A special thank you to Disney Food Blog and Bioreconstruct for the images used in this article.
Since the pandemic began, Walt Disney World has been missing many of the entertainment options that we greatly enjoyed at the theme parks and beyond. Even when some live entertainment has returned, its often featured far less performers than before with modified shows… and as I’ve reported before, those changes are sometimes presented as if they’re temporary when they’re not. A winnowing of entertainment options has been at the top of cost-reduction measures for Disney World, and the pandemic has simply been an opportunity for a reset.
However, because the WDW Marathan is not run through the same executives or departments, the race actually featured familiar faces that once added a huge level of atmosphere to the parks. Essentially, these individuals were booked through special event budgets, while day-to-day Park Operations budgets are closed to bringing these people back. It’s a sad situation for those performers who have been at Disney sometimes for decades.
🚨 We have a CITIZENS OF HOLLYWOOD sighting at the #WDWMarathon 🎥 pic.twitter.com/LPXQq1yIhk
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 9, 2022
That even meant that characters from the now-removed Adventurer’s Club from Pleasure Island were back in action. Kungaloosh!
https://twitter.com/smartwatermelon/status/1480321495343771650
Even the luau crew was back!
Polynesian Revue seen halfway through #WDWMarathon today! pic.twitter.com/iVleZaCqko
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) January 9, 2022
While it’s fun to see people who once performed at Walt Disney World back for a single event, it’s also a sad reminder that these individuals would likely love to return. These are the performers who brought the special flavors and atmosphere that made Disney Parks unique. Although the cost of going to Disney World continues to rise, we continue to await the full value of the ticket being given to customers — it’s far beyond time that Disney bring back the live entertainment options.
Let us know in the comments below which performers you miss most at Walt Disney World. It would likely make their day!
