At EPCOT now Anna n Elsa OH MY!

[Goldilocks07]

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

They are wrapped along the sides of the buildings and against the railings along the water- with CMs there to guide everyone.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Sorry to hear that the lines aren't getting any better.

We were at Epcot at the beginning of February on a cold, rainy day, that the park was rated at a 1 or 2 (depending on which of the two main sites you look at), and even though the rest of the park was empty by 10:30 (which is how long it took us to FP+ TT and MS, and standby Soarin'), we strolled over to Norway and were told that the line was 4 hours. I've waited 2 hours for my daughter to see princesses when she was younger, but even she said that she didn't want to see them badly enough to make me wait that long.

Seems to me that it's well past time for the costume department to whip up a couple more outfits and have Anna and Elsa appear in one of the other parks as well.

 

[surferdave]

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.

The problem is getting more CMs ready. Word was that initially the same two girls were doing all the M&Gs in Norway and they couldn't extend the hours until they had two more ready, after tryouts and training. It seems to be like Daniel Day Lewis prepping for a role.

 

[faneuil]

They are wrapped along the sides of the buildings and against the railings along the water- with CMs there to guide everyone.

Can you all imagine what this will be like on a Saturday during the Food and Wine fest if A&E still command 5 hour waits?

They need to be moved to a better location. STAT.

 

[Cadets74]

Were going first week in April and my wife and I are not telling ours girls that they are there, hoping to avoid it so we don't have to deal with the disappointment...

 

[evcollins]

We have never been to Epcot and I'm looking at the map now. Where do they meet exactly? I know it's Norway but I can't visualize it with the map. Can you see them from the restaurant if you're having breakfast? Wondering if you could possibly start seeing the line form before running out and jumping in line if we have an 8:00am ADR and at least one of us is ready to get in line while everyone else finishes breakfast.

Thanks, everyone, and good luck seeing them!

 

[Sunnywho]

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?

I think they'd need more pairs to cover a full day (8 am to 9 pm) at the restaurant, 7 days a week, with breaks as needed throughout the day.

It also would feel wrong if the only way to meet them was at an expensive character breakfast. So they'd need additional pairs to man the current meeting place or a better one. If they make this investment and it takes awhile to make it happen, with their popularity still be as high or will it wane once the movie is not so new?

 

[bbak3030]

My DH got in line at 2:15 yesterday and it took 2.5 hours. A CM told him they the worst time is the morning. They call it the Fathers Marathon cause they come running. Apparently the CMs line up and cheer them on.
I would wait until later in the afternoon. FWIW, totally worth it. My girls said it was the highlight of the trip. The sisters were very sweet to them and we didn't feel rushed at all

 

[ThisIsMyName]

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.

Because you hop in line and THINK your 6 year old will get bored after an hour or so and agree to get out of line. . .the oldest trick in book. . . however when said 6 year old says she doesn't mind waiting even for another 2-3 hours you kind of just go with it. Also the people we were waiting in line with were nice and we chatted about disney. .think of all the time you spend on here getting disney advice. You can get a lot of it line for 4 hours!

Also there were a lot of line savers taking turns. . a group of 4 each takes one hour each.

 

[kittyab]

They need a fast past pick for this meet & greet. I waited an hour so my DD could meet them and my dh thought I was nuts.

 

[williamscm3]

I am hoping that they decide to add them in MK where the princesses use to be in the theater next to Mickey. That would lessen the load on Epcot and it has FP+ access. We're not visiting till December, so I really hope something will change between now and then!

 

[JimmyV]

I think they'd need more pairs to cover a full day (8 am to 9 pm) at the restaurant, 7 days a week, with breaks as needed throughout the day.

True. But my suggestion was to simply have them in the restaurant from 7:30 a.m. (or whenever the first guests arrive) to 8:55 a.m. Shorten the end of the day by one hour and extend the beginning of the day by one hour. Same amount of time. Same number of girls. At least for now until more can become show ready. This way, anyone who books an ADR before park opening sees the girls in the restaurant. Anyone who gets to Norway after the park opens sees them in the meet and greet area. If you have a 9:30 ADR, you see them in the meet and greet. This way, the first people through the turnstiles are the first people in line at the meet and greet, and the people who have early ADRs do not clog up that line.

 

[abyrd86]

It's sad that my daughter wont get to meet Anna & Elsa when we go to to WDW in less than 3 weeks. I was hoping the lines would improve by then, but it's looking like no such luck

I just cannot fathom spending what I'm spending (lucky we're even going...yay tax money!) waiting in line for 3-4+ hours! Seems like a huge waste of time from my end!

 

[Spacecase1]

We are going in September, but I am not confident the line situation will improve too much.

 

[iheartjuppy]

I think they'd need more pairs to cover a full day (8 am to 9 pm) at the restaurant, 7 days a week, with breaks as needed throughout the day.

It also would feel wrong if the only way to meet them was at an expensive character breakfast. So they'd need additional pairs to man the current meeting place or a better one. If they make this investment and it takes awhile to make it happen, with their popularity still be as high or will it wane once the movie is not so new?

I don't really think that would be the prohibitive factor. Right now, I believe the only way to meet the Beast (other than special events/parades) is to have dinner at BoG, so there is some precedent for it. Not that Beast has the same draw (no offense, Beast fans).

 

[Julylady]

I was at WDW last week for a work conference and spent one afternoon at EPCOT. The line about 2pm was a 3 hours wait. From the outside you could just get a glimpse of Elsa, nothing of Anna. I went into the gift shop but it looked like there was a wall up so you couldn't see anything. Is this true or was I just not standing in the right spot?

I am taking my two nieces back in early April and I have already warned them that we are not standing in line. Our family "rule" is that we don't wait more than 20 minutes for anything, and we have stuck to that rule for 40 years (since I was a teenager!). My girls are fine with not waiting in line, but they want to "see" them. Can anyone verify whether or not you can get a good look at the sisters from outside of the line?

I also think they might be in the new parade at the Magic Kingdom? Yes?

 

[JimmyV]

It also would feel wrong if the only way to meet them was at an expensive character breakfast.

That part doesn't bother me in the least, as this is true for many characters. But demand right now is too high to go this route. If there were to be a full-on "Frozen" breakfast, I think that that would have to be accompanied by a new meet and greet elsewhere, like the MK. For now, having a pair of girls meeting the early bird diners in the restauant before 9:00 should suffice. After that, if you want to see them, you line up at 9:00. No early birds allowed in the line. The line would still grow to be 3 hours long. But at least the people who took the effort to arrive at RD would not have to suffer through it.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

We have an 8:00 ADR at akershus so my hubby is just going to skip the breakfast to wait in the line. I just have a question. I booked the ADR for everyone including my hubby. I know they have a fee of $10 per person for no shows. Would I be charged for my hubby since he won't be at the breakfast?

 

[MaryJPixie]

We have an 8:00 ADR at akershus so my hubby is just going to skip the breakfast to wait in the line. I just have a question. I booked the ADR for everyone including my hubby. I know they have a fee of $10 per person for no shows. Would I be charged for my hubby since he won't be at the breakfast?

No hopefully i am right but from what I have been reading as long as someone goes to the dining reservation you won't be charged

 

[JimmyV]

We have an 8:00 ADR at akershus so my hubby is just going to skip the breakfast to wait in the line. I just have a question. I booked the ADR for everyone including my hubby. I know they have a fee of $10 per person for no shows. Would I be charged for my hubby since he won't be at the breakfast?

The breakfast is a plated buffet, right? Where they bring food to your table family style? If so, then all of you sit down together (and all pay). After you are seated, greeted by your server and accounted for, husband goes to get in line while you eat. After 15-20 minutes, you go outside and take his place and he comes in and eats. Everybody eats. Nobody gets left behind. 'Ohana! I don't understand why anyone has to skip breakfast. Just take turns in line.