I have only read to post number 26, so....
I have been told they take in approximately 40 people. There are enough props for 37 roles. If your child is too shy to take a role, they can join in the "parade". Anyone who has a part or joins in the parade can get a quick picture with Belle. So, everyone has a chance to have a picture if they choose - but it will be very quick and no autograph.
Well at least that hopefully will eliminate giving kids the double whammy disappointment of:
1. they get upset because they don't get picked to be in the play; and then
2. they watch the kids selected instead of them get to take a photo with Belle while they aren't allowed to get a photo.
I had visions of a double disappointment.
I watched the video of the after play photo line that was posted. I still find it completely unacceptable. It is so rushed the kids hardly get to stand still while the photo is being taken. They get pushed through so fast they don't get to talk to Belle or even get to hug her. That's not okay in my book. It is like whoever designed this deal either doesn't have kids, or has absolutely no experience with kids who love the characters or girls who are Princess crazy. They don't seem to have a concept of what is most important to the little ones- which is some sort of personal interaction- knowing that Belle talked specifically to, and hugged, them individually. They seem to think that if they stick Belle up there and let her talk to everyone in a scripted manner that it should be enough for the kids. Well, it's not.
Belle really needs to be accessible somewhere at MK, even if it is just in her blue dress, for a more traditional meet and greet than they are doing with Enchanted Tales if they can't revamp Enchanted Tales to fix the problem. Belle needs to be accessible for autographs, hugs and a brief one-on-one talk, in her yellow dress somewhere in at least one of the parks in a situation that doesn't involve having to book an ADR.
Belle also belongs somewhere in her red dress with Beast at
MVMCP (considering the line was 2 hours when we checked one time last year you would think they might even consider adding that meet and greet during the day instead of eliminating it altogether!). We were sad enough that they quit selling Belle's red Christmas dress at the BBB. We've seen that red dress for sale the past several years, and of course las year when DD wanted it, they didn't carry them anymore. Worked out well for DD though because she decided to be Snow White in honor of the demise of the ride.
Mom2rtk, she did actually demand that I take her to a manager to discuss the closing of the Snow White ride during our trip last year, but I declined to take her to Guest Services. She had to settle for riding the ride multiple times and chastising whatever CM she could get to listen--- probably funnier/more effective on the day she rode it somewhere between 5 to 10 times dressed as Snow White. You can picture the little Snow White trying to let the CMs have it!
The CMs of course were telling her that they were sad and didn't like that it was going away just like she was. I tried to explain to her that the people operating the ride have no control over that, but all that got me was her demanding that I take her to someone who was in charge. I have no idea where she gets that. It is definitely not from DH or I! We aren't generally the complaining type! Her pre-school teacher said she thought she would be either a CEO or a movie star someday!
If she demands to see a manager after Enchanted Tales with Belle, I may let her go to Guest Services and file a complaint this time!