Late last year, Disney tested out "character corals", where a well-organized space is quarantined off for character interactions and photos. The idea was good and guest feedback was positive but I think we all agreed the aesthetics of the area were not perfect.
Starting today, Christmas 2010, the corals are back but redesigned. Our good friend Paul Chadkin reports they are back in front of the Sorcerer's Hat starting today. The boxes are smaller and blue tripods have been removed and replaced with "more traditional black, retractable-belt stanchions".
The new corals are still very much tests and we'll have to see how they work out. We should have photos of these ready for Monday's Studios Update.