Walt Disney World's Character meet and greets return to pre-pandemic huggable normal

Apr 18, 2022 in "Character Meet and Greets at Epcot"

Forum Forums Tweet Share Tweet Share

Gallery / 7 Photos
Hugs return to Character Meet and Greets at EPCOT

See all 7

Posted: Monday April 18, 2022 10:30am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Today, Walt Disney World took another significant step towards normal pre-pandemic conditions by removing physical distancing at character meet and greets.

Meet Belle in France

Pluto meet and greet at EPCOT main entrance

The in-park meet and greets now allow hugs, autographs and normal close-up interactions. In the My Disney Experience app, all of the "See" character descriptions have been replaced by "Meet."

Goofy meet and greet at EPCOT

Since the Disney theme parks reopened from the pandemic closure in summer 2020, character appearances have been physically distanced.

Meet Minnie Mouse in World Showcase Gazebo

Guests have not lost their appetite for close-up meets with characters, line are long at all locations.

Line for meeting Minnie Mouse

Line to meet Goofy at EPCOT

Walt Disney World still has more character entertainment to return, including Adventurers Outpost at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Tink at Townsquare Theater, and Star Wars characters at Launch Bay. Also set to return soon is Fantasmic! at Disney's Hollywood Studios and the Finding Nemo musical at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Here is a list of current in-park character meet and greets at Walt Disney World.

Magic Kingdom

Princess Fairytale Hall
Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater

EPCOT

Mickey Mouse at Pixar Short Film Festival
Alice in the United Kingdom
Anna and Elsa at Royal Sommerhus
Belle in France
Goofy and Pluto at Main Entrance
Donald Duck in Mexico
Minnie Mouse in World Showcase Gazebo
Mulan in China
Snow White in Germany

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney Junior Pals in Animation Courtyard
Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight

No published meet and greets are yet operating at Disney's Animal Kingdom, but the character appearances on the boats around Discovery River are still running. You may also catch some surprise pop-up meets. Gypsy Moth and Kenai/Koda are meeting guests today as part of Earth week.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

DCBakerMar 04, 2024

Donald and Daisy, along with Chip 'n' Dale, have reportedly begun meeting guests around Echo Lake at Disney's Hollywood Studios (via DFB). Here's what My Disney Experience shows today. 771453

UniversalIsMid98Mar 02, 2024

Dug and Russell have returned to the Wilderness Explorers Clubhouse near the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom, A park that is struggling the most with long term entertainment and this is another step in the right direction

WorldExplorerNov 15, 2023

For the record, last I was there (Monday) Goofy and Pocahontas aren't on land anymore. Maybe I just got a particularly good day, but Goofy seemed to have a perpetual line when I went (a couple weeks before) for my pictures (not a Pocahantas person, didn't track her down at the time) and I even spotted him signing while walking away to apparently go on the boat later (I was impressed). It was sad, because at the same time I saw kids that were clearly excited and wanted to meet him but he had to stick to the limited hours. Hoping that was a test and they come back. The place felt so much more lively with him there.

cjkeatingOct 18, 2023

They are the Pandora drummers.

mastromjmOct 18, 2023

Would be so nice if they said goodbye to the flotillas altogether and replaced them with standard meets. (And give the drummers a real show, they're fantastic!)

mattpetoOct 18, 2023

If you look at the Cape May Cafe vs Trattoria Al Forno breakfast availability, you’ll see that CMC is a much more challenging ADR to grab. It’s the characters, gotta think Bon Voyage will return.

mattpetoOct 17, 2023

Bon Voyage still deader than dead?

rodnyhOct 17, 2023

Hello! I read somewhere that Pocahontas, Meeko, and Goofy are back at Animal Kingdom. Pocahontas and Meeko by Oasis. Goofy at DinoLand. Hope we get more characters soon!

Thumper 32Oct 02, 2023

It appears Buzz is no longer appearing at MK, he hasn’t been there in a few weeks and Chip and Dale are now in that location instead.

MisterPenguinOct 01, 2023

Yes! My plan is working. Our destiny approaches.

ToTBellHopOct 01, 2023

Who will control the bee population? It’s all laughs until someone is stung. smh

DCBakerOct 01, 2023

According to My Disney Experience, Winnie the Pooh has returned to meeting guests at Christopher Robin's Room in the UK Pavilion.

UnbansheeJun 14, 2023

Looks like blog mickey has some photos https://blogmickey.com/2023/06/disney-cardmember-exclusive-meet-greet-with-darth-vader-returns-to-hollywood-studios/

DCBakerJun 14, 2023

I believe the Disney Visa Cardholder-Exclusive meet and greet with Darth Vader reopened within the last couple of weeks, but don't see it posted here. Disney Rewards sent out this e-mail today.