Disney Character Greetings and Hoop-Dee-Doo Returning Soon
Friends, I can finally relay the news you’ve wanted to hear for so long. Not one but TWO of your favorite things at Disney are returning soon!
They’re Baaaaaack
Okay, you heard the video. Sure, there wasn’t any dialogue, but you get the point.
Yes, Disney character interactions, the REAL ones, will return soon at Disney theme parks.
Disney strongly hinted that this move was in the offing. Recently, TikTok has turned into the company’s go-to site for many reveals.
On Wednesday, @disneyparks posted this:
Now, we know the specifics from that teaser.
On April 18th, all of Disney’s American parks and resorts will restore the prior version of character greetings.
Yes, I mean hugs and hand holding and everything else. The next time you’re at a Disney park, you’ll feel like the pandemic never happened.
Even better, the change applies to all phases of Disney’s theme park empire.
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa and Disney Cruise Line will also restore such interactions.
Disney has hosted character sightings for the past two years rather than physical interactions. Thankfully, those days are over!
We’re only about two weeks away from hugging Mickey and Minnie Mouse again!
This decision demonstrates Disney’s confidence that the worst of the pandemic is in the rearview mirror.
I believe that the move is permanent to the point that a LOT must go wrong before park officials reconsider.
In short, I think you can safely plan upcoming Disney vacations without wondering whether Disney will reverse this decision.
Twice the Great News!
I must confess that I miscalculated this week. I held back on writing this update in anticipation of bigger news in the offing.
Disney held a kind of investor day at the parks. So, I expected more headlines than actually came from the event.
Still, one big story did sorta come out of nowhere. Despite strong rumors that it may never return, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is coming back!
The beloved dinner show at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground will reopen on June 23rd.
Once again, Disney broke the news on TikTok:
In the process, the company quietly revealed some changes to the presentation. For example, the clip shows a new set.
That aligns with reports that park officials have sought to modernize the show, whose Disney history traces back to 1974.
Disney believes it’s the most frequently performed show of all time, which made the rumors of its death sound unreliable…right up until Spirit of Aloha died.
After that, many of us were willing to believe that Hoop-Dee-Doo might be next to go. But, thankfully, that’s not the case.
About the Return
If you’re interested in going to a show, you should schedule a calendar reminder for May 26th.
That’s the date when Disney brings back Advanced Dining Reservations for the show. I strongly suspect that the earliest dates will sell out quickly.
As an aside, Disney hasn’t indicated how much it will change the dinner show. Still, you should expect some modest updates rather than the version you remember.
Here’s a full video of the presentation that somebody uploaded to YouTube:
On a personal note, I’m euphoric that this one is returning, as it comes with happy memories for my family.
My in-laws celebrated part of their 50th-anniversary vacation at dinner here. And yes! They “won” the competition as the couple who had been married the longest!
The person who won the birthday one that night was 102, so…respect.
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