Credit: DisneyDisney has made a major change to some character meet-and-greets this week.
For decades, guests have been able to meet iconic Disney characters at locations across the globe. Whether you’re meeting Snow White at Disneyland Resort or Daisy Duck in Tokyo Disney Resort, the experience typically involves costumed performers who closely resemble their animated counterparts, greeting guests for photos, autographs, and brief conversations.
However, Disney has introduced the occasional tweak to its meet-and-greets.
During COVID-19, guests were restricted from the usual hugs and instead encouraged to take distant selfies with characters from afar. For example, you could often spot Winnie the Pooh roaming the grass at EPCOT, trying to catch butterflies, while flotillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom sent characters like Pocahontas, Goofy, and Pluto gliding down Discovery River.
In the years since COVID-19, Disney has gradually scrapped these pandemic-era offerings.
However, it has recently restored the idea of taking selfies with characters instead of queuing up for meet-and-greets aboard the Disney Adventure.
Disney Ditches Traditional Meet-and-Greets For Selfies
Disney’s newest cruise ship set sail from Singapore for the first time earlier this week.
Like all new Disney properties, it’s faced its fair share of teething issues. Guests have complained about the chaos of securing timed slots to shop its gift shops, while its mattresses (or should we say the lack of mattresses) have drawn ire on social media.
One of the biggest issues involved character meet and greets.
During its maiden voyage, guests were required to book advance slots to meet characters like Duffy, Moana, and Captain Jack Sparrow aboard the Disney Adventure. By the ship’s second sailing, however, the format had changed. Guests still reserve 15 or 30-minute slots, but these now only allow for a distanced selfie rather than one-on-one interaction.
Princess selfies are also being held several times today ✨👑
This time with Jasmine, Rapunzel, and Snow WhiteApp listing: 【Selfies at Sea: Disney Royals】
Disney Adventure
プリンセスのセルフィーも今日は数回開催✨👑
この時はジャスミン、ラプンツェル、白雪姫アプリ表記は【Selfies at Sea: Disney
Royals】ディズニーアドベンチャー https://t.co/s9xYB8xntn pic.twitter.com/YnQYj8MLMw
— Hitomi (@Ratatouille30) March 14, 2026
Some slots are more general, with the “Disney Royals” gathering bringing a random array of princesses and “Disney Pals” involving a random selection from the Fab Five – AKA Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, and Goofy.
Disney officially calls these slots “Selfies at Sea” – and they haven’t exactly gone down well with guests.
Guests had previously experienced issues with the booking system aboard the ship. It’s unclear whether the Selfies at Sea are permanent. As demand cools aboard the Disney Adventure, there’s every chance that regular meet-and-greets will return. For now, however, selfies are as good as it gets.
How Else is the Disney Adventure Different?
The Disney Adventure is arguably Disney’s most unique cruise ship yet.
Not only is it based in Singapore – a first for the Disney Cruise Line – but it wasn’t technically built by Disney. The company purchased the partially constructed ship from Genting Hong Kong.
Aboard the Disney Adventure, guests can explore seven themed areas: Disney Discovery Reef, Toy Story Place, Wayfinder Bay, Marvel Landing, San Fransokyo Street, Town Square, and Disney Imagination Garden. Marvel Landing is home to Ironcycle Test Run, Disney’s first roller coaster at sea, plus two other Marvel-inspired attractions: Pym Quantum Racers and Groot Galaxy Spin.
Fittingly, Robert Downey Jr. – AKA the godfather of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – is the Disney Adventure’s godparent. The Tony Stark actor (who will soon take on the new role of Doctor Doom in the franchise) christened the ship in a ceremony earlier this month.
What do you think of the decision to switch character meet and greets to Selfies at Sea?