A&E Stampede this morning was insane!!!

[MaryKatesMom]

Were CMs trying to slow people down? When I've done the TSMM running of the bulls, either regular CMs or green army men kept the crowd under some degree of control. And they yelled at runners to walk.

When we were in DLR a few weeks ago, we did RD for A&E. People were straight up sprinting down Main Street, and CMs were just waving giant Mickey hands and smiling at them. I walked very fast and jogged a tiny bit, but I was just shocked by the way people were running. I thought running (other than at Disney race events) was a big no-no at Disney.

Last Friday I was first in line at the IG after they let us through people were SPRINTING past me at full speed. There were two CM's (just random not planned) telling people along the way not to run. They were either completely ignored or stopped only to continue immediately. The pavement was wet. Someone is going to get hurt.

I have a feeling many people don't want to "waste" a FP+ on A&E when there are so many hot attractions at MK that they want FP+s for...especially if you plan on doing RD. Considering this, I'm not sure moving A&E to MK was a good thing.

I picked my FP+ at MK not on what I wanted to see but the ones that saved the most time. Mesaboy's thread on FP+ suggests that.

My friend was also there and she was trying for A&E.. she texted me a picture at 8:30am of the wait time outside.... 300 minute wait at 8:30am!!! Park wasn't even open to offsite guests yet! How insane is that. So needless to say, they said no way since they could not get FP's and they went and saw Cinderella and Repunzel within 5 minutes she said.

Absolutely rediculous for the line to be that long so early in the day!

I wonder how many people would like to see A&E but don't get to at all because of the crowd. At a $100 a ticket, I'd be unhappy to either do one meet and greet OR everything else. It shouldn't be either /or.

I'm suprised that they allow, or at least haven't done anything about the actual running. Isn't the pavement usually wet in the morning from cleaning? I remember times that I've tried to run to TSMM at rope drop and I had at least 3 different CMs telling us very sternly to walk.

Pavement was very wet at Epcot last week and no one listened. They need to open IG 15-20 minutes before the front gate. Very upsetting to pay big bucks at BC only to watch other guests stream into Soarin' in front of you. I was first in line at the IG yet not even close to first in line at Soarin'.

 

[Andyman33]

They need to have a station to check in prior to rope drop and give people numbers for like the first 100...that would stop the mad dash at least...

 

[mrsmorrow]

I hope there is some type of solution or some modification made. Upon entering MK, the LAST thing I want to see is a horde of people full-out running down Main Street I prefer to see people stop in awe of the amazing surroundings and soak it in a little, even just a minute or two. I get the hype. I get the desire to see and do it all. I get the need to get the most for your money. But I just won't ever get complete chaos first thing in the morning.

 

[mrsmorrow]

They need to have a station to check in prior to rope drop and give people numbers for like the first 100...that would stop the mad dash at least...

This would be a huge help. Designate an area near the entrance or something. Anything is better than what it is now.

 

[BJC15]

As a rope dropping non-character greeting family, this is music to my ears!

 

[BellaSoleil]

I have a feeling many people don't want to "waste" a FP+ on A&E when there are so many hot attractions at MK that they want FP+s for...especially if you plan on doing RD. Considering this, I'm not sure moving A&E to MK was a good thing.

They are gone. I am a travel agent and nine of my April clients were able to score them. I am sick thinking of them trying. To be a part of this stampede.

 

[Cory's Gal]

Why couldn't they have also kept them in Epcot? Have two M & G? Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine, Belle, they all meet in multiple parks. That may help a little bit anyways. I would think Elsa & Anna will eventually be at the Princess breakfast in Norway too.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just wait until they add people running for the Mine Train.

Surely they could have seen all of this coming.

 

[burnetta696]

As a rope dropping non-character greeting family, this is music to my ears!

Exactly! This means extra productive hours early in the other parts of the park. I have a fp for the belle attraction because I haven't done it yet, and we don't plan on riding Peter Pan so I'm hoping our foray into fantasyland around noonish on our MK won't be so bad after all.

 

[mrsmorrow]

As a rope dropping non-character greeting family, this is music to my ears!

Lol me too! Everyone head to A&E, I'll be screaming on Space or Splash

 

[ucfknight]

I have a feeling many people don't want to "waste" a FP+ on A&E when there are so many hot attractions at MK that they want FP+s for...especially if you plan on doing RD. Considering this, I'm not sure moving A&E to MK was a good thing.

I have a feeling your assessment could not be more inaccurate. The issue is there is too high of a demand for FP+ to see the ice girls. FP+ for them is often gone by the 60 day mark unless you split your family up into single or pairs. Being a meet and greet, the hourly throughput of guests is just so much lower than a ride. With high demand, low throughput, and massive lines, the FP+ for Anna and Elsa are by far the most coveted FP+ at Walt Disney World. I can go on My Disney Experience and make Toy Story Midway Mania FP+ reservations for my family of 4 for tomorrow. I can't even get FP+ for Anna and Elsa for my family for a date in late June.

I'm sure all of those people running would much rather have FP+ for Anna and Elsa... they just weren't able to get them.

 

[GillianP1301]

Double post

 

[RalphinSC]

Lol me too! Everyone head to A&E, I'll be screaming on Space or Splash

Same here.

 

[BellaSoleil]

I have a feeling your assessment could not be more inaccurate. The issue is there is too high of a demand for FP+ to see the ice girls. FP+ for them is often gone by the 60 day mark unless you split your family up into single or pairs. Being a meet and greet, the hourly throughput guests is just so much lower than a ride. With high demand, low throughput, and massive lines, the FP+ for Anna and Elsa are by far the most coveted FP+ at Walt Disney World. I can go on My Disney Experience and make Toy Story Midway Mania FP+ reservations for my family of 4 for tomorrow. I can't even get FP+ for Anna and Elsa for a date in late June.

I'm sure all of those people running would much rather have FP+ for Anna and Elsa... they just weren't able to get them.

I totally agree.

 

[ucfknight]

Why couldn't they have also kept them in Epcot? Have two M & G?

There are not currently enough Annas and Elsas to go around. Princesses don't just get hired in a day, attend a quick orientation, and then get put out on stage. First, money has to be freed up in the budget to make new hires. Then they have to cast to fit the part (I hear casting for Anna and Elsa has been tough). They then go through extensive training and practice to act like the princess they are portraying. The process takes some time.

The demand for all things Frozen took Disney by surprise. Just look at the merchandise side of things... they lost millions of dollars by underestimating the demand for Frozen merchandise and not having enough ready. Likewise, they also underestimated the demand to meet Anna and Elsa. This was originally only supposed to be a limited time meet + greet which ended a couple months ago. Obviously they extended that to a permanent meet and greet due to their popularity. They're still playing catch-up on trying to meet the overwhelming demand.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

MK EMH this morning and we were at the front of the rope. Luckily my kids have little to no interest in characters so we weren't trying for the A&E meet. I was stunned at the hundred+ people who ran full speed down Main Street. I've never seen anything like it!

I've done the Dumbo dash back when it was necessary and have been first to TSMM a few times, but this was like nothing that I've ever seen.

I'm sure they're going to have to do something different soon so people don't get hurt. It was madness.

and THIS is why they wont make A&E available at multiple locations. You can't buy publicity like that!

Also they want to stretch it out. If you make them available at 2-3 places throughout the parks, everyone will get to visit them. Then there's no reason to come back. Drag out the demand as long as possible.

 

[GillianP1301]

Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I have to believe that Disney brass are trying to figure out a solution for this. The very last thing they want is a ton of people in a 4 hour line. That's a lot of time they could be shelling out more $ in a gift shop or food location.

 

[MuddyTires]

I have a feeling many people don't want to "waste" a FP+ on A&E when there are so many hot attractions at MK that they want FP+s for...especially if you plan on doing RD. Considering this, I'm not sure moving A&E to MK was a good thing.

I'm sorry, but that just doesn't make any sense. A&E has the longest wait times of anything, therefore, if you want to see them, it's the best use of a FP+. People who consider using a FP a "waste" on A&E, aren't likely to get in the A&E standby line and wait hours.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I have to believe that Disney brass are trying to figure out a solution for this. The very last thing they want is a ton of people in a 4 hour line. That's a lot of time they could be shelling out more $ in a gift shop or food location.

But think of this scenario:

"Sorry Sally, the wait to see Anna and Elsa is way too long"
"but mom I want to see them!!!" *tears*
"how about I buy you this $60 Anna dress instead."

 

[CandleontheWater]

There are not currently enough Annas and Elsas to go around. Princesses don't just get hired in a day, attend a quick orientation, and then get put out on stage. First, money has to be freed up in the budget to make new hires. Then they have to cast to fit the part (I hear casting for Anna and Elsa has been tough). They then go through extensive training and practice to act like the princess they are portraying. The process takes some time.

The demand for all things Frozen took Disney by surprise. Just look at the merchandise side of things... they lost millions of dollars by underestimating the demand for Frozen merchandise and not having enough ready. Likewise, they also underestimated the demand to meet Anna and Elsa. This was originally only supposed to be a limited time meet + greet which ended a couple months ago. Obviously they extended that to a permanent meet and greet due to their popularity. They're still playing catch-up on trying to meet the overwhelming demand.

I get this but they have known for months now about the popularity of the Frozen sisters. They should have made this a top priority the very first day wait times hit the 2+ hour mark in Norway (back in Nov). I'm sure some of the other princesses can be cross-trained, I mean, its acting, its not like the girls need to be trained to dismantle an atomic bomb. If some of the Frozen sisters are better than others, its not life or death. (and actually some of the videos I've seen the girls are pretty awful, if these are the A-team, the B-squad can't be much worse).

What they need to do is make all of princess hall Frozen central, and kick the other princesses to meet at the Diamond Horseshoe, or somewhere else in the interim.