A hug from Mickey or a kiss from Snow White, while these moments may be temporarily on pause when visiting Walt Disney World, this in no way means that magical moments with your favorite characters are a thing of the past. We’ve now been back multiple times since the official reopening of the theme parks and have found out first hand that while the character interactions are anything but traditional, they are no less magical and still give us all the feels!
One thing that I noticed right away upon returning to the Magic Kingdom in particular, there is an air of old Disney. Walking in under the tunnel and turning around to see the Fab Five waving at us and blowing kisses from the Train Station above. I was instantly taken back to that time of walking in when my kids were still small, when characters were tucked everywhere and always had that element of surprise. It’s actually quite refreshing to be able to interact with the characters from a distance when they are not being mobbed and you are not standing in line waiting for your turn, that may only be delayed by the need for Pooh to go have a snack of honey or Alice to head off to tea for a bit. The characters are able to interact with a
multitude of socially distanced folks at the same time and always have time for a selfie or for your party to snap a few photos. I was pleasantly surprised that in each land we spotted characters out and about, greeting guests and providing that magical surprise around every turn!
There are not many things that have came from COVID 19 that are thrilling, but I have to say that we must take a moment to appreciate Disney’s take on the cavalcade! While the grand parade productions are also on pause, Disney has found a way to make the lack of parades a positive thing! Let me explain. I’m all about the element of surprise, it just makes the magic more evident when visiting. And I know most of you are disappointed at the prospect of no formal parade, think about this. No sitting on the street for an hour prior to the parade, no folks hovering over top of you while you are waiting this is a win win situation! You hear music change in the park and then the cavalcades appear! These are small and more intimate parades with so much character interaction. They are quite slower than the regular parade giving the cast the time to take with small groups of people scattered throughout the park that stop and enjoy! I especially have enjoyed the
variety of these cavalcades which have now transitioned from general character appearances to more Halloween themed in the Magic Kingdom.
These also take place in the other parks and feature characters that blend into each park’s theming. I think the most creative ideas from Disney for these particular new interactions is the boat parades throughout the river in Animal Kingdom! It is an absolute delight to see them sail by!
While there are no dining plans available during this time, there are a few character dining spots that are open for business and happily so! This has always been a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Dining and character greeting at the same time is a great way to save time during your days in the parks and now is no different. While there are fewer options available, Disney continues to assess and adjust it’s offerings as we get closer and closer to going back to business as usual. As of now, Topolino Terrace, Garden Grill, Hollywood and Vine, and Cinderella’s Royal Table are your options for character dining. While it does look a bit different during these times, it is still a delight for sure! Restaurants are still operating at a limited capacity so that social distancing can be properly maintained and characters do remain at least 6 feet away from guests, but they still continue interacting with each table and take time for socially distanced photos. Every dining experience we have had with characters after the reopening has been really amazing. Topolino Terrace remains my favorite as of now.
Overall things are definitely different, but in my humble opinion, different in the case of character interactions at Disney right now is not a bad thing. I know that Disney has gone above and beyond to ensure the safety of it’s guests while taking great care to keep the magic that it is known for alive and well during these current circumstances. I can’t say that I am shocked that Disney has managed to keep that famous magic alive while the world seems turned upside down. All the more reason that I have enjoyed my recent visits with even more enthusiasm than usual. In all honesty, I hope the character pop ups and cavalcades become a permanent fixture in all the parks!
They have really helped to make some really special memories…..even in this year of 2020!
Check out some of our amazing families and their MAGICAL travels!
