It’s been so great to see live entertainment returning to our theme parks, resorts, and cruise ships, and today, I’m thrilled to tell you about another quintessential Disney entertainment experience that’s on the way back. As early as April 18, we will start reintroducing traditional character greetings at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, as well as aboard Disney Cruise Line. That’s right! Very soon, you will once again be able to hug Mickey Mouse, get an autograph from Mulan, and share a laugh with Goofy. We know many of you have missed these special moments, and your Disney character friends have missed you, too!
During the past two years, we’ve taken a very gradual, intentional approach to health and safety protocols. Recent trends and guidance have provided opportunities for us to bring back some of our most beloved magic, like character greetings and dining experiences. While not all locations will be available immediately, we anticipate reopening in phases throughout the spring and early summer.
This exciting milestone continues the recent, powerful momentum of returning entertainment across the Disney parks and resorts. As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World, we’ve welcomed back shows such as “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” and “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular,” along with the Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade and new experiences like “Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade.” This spring, Disneyland will see the return of several beloved nighttime spectaculars, including “World of Color,” “Disneyland Forever,” “Fantasmic!” and “Main Street Electrical Parade,” celebrating its own 50th anniversary. And aboard Disney Cruise Line, we’re once again delighting guests with fireworks at sea and magnificent, Broadway-style shows on every ship.
So, with character greetings coming back this spring, who’s at the top of your “must meet” list for your next Disney vacation?
Comments
I’m reading a lot about guests wanting to meet and greet with their favorite characters? I could tell you from our personal experiences with Tune Town closed for refurbishing that the normal meet and greet is disorganized as No one from guests relations to Entertainment could give us any specific locations or times of where any particular characters would be! My 7yr old got lost chasing parade (later found) because she wanted to see Micky so bad! After 1 week we left with NO pictures of Micky mouse and needless to say she was so disappointed! Where hopefully that someone from Disneyland will reach out to us through these blogs .
Family of 4 with small children and Dad severely with life threatening disabilities after being isolated because of Covid for over 2 years finally where able to visited Disneyland, Califorina Children left extremely disappointed with NO pictures of Micky mouse (: every time we got in line just to be turned away and No one could give us place/time where Micky mouse would be? Usually all main characters would be in Tune Town but that was closed for refurbishing as well as pirates of the Caribbean and other rides kept getting closed for one reason or another but the main issues where that if park closed tune town a main area where all the characters would meet and greet for autographs and picture taking with little kids someone should have advised guests of characters relocation and times Etc but Absolutely No one could give us any information and very disorganized resulting in small kids leaving so sad and very disappointed being that I’m disabled not sure if I’ll ever have the chance to see my kids with Micky mouse again! Crying 😢
We are so glad to hear that the character meet and greets are coming back!! We are doing our once in a lifetime family trip to Disney this summer (postponed from 2020).
Will there be characters signing autograph books too?
I’m planning on going this late June-early July. I can’t wait to meet John Smith and Pocahontas, and all the princesses and heroes! I just hope this late June it’ll be back on time.
Thinking of planning a trip in August and I hope they’re able to get a costume of Mei out before then. Loved Turning Red personally, would totally get a picture with her, and I hope the movie gets more recognition at WDW somehow.
Why can’t it be sooner? We will be going Apr 14-18! Boooooo lol.
I can’t wait to see the Disney characters and princesses are back for hugs back. Mickey, his pals, princesses, and Tinker Bell have sign my books and they heard me sing.
This is going to be my girlfriend Vera’s first trip so it’s a huge thing that character meet and greets are coming back I most definitely wanna get a picture with stitch I think we both want a picture with that and also from the big man himself Mickey!! We are going 5/15 5/21
I’d love all the princesses at Cinderella’s castle and at Askersush again! Also CAPE MAY with characters again and ohana’s too Oh oh oh and 1900 Park Fare!
This is great news. I can finally put my accordion away for a spell so I can hug Disney characters again! Jon Smith and I will be there between April 22 — May 22 for a celebration of life!
I’m so excited for this. If hugging characters is going to be allowed I wonder if they will drop the mandatory masks on buses?
Looking forward to getting good pics again with the characters instead of poor close-up selfies with fuzzy images of characters in the far background.
And really hoping this means more direct interactions with characters at Avengers Campus. Seeing characters patrol atop the Avengers building is cool but having to yell up to them to try to say hello is frustrating when their meet times on the ground are short and unannounced. #moretimemeetingguestsplease
Well, it was nice while it lasted. Hopefully they’ll keep a few of the Wave & Play character spots open. It’s much more enjoyable to be able to stroll up for a quick selfie, rather than wait in a long line!
Do you have to book this? And if so when will it be available to book/what do you search?
💔😔 exciting but we will miss it by one day.
My little girls won’t be little much longer.
I so hope that as the character meet and greets return …. so will the autographing with or without the official autograph books because I can make my own autograph book at home whenever My Family plans to get with me and plan and put together Our Next Walt Disney World Visit and really all anyone really needs is Disney Autograph Page clipart and templates and a good printer and a nice set of printing ink . How about it ? BYOAB Build Your Own Autograph Book ! Disney provides the pen and you make the autograph book . How about something to help build up to Our Disney Vacations for those of us who are able to visit the parks and take Disney Vacations again ?
Will Character dining be returning to the Crystal Palace? Would love to Winnie the Pooh and others again.
Is there any reason why they are waiting to 4/18? We are flying home that day sadly; this is my children’s 1st time at Disney World, during their peak magical years. I’m so unbelievably heartbroken that they’re going to be missing this once in a lifetime experience, by one day. 💔
Is there any news on DiveQuest at Epcot?
The princesses @ CRT!! ❤️
I can’t wait to get hugs from my favorite Disney character Mickey Mouse 😁
This is the best news this year! My 3 year old LOVES Olaf and can’t wait to give him a warm hug when he comes back to DCA. I assume this includes character meals, since it would be weird to bring it back but not for dining. I also hope the Magic Happens Parade comes back soon, we got to see it once and it was truely magical.
Any news about Bibbidi makeovers yet?????🥺🥺
I wish it was earlier!💕
We hope to see Chip and Dale back at the Campfire sing along, we miss seeing them at Fort Wilderness ❤️
Stitch!! He’s at the top of my daughter’s list. Been waiting two years to take our trip originally scheduled for April 2020. We’ll be there the week of April 18! Can’t wait and now we are even more excited!
I’m so happy it’s My First Day of Vacation!!!! And also a Big thanks to all Cast Members in every Capacity they serve Love all of you!!!
Will this include character breakfasts?
i’ll be there the last week of april! great timing! can’t wait to see my Pooh Bear! 🙂
This is great to hear. Thank you for the update.
Shawn– Do you happen to know if the Magic Happens parade will be returning to Disneyland?
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