Meeting Minnie…6 ft apart!
A Disney Blog by: Mary Louis Quinn, Concierge Specialist
Walt Disney World has worked hard to keep the magic alive despite these trying times, and they have successfully figured out how to incorporate characters in a safe yet exciting and fun manner.
My middle child and I had the most wonderful mother/daughter trip to Disney in August. We are big “character people” in our family, so I was worried that we’d feel we were missing out some with not having any meet and greets, or experiencing character dining the usual way. But I can honestly say that we loved the way we experienced the characters during our most recent visit.
We booked a character breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace, located at the beautiful Riviera Resort. We enjoyed this meal earlier in the year pre-pandemic, and couldn’t wait to go back! Although the characters no longer come at each table for autographs and photo-ops, they are great about stopping for a socially distanced photo —which we really appreciated!
My 8-year-old was still highly entertained by the singing and dancing and did not feel like the experience was any less special than the first time we went.
Instead of the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom, WDW is now doing character cavalcades (mini parades), unlisted in the times guide in order to prevent crowding. They occur fairly frequently throughout the day at all four theme parks. We found them beyond adorable and so fun to stumble upon. And if you are traveling during the holiday season, you are likely to catch some characters in their festive clothes!
While we miss the up close and personal character meet and greets, it was so fun to see characters pop up in random places throughout our day.
After dining at Pinocchio Village Haus at Magic Kingdom, we looked up to see Pinocchio waving to guests from the balcony. While exiting a ride at Epcot, we spotted Winnie the Pooh catching butterflies in the butterfly garden. And at Hollywood Studios, we spotted Rey and Chewy plotting to take on the Dark Side.
As with most things in 2020, expectations need to shift when preparing to head to Disney. But just because things are different doesn’t mean they still can’t be wonderful! Embrace these changes for the sweet experiences that they are.
