As far as Characters go, Disney doesn't have the rights to most, a LOT of Disney characters are taken from old fairy tales and folk tales. Mickey and Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, that crew came from Walt's pen and head. Tinkerbell, Rupunzel, Cinderella, Ariel, Alice, Little Red etc etc etc come from J.M.Barrie, Bros. Grimm, and the likes and you have as much right to use them as Walt did in the first place.
Don't go removing TOO many characters, only those that Walt and his corporate descendants have the rights over. NOT the ones that pre-exist MouseCo and are public domain.