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Two more Disney theme park resorts will finally join Disney World in offering a brand-new experience to guests that features one of Walt Disney Animation‘s newest characters.
Credit: Becky Burkett
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Fans LOVE Meet-and-Greets
Character meet-and-greet opportunities at Disney Parks are a long-standing tradition. Guests of all ages look forward to meeting Mickey Mouse and posing with him as PhotoPass photographers digitally capture the magic of the moment. Disney fans are usually eager to meet their favorite Disney princesses as well, whether that’s Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana, Princess Aurora, or Princess Jasmine. Meet-and-greets are among the most nostalgic experiences Disney World guests can experience, especially in places like Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom.
Credit: Becky Burkett
And when new films are released by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, and PIXAR Animation Studios, new character experience opportunities in the parks often follow, as has just happened at Disney World with the Asha meet-and-greet experience that debuted at EPCOT on Wednesday.
Meet Asha From Disney’s “Wish”
Disney invites guests to “strike a picture-worthy pose with Asha from the upcoming Disney film, Wish,” and take a few minutes to get to know Disney’s newest animated character, described as “an optimistic dreamer and leader-in-the-making” who “cares about the people of [her hometown of] Rosas and is proud to live in the Kingdom of Wishes.”
Credit: Walt Disney Animation
Exciting new character meet-and-greet experiences with Asha were first announced at the 2022 D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. The experience debuted at EPCOT at the Walt Disney World Resort on Wednesday morning, and on Wednesday afternoon, Disney announced that guests at Disneyland Resort in California will soon get to meet Asha as well.
Asha from Disney’s “Wish” (2023)/Credit: Disney Parks
On Wednesday afternoon, Disney announced that Asha will be making her way to Disneyland Resort as well, where she will begin meeting guests from near and far on November 22, the same day the film Wish (2023) is officially released in theaters (though select theaters will premiere the film on November 18.)
NEW: Asha from #Wish will start making appearances at Disneyland Resort beginning Nov. 22. Asha will appear outside The Royal Hall in Fantasyland.
Asha will head to Disneyland Paris later in the month. pic.twitter.com/pay428bFuu
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) November 1, 2023
Guests began meeting Asha on Wednesday morning at EPCOT at the gazebo near the entrance to World Showcase (known as World Showcase Plaza). Meeting times can be found on the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit.
Credit: Disney Parks
According to Disney’s announcement on Wednesday afternoon, Asha will also begin meeting guests at Disneyland Paris later in November, though no specific date has been revealed for that character meet-and-greet experience.
Asha is the main character in Disney’s newest animated film, Wish. She’s only 17 years old and has no royal connections (that are known as of yet). Asha enjoys living in the community of Rosas, but one day, she notices something that must be fixed, resolved, and taken care of, so she wishes on a star for a solution. But the answer she receives is far more direct than what she imagined, setting into motion a series of additional “things” that must be tended to.
What role will the villain, King Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine) play in Asha’s journey? That remains to be seen.
Disney’s “Wish” (2023)/Credit: Walt Disney Animation
Though the storyline has yet to be revealed completely, some critics suggest one of the morals of the story in Disney’s Wish is to be careful what you, well, wish for.
Disney’s Wish makes its magical theatrical debut at theaters across the country, beginning November 22.
