Belle, Aurora & Snow White switcharoo

[mom2rtk]

Bummer for us...we're going to be there during the CM previews so we're not going to get to see Belle at MK at all Hopefully we'll be able to find her at Epcot

And some families with very young kids don't even plan an Epcot day. I hope you'll write in. It only takes a moment by email.

That stinks about meeting Belle. My kids are really shy and I don't think they would participate in the show. They wouldn't like getting up in front of a lot of people. But they would like to meet her.

They seem to totally forget about the shy kids. And that's what has always made the one on one interactions so special for them. So sad they seem to be tinkering with this.

It was the same way today. And while they say anyone else can have a part, my 1 year old can't go up and participate therefore she can't meet Belle. I guess technically I could have just followed her around so she didn't run off, but that would have been really distracting to everyone else and I wasn't going to ruin it for everyone.

And it was pretty much 99% children that were given parts (except the 2 Knights) therefore adults don't get to "meet" her.

Plus they don't let your family come up and take a picture with Belle even if someone in your group has a part.

Its just a really weird set up. With how popular M&Gs are, you think they would have planned it better. Most kids who want to meet characters could care less about the special effects.

For starters, it was so considerate of you to not want to distract other guests. It's just NUTTY that they are putting people in this position to begin with. Just wait until word actually gets around about this. Every single person in the groups will want to participate. I just don't see how they don't "get" how stupid this is.

A DISer posted this video of Enchanted Tales with Belle from the other day http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3007414 that shows the quick and crazy way they do the pics at the end.
Yikes! This creates a problem for me, too, as DGrDs are 9 and 1 and I really wanted a picture of them together with Belle. I guess I will ask for a part for the baby and participate with her in order to get a photo.
Perhaps they are pulling Belle from all other locations so that people will have no choice but to go see ETwB to even see her - cause once everyone sees that there is no real chance to meet and greet with Belle and get good family photos or autographs, they might never go there again.
This was just crazy thinking IMHO to build a whole village for Belle and have people stand in most likely long lines to sit through the story presentation and THEN realize they are not going to get a pic/autograph with Belle.
Hello?!!! Was this planned by the same person who put the bathroom sinks at BLT back to back with the kitchen sink and counter??

Thank you so much for posting that link. When I saw a clip shortly after they started soft opening it, my jaw hit the floor. It is the most idiotic thing I have ever seen. I thought I must have hit the fast forward button by mistake.

And I absolutely agree with your summary of the situation. It seems incredibly crazy to build this entire village for Belle, then make her nearly unmeetable. Don't these people making decisions ever ASK people what they like about the parks?

Then throw in that they are considering taking Belle and the Beast out of MVMCP and I'm about to just throw my arms in the air and give up.

I am extremely disappointed to hear how the Tales with Belle show is being run I was hoping it would be a meet and great opportunity for everyone

I hope you'll follow the earlier link from this thread and let them know how you feel.

I don't have any insider information but I seriously doubt that there is a shortage of friends of Belle or her wardrobe. She's one of the most popular characters so I don't think that's the reasoning in removing her from TST and CRT. I believe it could actually be them attempting to preserve some character integrity but that's just a crazy guess. However the whole set up for ETWB is just confusing, it's a character experience, but not everyone is guaranteed to meet the character, and the interaction is the most rushed of any character experience currently available.

I can't imagine it's a character integrity issue, especially if Belle was in Town Square Theater indoors at the very front of the park and indoors in Enchanted Tales in the back of the park.

She used to do Storytime in Fairytale Garden right around the corner from the castle where she appeared for lunch, AND in the Princess Room in Toontown. And it didn't seem to be a problem then.

I agree the "meet and greet" part is very poorly set up. If your child is shy, young, or has special needs etc its pretty unlikely they're going to want/be able to participate in the show. And I think its really unfair that they don't TELL people that if they're not in the show they won't get to do the picture. Also, because of the way its set up, most people are not going to have a chance to take their own picture forcing them to either settle for a rushed one from the back of the room or wherever they end up sitting, have no picture or pay for the photopass photo. I really don't like any of these options very much. The lighting is very bad in there too.

We were there in the first day or two of testing. I was hoping that by the time they got to the official opening they would have these issues addressed.
They've got smart people at disney, not sure why what all of us are seeing so clearly is not being seen by them.

I think a LOT of us were hoping that was just some oddity that would be worked out in the testing phase. But this seems to be moving full speed ahead in the insane form it is.

I do think there are some very smart people at Disney. Unfortunately it's pretty clear there are also some very NOT smart people at Disney. They need to hear from their customers on this one.

Please follow the link and let them know how you feel.

Thanks for the info. I plan on making my opinion heard. As another poster stated, I want to avoid a meltdown at all costs, and I think this could be a difficult one to explain to my DD.

I'm glad you're going to write. They do need to hear how this will be very hard for some kids.

Snow was easy for us to find on our recent trip, both in Magic Kingdom and in Epcot World Show case. How ever we are both disappointed about them moving Beast to MK and now you will have to make a reservation just to be able to meet him, he is our family favourite and we had met him 5 times on our recent trip.

Also why move Belle into a spot where you will need to take part in an attraction just to meet and have a photo, and she has been taken out of CRT now completely. There is no where else to meet them together and this kind of sucks, they were such a crowd favourite, with people lining up in Epcot up to 30-40 minutes before their scheduled meet.

Well, you used to be able to meet them together at MVMCP, but now even that seems questionable. It just seems like they put a bean counter in charge of the creative division. It's pretty obvious they really see any character meet with more than one character involved as a big drain of resources.

I wonder if they feel like they're putting something over on people when they do this dumb stuff?

I wrote to Disney already over this, so did a few other people I know! We were excited for this new area but Belle is a top priority to us. Having to watch the show and even be IN the show just to get a photo, no autograph, no interaction is just wrong. Now she isn't even going to be at CRT and it looks like you need a BOG reservation just to meet Beast now. We are not happy campers and told them already! Hopefully if enough people write, it will be fixed.

Belle and Beast are obviously so popular that they got an entire section dedicated to them and their story and yet Belle is nearly impossible to meet now at MK and you need to pretty much pay extra to meet Beast!

Thank you for writing! Please keep spreading the word. We really had planned an entire Belle theme for this trip and have watched the movie several times in anticipation. This part of it is really sucking the fun out of it for me.

I think the bottom line is that one on one character magic is an expensive commodity for them to deliver. It's what keeps a lot of us going back, but they want to find a way to minimize it.

Sorry folks. I'm going to say it again.

COLOSSAL MISS. Someone chase the bean counters out of the creative department please.

 

[sephorachick]

Do you know if Belle still appears at CRT?

I saw belle at CRT last week

 

[mom2rtk]

I saw belle at CRT last week

My understanding is that has changed just within the last few days.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Thank you for writing! Please keep spreading the word. We really had planned an entire Belle theme for this trip and have watched the movie several times in anticipation. This part of it is really sucking the fun out of it for me.

I think the bottom line is that one on one character magic is an expensive commodity for them to deliver. It's what keeps a lot of us going back, but they want to find a way to minimize it.

Belle and Beast are our favourites by far! It's disappointing so far. If we have to have a BOG reservation to meet Beast, honestly, I will make a reservation, meet Beast, buy a bottle of water and leave. We will eat there once but we always meet Beast several times during a trip. We like to get different photos and different combinations (all together, each have a photo with Beast ect) and don't like to hold the line up too much so we set aside time to do a few meet and greets with him when he was with Belle in EPCOT.

 

[kennythepirate]

I saw belle at CRT last week

These changes just occurred yesterday

 

[Disney_Princess83]

My understanding is that has changed just within the last few days.

Yes, it's been Jasmine and then Rapunzel with Jasmine was busy

 

[BigGreen73]

I agree and while I have your attention, I think Disney is missing something here. Meeting characters has become a very hot thing, I can't for the life of me understand why they would not take advantage of that.

Along with the characters currently available to meet, I wish they would start thinking of making more obscure characters available and using the beautiful settings and backdrops around the parks for character meet and greets. While I can't wait to see all of the new things at Magic Kingdom, they do not always have to spend millions and millions of dollars to make guest happy and make a huge impact.

1st want to say hi neighbor.

But I am also surprised that WDW overall hasn't ramped up the character meet and greats in all the parks. The characters have become must do attractions for people of all ages now. My 1st trip was in 2004, at that point it was basically; Oh look there's Chip n Dale etc, let's get a pic. There was barely a line and it took less than 10mins. That was the norm for our next few trips as well. Now, you need to know who you want to see and you need get in line early or you're waiting 30mins plus. It's crazy. This is just prven by MK added FP's for Mickey and the Princesses. That has to say something.

The parks have plenty of room to add characters and it surprises me that they don't. How great would it be if DHS had scheduled meet and great in the streets, that no one goes to now, from open to close?

Anyway, I think that with Belle at ML, things may change when more and more guests voice how they do not like how the Belle show and "greets" are now.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

You need a very special person to get that type of "play" set up in such a short amount of time. The CM is really trying to get everything in place but I would have had a challenging time getting my class organized for something like that spur of the moment even if I had been working with them for a year. Some children aren't going to want to "act." They will want to simply listen.

I'll be curious to see how and IF they make any changes to the set up.

ETA: And the number of adults these children must deal with...I counted 3 working with the "cast"? That's not good. Most children need to build a relationship with an adult before jumping in to something like that with one person.

 

[mom2rtk]

1st want to say hi neighbor.

But I am also surprised that WDW overall hasn't ramped up the character meet and greats in all the parks. The characters have become must do attractions for people of all ages now. My 1st trip was in 2004, at that point it was basically; Oh look there's Chip n Dale etc, let's get a pic. There was barely a line and it took less than 10mins. That was the norm for our next few trips as well. Now, you need to know who you want to see and you need get in line early or you're waiting 30mins plus. It's crazy. This is just prven by MK added FP's for Mickey and the Princesses. That has to say something.

The parks have plenty of room to add characters and it surprises me that they don't. How great would it be if DHS had scheduled meet and great in the streets, that no one goes to now, from open to close?

Anyway, I think that with Belle at ML, things may change when more and more guests voice how they do not like how the Belle show and "greets" are now.

What you say makes a lot of sense. They seem to have an awareness that their desire to build attendance requires more things to occupy bodies (hence SOTMK). Adding more characters seems like a great way of doing that. Yet all they do is continue to cut back. Kenny the Pirate did a great writeup on this just recently:

http://kennythepirate.com/2012/10/12/walt-disney-world-character-scorecard-character-gains-and-losses/

People really need to continue to write in and complain. Oh, and I need a few volunteer kids to have meltdowns when they find out they can't meet her at the end of the show. (OK, maybe kidding on that)

You need a very special person to get that type of "play" set up in such a short amount of time. The CM is really trying to get everything in place but I would have had a challenging time getting my class organized for something like that spur of the moment even if I had been working with them for a year. Some children aren't going to want to "act." They will want to simply listen.

I'll be curious to see how and IF they make any changes to the set up.

ETA: And the number of adults these children must deal with...I counted 3 working with the "cast"? That's not good. Most children need to build a relationship with an adult before jumping in to something like that with one person.

Yes, they seem to be oblivious to this consideration and how it impacts a child getting to "meet" Belle at all.

I'm guessing they think people will be so awed by their amazing new attraction that they won't even notice that they can't get a photo with Belle. Uh....... nope. Good luck with that.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Well drat!

Can I write in even though I haven't been yet? We won't go again until May, but we are on the back end of the princess phase as it is. My daughter had an incredible M&G with Belle last trip (lessons on twirling a puffy dress, hugs, a conversation about being a princess, practicing the princess wave) and I know she's looking forward to seeing her again.

And will Rapunzel and Cinderella only be at CRT in MK now or did I read that wrong?

Guess I'll make breakfast reservations at Akershus just in case. We like it there anyway.

 

[Disneymadhouse]

Hi - can anyone confirm that Rapunzel has now replaced Belle at CRT?

Thanks

Claire

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

UGh this is so disappointing! But there can only be a few scenarios that will be the end result:
They will have to add a meet and greet with Belle
Meeting Belle in France is going to become a zoo
Booking at Akerus is going to be crazy

I don't think Rapunzel is at CRT. It would be great if they added Belle and then switched her out with Merida or Rapunzel when the Storytime occurs.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well drat!

Can I write in even though I haven't been yet? We won't go again until May, but we are on the back end of the princess phase as it is. My daughter had an incredible M&G with Belle last trip (lessons on twirling a puffy dress, hugs, a conversation about being a princess, practicing the princess wave) and I know she's looking forward to seeing her again.

And will Rapunzel and Cinderella only be at CRT in MK now or did I read that wrong?

Guess I'll make breakfast reservations at Akershus just in case. We like it there anyway.

Absolutely you can write in! How else will they get it changed before your trip!

And Cindy and Rapunzel are in Town Square Theater now. Cindy of course is at CRT. My understanding is that Jasmine is the princess replacing Belle at CRT and that Rapunzel just filled in when Jasmine couldn't make it.

Hi - can anyone confirm that Rapunzel has now replaced Belle at CRT?

Thanks

Claire

See my comment above. Rapunzel was at CRT this week, but my understanding is that it was just as a fill-in for Jasmine. But yes, Belle is gone from there.

UGh this is so disappointing! But there can only be a few scenarios that will be the end result:
They will have to add a meet and greet with Belle
Meeting Belle in France is going to become a zoo
Booking at Akerus is going to be crazy

I don't think Rapunzel is at CRT. It would be great if they added Belle and then switched her out with Merida or Rapunzel when the Storytime occurs.

Please write in and let them know how you feel. It just seem so backwards to me that Belle has this awesome new village, and the minute it opens.......... you can't meet her.

The meet & greet was an important and charming part of the old Belle's Storytime. I love what I've seen of the new attraction, but it needs that component put back. And they won't do that unless they hear from their guests that they need to.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Hi - can anyone confirm that Rapunzel has now replaced Belle at CRT?

Thanks

Claire

No Rapunzel appears to be a short term replacement, it will be Jasmine shortly.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

oh boy am I behind - I thought BOG was NOT a character meal?! Now I'm gathering Beast is there - are there other characters at that meal (I'm assuming it's dinner since lunch is CS)?

I hope this is all sorted out (in terms of Disney realizing this Belle event is not going to work all that well for the kids) before we go in January.

 

[mom2rtk]

oh boy am I behind - I thought BOG was NOT a character meal?! Now I'm gathering Beast is there - are there other characters at that meal (I'm assuming it's dinner since lunch is CS)?

I hope this is all sorted out (in terms of Disney realizing this Belle event is not going to work all that well for the kids) before we go in January.

No, it's not a character meal. Word on the street in the village is that Beast will be out front for photos on the way in to eat, but no more characters. And yes, that will just be dinner.

 

[mesaboy2]

oh boy am I behind - I thought BOG was NOT a character meal?! Now I'm gathering Beast is there - are there other characters at that meal (I'm assuming it's dinner since lunch is CS)?

I hope this is all sorted out (in terms of Disney realizing this Belle event is not going to work all that well for the kids) before we go in January.

Since BOG hasn't opened yet, we're all speculating. But there was a recent report that Beast would appear as you arrive (like Cindy at CRT or Belle at Akershus). No other characters have entered the conversation for BOG.

Stay tuned.

ETA: Once again, mom2rtk and I say the same thing at the same time. I should probably just stay away when she's around.

 

[ktlm]

. Oh, and I need a few volunteer kids to have meltdowns when they find out they can't meet her at the end of the show. (OK, maybe kidding on that)



Yes, they seem to be oblivious to this consideration and how it impacts a child getting to "meet" Belle at all.

I'm guessing they think people will be so awed by their amazing new attraction that they won't even notice that they can't get a photo with Belle. Uh....... nope. Good luck with that.

I'm afraid my child will be "volunteering" to provide that meltdown for you if she doesn't get a hug and photo with Belle! I
'm pretty sure I can see how that attraction is going to end for us.

She never cared for the Belle Storytime because as much as she usually loves shows, she was always bored to tears with the little play with the kids. She only sat through it for one reason- to get a hug, autograph and photo with Belle. I have a feeling Enchanted Tales with Belle is not going to go well for us. Since she is 6 now, there is a chance she will not blow up (although character meet and greets are still her favorite thing at WDW, so we will have to see)- but at ages 2-5, it would have been ugly. Now, she is more the type to walk up to the closest CM and tell them what she thinks of the new set up- she spent plenty of time on our last trip telling every CM at the Snow White ride what she thought about the fact they were closing it. I may have to take her to Guest Services after Enchanted Tales with Belle.

 

[Disneymadhouse]

See my comment above. Rapunzel was at CRT this week, but my understanding is that it was just as a fill-in for Jasmine. But yes, Belle is gone from there.

.

No Rapunzel appears to be a short term replacement, it will be Jasmine shortly.

Thanks for your replies

Claire

 

[mom2rtk]

Since BOG hasn't opened yet, we're all speculating. But there was a recent report that Beast would appear as you arrive (like Cindy at CRT or Belle at Akershus). No other characters have entered the conversation for BOG.

Stay tuned.

ETA: Once again, mom2rtk and I say the same thing at the same time. I should probably just stay away when she's around.

LOL. Can you tell I'm on this one?

I had swallowed hard on the "no Belle" thing. And just as I was sort of accepting it, they tell me no Belle at MVMCP either. That sort of pushed me over the edge.....