A ridiculous question, but I really don't know

[sadiwest]

Now that I snagged FP+ for some 'meet your favorite character at this spot' experiences.... can someone tell me how these experiences work?

Is it waiting for an unspecified amount of time, then your turn for a quick hug, photo, then move on?

Why/how are these experiences different from, let's say, meeting a character who is walking around among people in a specific 'land'?

TIA for the info!
Sandi

 

[Robo]

Now that I snagged FP+ for some 'meet your favorite character at this spot' experiences.... can someone tell me how these experiences work?

1. Is it waiting for an unspecified amount of time, then your turn for a quick hug, photo, then move on?

Why/how are these experiences different from, let's say,

2. meeting a character who is walking around among people in a specific 'land'?

TIA for the info!
Sandi

1. Yes.

2. There are very, very few characters who "walk around among people" at WDW anymore.

 

[Itinkso]

With a FP, you'll wait maybe 10-15 minutes to meet the character(s).
The character will greet and interact with you, sign your autograph book, and then pose for a photo with you and your group.

You aren't going to see many characters just walking around in a land. You especially will not see the FP-experience characters walking around randomly greeting guests. That's why they have specific venues and FP is an option.

 

[sadiwest]

2. There are very, very few characters who "walk around among people" at WDW anymore.

That is really sad.

But no wonder some of these experiences are so hard to come by.

 

[Robo]

That is really sad.

But no wonder some of these experiences are so hard to come by.

The "walking around" character experiences were getting uncontrollable and out of hand.

But that doesn't stop Disney from making ads that show kids running hand-in hand with
Mickey Mouse outside the castle.

 

[Orph]

Now that I snagged FP+ for some 'meet your favorite character at this spot' experiences.... can someone tell me how these experiences work?

Is it waiting for an unspecified amount of time, then your turn for a quick hug, photo, then move on?

Why/how are these experiences different from, let's say, meeting a character who is walking around among people in a specific 'land'?

TIA for the info!
Sandi

From my experience last week, the FP+ for character meets with cut your wait time by a couple of minutes at best. There are other people that used FP+ also, thus you will be waiting in that line with them. Standby wait for character meets at Epcot last week was around 10-15 minutes...FP+ was around 5 to 10.

There are characters that are "around" at MK and Epcot. "Around" meaning that they are either at a specific location/pavilion or is at a stagnant spot. They are not walking around anymore, and as other posters suggested, it does get out of hand real quick.

 

[mesaboy2]

From my experience last week, the FP+ for character meets with cut your wait time by a couple of minutes at best. There are other people that used FP+ also, thus you will be waiting in that line with them. Standby wait for character meets at Epcot last week was around 10-15 minutes...FP+ was around 5 to 10.

There are characters that are "around" at MK and Epcot. "Around" meaning that they are either at a specific location/pavilion or is at a stagnant spot. They are not walking around anymore, and as other posters suggested, it does get out of hand real quick.

Most character M&G FPs are of little value, since waits for most characters where FPs are offered are short already for the standby line--Epcot Character Spot is one of these.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

2 years ago during EMH at MK we saw Alice walking towards the teacups, she ran up to my DD and asked her to be her friend and ride the teacups with her. She held hands to the ride and waited for the next ride and entered the side entrance. It was awesome to see them chattering through the whole ride. Afterwards Alice held her hand and took her to the meeting spot to have a picture with Alice and the White Rabbit So you will still see characters walking around occasionally.

 

[BrianL]

The "walking around" character experiences were getting uncontrollable and out of hand.

Can you imagine if Elsa were to walk around the park? She'd get mobbed! It really would be uncontrollable, so I think keeping her in a specific location is probably best. I miss the characters walking around, but I get it.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Its really a matter of deciding how important characters are to you and your family and how much time and or money you are willing to invest in them. Characters are much more controlled than they were when DS22 was little. Many of them are FP lines but many are also available in Character meals. We like character meals. We eat and see the characters without standing in crazy lines. Most times your interactions are very quick, a hug, a sign and a click.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

We did pass Tigger and his 'minder' when they were either going to or coming from a scheduled meet and greet at MK last year, and we high-fived as we passed each other, but you don't see the characters out in the park any more. It's just too chaotic.

There was a whole dance party thing going on when we tried to walk from Adventureland towards Haunted Mansion, again in 2013, and it seemed to be random characters from Splash Mountain. I got a 'snog' from what might have been Brer Rabbit (not too sure) - what I DO know is that his face was really rough and it scratched my skin!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Disneyland is the place to find roaming characters. Another reason why we love it there! My kids have played hide and seek with Tigger, rode Tea Party with the Mad Hatter, and colored with Donald. (Just to name a few experiences). There is an area called Big Thunder Ranch near the petting zoo where there are always characters roaming around. I've never witnessed guests getting out of hand, but guests are more AP holders than tourists.