Hey there, hi there, Allison! You're as welcome as can be!
Your
Walt Disney World vacation is just around the corner, so no wonder you're counting down the days! Pretty soon, you'll be counting down hours and minutes.
I'm so excited to be able to share with you that the
character experiences at Walt Disney World are back to their magical, memorable ways. If you've dreamed of hugging your favorite Mouse, go for it. The social distancing measures that were previously in place have been replaced by good old-fashioned, happy hugs.
I will say that not all
character dining experiences have returned. You may want to check if your favorite character meal has come back before you book.
On the subject of backpacks, I think the best answer I can give is that it really depends on what you need to bring with you. I tend now to go with a mini-backpack since I only need to carry a few things for myself. You'll find a pretty decent collection of
backpacks on ShopDisney, including some totally adorable Loungefly bags.
I'd look for a backpack that can carry at least sunscreen and a bottle or two of water. It should be something that won't get ruined in the rain while protecting what's inside of it during the rain, and then make sure it's lightweight enough to carry it comfortably in the heat of the day. A bulky backpack will be so hot and uncomfortable when the summer sun hits.
I hope your trip is practically perfect in every way, Allison!
Anna