While Disney California Adventure has been testing their own talking Mickey Mouse character for a few weeks now, just yesterday they threw in two of Mickey’s pals, for the first time ever all speaking to guests in one meet and greet experience:
While a talking Mickey Mouse meet and greet is nothing new, we have yet to see a multiple character experience like this, up until now. While this likely won’t remain a permanent offering at this spot in California Adventure, it is likely that this will be rolled out to Disney Parks around the world should the test prove successful.
Here is the current talking Mickey Mouse experience offered at Walt Disney World, in case you are unfamiliar:
Guests at Disney California Adventure got a big surprise today when Kristoff from Frozen made his meet and greet debut at the Character Close-Up inside the Animation Building.
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Kristoff now joins Olaf in the first meet and greet room before guests head to meet Anna and Elsa in the following. The meet and greet was not announced in advance, but is reportedly now going to be a daily offering at Character Close-Up, located inside of the Animation Building in Hollywood Land.
What do you think? Will you head over to meet Kristoff the next time you are at Disney California Adventure?
Check out BB-8 as he makes his very first impressive meet and greet debut at Hong Kong Disneyland. BB-8 is set to make his Hollywood Studios debut at the Star Wars Launch Bay next month!
The mystery construction inside off Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was finally completed yesterday when a Moana character meet and greet was unveiled, just in time for the new movie hitting theaters.
Wait times and hours for the meet and greet are posted outside of the exhibit
The meet and greet replaces a large portion of “The Legacy Continues” section of the exhibit which featured models of Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and other display pieces.
The entrance, just steps away from the 1964-65 World’s Fair exhibit area and Walt Disney’s EPCOT
While it will utilize a pager system to let guests know when it is time to get in line, I needed up waiting about 30 minutes yesterday when the system was not in use.
The pagers, not in use at the time
The space is surprisingly well-themed, with a rocky grotto constructed, complete with a projection based waterfall. The rest of the experience is mostly wall-stickers and small plants, but it is cute enough for something temporary.
There are no ropes separating guests in the switchbacks, just lines in the “sand”. I have too wonder if this will continue to work…
Moana has a backdrop straight out of the film, flanked by tropical rocks and plants.
Our interaction with Moana was pretty awesome, especially considering it was her first day meeting with guests. You can see that in our video below:
While I lament the loss of exhibit space, I understand the need to have this in the park and it has been a noticeable void since the Magic of Disney Animation closed last year. In fairness, it is in “The Legacy Continues section” of the attraction and the latest animated film is certainly continuing in the traditions of Walt Disney. I am curious if the rest of the exhibit will return when the expansion of the park is completed, but we will have to wait to find out.
The Elena of Avalor meet and greet is currently testing at Princess Fairytale Hall at the Magic Kingdom
Now, meeting Elena is not a guarantee until 11/24, but if you see the Cinderella sign next to a crown on the board outside of Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland, there’s a good chance you could be meeting the star from the Disney Junior series.
Elena of Avalor meeting with some of her “subjects” inside Princess Fairytale Hall
On a hunch, we grabbed a FastPass+ for the experience and Elena just happened to be meeting just next door to Cinderella.
Princess Elena of Avalor meet and greet at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
I’m not one for face character interactions in my old age, but Elena was pretty charming and very talkative with all guests (even the awkward ones filming her for a blog post). I have a feeling this will be quite the popular offering once it officially starts and if her interaction with your little one (who likely loves the show) is half as good as ours was, I’m sure it will be worth your wait.
Again, the meet and greet experience with Elena of Avalor officially opens at Princess Fairytale Hall on November 24th, but is testing there currently. There is no guarantee that she will be there when you visit during this test period, but you can certainly take a shot and hope for the best. Just don’t send me nasty messages if you get Aurora…
If you’ve ever dreamed of meeting a Disney Princess during a visit to World of Disney at Disney Springs, that wish is about to come true during a one-month, limited-time offering set to debut on Saturday, October 1, 2016.
With surprise appearances each day, you could meet Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Tiana or another visiting princess – there are no set times for specific characters, but you’re always sure to receive a royal reception.
Entertainment Show Director Tom Vazzana shared the background story of the experience:
“Cinderella had a wish for her and her fellow royal princesses to have a place to meet new friends. The Fairy Godmother was able to grant her this wish, and now, tucked away in a magical corner of World of Disney is a location befitting Cinderella’s request. A magical ‘royal hall’ was created complete with tapestries and images inspired by classic fairytales.”
A Disney PhotoPass photographer will be on hand to capture each interaction, so pictures will be available for guests to purchase or download as part of their Memory Maker product purchase.
The experience will be offered from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily from October 1 – November 1, 2016. Once you check in, a cast member will share the approximate wait time and return instructions; when it’s time for you to return to the queue, you’ll be moments away from meeting a Disney Princess.
