There are thousands of videos of children meeting their favourite characters at Disney World and Disneyland and giving them very long cuddles, on social media.
And there’s a very good reason for these extra-lengthy squeezes – the Disney Hug Rule.
The Disney Hug Rule is an unofficial guideline for actors at the parks to only pull away from a hug when the child does, allowing the little one to hug the character for as long as they want.
The rule is in place due to the heartwarming sentiment from Walt Disney; ‘You never know how much that child may need that hug.’
And many parents have posted sweet videos of their children embracing everyone, from Winnie the Pooh to Tigger to Elsa from Frozen.
There are many montages of these videos on TikTok – including one from @Flickdash, which has been liked more than 496,000 times.
And in one very cute video, posted by McCall Cook, a little girl called Hazel June is seen running up to Anna from Frozen, hugging her, and refusing to let go for more than two minutes.
In the video, liked by 3.3 million people, Anna constantly talks to Hazel and asks her questions, remaining in character throughout the long hug – and Hazel even goes in for a second embrace.
The Disney Hug Rule is an unofficial guideline for actors at the parks to only pull away from a hug when the child does, allowing the little one to hug the character for as long as they want
Hazel’s mum McCall captioned the video: I THINK SHE BROKE THE RECORD WHAT DO YOU THINK?
‘The Disney hug rule means that characters are to never let go of the child’s hug first and to allow the child to hug as long as they want!
‘I think hazie wouldve sat there all day long if there wasnt a line behind us haha.’
The adorable video has more than 10,200 comments – and people are welling up.
One said: ‘I’m sorry but how do you not break down crying every time this happens?’
Another added: ‘Why does the Disney hug rule always make me cryyy����❤️❤️healing that inner child in me.’
A third said: ‘This is so pure and innocent ohh my heart.’
But a few people also wondered whether the parents should’ve stepped in to break up the hug, and let the next child in the queue have their turn.
The rule is in place due to the heartwarming sentiment from Walt Disney; ‘You never know how much that child may need that hug’
One said: ‘As a parent, I would have stopped it earlier.’
Another blasted: ‘The parents should know that the hug went on for way too long as they put the Disney worker in an awkward position.’
It comes after a Disney World visitor ignited a heated debate on social media after claiming she was denied access to a ride due to her ‘inappropriate’ gym attire.
Nicole Arena, a personal trainer from the U.S., took to TikTok earlier this month to document her experience during a visit to Orlando’s Walt Disney World Epcot park with her husband.
In a series of videos posted to her account @arenalifts, Arena said she was ‘dress-coded’ for wearing a white Nike sports bra and black leggings – an outfit she described as typical gym wear.
