At EPCOT now Anna n Elsa OH MY!

[AliceandAriel]

I think I read somewhere that they get paid $13- $16 dollars an hour. Seriously they would get that back in spades with the money you would spend out of line for that 3-4 hours. They just need one of those people in line to purchase two cookies an hour per M&G that they add or one misting fan and they are breaking even. With 100 people in line...I'd say it is likely one of those people would make one purchase they wouldn't have made if they had to wait for 3 hours in line. Plus more people through they could have more frozen merchandise to sell at the end of the M&G and they would really increase profits. Add an upcharge picture for those without MM(do they do this already? We had PP in June so we had a bazillion pictures so I never looked at what you could buy).

Not to encourage Disney raking us over the coals, but I did wonder why the bakery didn't open early in a way to max profits to those waiting in line. Or even set up a little drink stand for people to purchase drinks/snacks. I was a starving crazed woman after the wait, and practically ran to the nearest QS spot for a burger and fries.

 

[metzgardesign]

Then explain why;

We have Belle at ETWB, Akershus, and a M&G in Epcot. (3)
Ariel at CRT, Akershus, and M&G in MK. (3)
Snow White at CRT, Akershus, M&G in MK, and M&G in Epcot. (4)
Jasmine at CRT, Akershus, M&G in MK, and M&G in Epcot. (4)
Aurora at CRT, Akershus, M&G in MK, M&G in Epcot, and Perfectly Princess Tea. (5)

WHAT?!?!?

Not all at the same time in different places!? That's unpossible!!

 

[AliceandAriel]

WHAT?!?!?

Not all at the same time in different places!? That's unpossible!!

Don't even get me started on the Fab Five!
Clones, they're all clones I tell ya!

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

I hate saying this but what it boils down to is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

You have to be able to transform well into the character.....it's not just all looks. They have to do this all day.....everyday. It's not all that easy.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

This is an awesome idea! I've eaten at Akershus before they turned it into princess dining and LOVED it. I have not gone back because I don't care to meet the princesses as I have an awkward time interacting with most of them...the non-fun ones anyway (Aurora, Cinderella, Snow. White) but Anna and Elsa have interesting personalities, and there are only two of them so I wouldn't mind a Frozen meal!

I highly doubt that this will happen anytime soon. And neither will another meet and greet be set up elsewhere. 1) The meet & greet is attracting tons of people over to Norway. As one family member stays in line, the other family members spend time in the surrounding stores shopping and eating. As there isn't much to do over there besides shop, eat and drink. 2) The Akershus restaurant is popular but not sell out popular like Cinderella's Royal Table. However, due to the Elsa and Anna crowd, reservations are getting booked up. If they add Anna & Elsa to the restaurant, then the restaurant would get booked but then the meet and greet line wouldn't be as crazy. And then the shops wouldn't be making as much money as they have been. 3) Make another set of Anna and Elsas at another park and the Norway flow will diminish. So to keep Akershus and the shops bringing in the dough, you have to keep Elsa & Anna at the Norway Meet & Greet only.

 

[nugov2]

You have to be able to transform well into the character.....it's not just all looks. They have to do this all day.....everyday. It's not all that easy.

Doubtful. It can't be that difficult if they only pay up to $16 an hour. If it was hard to do, it would be hard to find, thus making the pay higher. I get paid more than that at my 2 day a week p/t job and I would imagine the conditions of this job are way worse...I would guess they would have quite a group of capable girls lined up to do it if they offered. The Princesses we've met have always been great(in character, lots of fun), but they were not academy award winners. Pretend to be so and so...talk in a voice higher than normal and know those movie lines. Is it a job that anyone can do...no, but is is so difficult it would be hard to have enough to have a pair operating in every park right now...doubtful. They could even pull from their current selection, a lot of those girls could play more than one Princess very easily.

 

[surferdave]

There was another thread just yesterday (eventually locked) complaining that the Disney Princess CMs aren't as true to form as they were in the past.

 

[oliviaik]

I don't know. When you have 5 hr+ lines, there are a large number of people who see it and just decide not to do it. All of these people would participate in another park. So, while it may diminish a little bit, I think there are plenty of people right now who are not participating who WOULD participate at a second location. So, pick a location in another park that needs more traffic, maybe Hollywood Studios?, and drive up attendance at both locations.

 

[Mac4life30]

There was another thread just yesterday (eventually locked) complaining that the Disney Princess CMs aren't as true to form as they were in the past.

How were they in the past??? I just met last month Snow/Rapunzel/Aurora and Cinderella. Each must have spent 5 or more mins with me talking about cupcakes and sewing and playing hide and seek

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

Doubtful. It can't be that difficult if they only pay up to $16 an hour. If it was hard to do, it would be hard to find, thus making the pay higher. I get paid more than that at my 2 day a week p/t job and I would imagine the conditions of this job are way worse...I would guess they would have quite a group of capable girls lined up to do it if they offered. The Princesses we've met have always been great(in character, lots of fun), but they were not academy award winners. Pretend to be so and so...talk in a voice higher than normal and know those movie lines. Is it a job that anyone can do...no, but is is so difficult it would be hard to have enough to have a pair operating in every park right now...doubtful. They could even pull from their current selection, a lot of those girls could play more than one Princess very easily.

I believe it's hard work. I didn't say anything about acting because actors have it good....they don't have to interact with hundreds of different people every day....they don't have to hold babies or smile and take pictures for hours at a time. I also don't agree that higher paying jobs are harder to do. People with the highest paying jobs tend to do the least amount of grunt work.

 

[kellyjeanie]

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.

After reading the thread with people complaining about the current crop of princesses, it seems like Disney can't win - if they rushed it the lines would be shorter, but people would be mad that that Anna didn't look enough like Anna.

 

[faneuil]

Don't even get me started on the Fab Five!
Clones, they're all clones I tell ya!

Not clones, "friends".
My neighbor is a "friend" of Minnie.

 

[Mac4life30]

I use to be "friends" with chip n dale during the good old days

 

[JimmyV]

If I can FP+ my way to see Aurora and Cinderella, I should be able to FP+ the Norway girls. Disney makes this big deal about 'saving you time' with FP+, well here's a good spot to start!

I could not agree more. We're not splitting atoms here. Parents are getting FPs for their kids so that they can meet characters that were "born" in the 30's, 40's and 50's. You would think that they could give one of them a "vacation" for a year and substitute in the most popular characters that Disney has seen in the last 30 years.

 

[nugov2]

I believe it's hard work. I didn't say anything about acting because actors have it good....they don't have to interact with hundreds of different people every day....they don't have to hold babies or smile and take pictures for hours at a time. I also don't agree that higher paying jobs are harder to do. People with the highest paying jobs tend to do the least amount of grunt work.

I didn't say it wasn't hard work(my difficult reference was to hiring girls...there is obviously a lot who apply), I actually said I get paid more and their conditions are worse. I get their job and again, I said it wasn't for everyone, but still they must have lots applying or the pay would be higher. That is simple supply and demand. I also think they could pull from their current princess pool. The features of ana and elsa are vague enough they could use many ones they have working there already. I think this has an easy solution for a company like WDW. I think it is a shame little children are getting to WDW thinking they may meet their new favorite princess(b/c it is an advertised M&G and not a reservation/dining experience) and the line is too long. I know WDW can't make everyone happy, but this seems like a no brainer and at a time where their pr is less than stellar...FP+, DAS etc. this is a good way to show people that they will quickly fix an issue for the best interest of their guests happiness when they can.

 

[JimmyV]

Not to encourage Disney raking us over the coals, but I did wonder why the bakery didn't open early in a way to max profits to those waiting in line. Or even set up a little drink stand for people to purchase drinks/snacks. I was a starving crazed woman after the wait, and practically ran to the nearest QS spot for a burger and fries.

We might see this. I can't see why they wouldn't want to sell breakfast pastries and coffee to the early risers. It won't cut into the Akershus profits because people are booking those tables full for an entirely different set of reasons than the food.

1) The meet & greet is attracting tons of people over to Norway. As one family member stays in line, the other family members spend time in the surrounding stores shopping and eating. Not between 8:00-11:00. Nothing is open.
2) The Akershus restaurant is popular but not sell out popular like Cinderella's Royal Table. It is now! However, due to the Elsa and Anna crowd, reservations are getting booked up. If they add Anna & Elsa to the restaurant, then the restaurant would get booked but then the meet and greet line wouldn't be as crazy. And then the shops wouldn't be making as much money as they have been. Here is where Magic Band data collection comes in. There is a built in assumption that people waiting for Elsa and Anna are spending more than they otherwise would. That may be true. Or it may not be true. But if you have to "tap" a Mickey to get to see the sisters, then Disney can trace your spending in the 2-3 hours before your meet and greet to see if you did indeed spend more money on average than guests who did not endure the meet and greet line. All the more reason to make this a FP+ event.

 

[PolyGuy]

Does anyone know if the lines start to die down toward the end of the day? I've not been there since Frozen was out for meet and greets. Just wondering if there is a thread of hope for the OP's DD?

It doesn't die down. It's constant all day long. Here's a picture from yesterday around 5:45 PM (3 HR wait quoted)

 

[3Gsandme]

I could not agree more. We're not splitting atoms here. Parents are getting FPs for their kids so that they can meet characters that were "born" in the 30's, 40's and 50's. You would think that they could give one of them a "vacation" for a year and substitute in the most popular characters that Disney has seen in the last 30 years.

Except for the kids for whom those characters are the most important. How much complaining would we see if TPTB at Disney replaced Cinderella or Belle with Elsa and Anna? A ton. I can see the thread titles now.

This is a temporary situation and I am sure, in a few months or in a year the Princesses will have a permanent spot with FP+ available. It sucks to have to wait in a super long line, but that's a choice you make.

 

[WEDWDW]

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

After just reading that you entered through the International Gateway,my "guess" is most of the groups who beat you to Norway came from the Main Gate at 8:45.

Definitely not fair to IG Guests to open the Main Gate at 8:45 and the IG at 9:00-it seems to happen a lot.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

Polyguy- that is one AMAZING pic.....sure wish I was there having a snack.