A Solution To The WDW Character Exodus

[jhaig]

With all of the characters around WDW either being moved or eliminated from meet and greets, I offer a solution : move all of the characters to the old, barely-used Wonders of Life pavilion in Epcot and make that location "Character Central". Keep the ones at the dining locations like Crystal Palace, etc and overhaul that whole pavilion and centralize the characters in one place, while increasing foot traffic in Future World and giving the overcrowded MK a break. What do you think?

 

[matheke]

With all the character moves/eliminations it may just be the beginning of some new characters coming out/back.

We have seen this several times over the years and these things always go in cycles. Frankly I thought it was getting a little stale with the lack of changes over the last few years. Some new appeared and some old left but nothing major.

I think a better use would be an "Inside Out" attraction and reimagine the pavilion.

 

[mom2rtk]

Or better yet.... quit making WDW customers pay for the cost overruns in Shanghai.

 

[larryz]

I think it should be an up-charge. Call it the "Disney Character Cavalcade," and it's only $99 per person (park admission required).

 

[sunshine1]

Or better yet.... quit making WDW customers pay for the cost overruns in Shanghai.

I wonder if the wdw cuts have something to do with the walt disney company giving disneyland paris 600 millon pounds last year otherwise DLP would have closed.

 

[monorailrabbit]

If they would start rotating old favorites (i.e. Robin Hood, etc) this could be really fabulous. But I don't see them bringing anything in to replace it, which is very depressing. I agree with PP's I think we are eating costs from overseas.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Aurora
Pooh and Tigger
Chip and Dale

all gone from Epcot

Lady Tremaine from MK

Any others I missed?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Not a bad idea but I think they want to cut the labor costs of the characters, I'm not sure the physical space is the issue.

 

[yulilin3]

Not a bad idea but I think they want to cut the labor costs of the characters, I'm not sure the physical space is the issue.

exactly this, it's not the lack of space, it's budget cuts to pay for Shanghai.

 

[minnie mum]

This, plus the other entertainment and services reductions are pure cost cutting. So they aren't going to continue to pay these characters and just relocate them. Unless, as someone suggested, they upcharge character M&Gs to a premium ticketed experience.

I don't blame the Paris bailout as much as the mess they've gotten into in China. We won't get into the massive cost overruns on MDE/MBs.

 

[nilla]

Or better yet.... quit making WDW customers pay for the cost overruns in Shanghai.

Do we know for a fact that DL customers never paid a dime toward WDW development?

 

[ChloesDaddy]

I think it should be an up-charge. Call it the "Disney Character Cavalcade," and it's only $99 per person (park admission required).

They could even save more money by detaining costumed adults trying to enter the parks and let them "buy their freedom" based on their M&G performance.

 

[jhaig]

They could even save more money by detaining costumed adults trying to enter the parks and let them "buy their freedom" based on their M&G performance.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Aurora
Pooh and Tigger
Chip and Dale

all gone from Epcot

Lady Tremaine from MK

Any others I missed?

Recently added:

EPCOT
Baymax
Joy and Sadness

DHS
Olaf
Minnie and Mickey

I'm not disputing the cuts, but, in terms of characters, they've added more than they've cut. I feel very badly for those whose hours have been cut so substantially. I think we'll see the greatest issues with check-in at the resorts (I loved having people outside helping to navigate the check-in process) and the nighttime entertainment. Reducing to one show in the evenings is going to create gigantic crowds, IMHO.

 

[mom2rtk]

Recently added:

EPCOT
Baymax
Joy and Sadness

DHS
Olaf
Minnie and Mickey

I'm not disputing the cuts, but, in terms of characters, they've added more than they've cut. I feel very badly for those whose hours have been cut so substantially. I think we'll see the greatest issues with check-in at the resorts (I loved having people outside helping to navigate the check-in process) and the nighttime entertainment. Reducing to one show in the evenings is going to create gigantic crowds, IMHO.

I think there's some dispute about whether Joy and Sadness really are coming.

And weren't Mickey and Minnie appearing in DHS already? Is this new spot in addition to the others that were there or in place of.

And Lady Termaine is worth about a dozen other characters in my book.

 

[jhaig]

I think there's some dispute about whether Joy and Sadness really are coming.

Agreed. Last I heard was that no Inside Out characters would be coming.

 

[MaryLovesMickey]

.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Baymax showed up a while ago and Olaf is the only other new one. Mickey and Minnie are just going to a systems part of DHS, they're not even changing outfits.

 

[mumumouse]

Really upset that the new Celebrity Spotlight area in HS will not be ready in March (per Disney Parks blog).

So wanted to meet Olaf.

I am beginning to wonder why I even booked spring break this year. Too many things will not be ready when we go the week of March 13th.

Irritated that Disney keeps saying Spring 2016 as opening date for coming attractions. I know technically spring does not start till the 19th or 20th of March, so they are within their boundaries, but come on. Wouldn't it be great if they had more things ready for the "spring break" crowds.

I keep hoping something, anything will be ready for our visit.

 

[matheke]

Aurora
Pooh and Tigger
Chip and Dale

all gone from Epcot

Lady Tremaine from MK

Any others I missed?

I thought I had heard Mike and Sulley were gone from DHS along with Lightning and Mater.

Baymax I would consider a move from DHS to EPCOT and not really new.

They did add the Launch Bay meets at DHS.

Again, we have seen these things go in cycles. We will just have to wait and see what if any gets added over the next year.