Character meet and greets… with hugs … are BACK in the Disney Parks! We have updated information for you on new character experience and returning favorites.
Since the parks reopened, guests have been limited to socially distanced interactions, leaving them to admire their favorite friends from afar. But no more.
We would see them in gardens, on balconies overlooking walkways, and in other inaccessible areas. But even with these limitations it still felt magical to watch these characters behave in their “natural habitat.”
But starting April 18th, those barricades and dividers have been removed, and those hugs and autographs that so many of you have longed for are possible once again. Character meet and greets have returned to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and also to Disney Cruise Line and Aulani!
Disney Character Meet and Greets Return
On April 18, guests can look forward to character experiences just like they used to be, with hugs, autographs, and up-close and personal interactions.
These personal character experiences include Character Dining. Expect your Disney friends to once again stop at your table for a personalized exchange at all character dining experiences.
As of April 18th, certain areas which were roped off for characters have been turned back over to guest use. So, as of now, you can once again walk through Carthay Circle fountain area and the front steps of the Main Street Railroad Station.
And Disneyland’s indoor meet and greet location for princesses at Royal Hall in Princess Fantasy Faire is expected to reopen on April 21st. And that should free up the Royal Theater for princess storytelling again in the not too distant future.
Lines to see the princesses at Disneyland’s Princess Fantasy Faire have been quite long as it takes much longer for each guest to meet, say hello, hug the princess, and then get their photo taken than it did when the princesses were at a distance. (Lines stretched into Frontierland on Wednesday the 20th, yikes!)
Our Thoughts
We loved seeing the characters out and about without long lines to see them (in most cases). While that made hugs impossible, it also made the character experience feel more organic in some cases and like area entertainment in others (such as Goofy or the Chipmunks fishing in ToonTown).
We’d like to see many of those opportunities remain. While we know guests will want to line up for Mickey and the princesses, we hope the more accessible character activities will also continue without the need for a queue.
More Character News
In celebration of the Moon Knight show launching on Disney+, Marvel’s Moon Knight is now greeting guests in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure!
So is his alter ego, Mr. Knight:
And, another Marvel character makes a fun return. The Wasp now interacts with guests while carrying around a model of the former Bugs Land (That Avengers Campus replaced). The Chew Chew train even moves! Cute!!
More Entertainment Makes a Comeback
Character meet and greets aren’t the only fan-favorite Parks pastimes returning. Disneyland’s nighttime spectaculars are also making a comeback, many of them on April 22nd! Read all about it here, including the fantastic new food, merchandise, and sure to be popular Electrical Parade popcorn bucket:
Disneyland Spectaculars – Info, Dining Packages, Food Guide & More!
AND… if you are an Encanto fan, there are several opportunities at the moment, from meet and greets with Mirabel, We Don’t Talk About Bruno projection show on the “it’s a small world” facade, and an Encanto segment in the Main Street Electrical Parade. More info below:
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Let’s Hear from You
Are you happy character meet and greets and hugs have returned to the Disney Parks? Did you prefer the distanced photo ops with no lines? Do you consider hugs an important part of the character experience? And what about the new Marvel characters? Let us know in the comments below!
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