Visiting Walt Disney World in summer 2021 may feel a lot like a visit back in February 2020. No mandatory masks, rides are loading at full capacity, no social distancing mandates, and even nightly fireworks shows have returned. However, things aren’t completely back to “normal” just yet, as several experiences are still unavailable. And while Disney has been providing regular operational updates on changing conditions in their theme parks, they haven’t released any updates on the return of the following Disney experiences, which has led some to wonder when (or if) they’ll be returning
1. Parades
Prior to 2020, parades were on the decline at Walt Disney World, with the Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy being the only parade that was performed regularly. And while Disney has replaced daily parades with “character cavalcades” where characters hop on a float or vehicle and wave at guests from a distance, many wondered if the fan-favorite Boo to You parade could mark a return for this entertainment option this fall as part of the Disney After Hours Boo Bash.
However, Disney confirmed that while character cavalcades would indeed be a part of this event, no parade would be offered. Unfortunately, this has led some to speculate that parades may be done permanently at Walt Disney World, as Disney seems to prefer the character cavalcades in the post-COVID-19 world. And unfortunately, right now it looks like unless Disney announces a surprise return of their holiday parade this November, it looks like this entertainment option could be gone for awhile.
2. FastPass+
Love it or hate it, FastPass+ was an integral part of the Walt Disney World experience for nearly a decade, and helped usher in a new era of pre-planning at Walt Disney World. And while FastPass+ could not be brought back last summer during the resort’s initial reopening due to capacity restrictions and spacing issues, with social distancing officially a thing of the past and all rides operating at full capacity, many have wondered why Disney hasn’t reinstated this feature of My Disney Experience, especially with summer crowds surging.
Unfortunately for FastPass+, this could be a case where Disney is working behind-the-scenes to convert this formerly free offering into an upcharge premium option. We know that Disney has tested out paid FastPass in the past, and even before the 2020 closure there was speculation that the Disney Genie app could be a paid FastPass vehicle. Taking all this in to account, it seems increasingly likely that Disney may be preparing to unveil a paid FastPass option in the near future, potentially in time for the resort’s 50th anniversary (and the opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot), leaving the formerly free FastPass+ firmly in the past.
3. Fantasmic!
Earlier this month Disney fans were elated to learn that nighttime spectaculars at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom were returning to operation in July. However, those who were hoping that Disney’s Hollywood Studios favorite Fantasmic would also be coming back were unfortunately disappointed to learn that this nighttime spectacular still does not have a return date.
Because Fantasmic has not been operational in over a year, there are concerns about maintenance issues with some of the mechanical elements of the show, which could be one reason why Disney has yet to commit to a reopening date for this fan favorite. However, as crowds flood Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer (this park has the least availability on the parks pass calendar), many are hoping that Disney will make the repairs and adjustments necessary to get Fantasmic back online soon to help improve capacity at this park in the evening hours.
4. Character meet and greets
Right now Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, and of course all the princesses, are still meeting guests “at a distance” as part of cavalcades and pop-up appearances throughout the day. However, with vaccination rates across the country increasing, many are hoping that the personal one-on-one character interactions that you might find at the Princess Fairytale Hall might return soon. And while we have no doubt that Disney will eventually reinstate these experiences, it seems unlikely they will do so before the end of the year, as cavalcades and distanced meet and greets are expected to continue through the fall as part of the Disney After Hours Boo Bash. However, hopefully in 2022 these experiences will return and guests can once again look forward to hugging Cinderella or giving Minnie Mouse a high five!
Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and there are several other experiences that Disney has yet to bring back in the theme parks in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. What would you like to see brought back in the months to come?
