Get a Fast Pass to Meet Mickey...Starting this Spring

[WaltD4Me]

The Disney Blog just posted that starting this Spring, you will be able to get a Fast Pass to meet Mickey in Exposition Hall at MK.

Quote.......

Once open, it’ll be more than just a new greeting space for Mickey. Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for Magic Kingdom park guests, including an interactive queue – with an extra touch of Disney magic. Also, during the New Fantasyland construction, royalty will be visiting as the Disney Princesses will be in Town Square Theater to meet and greet their loyal subjects this spring.

How will it work? Magic Kingdom guests will be able obtain a Disney’s FASTPASS specifying a one-hour window when they can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs – without waiting in the standby queue. This marks the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been utilized for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.

Walt Disney Imagineers are already working to completely transform the space for the new experience. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more updates on this one-of-a-kind experience.

Here is link to the Blog page
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...P=SOC-DPFY11Q2TwitterDisneyParks22-02-11@0020

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Wow, that sounds good to me.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

I agree - sounds great!

 

[Aburns8]

I like that idea! Hopefully when I go in May it is up and running.

 

[sayhello]

I agree! Great idea.

Sayhello

 

[WDWTraveler1990]

Good idea. Sounds like this is more then just the usual M&G. I wonder if this M&G will have the talking Mickey head that was tested at DL.

 

[rotlex]

Now this sounds like a GREAT idea!

 

[ADP]

It is a good idea to reduce wait times, but as Kevin said in another thread the guest experience is becoming automated. Fastpasses for character meet & greets just adds to the automated experience. You can look at it this way too....You don't have to take a Fastpass.

 

[Cherinva]

It's not a bad idea, especially for those with little children that have a hard time waiting in those long lines....

 

[cannp123165]

Sounds like a great idea!

 

[doconeill]

It is a good idea to reduce wait times, but as Kevin said in another thread the guest experience is becoming automated. Fastpasses for character meet & greets just adds to the automated experience. You can look at it this way too....You don't have to take a Fastpass.

Unless it turns into a TSM situation - it is so slow, it's either a two-hour wait or you get a FP first thing in the morning.

 

[auroralark]

Sounds like a great idea to me. Hope they do it for other characters in the future.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm curious to see how they do this. I would think they would have to have a FP line and standby line just like they do for rides, the Mickey one is going to be inside Exposition line with an interactive line apparently, I can't see them doing that for alot of characters, maybe just the most popular ones.

 

[tjevans]

I guess I'm like Kevin (I haven't heard or read his comments, so I can't be sure).
I miss the spontaneity of character interactions in days gone by.

At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man, when I was a kid, you never knew if you'd see any characters when at Disney World, let alone where. You felt special if you did get to meet a character.

On the other hand, I also remember being pushed around trying to get close, so I think there are some good reasons for doing m&G like they have it now.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I like the orderly fashion it's done now, but it takes away some of the specialness that came along with seeing a character.

 

[mjaclyn]

I think it's a GREAT idea. I wonder how it will work with guests in the Standby line though... if they'll let all of the FP guests through first and then have a limited number of Standby guests able to go in after that. I can only hope this goes well and they do this for the princesses and fairies too!! A 90 minute wait is ridiculous...even if it IS Tinkerbell.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I do REALLY think that spontaneity is an awesome part of the Disney experience. When we were waiting to get into our corrals for the Wine & Dine Half marathon, Mickey and Minnie showed up to entertain and take pictures with all of the runners. because of where I was standing, I was right at the front of the line (see avatar picture!). It was a neat, unplanned bonus.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I linked to this thread in my blog. There's a couple other details that the DisneyParks blog didn't have.

http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/02/24/first-ever-character-meet-fastpass-coming-to-magic-kingdom/