Even More Character Dining and Entertainment Returning to Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration included the return of lots of entertainment and characters. And there’s good news coming with even more characters and entertainment options starting in the next few weeks. Here’s a quick look at what’s coming soon, including even more resort news and activities!

Update: This article has been updated with new information about returning Character Dining experiences (7/6/22)

Walt Disney World Character Dining

Across the WDW resort, an array of character dining experiences are returning in the coming months. Here’s a quick look at what’s ahead.

The Crystal Palace Buffet at Magic Kingdom

Starting September 20, some beloved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood will be joining the fun at the buffet lunch and dinner at The Crystal Palace on Main Street, U.S.A. Here, you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat buffet with options like Carved Prime Rib, Seasonal Ravioli, and Peel & Eat Shrimp.

‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Beginning September 27, the ‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo and Stitch will join the character dining options at WDW. You can enjoy hugs from Stitch while chowing down on classic breakfast items like Pineapple Coconut Breakfast Bread and Mickey Waffles and drinking Lilikoi Juice and a Moana Smoothie.

 

Cape May Café Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at Disneys Beach Club Resort

The next character dining experience to return will be Cape May Café Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at the New England-inspired spot with a breakfast buffet. This option will be available starting October 4 with an array of breakfast goodies such as Salted Caramel “Beach Buns” and the classic Mickey and Minnie Waffles.

In addition to all the returning character dining options, there are a whole bunch of new character meet and greets coming throughout Walt Disney World starting in July and beyond. Get your autograph books ready!

Magic Kingdom Character Meet & Greets

If you’re a fan of Mickey and Minnie (and who isn’t?!), there’s some good news for you. Starting July 6, Minnie will be joining Mickey Mouse in Town Square Theater at Magic Kingdom for a meet and greet, wearing their specially-created EARidescent costumes for WDW’s 50th anniversary.

We really think that these costumes are adorable, and we’ll be glad to spend some time with Ms. Mouse along with Mickey too.

Also heading to Magic Kingdom will be classic Fantasyland friends Peter Pan and Snow White. These characters will be returning to Fantasyland on July 10.

There are some additional characters headed to Magic Kingdom in the near future as well! In the next few months, Magic Kingdom is planning on bringing Aladdin, Jasmine, Merida, Pooh, Tigger and Storybook Circus pals like The Great Goofini in Pete’s Silly Sideshow into the park.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Star Wars fans, your time has come! Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll be able to go back into Star Wars Launch Bay for a meeting with Chewbacca, BB-8, and Darth Vader (if you’re brave enough!) starting July 17. This attraction never reopened with the parks, so this will be a great place to escape the Florida heat in mid-summer.

WDW has also announced that characters will return to Toy Story Land for meet and greets later this summer in the park. There’s no specified date for when to expect these characters (or even who will be there), but just a general timeline of the “coming months.”

Walt Disney World Entertainment

In addition to all the character announcements, there are also some returning shows around the resort. Let’s take a look at what’s coming back.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

The famous Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show has returned to Pioneer Hall. This high-energy show features dancing, singing, and lots of comedy with plenty of delicious food in between skits. This show takes place at Pioneer Hall at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, so be sure to account for travel time!

While we’re on the subject of Fort Wilderness, there’s another thing headed there as well. Starting July 6, Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long will be returning. You can join Chip ‘n Dale for a campfire celebration followed by a classic Disney movie played out in the wilderness beneath the stars.

Magic Kingdom

New faces have joined the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade that makes its way through Magic Kingdom several times each day. Mirabel from Encanto has joined the likes of Goofy, Max, Moana, Nick and Judy from Zootopia, and many more characters. While Disneyland has had Mirabel meet and greets for months, this is her debut out at Walt Disney World. We do hope that WDW will add a meet and greet for Mirabel in the future, but adding her to a cavalcade is a good start.

For those of you who are looking a little straggly and are in need of a clean-up, the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom will be reopening on July 31.  

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

If you’ve been looking to party at DAK, here’s something to get you excited. Donald’s Dino Bash in DinoLand is also scheduled to return in the near future. Similar to other announcements from today, there’s no specific time, but this is some much-needed entertainment to enjoy in Animal Kingdom (especially with the Primeval Whirl removed).

Additional details on returning characters and entertainment will be announced at a further date. 

Reimagining Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course

Walt Disney World isn’t just about the theme parks. There are also water parks and golf courses to enjoy as well! The Magnolia Golf Course (which opened the same day as Magic Kingdom, October 1, 1971) is planning to reimagine holes 14-17 on the finishing stretch of the course. Here’s what will be changing: 

• Hole 14 – Currently a par 5, will become a par 4, with a new green location
• Hole 15 – Currently a par 3, will shift location and become a long par 5, dogleg to the right
• Hole 16 – Will shift location and remain a par 4, but will now become a dogleg to the left
• Hole 17 – Currently a par 4, will become a par 3, with new tee box locations

While we’re not specialists on golf by any means, two PGA Tour stars – 2017 Masters winner Sergio Garcia and 2019 US Open champion Gary Woodland – recently got a sneak peek at the redesign and both walked away impressed. Both golfers found that the new designs will challenge golfers of every level and be a satisfying end to a good game on the green.

Let’s Hear From You

Are you looking forward to more characters returning around the parks? Excited to see the return of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue? Are you a fan of character dining? Does your family make time for Character meet and greets? Share your thoughts below.

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