Disney Announces the Return of More Live Entertainment & Character Experiences

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

Via DisneyLists.com

While a vacation at Walt Disney World is still different in this new pandemic reality we live in, Disney is slowly bringing back entertainment offerings. Just recently a lot of live entertainment performers returned and Disney has now announced the return of more live entertainment and the return of modified character meet and greets.

From a Disney Cast Member;

It’s an exciting time to be at Walt Disney World Resort! We just launched The World’s Most Magical Celebration, with dazzling new EARidescent experiences in every corner of our world. Of course, our cast is at the heart of everything, and since the reopening of our theme parks, Walt Disney World Resort is proud to have returned more than 50,000 cast members to work. Now, more than 65,000 are working across the resort, and we are hiring hundreds more each week as we continue to open more resorts and guest locations. Today, I’m thrilled to tell you we’re bringing back more entertainment cast members this fall, as we relaunch some favorite live entertainment experiences at all four theme parks and beyond!

Some of our atmosphere entertainment resumed October 1 with the start of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration. Early birds at Magic Kingdom Park are now starting their day with “Let the Magic Begin” on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage, and we’ve welcomed back the ragtime piano player at Casey’s Corner on Main Street, U.S.A. Over at EPCOT, World Showcase travelers are dancing to the Canadian rhythms of Alberta Bound, laughing at the antics of Sergio in Italy, and experiencing the majestic percussion of the Taiko drummers of Matsuriza in Japan.

Next week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, guests visiting Asia can once again enjoy the music of Chakranadi, and Kora Tinga Tinga returns to the streets of Harambe in Africa. And you can look for the Tam Tam Drummers to come back to Africa in early November. Performers will also soon be captivating guests strolling along the waterfront at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, and the inimitable Yeehaw Bob will have his audience in stitches of fun starting October 14 in the River Roost Lounge at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

Over the past year, beloved Disney Characters have been popping up in cavalcades, motorcades, flotillas, and surprise sightings, much to the delight of our guests, and I’m pleased to tell you many of those experiences will be continuing. Although the environment is not right just yet for hugs and autographs, you’ll soon be able to have individualized time with some of your favorite characters, getting to visit with them in a themed location and snap a photo or two. Look for the Disney Princesses to return to Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom Park. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll soon find Minnie Mouse at Red Carpet Dreams and the stars of Disney Junior in Animation Courtyard. And when you stop in to see Mickey Mouse backstage at Town Square Theater on Main Street, U.S.A., he’ll be sporting his all-new EARidescent look designed just for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration! Each of these locations is planned to start welcoming guests in November.

November 7 also marks the return of “Disney Movie Magic,” the cinematic nighttime experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrating Disney’s live-action film legacy, and when this projection show resumes, it will feature a new sequence from Disney’s epic adventure, “Mulan.” And be sure to mark your calendars for December 19, when the cast and crew of “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” bring back all the comedy and thrills of that action-packed show.

Live entertainment experiences such as these are among the reasons Walt Disney World Resort truly is The Most Magical Place on Earth. We are incredibly grateful to our cast and guests for the patience you’ve demonstrated as we presented modified forms of some entertainment while continuing to work through the details required to resume others. We’re delighted to be welcoming back so much live entertainment – and so many of our favorite entertainers – this fall and look forward to sharing news about even more additions very soon.

Characters at Disneyland Resort??

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Beloved Disney characters will be part of the magic as the Disneyland Resort theme parks reopen April 30, 2021.  Characters from dozens of favorite Disney stories may be spotted waving and playing across Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. They may even pop up posing in the background of selfies. To help maintain physical distancing, certain experiences that draw large group gatherings – such as parades, stage shows and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date.

Guests are encouraged to check Disneyland.com for the latest updates to entertainment. Here’s what guests can expect when the theme parks reopen on April 30, 2021:

Disneyland Park 

  • Main Street, U.S.A. – Mickey Mouse and some of his pals may be seen waving from the steps of the Disneyland Railroad station.
  • Royal Theatre in Fantasyland – From Cinderella to Rapunzel, Snow White, Mulan, Elena of Avalor and many others, guests will be delighted as they are greeted by Disney Royalty. Princesses will pose and wave at a distance for photos with their royal guests.
  • Small World Terrace – Alice and other wonderful Disney friends frolic in the fun as they invite guests to see them at a distance at Small World Terrace.
  • New Orleans Square – The characters of New Orleans Square have returned to their old haunts, and some new ones: Tiana and the pirate known as Redd take up residence on some of the more elevated positions in the land, interacting with guests from afar on the balcony of the 21 Royal Residence, above Pirates of the Caribbean.
  • Mickey’s Toontown – Mickey Mouse and his friends have returned to their homes at Mickey’s Toontown where guests can wave to them and take photos from a distance outside their wacky abodes, and at the Toontown gazebo.
  • Rancho del Zocalo in Frontierland – At Zocalo Park, guests may spot Miguel dressed in mariachi finery and waving to everyone from among the colorful marigolds and papel picado décor inspired by Disney and Pixar’s award-winning film, “Coco.”
  • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – While living their own adventures in a galaxy far, far away, guests are likely to come across familiar faces as they explore the Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu. Heroes of the Resistance including Rey, Chewbacca and Vi Moradi may be spotted on the platforms above the speeder garage in Black Spire Station. A contingent of First Order Stormtroopers join Kylo Ren in patrolling the landing platform at Docking Bay 9 beneath their TIE Echelon vehicle.

Disney California Adventure Park

  • Carthay Fountain/Buena Vista Street – As guests reach the heart of Disney California Adventure, they will find themselves drawn to the fountain as the center of the action. Mickey Mouse and his friends have stepped out on the town in order to wave hello and welcome back all their friends.
  • Super Heroes – When Disneyland Resort reopens, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will make their way to the Hollywood Backlot Stage, where adoring fans can wave and cheer for Black Widow, Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Black Panther and the Dora Milaje, as they strike heroic poses throughout the day.
  • Cars Land – At Radiator Springs, guests can share a laugh and take memorable photos with some of their favorite characters such as Mater, Lightning McQueen and Red the fire truck along the land’s Route 66.
  • Pixar Pals – A variety of Pixar characters such as Woody, Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Edna Mode, Frozone, and Joy and Sadness will wave and pose from the Pixar Pier bandshell stage.
  • Disney Junior – Favorite Disney Junior stars, from Vampirina to Doc McStuffins, wave and interact with their friends from the stage of the Disney Theater in Hollywood Land.
  • Paradise Gardens Park – Guests may see Officer Judy Hopps and her friend Nick Wilde from Disney’s “Zootopia” on patrol.

These entertainment experiences will happen frequently throughout the day, bringing a dose of Disney surprise and magic to numerous areas across the parks.

Mike Wazowski To Be Removed From Meet & Greet @ Hollywood Studios

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

The “Monsters, Inc.” meet and greet inside Walt Disney Presents at Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened just last year, but now it looks like one of the dynamic duo will soon be retiring.

Mike Wazowski will meet guests through Saturday, February 22, 2020, but beginning Sunday, February 23, the meet and greet will only feature Sulley.

This meet and greet took over the former space of the Star Lord & Groot and Moana meet and greets which were previously located inside of the attraction. A “Monsters, Inc.” meet and greet was offered for many years at Hollywood Studios near the Backlot Tour attraction, but it was removed for the construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land in 2016.

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Make-A-Wish’s Most Popular Disney Meet & Greets

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Did you know that Disney grants more wishes for Make-A-Wish® than any other organization? With more than 10,000 wishes granted at Disney Parks each year, we know that wishing for a trip to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and a cruise on Disney Cruise Line are popular options. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular characters that Wish Kids request to meet.

Anna and Elsa

Who wouldn’t want to make their Disney vacation even more magical by chilling out with the royal sisters from “Frozen.” Wish Kids love getting the chance to pose for a photo and share a warm hug before setting off on their own magical adventures at Disney Parks.

Mickey Mouse

No trip to a Disney Park is complete without an encounter with the big cheese himself, Mickey Mouse. If requesting wishes to Disney Parks, it’s no wonder that meeting Mickey is one of the most popular requests. The greatest magic of all happens when you get a chance to hang out with Mickey Mouse himself!

Buzz and Woody

The “Toy Story” pals have had some amazing adventures together, and now they’re looking forward to making new memories with our guests, including Wish Kids. Buzz Lightyear and his pal Sheriff Woody are always making new friends and are a top pick amongst Wish Kids.

Lightning McQueen and Mater

Another popular choice for Wish Kids to wish to meet is the best friend duo of Lightning McQueen and mater. They’re usually coming straight from the track and ready for some R&R in Radiator Springs where they are excited to greet Wish Kids on their trip.

Moana

Last, but certainly not least, the adventurous Princess Moana meetups are favorites for Wish Kids. Meeting with Moana gives them a chance to share their own enchanting island adventures with the heroic teen who inspired so many kids around the world to see how far they’ll go. 

Hong Kong Disneyland Suspending Meet & Greets With Face Characters Due to Coronavirus

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

With the Coronavirus outbreak facing China, Hong Kong Disneyland is taking precautions by reportedly suspending face character meet-and-greets.

Cast members have reportedly been told that character meet-and-greets have been suspended over “health concerns.” As of the writing of this article, face character meet-and-greets, including those for Moana, Anna, and Elsa, have no times scheduled on the Hong Kong Disneyland app, while full-bodied characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, are currently still scheduled. As of right now, the park remains open to guests. We will provide updates as we learn them.

The Coronavirus outbreak has already affected Disney parks in the country, with Shanghai Disneyland already temporarily closing and issuing refunds to guests.