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A character meet and greet shake-up is about to go down at the Walt Disney World Resort, with new characters coming in and other getting removed.
Credit: Disney
On Wednesday, March 15, Disney World confirmed several Character-based changes to its Parks, including the return of Figment and the addition of Moana, and Mirabel Madrigal.
“Beginning April 22, Moana will greet fellow voyagers on Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park – just in time for the park’s 25th anniversary,” Disney confirmed. “Fans of Figment will get the chance to hug the long-time EPCOT icon at the Imagination! pavilion beginning late summer.”
Also at EPCOT, where the most ongoing work from Walt Disney Imagineering has been concentrated, it was confirmed that Mickey Mouse and Friends will be given a new Meet and Greet spot over by Communicore. That experience is expected to open later this year.
Credit: Disney
But it is not all additions as the latest experience transformation is announced for Magic Kingdom Park. As the Fairytale Gardens currently hosting the meet and greet spot for Merida, the princess heroine from Disney/Pixar’s Brave will be rethemed in the style of La Familia Madrigal and become the new home of the star of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ feature film Encanto, Mirabel Madrigal. It is unclear at the time if Merida’s constantly-popular meet and greet spot will be relocated or removed entirely.
Credit: Disney
These character additions follow other moments of post-lockdown and post-restriction character revivals, including the return of Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus, Princess Ariel’s return to her grotto in Fantasyland, and the return of Princess Cinderella, Prince Charming, and other Disney Royals to Cinderella’s Royal Table Character Dining.
These announcements also come alongside a slew of other exciting news that includes additions to “Happily Ever After,” the first look at EPCOT’s upcoming firework spectacular, and updates concerning the development of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
