Character Changes In Epcot beginning 2/14

[hiroMYhero]

Doctor Disney and another site are reporting the following character meet changes: Effective Feb. 14, these three meet-and-greets will be coming to an ending at Epcot:

• Chip ‘n Dale outside Innoventions West
• Winnie the Pooh and Tigger in the United Kingdom pavilion
• Princess Aurora in the France pavilion

That means that Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, will be the last day for all three of these locations.
http://www.doctordisney.com/2016/02/08/three-character-meet-and-greets-ending-this-weekend-at-epcot/

 

[mom2rtk]

That's unfortunate. I can't imagine France without Aurora.

Have you heard if there are new characters coming? That park needs as many attractions as possible.

 

[GillianP1301]

Oh man, that Chip & Dale is a favourite of my DS. Fortunately, we always seem to run into them a few other places so we're covered, but that location was always one of our first of our trip. I'm hoping they may announce some new characters in their place.

 

[KaptainK]

That's a bummer. We like all 3 of those character meets.

 

[hiroMYhero]

That's unfortunate. I can't imagine France without Aurora.

Have you heard if there are new characters coming? That park needs as many attractions as possible.

The Inside Out characters will be out sometime this month and should be at the new Character Spot with Baymax.

Some seem to attribute the character changes to entertainment monies being shifted to Shanghai for the park startup. Also, the first wave of WDW Entertainment CMs will be transitioning to Shanghai soon.

 

[Cinbride]

OH NO!!!! Aurora is one of my daughters favorites. Any other place she can see her?

 

[PrincessRileysMom]

OH NO!!!! Aurora is one of my daughters favorites. Any other place she can see her?

She meets in Magic Kingdom, near City Hall.
I'm sad she won't meet in Epcot...we haven't met her in that location yet. Such a pretty set up!

 

[Cinbride]

Great, thank you!

 

[cel_disney]

Took us 3 times to see Aurora in France...we showed up twice on 2 days and she 'was taking a nap or still waiting for the prince to wake her' and finally saw her for a later afternoon shift...I work on the assumption she was ill....

 

[Silvermist999]

The UK pavilion is the best place to meet Pooh (my DD's fave since she was a toddler). Rarely any wait, and a few times we were first in line. It's a hidden gem. Sad it will be gone...

 

[wendow]

The UK pavilion is the best place to meet Pooh (my DD's fave since she was a toddler). Rarely any wait, and a few times we were first in line. It's a hidden gem. Sad it will be gone...

I agree. This Pooh and Tigger M&G was a favorite of ours (never the long line like in MK). Also, love Aurora in France. I'm sad to read this.

 

[CaterFamily]

She meets in Magic Kingdom, near City Hall.
I'm sad she won't meet in Epcot...we haven't met her in that location yet. Such a pretty set up!

Would you happen to know Aurora M&G "time frame" by chance in MK?

Thanks!!

 

[jpeden]

Pooh and Tigger makes me very sad - as previous poster's have mentioned there's hardly ever a line and they've always had great interaction. It was also nice that the M&G was indoors.

 

[AngiTN]

What strange choices
They built the bedroom just for Pooh and Tigger
Wonder what they are going to do with that space?

The gazebo for Aurora makes for such a pretty spot even if she is not very popular

Chip and Dale is probably easy to understand since they don't really have a setting for them

 

[Skywise]

Some seem to attribute the character changes to entertainment monies being shifted to Shanghai for the park startup. Also, the first wave of WDW Entertainment CMs will be transitioning to Shanghai soon.

If they have to cut more attractions out of Epcot that's already suffering to fund a few more entertainment options in Shanghai for the startup then their economic situation is REALLY bad. Though you're probably right - Disney's attention is absolutely not on WDW at the moment as they appear to be scavenging it for funds to grow the other parks and this will probably remain this way until 2018 or so when Star Wars/Toy Story/Pandora/Frozen ride come on-line.

ESPN/cable cutting must really be hurting them...

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

How sad. The Aurora meet and great in France is a family favorite and so nice. I love the open air meet and greets much better than indoors.

 

[Pkltm]

What strange choices
They built the bedroom just for Pooh and Tigger
Wonder what they are going to do with that space?

The gazebo for Aurora makes for such a pretty spot even if she is not very popular

Chip and Dale is probably easy to understand since they don't really have a setting for them

Aurora always had a line when we were there last fall, makes no sense to me that you can still meet the other princesses at Epcot but not her.

The removal of all three of these makes me a little sad

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Sheesh. They took the Pooh and Tigger meet and greet out of AK now they are removing them from Epcot. The MK meet & greet line near the Winnie the Pooh ride is always long and we weren't planning on doing the Crystal Palace or 1900 PF breakfast, so the UK meet & greet was on our to do list. The list of cuts keeps growing longer and longer...but I bet the ticket prices will go up very soon.

 

[hiroMYhero]

If they have to cut more attractions out of Epcot that's already suffering to fund a few more entertainment options in Shanghai for the startup then their economic situation is REALLY bad. Though you're probably right - Disney's attention is absolutely not on WDW at the moment as they appear to be scavenging it for funds to grow the other parks and this will probably remain this way until 2018 or so when Star Wars/Toy Story/Pandora/Frozen ride come on-line.

ESPN/cable cutting must really be hurting them...

In addition to the entertainment costs with starting up Shanghai, Epcot has to then balance out their entertainment expenses. Inside Out characters in effect cancel out Tigger and Pooh. Baymax and his complete team are probably comparable to the remaining characters who are set to leave.

 

[kayemgi]

Such a bummer that we won't get to meet Pooh and Tigger in Christopher Robin's bedroom anymore. I know they couldn't cut them from MK, but I wish they had. The Epcot space is a lot sweeter.