Mr. Fredricksen (Carl) from UP Joins Russell for Meet-and-Greet at Disney's Animal Kingdom

On a recent visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we found quite a surprise! Mr. Fredricksen (Carl) was meeting with Russell on the Discovery Island Trails. This location is where Russell and Dug have been meeting for about the last 6 months. The cast member attending the meet-and-greet said that Dug was taking a nap and that Mr. Fredricksen was expected to make appearances here for some time.

We’ve been checking the My Disney Experience app, and as of this morning, the pair have not been added. It could be that Disney is testing the new meet-and-greet opportunity, and we’ll see it appear in the coming days. In the meantime, let’s take a look at our experience and discuss where you might find them. As many of you know, I’ve been covering characters for almost a decade, and this was my very first time seeing Mr. Fredrickson in the parks!

When you first enter the park and come out of the Oasis, you’ll see the Tree of Life in the clearing. A trail is available on the front and back sides of the tree, allowing guests to walk immediately underneath it. Russell and Mr. Fredricksen are meeting guests on what’s called the Discovery Island West Trail. If you’re walking to the left side of the tree, you’ll find the West trailhead immediately on the right before the bridge to Africa. You can also take the trail next to the Cotton Top Tamarin exhibit. (For reference, this trail is near Terra Treats and diagonally across the walkway from Creature Comforts, aka Starbucks.)

Before you reach the Tree of Life, you’ll see Mr. Fredricksen and Russell if they’re out. A PhotoPass photographer was available at this location on the day of our meet-and-greet. Both characters sign autographs.

Dug and Mr. Fredricksen meeting guests at Disney's Animal Kingdom

On the day of this visit, the cast member told us that both characters were meeting intermittently until about 4:00 p.m. So if you’re hoping to see them, the earlier the better. It’s also worth mentioning that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is undergoing major construction over the next few years. Because of this, many character locations have shifted, and we expect more in the coming months. While we try to keep our character guides updated, changes will likely take place. This meet-and-greet is the perfect example. If I hadn’t been at the right place at the right time, I wouldn’t have known about this change.

Our best advice is to use the My Disney Experience app to locate characters on the day of your visit. If you’re hoping to meet someone who’s not listed in the app, my next best advice is to ask a cast member in a blue shirt. You can find them at another character’s meet-and-greet. Here are our instructions for using the app to locate characters.

How to Locate Characters in the My Disney Experience App

Open the My Disney Experience app and select the pin drop at the bottom of the home screen.
Scroll (left to right) through the icons at the top of the screen and select “Characters.”
After selecting characters, use the locations drop-down to select the park of your choice.
Then, on the bottom right of the screen, select “Show List.”
Scroll through the list of characters with their times and locations.

As an alternative, you can use the map view to locate characters.

*As the day passes, you might notice that characters disappear from the app. When their last scheduled time passes, the meet-and-greet automatically disappears. A new schedule won’t be loaded until the following day. It is essential to check the app for meet-and-greets on the day of your visit.

Learn More: How to Use the My Disney Experience App to Locate Characters (Full Tutorial)

Mr. Fredricksen (left) and Russell (right)

Here are a few more photos.

Mr. Fredricksen with his cane and glasses at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Carl Fredricksen meets guests on the Discovery Island Trails

vertical of Mr. Fredricksen and Russell from UP

Final Thoughts

You might also find Kevin roaming the park during your visit. Her times and location are usually listed in the My Disney Experience app. For more characters at this park, see our guide to character meet-and-greets at Disney Animal Kingdom. Things are always changing at Walt Disney World. Visit Resorts Gal again soon to see what’s new!