikely to return. 

 
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Comments

I got an Orange bird shirt today and really wish they would bring it back. I think it's too cute.

Baymax meets at Epcot now. but sadly they took away the main character of the movie... Hiro - who does not have suit or technical issues. But you know, let's get rid of the main character that gives you the interaction.

Yeah, you're going to want to update this, because Baymax has his own meet and greet in Innoventions.

Still saw baymax in Epcot in February 2016

You can see Flix at Disney California in the bugs land, and Louis has been out for the last month, I'm guessing for Martin Gras

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