Elsa and Anna meet and greet strategy

[stevesgirl]

We have an 8 a.m. ADR scheduled, with the assumption that they will still be meeting at 9. We are going to all go to breakfast, but either my husband or myself will duck out around 8:40 or 8:45 while the kids finish breakfast. We've done this breakfast before and I doubt it will be a problem to eat in that amount of time. And we've used the same strategy at Hollywood and Vine so we didn't miss the mad rush for Toy Story fast passes and had success. If we have to wait a bit to meet them because other people skipped breakfast, we can deal with that. I don't want my husband to have to miss the breakfast, and I don't want to miss it either. So I'd keep the 8:10, get there at 8 and ask for your check shortly after you sit down so one of you can leave before rope drop.

I like this idea. I don't want anyone to miss breakfast so this sounds good to me. Is this a buffet or sit down?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Eliza'sMom]

I like this idea. I don't want anyone to miss breakfast so this sounds good to me. Is this a buffet or sit down? Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

There is a cold buffet, and then the hot food is served family-style. Since there's nothing other than drinks to order, though, they usually bring the food by pretty quickly.

 

[LSUfan4444]

2 hours and change (depending on how many are in front of you) if it is a 9 am opening day.

Getting in line at 9 am, when they start meeting at 11 am, will result in at least a 3 hour wait (unless you ran and/or are one of the very first to get in line from rope drop. There will be people with Akershus ADRs who will fill at least an hour (if not more), so you will not get in until at least the 12 pm showing, possibly later (depending on how many people shot over between 8 am - 9am).

 

[princessekrus]

Just Back - Did the Anna/Elsa run on Friday 2/21 Here was my strategy and some important info.

EDIT - I was wrong about the times - they changed the start time back to 9:00am - Of course they had it at 11 just for the week I was there! ARGH!!!!

We did not have Akershus reservations, so here is what I did with an 11am start time. It would have worked even better if they had been meeting at 9am.

Stayed at the Beach Club, so arrived at the international gateway (just me, left kids to come later with grandparents). Had no bags with me, arrived at bag check at 8:20am (for a 9am open). There was one guy in front of me, and one right behind me. We were all there to get to Norway.

Usually they open the turnstiles about 8:45. There was some delay this day. I assume the front entrance was also delayed opening. Finally opened at 8:57 - the two guys and I just started jogging. They were faster than me, but not by much. Ran right to Norway... when we got there, there were probably 6 line placeholders who had done Akershus. We were the first non restaurant guests. The first runners from the front entrance were about 5 minutes behind us. I held our place in line, and swapped out with my mom about 9:30. We were in to see A&E by 11:15. They spent a lot of time with each group, and answered all my girls questions. It was a very nice interaction.

When I walked by the line at 10:45, to relieve my mom the line was almost all the way to the next pavilion (Mexico). Someone in line said it was 5 hours from where she was standing.

As for a reference to crowds - Touringplans had the day at Epcot as a 4, EasyWDW had it as an 8. To me, it seemed somewhere inbetween those two.

I checked two other afternoons - at 2:30pm yesterday (Monday, a very low crowd day), the line was 2.5 hours.

The one evening I checked (I believe it was Monday, Presidents day), at 7pm (park closed at 9), the line was 1.5 hours.

One thing I will say - if you are coming to the regular entrance on a busy day, be at the main Epcot entrance no later than 1 hour before park open. We were at the main Epcot entrance on President's day at 8:20 (for a 9am open), and it took us 35 minutes to get through the turnstiles. I was very glad I wasn't trying to do A&E that day.

 

[mesaboy2]

Just Back - Did the Anna/Elsa run on Friday 2/21 Here was my strategy and some important info. AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE MEET AND GREET DOES NOT START (actually letting you in to see them) UNTIL 11am. There was 1 week of a test starting at 9, but they moved it back to 11. Not all cast members were aware of the change back, and I heard several telling people they started meeting at 9, which was not true. We did not have Akershus reservations, so here is what I did. Stayed at the Beach Club, so arrived at the international gateway (just me, left kids to come later with grandparents). Had no bags with me, arrived at bag check at 8:20am (for a 9am open). There was one guy in front of me, and one right behind me. We were all there to get to Norway. Usually they open the turnstiles about 8:45. There was some delay this day. I assume the front entrance was also delayed opening. Finally opened at 8:57 - the two guys and I just started jogging. They were faster than me, but not by much. Ran right to Norway... when we got there, there were probably 6 line placeholders who had done Akershus. We were the first non restaurant guests. The first runners from the front entrance were about 5 minutes behind us. I held our place in line, and swapped out with my mom about 9:30. We were in to see A&E by 11:15. They spent a lot of time with each group, and answered all my girls questions. It was a very nice interaction. When I walked by the line at 10:45, to relieve my mom the line was almost all the way to the next pavilion (Mexico). Someone in line said it was 5 hours from where she was standing. As for a reference to crowds - Touringplans had the day at Epcot as a 4, EasyWDW had it as an 8. To me, it seemed somewhere inbetween those two. I checked two other afternoons - at 2:30pm yesterday (Monday, a very low crowd day), the line was 2.5 hours. The one evening I checked (I believe it was Monday, Presidents day), at 7pm (park closed at 9), the line was 1.5 hours. One thing I will say - if you are coming to the regular entrance on a busy day, be at the main Epcot entrance no later than 1 hour before park open. We were at the main Epcot entrance on President's day at 8:20 (for a 9am open), and it took us 35 minutes to get through the turnstiles. I was very glad I wasn't trying to do A&E that day.

That was true on Friday. Are you sure it didn't revert to 9:00a as of Sunday? That is my understanding.

 

[laceyinwonderland]

Meeting Anna and Elsa is also very important to my DD, so I am going to TRY my best to make it happen. DH cant come this trip, so its me going solo with the girls, so I will have no one to help me hold a spot in line. I have done the "shameful" thing of booking an ADR @ 8:10, with no intentions of going to it. My girls are not big breakfast eaters, so Id rather pay a $30 no show fee than $80 for a few peices of fruit and bacon. Unless something changes before June this will be our only option, and I will hope for the best.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Just Back - Did the Anna/Elsa run on Friday 2/21 Here was my strategy and some important info.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE MEET AND GREET DOES NOT START (actually letting you in to see them) UNTIL 11am. There was 1 week of a test starting at 9, but they moved it back to 11. Not all cast members were aware of the change back, and I heard several telling people they started meeting at 9, which was not true.

We did not have Akershus reservations, so here is what I did.

Stayed at the Beach Club, so arrived at the international gateway (just me, left kids to come later with grandparents). Had no bags with me, arrived at bag check at 8:20am (for a 9am open). There was one guy in front of me, and one right behind me. We were all there to get to Norway.

Usually they open the turnstiles about 8:45. There was some delay this day. I assume the front entrance was also delayed opening. Finally opened at 8:57 - the two guys and I just started jogging. They were faster than me, but not by much. Ran right to Norway... when we got there, there were probably 6 line placeholders who had done Akershus. We were the first non restaurant guests. The first runners from the front entrance were about 5 minutes behind us. I held our place in line, and swapped out with my mom about 9:30. We were in to see A&E by 11:15. They spent a lot of time with each group, and answered all my girls questions. It was a very nice interaction.

When I walked by the line at 10:45, to relieve my mom the line was almost all the way to the next pavilion (Mexico). Someone in line said it was 5 hours from where she was standing.

As for a reference to crowds - Touringplans had the day at Epcot as a 4, EasyWDW had it as an 8. To me, it seemed somewhere inbetween those two.

I checked two other afternoons - at 2:30pm yesterday (Monday, a very low crowd day), the line was 2.5 hours.

The one evening I checked (I believe it was Monday, Presidents day), at 7pm (park closed at 9), the line was 1.5 hours.

One thing I will say - if you are coming to the regular entrance on a busy day, be at the main Epcot entrance no later than 1 hour before park open. We were at the main Epcot entrance on President's day at 8:20 (for a 9am open), and it took us 35 minutes to get through the turnstiles. I was very glad I wasn't trying to do A&E that day.

Solid info - thanks

It's going to come down to a decision of how long do you want to wait in line, vs how long do you want to wait in line when the park is open.

OP waiting in line 3 hours (got in line to Epcot at 8:20 am and didn't see Anna & Else until 11:15), but she was able to get to Epcot before lunch.

Getting in line at 11 am may also yield a three hour wait, BUT it gives you the opportunity to hit Soarin/Test Track at Rope Drop. Essentially, it will come down to personal preference and how the flow differs from day to day to say which will work out better.

Just by looking at the examples she gave from the other two days she checked, she would have been better off waiting, but thats impossible to really know at this point.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Meeting Anna and Elsa is also very important to my DD, so I am going to TRY my best to make it happen. DH cant come this trip, so its me going solo with the girls, so I will have no one to help me hold a spot in line. I have done the "shameful" thing of booking an ADR @ 8:10, with no intentions of going to it. My girls are not big breakfast eaters, so Id rather pay a $30 no show fee than $80 for a few peices of fruit and bacon. Unless something changes before June this will be our only option, and I will hope for the best.

Unless they open up at 9 am for the meet & greet, three hours in line for those girls might be really rough. Definitely make sure you have snacks and lunch, especially since they won't be eating a good breakfast.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Getting in line at 9 am, when they start meeting at 11 am, will result in at least a 3 hour wait (unless you ran and/or are one of the very first to get in line from rope drop. There will be people with Akershus ADRs who will fill at least an hour (if not more), so you will not get in until at least the 12 pm showing, possibly later (depending on how many people shot over between 8 am - 9am).

I'm sorry but I stand by my previous post - and I do it with personal experience.

When we went in late January they were 'only' meeting for about 30 / 40 minutes each set (as opposed to now when they are meeting pretty much all of the time). DH and 4 other people (representing 4 families) got into the 11 am line from RD - everyone else there was from Akershus. We met Anna and Elsa around 11:20 (when I say around I mean we were physically exiting the shop at 11:24). So no not a 3 hour wait but 2 hours and change as I stated earlier.

Since they are now meeting basically continuously even more people can meet them in their first hour of meeting (thus under the 3 hour waiting time mark).

 

[TDC Nala]

They'll have to change it to prepaid like CRT, but anyone on the dining plan would still be out only $10 a head.

Not necessarily - if you skip CRT you are charged the full cost of the meal, not just $10 per person. Even if you are on the dining plan.

Here is the current listing from www.wdwent.com for THIS WEEK ONLY:

The royal sisters from Disney's Frozen have journeyed from afar to meet new friends, and they're thrilled to have found a home away from home in the Prinsesse Plass at the Norway Pavilion!
Daily at 9:00, 10:00 & 11:00am, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:10 & 4:20pm

As I think was noted before, they may change this on the fly due to staffing issues.

 

[mom2rtk]

Not necessarily - if you skip CRT you are charged the full cost of the meal, not just $10 per person. Even if you are on the dining plan.

Then it sounds like that might solve their problem. As long as prepayment doesn't scare off legit diners. I'm sure there's a delicate balance in they have to keep. But I bet they have a lot of no-shows lately and are at least considering it.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'm sorry but I stand by my previous post - and I do it with personal experience.

When we went in late January they were 'only' meeting for about 30 / 40 minutes each set (as opposed to now when they are meeting pretty much all of the time). DH and 4 other people (representing 4 families) got into the 11 am line from RD - everyone else there was from Akershus. We met Anna and Elsa around 11:20 (when I say around I mean we were physically exiting the shop at 11:24). So no not a 3 hour wait but 2 hours and change as I stated earlier.

Since they are now meeting basically continuously even more people can meet them in their first hour of meeting (thus under the 3 hour waiting time mark).

If you are one of the first few that are in line at Epcot, as I said, you might be able to make it into the 11 am group, BUT you are not including the time you waited to get into Epcot. Arriving at 8:20 for a 9 am opening, and seeing Anna & Elsa at 11:20 is a three hour wait.

If you arrive to Epcot at 9 am, you won't see them until at least 12 pm, thus at least a three hour wait.

Nobody right now is showing up to Epcot at 9 am, then walkng back to Anna & Elsa and making the front of the 11 am group.

 

[Winnowill]

I managed to get an 8:20 at Akershus on 4/26. My plan is the same as others: get there early, wolf down breakfast, and get in line around 8:40, while DD5 and DH finish breakfast. We have a dinner there another day, so I'm not concerned about missing the character experience. Just hoping they're still meeting at 9:00 by then.

 

[Tony74]

This is GREAT info, thanks.

I'm heading there the last week of March and I will be at the IG entrance if anyone is interested in running together. Can we get RunDisney to sponsor a medal for us?

 

[hammie59]

Not necessarily - if you skip CRT you are charged the full cost of the meal, not just $10 per person. Even if you are on the dining plan.

Then it sounds like that might solve their problem. As long as prepayment doesn't scare off legit diners. I'm sure there's a delicate balance in they have to keep. But I bet they have a lot of no-shows lately and are at least considering it.

I think you both are right about this. Disney makes more money when ppl actually honor the reservation as opposed to ditching and just paying the penalty. I would be surprised if they didn't eventually change it to the way you book for CRT.
For example, according to allears the OOP pricing for breakfast at Akershus for a family of 4 (2ad 2ch) is between $130-$148. A no-show is only $40.

 

[laceyinwonderland]

Unless they open up at 9 am for the meet & greet, three hours in line for those girls might be really rough. Definitely make sure you have snacks and lunch, especially since they won't be eating a good breakfast.

Yes, I should have mentioned that I will ONLY be willing to do this if they move the meet back to 9am. ;o) If the meet is still at 11, we will wave to them in the new parade @ MK, and wait til Sept to meet them when DH is with us.

Also, not to add lighter fluid to the fire but.... my adr was made with my Disney Visa, which Chase replaced since then due to the target breach.... So im wondering if they will even be able to charge the no show fee..... ?

 

[wintotty]

We were there on Feb 11th, had Akershus at 8:10a.m., but by the time we were called to line up for Belle picture, it was 8:35a.m. I've done Akershus about 3 times in the past, and we usually start eating much later than the ADR time. We were lucky that they changed our ADR time to 9:15a.m., since we were 1st in line for A&E, but in the busier season probably that' won't happen... I was actually going to skip the breakfast, so it worked out pretty good for us that time.

 

[ks-man]

Asking for speculation here. We have a 5:05pm dinner at Akershus on a day in late April that is rated a 2 on Touring Plans for Epcot. E&A are the number one thing my daughter wants to do. I'm debating if we should aim for seeing them right before dinner or if her and I should arrive early a day later in the week.

I'm going under the assumption that by late April they will be on a permanent 9am schedule and that the wait times should be a little less than they are right now. It sounds like last week the late afternoon was far less crowded (less wait) than the early morning. If we pushed it to a morning later in the week I would be with only my daughter (5) as my wife and son (2) wouldn't come to Epcot. This concerns me as we won't be able to run fast when we get in and god forbid she has to go to the bathroom while we're waiting...

I am thinking that if we go for the afternoon we try and get to the line at E&A by 3pm and by then we should be pretty safe for seeing them by 5:10pm or so and then hit our dinner. This is all based on the light crowd calendar date and that it is still two months away. Am I crazy to think this is going to be possible?

 

[mom2rtk]

Asking for speculation here. We have a 5:05pm dinner at Akershus on a day in late April that is rated a 2 on Touring Plans for Epcot. E&A are the number one thing my daughter wants to do. I'm debating if we should aim for seeing them right before dinner or if her and I should arrive early a day later in the week.

I'm going under the assumption that by late April they will be on a permanent 9am schedule and that the wait times should be a little less than they are right now. It sounds like last week the late afternoon was far less crowded (less wait) than the early morning. If we pushed it to a morning later in the week I would be with only my daughter (5) as my wife and son (2) wouldn't come to Epcot. This concerns me as we won't be able to run fast when we get in and god forbid she has to go to the bathroom while we're waiting...

I am thinking that if we go for the afternoon we try and get to the line at E&A by 3pm and by then we should be pretty safe for seeing them by 5:10pm or so and then hit our dinner. This is all based on the light crowd calendar date and that it is still two months away. Am I crazy to think this is going to be possible?

Maybe you could try your plan to see them before dinner, then if it didn't pan out, go back early another day after that?

I do feel for people without a second adult along in situations like this. I bet if your DD had to go to the restroom you could talk to the attendant or someone near you in line to hold your spot. It wouldn't take very long.

 

[Missyrose]

I think you both are right about this. Disney makes more money when ppl actually honor the reservation as opposed to ditching and just paying the penalty. I would be surprised if they didn't eventually change it to the way you book for CRT.
For example, according to allears the OOP pricing for breakfast at Akershus for a family of 4 (2ad 2ch) is between $130-$148. A no-show is only $40.

I don't think the no-show thing at Akershaus is as dire as people are making it out to be. You're only talking about a handful of pre-opening ADRs to begin with and of those, only a few may no-show each day. They have enough trouble filling that restaurant each day that they're not about to start making people prepay.