The max numbers of characters on the steamboat did decrease by one (36 -> 35), but more importanly, imo, is how many now do the ribbon dance choreography.
(from left to right)
2020 (36):
Bottom row (15):
Tiana
Belle
Beast
Stitch
Donald
Minnie
Pluto
Goofy
Chip
Dale
Pinocchio
Geppetto
Rafiki
Brer Bear
Baloo
Top Row (14):
Moana
Sneezy
Grumpy
Doc
Prince
Snow White
Dopey
Bashful
Sleepy
Happy
Aladdin
Jasmine
Ariel
Eric
Top Deck (7):
Mickey
Meeks
Pocahontas
John Smith
Mary Poppins
Bert
Genie
2022 (35):
Bottom row (16 [+1]):
Belle
Beast
Tiana
Naveen
Pocahontas
Meeko
Minnie
Pluto
Goofy
Chip
Dale
Pinocchio
Geppetto
Rafiki
Stitch
Top Row (14 [+0]):
Moana
Sneezy
Grumpy
Doc
Prince
Snow White
Dopey
Bashful
Sleepy
Happy
Li Shang
Mulan
Ariel
Eric
Top Deck (5 [-2]):
Mickey
Elsa
Aladdin
Jasmine
Mary Poppins
One additional CM was added to the ribbon dance, which is Prince Naveen. There was usually 3 characters at the bottom front, but now there's 4.
Two characters were removed from the top deck, one moved to bottom row and one gone permanently. They can always add another character to the top deck again, like Anna to be paired with Elsa, or perhaps the Genie again.
Regardless, having more characters do the ribbon choreography is a plus for me, especially since it was revamped to where they spin (again) and look up to Mickey!
Would also note that pre-closure, some characters would consistency be missing from the steamboat finale. So while the max was 36, on most nights it was actually 34 or even less. Snow White and Prince are usually the first ones to go, then Rafiki, then the Dwarfs.
Now since its return for the past month? Has consistently remained at 35; would sometimes go down to 34 when Rafiki/Old Hag was out for the night.
Also something I noticed recently - The ribbons now have straps on them so CMs can't let go and accidentally drop the ribbons, for safety. They should implement this at DL because it's so common over there for CMs to accidentally drop their ribbons, especially with the Pixar characters in the back.
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