At EPCOT now Anna n Elsa OH MY!

[Goldilocks07]

question (we're going down in May so I'm gathering info) - were you there - at the turnstiles towards the front at park opening? Or did you arrive around 9 am and they had opened the gates early (around 8:45)?

If you were at the front of the turnstiles or close to it and moved it and the line was that long we're going to rethink meeting them again in May. If you arrived and others had a 15 minute or so start on you (if they opened the gates around 8:45) that would be helpful information as well.

I'm sorry you didn't get to meet them!

We are staying at the Boardwalk. Got to the gates at 8:30. They didn't let us through until 9. We were the third group through the gate so we were right up front. I literally ran through the park, as did others- but then I looked across the water at Norway and saw what looked like 200 people outside.
I got over there and that's when they said it was 3.5 to 4 hours.

The problem (if you call it that), is the princess breakfast. It seats lets say, 300 people, and like, 150 husbands or whoever leave the breakfast early and wait in line. One family told me they left at 8:45 and there were at least 30 people ahead of them.

They need to either have a separate meet n greet for breakfast people, or have multiple princesses/rooms to help w the crowd. It's out of control and now I have a very upset 3 year old who doesn't understand what a 4 hour wait is.

And she keeps telling me that Anna will love her dress (she is in full costume).

 

[JimmyV]

They need to either have a separate meet n greet for breakfast people, or have multiple princesses/rooms to help w the crowd. It's (

Simple solution. Either add Elsa and Anna to the breakfast cast from the time the restaurant opens until 8:45 (and encourage the people at breakfast to NOT get in the meet and greet line if they have already met them at the table), or change the entire theme of the breakfast to a Frozen theme and do away with the meet and greet altogether, perhaps moving it to the MK or DHS, leaving Norway to be the peaceful place it used to be.

 

[MaryJPixie]

Simple solution. Either add Elsa and Anna to the breakfast cast from the time the restaurant opens until 8:45 (and encourage the people at breakfast to NOT get in the meet and greet line if they have already met them at the table), or change the entire theme of the breakfast to a Frozen theme and do away with the meet and greet altogether, perhaps moving it to the MK or DHS, leaving Norway to be the peaceful place it used to be.

Yes, I agree.....

 

[triana00]

We are staying at the Boardwalk. Got to the gates at 8:30. They didn't let us through until 9. We were the third group through the gate so we were right up front.

That's why....the main gates consistently open before IG. So the people at the front of the main gates got in around 845, giving them a significant headstart. Kenny has said all along to use the front gates.

 

[metzgardesign]

That's just nuts....stop and think about it for a second.....nuts.

 

[JimmyV]

That's just nuts....stop and think about it for a second.....nuts.

I cannot even comprehend the concept of getting in a line at 9:00 for something that will not happen until 1:00, and when it happens, it will be a 90 second interaction. And to think that this adventure takes up half of one's day that might be costing upwards of $1,000 (or more) when food, lodging and entertainment are all added together.

 

[I M Fearless]

Perhaps the answer is to find a quiet spot somewhere in Mexico to sleep overnight?

 

[Planogirl]

Where do all of these people stand? Norway isn't all that big.

 

[faneuil]

You don't even have to skip breakfast. Consider the following:

Father #1 (in line) taps on the shoulder of the guy in front of him. "Hey, pal. Is your family in the restaurant having breakfast without you?"

Father #2: "Yes, they are. I drew the short straw to wait out here."

Father #1: "Go ahead in and join them for a bit. I'll hold your spot for you. But if you could be back out here by at least 8:40, that would be great, and then I could go join my family for a bit while you hold my spot. Deal?"

Father #2. "Thanks. That is so kind of you. Deal!"

I wanna travel with you. We could see everything!

 

[metzgardesign]

I cannot even comprehend the concept of getting in a line at 9:00 for something that will not happen until 1:00, and when it happens, it will be a 90 second interaction. And to think that this adventure takes up half of one's day that might be costing upwards of $1,000 (or more) when food, lodging and entertainment are all added together.

Bingo.

I have really given much of WDW a second look. Paying the money that people (we) do, to stand in long lines with thousands of other people, for miraculously short entertainment experiences.

Odd concept, really.....all the way around. Truly a strange idea (like much of human behavior), if one really analyzes it.

 

[FlipHipster]

You don't even have to skip breakfast. Consider the following:

Father #1 (in line) taps on the shoulder of the guy in front of him. "Hey, pal. Is your family in the restaurant having breakfast without you?"

Father #2: "Yes, they are. I drew the short straw to wait out here."

Father #1: "Go ahead in and join them for a bit. I'll hold your spot for you. But if you could be back out here by at least 8:40, that would be great, and then I could go join my family for a bit while you hold my spot. Deal?"

Father #2. "Thanks. That is so kind of you. Deal!"

That's not a bad idea. I would take that deal and bring you back coffee. There should be a forum for scheduling this with others on disboards.
There is no way in the world I am going to be able to avoid that line. I am actually pretty surprised I haven't asked to remodel the house with a Frozen theme.

 

[faneuil]

Simple solution. Either add Elsa and Anna to the breakfast cast from the time the restaurant opens until 8:45 (and encourage the people at breakfast to NOT get in the meet and greet line if they have already met them at the table), or change the entire theme of the breakfast to a Frozen theme and do away with the meet and greet altogether, perhaps moving it to the MK or DHS, leaving Norway to be the peaceful place it used to be.

Or, move them to the Odyssey. Inside, plenty of room, away from stuff.

 

[surferdave]

Simple solution. Either add Elsa and Anna to the breakfast cast from the time the restaurant opens until 8:45 (and encourage the people at breakfast to NOT get in the meet and greet line if they have already met them at the table), or change the entire theme of the breakfast to a Frozen theme and do away with the meet and greet altogether, perhaps moving it to the MK or DHS, leaving Norway to be the peaceful place it used to be.

Apparently it's not that simple; getting new Princess CM's ready for showtime is apparently as big a lead time as a new attraction.

I wonder if Disney even perceives this as a problem. As the father of a 10 year old girl who would be hyper-focused on meeting Anna & Elsa if we went to WDW any time soon, I'm more likely to put off a trip until this issue is resolved than I am putting it off because of the IT issues.

 

[fbb]

It's out of control and now I have a very upset 3 year old who doesn't understand what a 4 hour wait is.

And she keeps telling me that Anna will love her dress (she is in full costume).

We went the week before Christmas with a 6 year old. She didn't and still doesn't know that Anna and Elsa are meeting guests.

 

[jade1]

I'm starting to think they need to open a "Frozen" land.

The M&G alone could have 4 "secret" separate pairs of A&E.

 

[Goldilocks07]

WOW!So 80 groups beat OP to Norway by 9:06!

This is getting to be like the TSMM Running of the Bulls used to be!lol

No. The groups already there were from breakfast.
Very frustrating to those who make rope drop.

 

[RogueKnits]

Simple solution. Either add Elsa and Anna to the breakfast cast from the time the restaurant opens until 8:45 (and encourage the people at breakfast to NOT get in the meet and greet line if they have already met them at the table), or change the entire theme of the breakfast to a Frozen theme and do away with the meet and greet altogether, perhaps moving it to the MK or DHS, leaving Norway to be the peaceful place it used to be.

This.

And maybe stop the practice of encouraging people to save places in line--make everyone who wants to see A&E wait in the line the entire time. I predict that would shrink the line pretty quickly.

I'm a little disappointed that I won't be able to meet Anna and Elsa on my June trip, but there's no way I'm waiting in a line for that long.

 

[Sunnywho]

I'm starting to think they need to open a "Frozen" land.

It could be added to Blizzard Beach if they ever needed to boost attendance there.

 

[JimmyV]

Apparently it's not that simple; getting new Princess CM's ready for showtime is apparently as big a lead time as a new attraction.

I'll admit that I am out in front of my skis on this because I don't know the ins and outs of WDW, but if A&E are currently "show ready" to the point of meeting and speaking with guests in a stationary setting, how different can it be to have them do the same thing, only moving from table to table? And if it is really that much different, have the girls remain stationary while a "handler" goes table to table inviting the people at the tables to get up and meet the girls. The point being, if all of these people are having breakfast to meet A&E, then, let them. And do it in a way that does not screw over people who got to the turnstiles at 8:30 and ran to Norway.

 

[cheesemouse]

Ok, the thing I can't seem to get past is how the line went from 3.5-4 hours at 9:06 to 5 hours just 30 minutes later. Who in the world hears it is a 4 hour wait and GETS IN LINE??? I love my kids and all but there is no freakin way we would wait that long. Period.