Elena is in Disney World, but Moana isn't -- why?

[mayshamp]

My guess: the dresses.

Elena of Avalor is a Disney Junior show character that is a spin off from the show Sophia the First. I enjoy watching Sophia the First (I'm a middle aged woman with only sons, pity), but not so much Elena of Avalor. The story line just isnt' as good as that of Sophia the First. I was startled last fall when I saw Cinderella came out of the Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom with Elena, whom I consider a minor Disney character without her own movie. But Cinderella was selling Elena really hard, and I couldn't understand why. Then this year, the successful Moana movie came out, and I just found out that Disney had Moana in WDW briefly and then took her out. This means you can meet Elena, but you can't meet Moana. Why?

Then I realized the reason. Elena wears a beautiful red dress that is sold in WDW. Moana wears this thing that really isn't even a real dress. That's why Moana is out while Elena stays.

 

[mayshamp]

Here is proof that Moana is no longer in Disney World: (I copied the following from Disney Parks Moms' Panel)

On Mar 31, 2017
Jessica from NJ Asked“
I understand that Moana is leaving her meet and greet location in Hollywood Studios mid April. We are going at the end of April! Will Moana have a new location for meet and greets by then?”
Hello, Jessica! Are you singing all of the songs from Moana, too? My kids watch it almost everyday, and we have kitchen dance parties to “You’re Welcome” and “Shiny” where we’re all boogieing down!

You’ll find Moana at a personal meet and greet in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at One Man’s Dream through April 16th. I sincerely hope that she uses her wayfinding skills and voyages to a new location, because I know both of my children would ADORE to sing and map the stars with her. I can almost see my baby girl singing songs to Moana and I know my son would tote along his Hei Hei Tsum Tsum for a show-and-tell.

If Moana does find a new location, I’m sure we'll hear about it from the Disney Parks Blog, so be sure to subscribe for the latest updates. And turn that soundtrack up so we can dance and be inspired by her killer soundtrack! Thanks to Grandma and her belief and determination, we all know where we are… we’re in the most magical place on earth… Walt Disney World Resort!

You see, the question is, is Moana in Disney World? And the real answer is, no. But given that it is the Disney Parks Moms panel, you don't really hear the real answer but rather a big pile of Disney propaganda that glosses over the harsh reality, which is: they are getting rid of Moana while keeping Elena.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I don't think this is about the dress. I know many young girls who love Moana (including my child) who long to wear Moana's outfit as much as all the poofy princess dresses. Plus they don't get so dang warm in hot weather in Moana's outfit!

Moana's appearance at Hollywood Studios was part of the marketing/promotional budget for the movie. Always meant to be temporary. That's why GotG is there now. To promote the latest movie.

I believe Moana will be back somewhere else to meet and somewhere prominent. I believe this is a budgeting and logistics issue. I'm surprised there wasn't a seamless transition but I'd be more surprised if she doesn't pop up in Adventureland eventually (as long rumored.) There's a Moana segment in the new HEA. You can still meet Moana at Disneyland and Aulani. She'll be somewhere at WDW either when 1. her new meeting spot is ready, or 2. When budget $$ is available for an in-park M&G, Or 3. both. Her removal from HS is normal as that spot just rotates to the next movie promo. I don't think the park budget and movie promo budget are lining up.

Elena isn't a minor character IMO. Her show appears on Disney Jr or Disney Channel daily. Elena is a part of my kid's every day life. She doesn't watch a full length Disney movie every day but she does watch a 30 minute show, and quite often she chooses Elena (usually as I'm making dinner.) I actually think Elena fits in better with the Disney princesses at Magic Kingdom rather than lumping her in with the other Disney Jr characters.

That's all just my opinion! I could be wrong but I hope I'm not. I'm hoping Moana comes back before my next trip in a few months as much as anyone

 

[Karin1984]

Probably more a popularity issue and perhaps also a casting issue. I think Hispanic looking girls are easier to find in Florida than Polynesian.

 

[randumb0]

I think it's related to popularity

 

[kmb584]

From the beginning, Moana's meet was being offered as a limited time event. I don't think she's gone for good though and expect her to appear somewhere like Adventureland when a location is set for her and when more "friends" are cast. The movie wasn't Frozen, but it was still very popular, and I can't see them doing away with her for good.

 

[yulilin3]

My guess: the dresses.

Elena of Avalor is a Disney Junior show character that is a spin off from the show Sophia the First. I enjoy watching Sophia the First (I'm a middle aged woman with only sons, pity), but not so much Elena of Avalor. The story line just isnt' as good as that of Sophia the First. I was startled last fall when I saw Cinderella came out of the Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom with Elena, whom I consider a minor Disney character without her own movie. But Cinderella was selling Elena really hard, and I couldn't understand why. Then this year, the successful Moana movie came out, and I just found out that Disney had Moana in WDW briefly and then took her out. This means you can meet Elena, but you can't meet Moana. Why?

Then I realized the reason. Elena wears a beautiful red dress that is sold in WDW. Moana wears this thing that really isn't even a real dress. That's why Moana is out while Elena stays.

It's not the dress. They sell booth Moana's outfit and Elena's dress at WDW.
Elena is extremely popular, you can see that just by walking around MK all the little girls dressed up as her.
Moana's issue is casting (they only cast for the limited engagement meet and greet) and location. Which, if rumors are correct will be in Adventureland's . I have not seen any additional casting calls for her so not sure if she will be meeting again or not

 

[1st*toright]

When we watched HEA at the Poly beach last week, the whole crowd was singing along to "How far I'll go" - more people singing along than any other part of the show, by a long shot. Based on that very scientific evidence (ha!) it seems she's pretty darn popular. Both my kids were bummed she wasn't around to meet - hoping that the Adventureland meet materializes sometime soon. I also saw lots of kids in Moana dresses - a good choice for the weather. Nothing against Elena (we've never watched her, although Sofia is v. popular in my house), but Moana rocks. Doesn't hurt that the songs are by Lin Manuel Miranda - makes the movie popular with my Hamilton obsessed teen as well.

 

[GillianP1301]

It is quite puzzling, the movie was very popular and the music was as well. I doubt it's the dress, you can buy Moana costume dresses and I doubt it's the casting because Disney don't always cast to correct ethnic background anyway (I've seen non Asian girls playing Mulan and non native girls playing Pocahontas all the time). They seem to be beating the Frozen dead horse repeatedly complete with taking down a fan favourite ride in Maelstrom and completely redoing it, not to mention the upcoming change to the Illuminations Dessert Party to become Frozen. I personally would love to see a stop to the Frozen everything and some effort put into new characters, like Moana. I get it, Frozen sells, but so do many other Disney characters and movies that aren't getting near the amount of attention.

 

[cdnjason]

I think Disney strategically places characters and attractions at certain parks to attract guests.

 

[randumb0]

I still think popularity is the issue. Why is it so hard to find Moana merchandise and Disney stores? It's not like they are sold out

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

When we watched HEA at the Poly beach last week, the whole crowd was singing along to "How far I'll go" - more people singing along than any other part of the show, by a long shot.

That's awesome!

 

[SaintsManiac]

DD7 is excited to meet Elena and pretty crushed that Moana isn't there right now. I hope she returns.

 

[AngiTN]

Here is proof that Moana is no longer in Disney World: (I copied the following from Disney Parks Moms' Panel)

On Mar 31, 2017
Jessica from NJ Asked“
I understand that Moana is leaving her meet and greet location in Hollywood Studios mid April. We are going at the end of April! Will Moana have a new location for meet and greets by then?”
Hello, Jessica! Are you singing all of the songs from Moana, too? My kids watch it almost everyday, and we have kitchen dance parties to “You’re Welcome” and “Shiny” where we’re all boogieing down!

You’ll find Moana at a personal meet and greet in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at One Man’s Dream through April 16th. I sincerely hope that she uses her wayfinding skills and voyages to a new location, because I know both of my children would ADORE to sing and map the stars with her. I can almost see my baby girl singing songs to Moana and I know my son would tote along his Hei Hei Tsum Tsum for a show-and-tell.

If Moana does find a new location, I’m sure we'll hear about it from the Disney Parks Blog, so be sure to subscribe for the latest updates. And turn that soundtrack up so we can dance and be inspired by her killer soundtrack! Thanks to Grandma and her belief and determination, we all know where we are… we’re in the most magical place on earth… Walt Disney World Resort!

You see, the question is, is Moana in Disney World? And the real answer is, no. But given that it is the Disney Parks Moms panel, you don't really hear the real answer but rather a big pile of Disney propaganda that glosses over the harsh reality, which is: they are getting rid of Moana while keeping Elena.

Not really sure why you posted proof that she's no longer doing a M&G. That's pretty common knowledge.
And it has nothing to do with her dress or her popularity.
It has to do with budgets and how they fund the payments for the salary for a M&G.

As for the Mom's Panel and that "answer", man, is there more a non-answer anywhere? Talk about a waste of bites on the server.... but I digress

 

[Regan117]

I think Moana is difficult to cast. She's supposed to be a teenager, and Polynesian. All of the girls I've seen thus far have looked far too old, and seems to be of other ethnicities, and just aren't Moana. Now if only they'd give my 17-year-old niece a call, lol. We've laughed ever since we saw the first images of Moana because it looks exactly like her.

 

[AngiTN]

I think Moana is difficult to cast. She's supposed to be a teenager, and Polynesian. All of the girls I've seen thus far have looked far too old, and seems to be of other ethnicities, and just aren't Moana. Now if only they'd give my 17-year-old niece a call, lol. We've laughed ever since we saw the first images of Moana because it looks exactly like her.

She is, but so is Elena as she has to be bilingual, look like the character and fit in the dress. This may be why she's not in very many locations too

 

[Regan117]

She is, but so is Elena as she has to be bilingual, look like the character and fit in the dress. This may be why she's not in very many locations too

I think Elena is a little easier. Spanish-speaking people are pretty easy to come by in this country (especially Florida) these days. But someone who looks Polynesian is fairly rare.

I'd imagine Elena isn't in more locations because not everyone knows who she is. She's popular, but she's also Disney Junior. So if you don't have little kids, you probably aren't familiar with her.

 

[Liljo22]

Like someone said earlier, the DHS meet and greets are funded by the movie's marketing budget. If Disney is going to move it to MK, they are going to have to find the budget for it which means they are probably going to cut another M&G character. I highly doubt they would cut Elena since she is popular and taps into the Latin market.

 

[AngiTN]

Like someone said earlier, the DHS meet and greets are funded by the movie's marketing budget. If Disney is going to move it to MK, they are going to have to find the budget for it which means they are probably going to cut another M&G character. I highly doubt they would cut Elena since she is popular and taps into the Latin market.

I hope Moana makes it to MK and no one gets cut. That it's taking time to get here there because as most anyone knows, budgets are worked out months (at least) in advance so it will be a while before they can work her in. No idea how far out Disney budgets for these things so no insight on when we may see them work her in. I do think they will, eventually.

 

[ucfknight]

I think Elena is a little easier. Spanish-speaking people are pretty easy to come by in this country (especially Florida) these days. But someone who looks Polynesian is fairly rare.

Exactly.

Latest census data for Florida:
Females 18-29 identified as "Hispanic or Latino": 361,368
Females 18-29 identified as "Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander": 1,276