Aloha, Alainna.
Welcome to planDisney! See that line where the sky meets Cinderella Castle? It sounds like it's calling you, so you should absolutely answer that call and book a trip to
The Most Magical Place on Earth in 2022! With the
50th Anniversary Celebration festivities taking place and new, exciting offerings like
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind arriving later this year, there really is no better time to come "home."
Meeting your favorite Disney pals is one of the things that makes a Walt Disney World Resort vacation so magical and memorable. With every announcement of another returning
Character Experience, my heart bursts with joy! I will never forget the look on my niece's face or the way her eyes lit up the first time she
met Mickey Mouse. The magic was tangible in the room that day. I'm ecstatic Character Experiences are back so more Guests can make treasured memories like these for themselves!
At this time, physical distancing is still being utilized when you meet your favorite Disney pals. Typically, characters are sequestered behind a rope or barrier to ensure everyone's safety. Additionally, since face coverings are currently required indoors at all times, you will have to wear a face covering at any of the indoor Character Experience locations. Be sure to check the
Know Before You Go policies before your trip to see if anything changes regarding face coverings though.
While the physical distancing means you won't get to hug Princess Tiana or Donald Duck around the neck like you used to, the experience of seeing your favorite Disney characters in person is no less magical or memorable than it was before. You will still be able to capture treasured photos. You will still get to see your family's eyes light up with excitement and joy. You will still make core memories of these special moments to tuck away in your heart for safekeeping and reminiscing later. The magic will still be tangible.
To easily locate available Character Experiences on your trip, go to the interactive map feature in your
My Disney Experience App. At the top of the page, click the arrow in the center. This should pull up a menu of options to choose from. If you click "Characters," it will show all of the characters you can see in each park that day. If you want to filter the results by theme park, simply click on "Filters" on the top left and select the theme park you wish to view. When you click "Show List," it will tell you which Disney Pals are in the park that day and where to find them. If you click on a specific character, it will also tell you the times they are scheduled to make appearances that day.
In my experience so far this year, the Character Experiences may not have
Disney PhotoPass photographers available to take your picture, so don't forget to bring a well-charged device or camera to take your pictures with. You'll definitely want to have photos to print, frame, and hang on your walls when you return home.
Alainna, I hope you reach out and find your happily ever after at Walt Disney World Resort real soon!
Wishing you all the pixie dust,
Alyssa