Disney character meet and greets -- Needs improvement !

[msnewfie]

We all want to have those meet and greet memories of our time with our favourite Disney Character, and for the prices we pay, for Disney and the photo cd/ memory maker ) perhaps we deserve it.

However, I would like Disney to consider combining more characters per line. Most of us come from far away, and we do not have the opportunity to make multiple trips to Disney each year.

Our time at each park is valuable.

I suggest that there should be a minimum of 5 characters for each meet and greet line. ( Air conditioned , inside lines please ). The less time we spend in line, the more time we have to eat , ride and spend. A few years ago, Magic Kingdom meet and Greets and several princesses in one line and tinker bell in another line. Couldn't we all have been in the same line?

( On one trip my daughter filled up 2 autograph- photo books because we met so many characters.)

I would love to have my photo take with all my favourite characters again. I am now rethinking my plan to pre purchase the photo memory maker after booking my fast passes because I do not know how many characters I may meet. The only character meet and greet I have is for the Epcot Character Spot which now only has 3 characters from all reports.

But with fast passes available for meet and greets, there should be several at the end of a wait. You have to be prepared to wait at Disney or you will only way around all day and do nothing. Several characters mean you wait once, and you are done.

 

[dkrauss]

Personally, I like the way things are now........(well I've never liked nor will I wait in a M&G line that goes for 120+ min...........A&E at MK........coming soon back to Epcot ) 5 Characters at one M&G, in my opinion, means longer lines and more time...........instead of moving through 1 or 2 characters...........now you wait for 5.

What if we only want to meet Tink..........but we have to wait for a long line meeting Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, and Donald too? I think the line management is better suited to a 1 or 2 character M&G. My wife and I personally like the outdoor M&G's. Mary Poppins in the new area in new hub setup.............Alice in the UK in Epcot. If you do anything, and it won't happen..........I'd like to see more wandering characters...........but that doesn't seem like it would work either

For me I just don't see your plan.............

Doug

 

[Oswin]

The line would be even more insane if all the characters were in one spot, though.

 

[minnie mum]

Sorry, OP, but I agree with dkrauss. The scenario you describe would result in horrendously long lines. Instead of being spread out over 3 or more separate lines, everyone would have to be in just one, so every one's waits become much longer.

Disney knows what they're doing (most of the time) when it comes to meet and greets.

 

[Mikie]

I get your point. I like character spot in Epcot where you meet several and I don't remember what the tent/circus area in MK used to be called, but we met several characters in succession there. I don't remember waiting terribly long for either of those multi-meets. However, I really do like the open air locations like Aurora in France (she might have been eliminated from there?), Snow White in Getmany, Alice near UK, Russell and Dug in AK. . .

 

[2Gma]

I understand your angst. Wait in line for 20-40+ mins meet one or two characters and then start all over waiting for another. While the experience can be magical it also can feel manufactured and rushed. And with the more rare characters it takes a bit of planning to be in the right parks at the right time. Brilliant strategy by Disney but can be frustrating as the guest. I am not sure what they could do to fix it outside of offering more characters which we know they won't do due to budget cuts. While character meals are an added expense I have always enjoyed getting to meet 4-5 characters at one meal and crossing them off the list.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

If you're really that concerned about meeting characters, book a few character meals. That's a couple characters all in one place with minimal waiting.

Your strategy really isn't feasible.

 

[ElsieAstronaut]

I think three characters at one line is about tops as far as wait times. At the christmas party our longest line was the one that was for both Minnie/Daisy, and Donald/Scrooge. All four of them needed to take breaks. All four of them had to sign things. All four had to give hugs, blow kisses, etc. It was very slow going.

I guess I could see several "less desirable" characters in one place working out ok, but you just can't put all the "big names" in one line at the same time and expect waits to shorten. Add in any face characters and the wait goes up, because there's more interaction and sometimes full blown conversations.

And as a PP mentioned, it wouldn't work out for those that just want to meet, say...Pluto, but have to wait to meet him, plus four or five others they have no interest in.

 

[Shellyb84]

Personally, I like the way things are now........(well I've never liked nor will I wait in a M&G line that goes for 120+ min...........A&E at MK........coming soon back to Epcot ) 5 Characters at one M&G, in my opinion, means longer lines and more time...........instead of moving through 1 or 2 characters...........now you wait for 5.

What if we only want to meet Tink..........but we have to wait for a long line meeting Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, and Donald too? I think the line management is better suited to a 1 or 2 character M&G. My wife and I personally like the outdoor M&G's. Mary Poppins in the new area in new hub setup.............Alice in the UK in Epcot. If you do anything, and it won't happen..........I'd like to see more wandering characters...........but that doesn't seem like it would work either

For me I just don't see your plan.............

Doug

I agree with this. I also miss the days when the characters just wandered around and stopped for photos...

 

[Hopefully]

We all want to have those meet and greet memories of our time with our favourite Disney Character, and for the prices we pay, for Disney and the photo cd/ memory maker ) perhaps we deserve it.

However, I would like Disney to consider combining more characters per line. Most of us come from far away, and we do not have the opportunity to make multiple trips to Disney each year.

Our time at each park is valuable.

I suggest that there should be a minimum of 5 characters for each meet and greet line. ( Air conditioned , inside lines please ). The less time we spend in line, the more time we have to eat , ride and spend. A few years ago, Magic Kingdom meet and Greets and several princesses in one line and tinker bell in another line. Couldn't we all have been in the same line?

( On one trip my daughter filled up 2 autograph- photo books because we met so many characters.)

I would love to have my photo take with all my favourite characters again. I am now rethinking my plan to pre purchase the photo memory maker after booking my fast passes because I do not know how many characters I may meet. The only character meet and greet I have is for the Epcot Character Spot which now only has 3 characters from all reports.

But with fast passes available for meet and greets, there should be several at the end of a wait. You have to be prepared to wait at Disney or you will only way around all day and do nothing. Several characters mean you wait once, and you are done.

So, OP, you are clearly in the minority. Folks don't agree with your plan
I agree with PP, a good resolution is character meals where you meet many characters in a short period of time while you sit in air conditioned comfort and eat.
Good Luck

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I was amazed how many characters were available for meet and greet on DCL! Coming from the parks where ypu had to give blood sweat and tears and there they all were just right there!

 

[Minnie222]

DDs and I like to meet characters too. And I don't like to wait in a long line for 1 character. I'd rather wait for a ride than character.
Therefore we do character meals: Disney junior had 4 characters, CRT has 5 princesses, Crystal Palace has all the Pooh gang, and also the Characterpalooza.

DH is not that into characters but he is ok with character meals. So, we are both happy.

Speaking of characters, I think they should bring out more rare characters, instead of the same old, same old characters. Even our kids feel bored seeing the same princesses and the Mickey gang over and over again.
Seriously, how hard could it be??

 

[Minnie222]

I was amazed how many characters were available for meet and greet on DCL! Coming from the parks where ypu had to give blood sweat and tears and there they all were just right there!

We would love to try Disney Cruise some day. But every time I check, the price is really high as compared to spending days at the parks. We can only go during the major holidays when it is both expensive and crowded. I hope to try it soon.

 

[monorailrabbit]

DDs and I like to meet characters too. And I don't like to wait in a long line for 1 character. I'd rather wait for a ride than character.
Therefore we do character meals: Disney junior had 4 characters, CRT has 5 princesses, Crystal Palace has all the Pooh gang, and also the Characterpalooza.

DH is not that into characters but he is ok with character meals. So, we are both happy.

Speaking of characters, I think they should bring out more rare characters, instead of the same old, same old characters. Even our kids feel bored seeing the same princesses and the Mickey gang over and over again.
Seriously, how hard could it be??

Exactly! We don't have kids, so sometimes we get the hairy eyeball look from people in line when waiting for characters... I mean whatever, judge all you want but yes we are standing in line to hug some giant chipmunks and yes my DH and I are both in our 30's.

But we really enjoy character meals for many reasons. 1. You get more done in one sitting, and that means spending less park time waiting for them. 2. GREAT interactions with characters. 3. No judgey parents staring us down.

I also wish they would bring back rare characters - that's one of the reasons I love Characterpalooza so much - sometimes you get really lucky with who you see!

Count me in the same camp as the others who enjoy meeting the characters outside as well. There is something that makes it feel "authentic" by seeing Alice by her ride and Mary Poppins out in her Jolly Holiday outfit. AC is great, but it's fun to see them out!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We would love to try Disney Cruise some day. But every time I check, the price is really high as compared to spending days at the parks. We can only go during the major holidays when it is both expensive and crowded. I hope to try it soon.

I hope you get a chance also. I agree they have hiked up the price. Sep/Oct the prices are more reasonable on the 4 night Bahamas. But that may be your childrens time at school if you have them.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

How long does it take to meet 5 characters, get an autograph and a photo with each? Not to mention the groups who need a photo of every individual person with the character. It's why people will pay through the nose for character meals. Multiple characters, no line, the characters come to you. Worth its weight in gold or at least some buffet food for character fans.

As for the sameness of the characters...they are going to spend money to provide the most popular characters. they aren't necessarily thinking of repeat visitors.

 

[quagmire0]

Certain characters are far more popular than others, and whether a child/adult wants to see each character is all a matter of personal preference. If all I want to see is Stitch, and you want to see Anna and Elsa, then why should I have to wait in the same long line as everyone wanting to see Anna and Elsa? Better to allow those characters to be separated based on demand so you aren't holding everyone up.

I agree with the previous poster who talked about bringing back more random, wandering characters. To me, that's much more 'magical' and fun than standing in a long line.

 

[SillySallySews]

Agree with character meals! Of course they cost extra, but you have to eat at some point anyway, they are inside, there's AC, and you can meet several characters in one location. Also agree with meeting characters in the WS. There are so many and the lines are relatively short for most.

I personally really dislike the lines to meet multiple characters at once. I think we just have bad luck, but once we waited over an hour to see Minnie and Daisy under the circus tent (it was storming very badly so many headed into the tent) and all my girls could talk about was meeting Minnie. She went on break *right* before it was our turn. They were crushed, and it's not like you can just wait until she gets back. Same thing happened when we were waiting to meet three princesses in the town hall a few years back. Cinderella left right before it was our turn, and we had waited quite a long time for that one too. When you are in line to meet multiple characters you keep going, whether the characters you lined up for originally are there are or not.

 

[sunshine1]

Disneyland paris character wait times are very long. A 15-20 minute wait in orlando is 45 minutes plus in Paris. As the characters in france generally spend more time with each family.

It took ages to meet Pluto and Goofy when they were together in France. Goofy was taken so much time with each guest that Pluto made the signal with the handler at how long Goofy was taking. That was almost an hour wait at 0 degrees in early December.

 

[dreiwhit]

We tried to meet characters in places other than the MK. The wait times were significantly less in the other parks. We also used a FP to meet Anna & Elsa for my Frozen crazy daughter.

For our next trip, I suggested (with ulterior motives) to my daughter to concentrate on the characters she didn't get to meet on the last trip. She liked that idea, and everyone else did too!