Anna & Elsa - New M & G Opportunity

[Tyggress]

Hey everyone,
I realize the lines to meet Anna & Elsa are extraordinarily long. However; I was at Ariel's Grotto last week for the Princess Character Breakfast, and our waiter informed us that Anna & Elsa will be part of that breakfast starting later this Summer...August sometime.

So...for those that don't want to wait, or have trips planned for later in the year, that might be a better option for meeting them instead of waiting 5 hours in line, etc.

FWIW, we met Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Aurora and Tiana when we were there Thursday.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

Wow - I hope that's true! We are going in November and my DGD would love to meet Anna & Elsa, and I would love to avoid the 4 hour wait!

 

[lisachrystine]

We were there Thursday, too. What time were you there (we saw the same princesses)?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I'll be interested to see how this pans out. I hated our last visit to Ariel's, but it may be worth it for this!

 

[Speechphi]

Figures it's later this summer...we're going next week! I'm the lucky mom who gets to wait in the M&G line...wasn't planning on eating at Ariel's, but if A&E were there, I'd be adding that reservation right now!

 

[disneygogetter]

BUT do you actually meet them and can get photos with them or do they just stand there and wave? I've never been to one of these, what's the whole process like?

 

[mummabear]

I wonder if they will be there at lunch as well or just breakfast?
I was planning on lunch after BBB in Sept but will change to breakfast if they will only be there then.

 

[mummabear]

BUT do you actually meet them and can get photos with them or do they just stand there and wave? I've never been to one of these, what's the whole process like?

Yes at Character meals you meet them, get photos and autographs.
I didn't find the interaction at Ariels great (Minnie's was much better) but no worse than many normal meet and greats with a line up of people.

 

[Jennmarie13]

I'll be interested to see how this pans out. I hated our last visit to Ariel's, but it may be worth it for this!

Just curious. Why did you hate Ariel's? We currently have reservations for our visit next month but are considering cancelling them and just doing the Princess Meet & Greet at Fantasy Faire because of the negative reviews of food, price, and short interactions I've read.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Just curious. Why did you hate Ariel's? We currently have reservations for our visit next month but are considering cancelling them and just doing the Princess Meet & Greet at Fantasy Faire because of the negative reviews of food, price, and short interactions I've read.

Exactly why you just said. The food was ok, but the service was horrible. I could look past that for the princess, however it was literally stop by the table, say hi, sign book, take picture and move on. While I like the organization of it, they came by one right after another, so we had met all of them in 10 minutes of our meal and that was it. My 3 yr old went dressed as Snow White and not one of them said anything about it, where at the M&G they taught her to spin and engaged them. It was an expensive meal and we all walked away feeling let down by it. I'd much rather do the M&G.

And while we met Ariel, she was not at the entrance. Instead we met Cinderella there, which wasn't bad but the whole reason for us going is my 3 yr old's love of Ariel.

 

[94bruin]

Just curious. Why did you hate Ariel's? We currently have reservations for our visit next month but are considering cancelling them and just doing the Princess Meet & Greet at Fantasy Faire because of the negative reviews of food, price, and short interactions I've read.

Not the OP, I feel like it's a factory assembly line at Ariel's, with the way M&Gs happen. The princesses just go down the line, from table to table and the interaction is minimal. This is from an adult perspective. Any princess-crazed girl will love it, however.

It's been a while since we last ate at Ariel's, but I remember the food actually being decent. I was pleasantly surprised.

I was torn between doing Ariel's vs doing the Princess Fantasy Faire/Royal Hall on our last visit. DH didn't want to spend the money, so we opted to the PFF&RH. It worked fine for my 5yo. She really loved the interaction with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider after their show. However, for many people, Ariel's is a way to knock out a meal plus princess M&G. We just wanted to save the money for something else.

ETA: If Anna and Elsa were going to be there for our next visit, which it doesn't sound like they will be since we're going mid-July, I'd go in a heartbeat. That would be so much preferable than the current M&G madness. My poor girls will probably have to settle for the pre-parade float. It's unlikely we'll be there early enough to get in line for the M&G.

 

[Tyggress]

We were there Thursday, too. What time were you there (we saw the same princesses)?

We had a 9:00 am reservation. My friend's daughter (4-1/2) is princess-obsessed, so we took her as a surprise. Funny enough, my 3-year-old son flirted with all the princesses as well.

 

[Tyggress]

BUT do you actually meet them and can get photos with them or do they just stand there and wave? I've never been to one of these, what's the whole process like?

Yes. You meet Ariel when you first go down the stairs to the dining room. She spent several minutes with us, talking to the kids, dancing and posing, taking pics, etc. Each princess was announced individually, about 10 minutes or so apart from each other during the meal...and they all make their rounds to each table, sign autograph books, take pics, etc.

Considering how much times it would take to stand in separate lines in the park to meet 5 different princesses, I found the process awesome and my friend's daughter LOVED it.

 

[Tyggress]

Just curious. Why did you hate Ariel's? We currently have reservations for our visit next month but are considering cancelling them and just doing the Princess Meet & Greet at Fantasy Faire because of the negative reviews of food, price, and short interactions I've read.

I can't speak for others' experiences, but we loved it.
We met Ariel when we first went in, and she spent several minutes with my friend's daughter (who is princess-obsessed), complimented her dress, talked with my son, Erik, and made note that HER prince's name is Erik, too! She danced, posed, took pics, etc.

The food was actually pretty good. They have fresh fruit and breakfast rolls on the table to share, then you order from the menu for your main dish. My friend and I split two different meals to try them both..we had a yummy veggie frittata, some yogurt muesli, and a croissant breakfast sandwich.

Each of the princesses were introduced individually, about 10 minutes apart from each other, and they came to each table for autographs, pics, visit, etc. I'd say each one spent about 3 - 4 minutes at each table...which is about what you'd spend with them waiting in line at the parks.

To meet 5 princesses in the span of 90 minutes, with a meal and not standing in line, totally worth it to me.

 

[Tyggress]

I'm sure if someone called Disney Dining, they might be able to confirm when Anna & Elsa will be joining the princess breakfast. Our waiter said sometime in August, but if you have a princess-obsessed loved one, maybe call and try to confirm it.

 

[figment_jii]

I'm sure if someone called Disney Dining, they might be able to confirm when Anna & Elsa will be joining the princess breakfast. Our waiter said sometime in August, but if you have a princess-obsessed loved one, maybe call and try to confirm it.

I highly doubt Disney Dining is going to confirm anything because (as far as I know) there has been no official announcement. I really think if they were going to add them to a dining location (like this) there would be a big announcement on at least the FB, Twitter, Parks Blog, and/or Disneyland.com webpage at a minimum. Sadly, I think this is just a "rumors" at this point.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I highly doubt Disney Dining is going to confirm anything because (as far as I know) there has been no official announcement. I really think if they were going to add them to a dining location (like this) there would be a big announcement on at least the FB, Twitter, Parks Blog, and/or Disneyland.com webpage at a minimum. Sadly, I think this is just a "rumors" at this point.

Maybe it's one of those coveted #GetHappier Monday announcements we're awaiting?

 

[figment_jii]

Maybe it's one of those coveted #GetHappier Monday announcements we're awaiting?

One can hope...

 

[GatorChris]

Prediction: A&E being at Ariel's Grotto will turn this restaurant into the most coveted ticket at DLR. For us WDW goers, think Le Cellier (the old version) Be Our Guest. We'll be getting up at 6am to grab this reservation for our trips.

 

[Tonya E]

We ate at Ariel's Grotto last week. When we walked in Ariel spent a great deal of time with my girls. I will admit I was a little hesitant to keep this reservation because of the negative reviews on here....I'm so glad we went!!!! The food was excellent (we were there for lunch). We had an amazing waiter and he brought plenty of drink refills. The princesses stopped by and signed our books and took numerous pictures. My only complaint was with the large family at the next table that was not paying attention to their children as they kept coming to our table and talking to the princess while they were trying to interact with my girls. We just had to take things in stride.