Character Interaction Returns To Disneyland Resort: Hug Mickey Today

ANAHEIM, CA — Disneyland Resort guests get a bit of magic back this week as the park returns to in-person character greetings. On Monday, the park reintroduced the one-on-one character interactions to the delight of fans.

Kids of all ages can now hug Mickey Mouse, get an autograph from Ariel and more. Shawn Slater, Senior Communications Manager of Disney Live Entertainment, discussed returning to "the old" normal at Disneyland.

"We know many of you have missed these special moments, and your Disney character friends have missed you too," Slater said in a recently released statement.

For families, this part of interacting with heroes, villains, princesses and Pixar pals is one of the time-honored traditions that was stripped away during the coronavirus pandemic. Many parents of littles have made do with waving from afar or posing in front of characters who wave and talk over a distance has been a good feeling. However, if you know what you're missing, you know what you're missing.

"This is exciting, but we will miss it by one day," mother Alison wrote on the Disney Parks Blog site. "My little girls won't be little for much longer."

Other fans looked forward to returning to autograph books, Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique makeovers, character dining, and getting some friendly warm hugs from Olaf at the meet-and-greet experiences.

Still, others discussed how the "wave and play" character spots made things magical without having to line-wait.

"Well, it was nice while it lasted," said Kelly. "It's much more enjoyable to stroll up for a quick selfie rather than wait in a long line."

"During the past two years, we've taken a very gradual, intentional approach to health and safety protocols," Slater said. "Recent trends and guidance have provided opportunities for us to bring back some of our most beloved magic, like character greetings and dining experiences."

Not all locations will be available immediately, and they plan to reopen in phases at parks across the world.

This spring, Disneyland will see the return of several beloved nighttime spectaculars, including “World of Color,” “Disneyland Forever,” “Fantasmic!” and the “Main Street Electrical Parade,” celebrating its 50th anniversary starting this week.

What do you think about this return to character greetings? Yay! or no way? Let us know in the comments, share your favorite character memories by emailing your Patch editor.