The hugs are coming back at Disney.
Disney Parks announced today that traditional character meet and greets will resume starting April 18 at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts, on the Disney Cruise Line, and at Aulani Resort in Hawaii. The meet and greets will return in phases, so not all characters will be available at their pre-pandemic locations immediately.
Disney suspended character meet and greets when its parks, hotels, and ships resumed operations following lockdowns, replacing them with distanced character appearances. Fans could pose for selfies and wave to the characters, but not get close for hugs and autographs.
That changes next month.
The phased return of character meets will proceed at Disney's U.S. theme parks, resorts, and cruise ships through spring and early summer. It's the latest step back toward pre-pandemic operations for Disney's live entertainment, beginning the same month as World of Color, the Disneyland Forever fireworks and the Main Street Electrical Parade return to the Disneyland Resort. The Festival of Fantasy parade returned to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom earlier this month, and Fantasmic! returns to Disneyland in May.
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My guess is that the costumed characters will be the ones getting up close while the face characters like the Princesses will still be kept at a distance.
Disney Princesses... now with six-foot hoop skirts!
I’m sure the governor will find some offense to it and will ask the duma draw up appropriate legislation to ban such offensive public displays
The video put out by the Disney Parks twitter account was promoting princess hugs, too. Of course, Disney management could change their mind if they cannot find cast members willing to comply with the return of close meet and greets.
Or just assign Violet Parr as the "handler" for all the princesses. Get too close? Force field!
Actually, I would pay extra to see that happen. But I probably shouldn't be giving Disney management any more upcharge ideas, though.
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Aw, good, just not the same for some kids just looking at these folks and not hugging.