Disney tourists can once again meet favorite characters soon after two-year hiatus

Tourists at Disney theme parks have waved to their favorite characters during the COVID-19 pandemic, but soon they’ll be able to meet them up close again.

Disney Parks announced character greetings at Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida will return as soon as April 18. Character meet-and-greets will also return on the Disney Cruise Line and at the Aulani Resort in Hawaii.

“Very soon, you will once again be able to hug Mickey Mouse, get an autograph from Mulan, and share a laugh with Goofy,” Disney Parks said in a March 31 news release. “We know many of you have missed these special moments, and your Disney character friends have missed you, too!”

The character greetings have been paused for two years to help slow the spread of COVID-19. However, new guidance and trends show it’s a good time to bring character greetings and dining experiences back for tourists, Disney said.

Not all locations will be immediately available on April 18. Disney expects to reopen in phases during the spring and early summer.

Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World have adapted to changing COVID-19 face mask and social distancing guidance since the pandemic began.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California, shut its doors to guests March 14, 2020, as the coronavirus began to spread through the U.S.

The theme park stayed closed for 412 days before reopening Friday, April 30, 2021. At the time, only California residents could visit the park with a limited capacity.

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, also shut down for nearly four months before reopening parts of the theme park July 11, 2020. At the time, all guests older than 2 were required to wear face coverings.

Tourists also had their temperatures checked before entering the park.

This story was originally published March 31, 2022 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Disney tourists can once again meet favorite characters soon after two-year hiatus."