Disney World Says Goodbye to Another Pandemic-Era Tradition, Effective Immediately

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is undergoing significant transformations, marking the end of some features introduced during the pandemic. Among these changes, the park has retired the last of its character flotillas, a staple of Disney World’s creative response to COVID-19 restrictions.

When Walt Disney World Resort reopened in July 2020 after months of closure, pandemic measures reshaped the guest experience.

Walt Disney World introduced several operational changes that redefined the guest experience. Park reservations became mandatory, requiring visitors to book access in advance to manage capacity. Attendance limits were strictly enforced, and experiences like fireworks, parades, and traditional character meet-and-greets were suspended.

While most restrictions have eased over time – such as eliminating capacity limits and reservation requirements for dated tickets – annual passholders still need reservations for pre-2 p.m. visits on non-“good-to-go” days (with “good-to-go” days offering reservation-free access). These measures have marked a shift toward more controlled and pre-planned park visits, reshaping how guests engage with Disney magic.

But back to those character meet-and-greets.

Traditional meet-and-greets were initially replaced by distanced interactions, with character flotillas becoming a unique solution at Animal Kingdom.

Characters like Pocahontas and Goofy would glide along Discovery River, waving to guests from themed boats. While most park activities have returned to normal since then, the flotillas lingered until May 2024, when the last character flotilla transitioned to traditional meet-and-greets.

The Discovery Island Drummers, a pre-pandemic performance group from Pandora – World of Avatar reimagined for the flotilla format, were the final act to carry on the tradition. However, this week, Disney removed their performance entirely, replacing it with a new act: the Eco-Rhythmics Drummers.

The Eco-Rhythmics now perform near the Cementosaurus in what’s left of DinoLand U.S.A., offering hourly shows from morning until mid-afternoon.

These changes come amid broader updates at Animal Kingdom. DinoLand U.S.A. recently closed its remaining attractions, paving the way for a new Tropical Americas-themed land inspired by Encanto (2021) and the Indiana Jones franchise.

While this expansion excites many Disney fans, it has sparked debate within the community, with some (by which we mean us) lamenting the loss of DinoLand’s prehistoric theme.

Additionally, the park is preparing to unveil Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, a 3D experience replacing the long-standing (and, let’s face it, terrifying) It’s Tough to be a Bug! inside the iconic Tree of Life. This new attraction promises to bring the world of Zootopia into Disney World without giving it its own fully-fledged land, as some originally feared would be the case in DinoLand U.S.A.

Will you miss Animal Kingdom’s character flotillas?