Disney has announced a new addition for some of its hotels, but we’re not sure how to feel about it and we want YOUR input!
It’s been a BUSY time for Disney World’s hotels. Construction is actively taking place on the Disney Vacation Club Villas being built at Disney’s Polynesian Village. There’s also a LOT of work happening at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (seriously, it’s an intense construction zone over there in certain areas). Plus, we’ve seen updates that’ll make your hotel pool day much fancier, and other things happening around the resorts. But now we’ve got one update that is…interesting.
Disney has announced a NEW addition for the lobbies at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. The addition is called “Disney Character Clicks” and it’s powered by At&T 5G.
So just what is it? Well, basically it’s a…photo booth(?) of sorts. It’s a complimentary PhotoPass experience that’ll only be available for a limited time.
When you enter these lobbies, look for the Character Clicks photo box. You can tap your MagicBand, Key to the World Card, or Disney MagicMobile Pass to the reader on the box, and then select a Disney character to digitally appear in photos with you. The characters are all dressed up in their outfits for the 100th Anniversary.
We spotted Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, and Pluto as some of the digital character options.
You can select multiple characters to appear in your photo. Once you select the characters you want, you’ll step back and watch as they pop up on the screen. Then you can pose with them and get some shots. You’ll find free photo downloads from your session on the My Disney Experience app or DisneyWorld.com/PhotoPass.
On the one hand, this is an easy way to snap some photos with Disney characters in outfits themed to the 100th Anniversary. We don’t expect these booths will have tremendously long lines, so it’ll also likely be much quicker to do this than it would be to get in line for a “traditional” character meet and greet.
While Disney has done some character caravans at the hotels where some characters appear in their 100th Anniversary outfits to meet with guests, those aren’t guaranteed to pop up during your stay. You’ll need to be at the right place at the right time to see one of those.
And it’s otherwise difficult to find Mickey in his 100th Anniversary outfit in Disney World, though it appears Mickey and Minnie are set to meet guests in their 100th Anniversary outfits in EPCOT once that park becomes the “host” of the celebration in Disney World later in the year.
So, ultimately, this provides you with a more “guaranteed” way of snapping that character photo with a 100th Anniversary outfit theme.
On the other hand, it is not a true character meet-and-greet experience by any means. You can’t hug the characters, get autographs, talk to them and see their response, or interact with them in any real way. They pop up on the screen, move around a bit, and then you take the photo — that’s basically it.
And while the photos make it sort of look like the character is “there” with you, it’s not perfect. It won’t really replace a true character meet-and-greet photo.
It’s essentially just an enhanced version of a Snapchat or photo filter in a way, which may frustrate some fans who feel like they can already get a similar effect by just using the technology on their phones or computers.
But what do YOU think? Do you like this addition? Do you think it’s something Disney should do more of? What do you think Disney should have done instead of this 100th Anniversary offering? Tell us in the comments!
For more hotel news, check out our posts below:
- See When Two Hotel Rooms Can Be a Better Deal Than One Big Room in Disney World
- 3 Hotels in Disney World that Won’t Let You Down, We Promise
- Exclusive Hotel Discounts Announced for Disney World
- How Disney World Hotel Prices Will Change by 2024
- These Disney World Hotels Will Have BRAND NEW ROOMS in 2024
And stay tuned for more updates!
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What do you think of this addition? Tell us in the comments.
Vicki Barrett says
Okay soooo Disney is FINALLY offering something in the form of a free perk to hotel guests in value class and “ we’re not sure how we feel about it “ ??? It’s about darn Time that they start giving something back!!! Even if it’s just some little memento for the corner of your scrap book page! Let’s just hope that Disney begins to bring back hotel guest perks for those of us that can’t afford $900 a night rooms .
Kelsy says
At character meet-and-greets, they have moved toward automated cameras instead of photographers. This could easily be a test market for a bigger rollout of digital characters instead of real characters. Performers, costumes, and character attendants aren’t cheap. I’m concerned this is a move to increase profits that will “accidentally” kill magic.
Steven Carey says
This looks more like a way for Disney to cheap out than to provide a guest experience. I would expect to see more of this and less “real “ characters and interactions if they can get away with it.
Krysta says
I think the character click is a good idea for those kiddos that might be apprehensive to take a photo with the actual character. It could be a good way to introduce a child to the experience without traumatizing them. It is also nice to have options with regards to photos with the characters. Sometimes those lines are just too long and it is too hot – (we go down in July).
Lori says
While it might be a fun thing to do with little kids when you first arrive at the hotel, especially if you won’t be going to a park on arrival day, I won’t deny I got an unpleasant feeling of “experiment” reading this. Like is it a progression from the character meet and greet that isn’t attended by a Photo Pass cast member and just has the camera that takes (awful) photos automatically? Will this be a way to phase out ACTUAL meet and greets as a staffing cut?
For me other than the situation I mentioned at the start, this wouldn’t be something I’d likely participate in. There is NO substitute for a visit with an actual character.
Jan Bond says
I think the temporary photo opportunities are just another way for Disney to avoid hiring sufficient cast members. I do not like it.
Susan Ski says
I like the snap meet n greet. It’s a nice way to get Free pics with characters and saves money for a real greet and meet. You can still do a real meet n greet but if moneys an object, this is good. I’d like to see them in all the lobbies
Mary Steinwandt says
Another way for Disney to make $$$!
Don says
I can photoshop a whole trip to WDW from the comfort of my home. It doesn’t mean I got to go on a vacation. This is a hard pass and another way for Disney to try to save money at the expense of the guest. My disgust with this company can’t get much greater than it has the past few years. Even with the fall guy Chapek out of the way, it is obvious Bob Iger is much to blame.
Lyn says
The novelty is great, but the concept is terrifying for the future of employment. AI, holograms, etc will take precedence over human character meets, to save the almighty dollar.
karen says
it’s a free perk. what’s not to like.
naturaldisastergirl says
On the one hand, I think it’s better than nothing, if the alternative is nothing where these are. I imagine that one of the reasons this is where and what it is, is because it is not terribly expensive to provide, and people who can’t or don’t want to spend time at character experiences can still get a photo with Mickey and others. But the one objection I do have is why just the four characters? If you do go to any character meals or experiences, these are some of the most accessible characters. Why not use this to provide a little more diversity in the characters available for a photo op? Especially characters that can’t be reasonably rendered in meet and greets, like animal characters. Or Jack Skellington. Plenty of others that would make this a new must-do.
Chrystie says
I think it’s a cute idea. I don’t think people will use it to replace their Meet and Greets, just a little something extra. At least that’s how I would use it.
Kerryann says
I love it! I think that is so cute. I will be staying in the Art of Animation and I am bummed that the photos will not be in my hotel. I like the idea.
Bill says
I cant see using this “feature”. seems like a cheat. If i am spending the money to go to disney, i want to meet the real characters, not get an instagram pic
DENNIS S. says
It’s a mindset. If you think of it as a “replacement” for a meet and greet, then yeah it’s disappointing. But if think of it as what it is, a little thing that will impress the kids as a quick first arrival souvenir.
As an adult with no kids, it would be the picture that I wouldn’t have to stand in line for.
Plus I like “tech-y” things. It would be one more thing that would fill the curiosity space in my brain.
Mark Plante says
Disney will love this. This way they don’t have to pay a cast member to dress up as one of the characters and eventually, knowing Disney, guess they’re gonna have to pay for this. This is just another example of Disney, taking away something from the pox to save money.