Disneyland has made significant changes to select character meet-and-greet experiences.
Character meet-and-greets have been a beloved part of Disneyland since the park's opening in 1955, ranging from Walt Disney's classic creations, such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Donald Duck, to more modern characters, such as superheroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars characters, and newer princesses such as Elsa and Rapunzel.
Disneyland After Darks' New Wave and Play Interaction System
Disneyland events have long offered rare opportunities for guests to meet hard-to-find characters, such as Pain and Panic, or even villains like Sid from Toy Story (1995). These after-hours gatherings, including popular themes like Oogie Boogie Bash, often create unforgettable moments with exclusive photo ops that are not typically available during regular park hours.
In 2025, Disneyland is continuing its trend with themed Disneyland After Dark nights like 90s Nite, Sweethearts’ Nite, Pride Nite, and Star Wars Nite. However, this week's 90s Nite saw a dramatic shift in how character meet-and-greets are handled, particularly in Fantasyland Theatre.
Update for tonight’s character experiences at fantasyland theater
byu/Noodlesaurus90 inDisneyland
According to a notice shared on Reddit, guests were informed on March 6 that characters would no longer be available for traditional photo ops. Instead, they were only allowed to engage in “wave and play” interactions with characters like Darkwing Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, Launchpad McQuack, and Scrooge McDuck.
“Disney PhotoPass will not be available for these characters,” the notice explained. “Event Guests will have the opportunity to take photos of the characters on their own devices as they walk through the location.”
This new system mirrors a similar restriction imposed during Star Wars Nite last year, with no traditional photo ops allowed. Instead, fans were told they could only take pictures with droids or in front of specific backgrounds.
Guests React to the Changes
Standby lines, which had previously been used for character interactions, have admittedly caused chaos at these events.
One guest, who attended Disneyland After Dark's 90s Nite, shared frustrations about long lines and wait times. “I waited in line for an hour, and the characters all went on break as I was walking towards them,” they said. “I waited for 45 minutes and nothing… I left… wasted about two hours to get a picture with a cardboard cut-out of Gizmo Duck.”
Others have spoken positively about the shift to the “wave and play” experience, especially during the Star Wars Nite in 2023. “The line went from Fantasyland Theatre past the Frontierland entrance,” a guest wrote, recalling the chaos caused by lengthy standby lines. “I’m so glad that they changed it to a walkthrough ‘wave and play' experience last year.”
Despite the changes to character interactions, Disneyland's 90s Nite still provided plenty of nostalgia, from a decade-inspired parade to Goofy and Max's Dance Party. Parkgoers also enjoyed themed photo opportunities, singalongs, limited-edition treats, and exclusive merchandise.
The event also brought shorter lines for some of Disneyland Park’s most popular attractions, which was a welcome relief for many attendees. With Star Wars Nite on the horizon, it remains to be seen how the new “wave and play” system will impact the fan experience during the upcoming events, which kick off on April 8.
Are you planning to attend a Disneyland After Dark event this year?
