Mickey and Minnie’s Grand Entrance at the Royal Friendship Faire

When “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” premiered on Magic Kingdom’s “Castle Forecourt Stage” this past summer, it featured several notable differences compared to its predecessor, the long-running “Dream Along with Mickey.” Perhaps the most noticeable were the addition of characters from some of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ recent hits including “The Princess and the Frog,” “Tangled,” and “Frozen.” The show was also designed so that the music and costumes for the finale could change with seasons, including the Christmas-themed finale pictured above. However, one of the most noteworthy changes was to Mickey Mouse himself.

During this year’s opening of Shanghai Disneyland, a new facial design for Mickey and Minnie in the parks was introduced in order to even closer approximate how they appear in animation. Just a few days later, the classic couple sported this look for the first time at Walt Disney World during the debut of “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire.” As of the time of my writing this, the latest castle show remains the only place to see their new look in all of Disney’s Florida theme parks aside from after-hours events such as “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.” Given that the designs are now in full-time use in both shows and meet and greet opportunities at other Disney destinations including Disneyland Resort and on the Disney Cruise Line, it shouldn’t be too much longer until the latest iteration of Mickey and Minnie start showing their smiling faces all over Walt Disney World.