Woody, Buzz, and Jesse Return to Disney World Park 

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Amongst the many things returning back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, many guests were thrilled to see the return of the Toy Story Meet and Greet featuring Buzz, Woody, and Jesse.

It was previously announced that Fantasmic! would be returning back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in November, but that isn’t the only experience the Disney Parks have lined up. It was recently shown that the characters from Pixar’s Toy Story have officially made it back to Andy’s backyard as Buzz, Woody, and Jesse have been seen mixing and mingling about their Meet and Greet location. As wonderful as it is to see them again, they aren’t the same toys fans might be used to seeing. In fact, all three characters have received a major makeover.

Fans who have visited the Parks on a regular basis will immediately notice that Buzz, Woody, and Jessie all look incredibly different than they have during previous Meet and Greets. All three characters have received major face-lifts for a more movie-accurate look at the Parks. Whether they are face or fur characters, Disney has always strived to bring their beloved cast to life with impeccable accuracy, but the cast from Toy Story did have a slight hiccup in their original designs. Fans only have to look back at Woody’s enormous Easter Island head to notice the change in quality. The characters have much more lively expressions, as well as some wardrobe alterations as well.

Perhaps the most obvious change to the Pixar pals’ lineup is Buzz and his Space Ranger suit. Fans who are used to seeing Buzz on the space-aged streets of Tomorrowland will immediately notice that he’s slimmed down quite a bit. The old outfit was incredibly bulky and clunky to accentuate the character’s plastic exterior, but fans who attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year caught a glimpse of the new and improved Buzz Lightyear. The new costume allows the performer a wider range of movement, therefore more interaction with the guests.

Regardless of whether or not the toys have received new and updated looks to their theme park counterparts, it’s honestly just a good sign to see more character interactions in the Parks. Whether it’s in Hollywood Studios, Epcot, or the Magic Kingdom, Guests are happy to see Andy’s friends return to Toy Story Playland for more fun outside the toybox.

Disney Announces Fantastic New Character Meet and Greet at EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

At D23 Expo 2022, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared a look into the future for Disney theme parks and beyond. One of the announcements about a new character meet and greet at EPCOT has sparked our imagination and interest.

From a Disney Cast Member;

Imagination has always been a core theme at EPCOT, with attractions and experiences that push the boundaries. There’s one key character who always comes to mind when we think about imagination, and he’s coming to life in a whole new way by the end of next year. That’s right, you’ll be able to meet Figment in person at EPCOT.

List of Character Greeting Spots Reopening Soon at Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

While “normal” character greetings with hugs and autographs returned to Walt Disney World in mid-April 2022, many characters greeting spots continue to be unavailable for greetings. Thankfully, Disney has announced that many will be reopening in the next few weeks, and even more in the next few months.

From a Disney Cast Member;

One of the most rewarding parts of the steady return of live entertainment to Walt Disney World Resort has been watching guests create special moments with their Disney character friends once more. Whether it be a wave in a parade, a family photo or a warm embrace, these encounters bring even more magic to each visit. That’s why I can’t wait to share what’s next for new and returning characters as we continue The World’s Most Magical Celebration!

Magic Kingdom Park

Let’s kick things off with some exciting news for Magic Kingdom Park. We may not talk about Bruno, but we can definitely talk about Mirabel making her debut in the “Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade” on June 26! The young hero from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ hit film “Encanto” will join Miguel from “Coco,” Nick and Judy from “Zootopia,” Max, Goof, Moana and more as this super-sized cavalcade winds through the park several times each day.

Looking ahead to July, the always iconic Minnie Mouse will join Mickey Mouse starting on July 6 in Town Square Theater at Magic Kingdom Park. Both will be ready for hugs and photos in their EARidescent fashions designed specifically for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration!

Then, on July 10, keep an eye out for familiar Fantasyland friends Peter Pan and Snow White as they greet guests at Magic Kingdom Park once again.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

July 6 also marks the return of Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, where you can join the nutty friends for a campfire celebration followed by a classic Disney movie under the stars.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Wars Launch Bay returns July 17! A celebration of the legendary space saga, Star Wars Launch Bay is your place for a warm embrace with Chewbacca, a face-to-droid encounter with BB-8 or a run-in with Darth Vader himself for those brave enough.

In the Coming Months!

And those are just the next few weeks! We have even more fun, hugs and memories on the horizon. In the coming months, a visit to Magic Kingdom Park will bring chances to meet Aladdin, Jasmine, Merida, Pooh, Tigger and Storybook Circus pals like The Great Goofini in Pete’s Silly Sideshow. Your favorite toys will be ready for playtime in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Donald Duck and friends will rejoin their prehistoric party at “Donald’s Dino-Bash!” in DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

These exciting character encounters add to the many terrific offerings returning across Walt Disney World Resort, including Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue stomping into Pioneer Hall June 23, and Harmony Barber Shop creating magical memories on Main Street once again beginning July 31.

Meet and Greets Return to Disney Park

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

At Disneyland Paris, things are slowly beginning to move back to normal.

At the moment, COVID-19 changes are still very present at Disneyland Paris. We have seen Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disneyland Resort both shut down again due to the ongoing pandemic, however other Resorts like Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are beginning to look like a much more normal theme park experience with crowds filling the Park’s once again.

The Park that started as Euro Disney and then transformed into Disneyland Paris with Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studio Park has grown so much over the past 30 years, and now as the Park continues to expand we are finally able to kick off the amazing celebrations of the 30th anniversary. Sleeping Beauty Castle is now lit with LED lighting, the decor is in place, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the rest of the gang have their outfits ready, Illuminations returned, and there is an all-new song for the celebration that sends a party down Main Street, U.S.A.! And that is just the tip of the iceberg, we haven’t even discussed the new drone technology that lit up the night sky.

Mickey Mouse at Disneyland Paris

Most recently, we discussed all of the new offerings that Guests can expect to see when they visit.  In short, there is new packaging on everything, from water bottles to sandwich boxes, Minnie Mouse is looking chic as ever in her new pantsuit, the After Glow show illuminates Sleeping Beauty Castle with an amazing drone experience, The all-new Dream… and Shine Brighter has also debuted, and so much more.

disneyland paris characters

Right before the beginning of the celebrations, we saw characters meet and greets return for fur characters. Guests were finally able to give characters like Winnie the Pooh a hug after two years. Now, it seems character meet and greets are returning in a bigger way, with face characters!

On top of that, they also reported that character dining is returning to a few dining locations:

These steps forward mark an exciting time for Disneyland Paris which is slowly returning to a pre-pandemic state after facing multiple hardships and closures from the pandemic.

Disney CFO Gives Update on Face-to-Face Character Interactions

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Via DisDining.com

When Disney Parks first reopened after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a lot of things that were different. Many of the dining options were unavailable, Park capacities were significantly decreased, and characters were nowhere to be seen. All of these new changes were meant to keep both Guests and Cast Members safe. As COVID numbers have declined, more and more things have been brought back to Parks, to the delight of many Guests.

Characters have slowly made their way back to Disney Parks, but Guests have been unable to get up close and personal with them. At both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, all character meet and greets are still being done from a socially safe distance. While masks were required for months at those meet and greets, recently both Disneyland and Disney World dropped those facial covering mandates.

Now, Walt Disney Company CFO Christine McCarthy is giving fans another update on character interactions. During the Q&A portion of the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, she was asked about the return of face-to-face character interactions. McCarthy said that Disney has been monitoring the COVID situation at all of its Parks and said that the close interactions will return “soon.”

“With the trending of COVID, we’re definitely going to see some of those face-to-face interactions come back.”

Christine McCarthy

Both Disney World and Disneyland have seen a steep drop in COVID-19 cases in their areas. These decreases have allowed Disney to drop its mask mandates for vaccinated Guests, open more restaurants, bring back buffets, and bring back nighttime experiences like World of Color and Fantasmic!.

Right now, there is only one Disney Park that is allowing up close and personal interactions between Guests and characters. Disneyland Paris requires all Guests to provide proof of vaccination before entering the Parks — as is the law in France. Because Guests must prove that they are either vaccinated or have tested negative for COVID, Disneyland Paris is now allowing Guests to see the characters and even hug them.

Ariel meet and greet

McCarthy also stated that Disney is looking forward to bringing back these types of interactions because they help balance the crowds in the Parks. Neither Disneyland Resort in California nor Walt Disney World requires Guests to provide proof of vaccination. Disney is watching to see if the numbers keep going down before they allow close character interactions.