Current Frozen M & G times

[MichaelaF]

(Ooops, wrong thread!)

 

[tomato]

Has this been suggested? Could they get people to take a number at the gates?

 

[DahliaRW]

This is insane! I am shocked and disappointed Disney is not doing something to remedy this at both parks.

Is there a reason they're not putting them in more than one park?

We're planning to go in September, which in sure will still be crazy, so we probably won't wait. Last year, my lo {was 22.5 mo} was excited to see the characters from afar, but up close, not so much. We opted only for a character breakfast then m&g with Mickey and goofy in the park.

At WDW A&E are FP+. That definitely helps. Unfortunately DLR is not set up to do FP for characters, they never have.

I'm assuming it's not a 2-park deal due to the potential to "ruin the magic" if kids see them too close together. I also was told they are having trouble finding enough Elsa look-alikes, which is why they don't guarantee both at DLR, Elsa can't always be there.

 

[perlster]

I don't know that "giving out numbers" has been suggested here.

Yesterday, the questions about how to get to the meet 'n greet began before the gates were open. The CMs at the gate probably knew less about it than folks who had been there in the preceding few days. There was definitely a separate line formed before rope drop, but no one could say if that would happen Friday morning. The only answer that could be given was to ask at rope drop. A security CM at one of the ropes had to admit ignorance as well. It did become obvious by observation of the area that there was no such special path to the location.

I did not go to the cottage myself at rope drop, but there was definitely some running, as I know that very few people could pass me if walking, and there was a substantial number of people there when I got through the castle.. There were plenty of "no running" exclamations from CMs, with some effect, I guess.

While hearing these repeated questions and non-answers, I thought of how this whole mess could be alleviated somewhat, if not solved. I wasn't satisfied with any of my ideas.

The "take a number" procedure was one I pondered. My objections: First, if done inside the park, there would be the same kind of mad rush to the machine or person handing out numbers. (As for trying it outside the gates, I don't see how it could be done fairly.) Second, to limit the number of visits, the numbers should be limited to one per family. That limit could be violated in good faith, but then there's my third objection. Given how desperate kids and their parents can get about meeting Anna & Elsa, I have absolutely no doubt that some of these numbers would be sold.

Then, I thought of a modification - rather than pieces of paper -use numbered wristbands - the kind that have to be cut to be removed.

 

[tstidm1]

Here's a suggestion that could help at least increase the numbers of people who get to meet her. From the estimates of Len Testa of Touring Plans (not the most popular man on these forums), the average meeting time for Anna and elsa is about 90 seconds per group because everyone (even the adults in a group) wants to meet them, get the autograph and Pictures. How about having Disney say only a Picture or Autograph with them? This would cut the wait time by about 30 seconds and allow instead of 40 groups an hour to 60 groups an hour. This means an extra 140-160 groups would get to meet them per day and eventually reduce the wait time for everyone.

 

[wjy09]

At WDW A&E are FP+. That definitely helps. Unfortunately DLR is not set up to do FP for characters, they never have. I'm assuming it's not a 2-park deal due to the potential to "ruin the magic" if kids see them too close together. I also was told they are having trouble finding enough Elsa look-alikes, which is why they don't guarantee both at DLR, Elsa can't always be there.

Yes, having FP+ at WDW is helping, but yesterday by 9:45 it was 360 minutes! Insane.

The whole ruin the magic is kinda lost on me when you can see Mickey at PP then at DL, but I get it.

I do understand finding look-alikes. That would definitely be a challenge.

This is just out of control. Kids being knocked down and hurt by grown men, and 3/4 of your day could potentially be spent trying to see E&A.

 

[Zooshoveller]

Just an idea - Make it only FP+, no standby. Let's say A&E can meet 6,000 people a day. Allot 2,000 at 60 days, 2,000 at 30 days, and 2,000 day of.

Edited to add - I just realized this was the DL forum. I was thinking for WDW.

 

[new2disneyland]

I was just there this week. There was a separate line at rope drop for E&A. Then they were escorted to the meet and greet before any other line was allowed to enter. No more running. This was the worst time to go see E&A! It was a 4 hour wait!!! The line was wrapped around past the bathroom. When I went at 1:30pm it was at the entrance sign under the wait time.
We went back at 1:30pm and it was a 2 hour wait.
I was told from the cast member 1:00pm-1:30pm was the best time to enter the line.

 

[DahliaRW]

Yes, having FP+ at WDW is helping, but yesterday by 9:45 it was 360 minutes! Insane.

The whole ruin the magic is kinda lost on me when you can see Mickey at PP then at DL, but I get it.

I do understand finding look-alikes. That would definitely be a challenge.

This is just out of control. Kids being knocked down and hurt by grown men, and 3/4 of your day could potentially be spent trying to see E&A.

I think it's different for the full-costumed characters. If you put two Elsa's together, you can tell they are not the same person. A Mickey costume looks like Mickey regardless. So to be at DL and see Mickey and then 15 minutes later at DCA, it's still Mickey, it looks just like Mickey, maybe he changed his clothes in that 15 minutes, but it's Mickey. You go see Elsa at DL and see "Elsa" 15 minutes later at DCA, and she doesn't look quite the same.

From the pp it sounds like they finally got the escorted line figured out, that's good.

 

[nikkislaght]

I think it's different for the full-costumed characters. If you put two Elsa's together, you can tell they are not the same person. A Mickey costume looks like Mickey regardless. So to be at DL and see Mickey and then 15 minutes later at DCA, it's still Mickey, it looks just like Mickey, maybe he changed his clothes in that 15 minutes, but it's Mickey. You go see Elsa at DL and see "Elsa" 15 minutes later at DCA, and she doesn't look quite the same.

From the pp it sounds like they finally got the escorted line figured out, that's good.

You could still double up at D/L and C/ A as they are inside visits , so you won't line up at both meet and greets.. Well most people wouldn't . Therefore the kids wouldn't know they are two different ladies.

 

[Vintage Mouseketeer]

I think it's different for the full-costumed characters. If you put two Elsa's together, you can tell they are not the same person. A Mickey costume looks like Mickey regardless. So to be at DL and see Mickey and then 15 minutes later at DCA, it's still Mickey, it looks just like Mickey, maybe he changed his clothes in that 15 minutes, but it's Mickey. You go see Elsa at DL and see "Elsa" 15 minutes later at DCA, and she doesn't look quite the same. From the pp it sounds like they finally got the escorted line figured out, that's good.

I think it would work... It works with Ariel's Grotto princess meals. Once we met Snow in DL and and a few hour later we spotted a "different" Snow in the Christmas parade...no complaints from DD. I also doubt with the current wait times people would do multiple M&G for the same characters.

Now we can only wish that Disney makes more Annas & Elsas available for M&G

 

[aijj]

So here was our experience today... My dh was up front for the EMH entry outside the gate. They actually came out and told people who were there for the Frozen M&G to line up single file in one spot. That they would be walking single file, in an orderly fashion to the place. My dh said he was maybe 4 people back in line at this point. So they let people in, and the CM walked this line back to the place, but at the same time there was a mass of people who came running around from the opposite side of the castle and basically cut off the "orderly" line that was being lead by the CM. The CM did not stop this from happening. When it was all said and done, my dh went from being 4th in line, to being at the 120min wait sign. All total, my dh or I stood in line from 9am until almost noon when we actually saw them. The best part? My 3 year old totally freaked out when she entered the area (despite begging us to go see them), and would not take any pictures with them, or even talk to them. My 2yo was a bit unsure too. So my dh and I stood in line for almost 3 hrs so my niece and nephews could walk in at the last minute with their mom (my sister) and have their pictures taken with them. Needless to say it was a horrible way to start our day, and we should have said screw it from the beginning! Lol!

Oh my goodness, that really, really stinks. As others said, that would make we want to talk to guest services!!

My DD is newly 3,on the shy side and this was one of my biggest fears with meeting characters, so this is a big reason of why we didn't attempt the line to see Anna & Elsa...i just knew my DD would be likely to pull something like this! We did stand in line for about 15 minutes to see Belle, after she kept saying she wanted to see her (bc she didn't see her at Ariel's Grotto and had been asking) and she was excited standing in line, and was happy to hand her a book to sign, but then something got her upset and she sort of took off, and even after i held her to try to take a family pic, refused to look at the camera when we were taking pictures. So the pic we have of us with Belle is with DD turned her head away. Doh!! I'm guessing she'd have to be at least 4 or 5yo to reliably appreciate the characters. In line to see Mickey, I saw a lot of 2 and 3yos having last minute meltdowns when it came to be their turn to do pictures..it is just so hard, bc kids beg to do one thing and then tend to freak out over something at the last minute!

And yes, that would be nice if they made more than one M&G (or two sets so they wouldn't have to stop for breaks), or something. I still cannot believe how long the line was.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

You could have duplicates at the same location similar to how they do it at the fantasy faire princess m & g. You separate inside. If you go down one side of the princess m & g, you have no idea there is another Cinderella on the other side.

I'm having trouble understanding the lookalike issue. They don't have to look like the characters that much for kids to buy it.

 

[Californiacicle]

Ugh all of these awful A & E M&G stories lately have made me wish I hadn't told DS about them being there.

 

[mlnbabies]

We are going in Dec. and both of my girls who are 10 and 14 want to meet them. We also don't want to wait 2-4 hrs for the meet and greet either. Hopefully it will die down--I can wish right?

 

[Disney Dreams]

It was explained to me once that Mickey is never two places at DLR at the exact same time. He DOES have amazing ways to get from one side of the resort to the other lightning fast, but you could not be meeting him at the hotel while your friend is on the phone with you and meeting him on Main Street. The same is true for all characters. After all, you can't be in two places at once, how could Elsa or Anna?

- Dreams

 

[PantherLk5]

My original plan was to go Thursday on a non MM day and head straight there. My 6yo dd says it is really the thing she wants to do the most for the whole trip (she has never been). I am willing to do 2 hours but I think more than that would be pushing it for me. Any ideas for new strategies since the line is now at rope drop???

 

[F16_mama]

There was no rope drop line up for the meet and greet yesterday. It was a mad dash like it was previously. I wasn't headed there, but the poor lady next to me was. She was right next to the rope at the front and I told her what I had heard about the running. She seemed very confused when people started sprinting past her. After about 30 seconds I told her "I wasn't kidding! Run!" It was hilarious. I meant to check in with her later to see where she was in line. She lost a lot of time fast walking. I was disappointed that they didn't have a system in place for a Sunday of all days!

 

[DahliaRW]

I'm having trouble understanding the lookalike issue. They don't have to look like the characters that much for kids to buy it.

Disney is picky for all their non-masked characters. It's part of the "quality" they guarantee. Even for completely costumed characters, they are picky on height. And they train all the characters extensively. They don't have them there just for the purpose of being there like some character greetings at parks, they have them there in a way so that you can actually believe they might be real, even as an adult.

 

[DahliaRW]

It was explained to me once that Mickey is never two places at DLR at the exact same time. He DOES have amazing ways to get from one side of the resort to the other lightning fast, but you could not be meeting him at the hotel while your friend is on the phone with you and meeting him on Main Street. The same is true for all characters. After all, you can't be in two places at once, how could Elsa or Anna?

- Dreams

That makes sense.