8 things Disney World fans want the theme park to keep doing after the pandemic

Disney World began hosting small cavalcades and socially distanced character appearances after it halted parades and character meet-and-greets in 2020 to help control crowds.

Tarriel Cannon, 21, who's visited Disney World twice in the past year, told Insider that she loves the surprise processions, especially because they're quicker than parades and help you "save time to do other things."

Juliann McGowan, 26, visited Disney World twice in 2020 and once in 2021. She told Insider that she's hoping the "random character sightings" — like Winnie the Pooh catching butterflies in Epcot — are still around when she visits again at the end of the year.

"There's something about walking around with a Dole Whip, hearing the music start, and not knowing what character you'll see," she said.

"I love the idea of getting into the park in the morning and placing my family's lunch order right on my phone," McGowan said, adding that there's less stress and pressure when you don't have to stand in a physical line with others and make a decision.

As Disney fan Kayla Hemphill pointed out when speaking with Insider, Disney World has recently started offering mobile shopping in select stores. Parkgoers can download the My Disney Experience app, and then pay for their park merchandise via their phones.

"Disney is still in the testing phase, and the stores offering this are limited, but I think this will be a great way in the future to cut down on lines," Hemphill said. She's visited the theme park twice during the pandemic.

"I appreciate some of the extra cleaning measures of ride vehicles and the like," Hemphill said. "It'll hopefully be unnecessary to do it quite as often in the future, but a small increase in cleaning makes me feel a little better!"

Kiera Ware, 21, told Insider that she's visited Disney World nearly a dozen times since the pandemic started. In that period, she said she's really grown to appreciate the Disney Park Pass Reservation System, which requires all guests to reserve their visitation dates.

"It's nice having a guaranteed spot so I don't have to rush in the morning to get in," she said. "Limited capacity is also so much better! The lines are shorter and I don't have to fight through a crowd just to get where I want to go."

Missy Mack, a Florida native who visits Disney World once or twice a week, told Insider that wait times for rides "have been cut dramatically" since Fast Passes were halted during the theme park's reopening.

"The lines seem longer due to social distancing, but it's actually made getting onto rides more efficient," she said.

"Socially distanced lines should never leave!" Ware told Insider, adding that it seems like people are now giving each other more personal space. "No one's stepping on my toes."

McGowan agreed, saying: "Let's face it. It's hot in Florida. It's nice knowing that another group won't be right on top of you while you wait to get on a ride."

Prior to the pandemic, Ware would use hand sanitizer after every ride "just to be safe," as she told Insider. Now, she and fans like Cannon agree that the new stations, which include sanitizer and instructions, are a "must keep."

"I never really noticed how many things we actually come into contact with at Disney World before taking the time to go to the restroom and finally wash our hands," Cannon said. "This could help keep people safe when the time comes for the mask mandate to be lifted."