3.  Vamping with Cinderella's Stepmother and Stepsisters

Not every character at the Magic Kingdom is so sweet. Cinderella's stepmother, Lady Tremaine, and her daughters Drizella and Anastasia are downright vile — and as such very worthy of a meeting. The trio appear behind Cinderella's Castle and play their roles to the hilt. Try asking Anastasia and Drizella which one of them is the oldest — or the most beautiful. Try giving one of them a ring pop with a marriage proposal and watch a fight break out. And see what happens when you ask them to sing. Lady Tremaine will also have sassy answers to the questions of how much hairspray it took to hold her hair up like that and which stepdaughter is her favorite. Even if you're not usually a fan of Disney's princesses, you'll probably still like spending a little bit of time with these three ladies.

4. Meeting Mary Poppins

Everyone's favorite British nanny flies into the United Kingdom pavilion at Epcot each day and would be pleased to meet you. You can pose for a very proper photo under her ever-present umbrella, and if you miss her at Epcot, you can also find Mary at the expanded hub at the Magic Kingdom. She also appears on occasion at the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast in the 1900 Park Fare Restaurant at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. (You can also dine with Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger there too.) If you ask nicely, she might sing the lullaby song "Stay Awake" with you, or help you wrangle some unruly children in your party. 

5.  Matching Maleficent's Looks

The "Mistress of All Evil" does not make regular appearances, so when Maleficent does show up in the parks, it's a special occasion indeed. You never know when she could just suddenly appear behind you. If you do ever get the chance to make her acquaintance, be sure to tell her that you're planning a party that she'd also be more than welcome to pop into and promise to help look for that pesky Sleeping Beauty for her. Maleficent doesn't smile for photos, but if you ask nicely you may just get a selfie with her wicked sneer. 

Character times and locations can vary, so it's important to get a current Times Guide when you enter Disney parks. Times are also updated on the official Disney app. And there are plenty of other characters who will offer memorable experiences both inside and outside of the parks, at special character meet and greet sites, restaurants and even pop-up locations. Try not to get your heart set on meeting one specific character or having one certain interaction at a given time. If you miss a character on your trip, think of it as a sign that you'll just have to revisit the parks in the future, and go ahead and have some fun with the characters that you do meet. So next time you spot one, whether it's Cinderella, Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear or anyone listed above, grab a spot in their line and get ready to feel like a kid again!