Elsa & Anna Meet/Greet

[ksrogers]

I have a 8:05am reservation at Crystal Palace on June 28th with hopes this will help out with the wait times for Elsa & Anna. I am staying offsite so I don't have much hope with getting a FP+ so this is the next best thing. I heard that I cannot go ahead of family and stand at rope to hold spot in line?? Is this true? Does anyone have experience with being told by the CM? I find this hard to believe as what if your kid has to go the bathroom while waiting in 3-4 hour line? Do you think the reservation is worth it or what does everyone suggest? Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

 

[monique5]

I have a 8:05am reservation at Crystal Palace on June 28th with hopes this will help out with the wait times for Elsa & Anna. I am staying offsite so I don't have much hope with getting a FP+ so this is the next best thing. I heard that I cannot go ahead of family and stand at rope to hold spot in line?? Is this true? Does anyone have experience with being told by the CM? I find this hard to believe as what if your kid has to go the bathroom while waiting in 3-4 hour line? Do you think the reservation is worth it or what does everyone suggest? Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

1st, character breakfast will last 60-90 minutes if you are trying to meet all of the characters. Next, off-site guests can make FP+ reservations 30D out through MDE. So you can get a FP+ prior to your trip. Several PP have posted that they've been able to get them. You just have to keep trying if you do not get a reservation at 1st. Please note reservations start at midnight EST on your booking day. Also, I believe you can leave for the restroom. However, not sure how that will work with crowds, if they continue to be huge. I'm thinking what you are referring to is that everyone in line must have a FP+ reservation for that time frame. At this point, I think reservations are worth it. The waits are up to 120+ minutes within 30 minutes. Easywdw.com is recommending trying in the afternoon if no FP+. Crowds may change, they've only been at MK for 1 week, & crowd levels will increase as the summer approaches and as we move through the summer months.

I hope this helps.

 

[Jennasis]

I have a 8:05am reservation at Crystal Palace on June 28th with hopes this will help out with the wait times for Elsa & Anna. I am staying offsite so I don't have much hope with getting a FP+ so this is the next best thing. I heard that I cannot go ahead of family and stand at rope to hold spot in line?? Is this true? Does anyone have experience with being told by the CM? I find this hard to believe as what if your kid has to go the bathroom while waiting in 3-4 hour line? Do you think the reservation is worth it or what does everyone suggest? Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

Everyone in your party has tp wait in line together. No sending a line saver ahead of the group. or so they've been telling folks.

 

[ferd]

I have seen A & E five times so far (3 times at MK). Personally, from everything I've seen, experienced and have been told, if you cannot get a FP+ (which you will be able to book 30 days in advance with your ticket registered to MDE) I would recommend getting in line in the afternoon. The wait times seem to drop (drastically) in the afternoon. I've heard (and seen pics) of wait times of 60-90 minutes in the afternoon, when they have been as high as 270 in the morning. While an ADR might get you to the ropes near the castle a bit earlier, you will have to rush your character meal to beat the crowds allowed into the park at 8:50 and then you will have to rush with them into PFTH and be corralled like cattle. The line is FAR more orderly and less insane 30 minutes after park opening. I've shared pics of this in other threads. And FWIW, the posted wait times seem to be a big exaggerated to what people have experienced in waiting in standby.

And unlike the line situation over in Norway, you really do need to keep your party together. The queue is tighly packed and is mostly inside and it's very tricky for someone to meet up with their family who might be deep in the line. I'm not saying the CMs won't let your kid go potty, but it's not an open line like in Epcot, and it is not easy at all for someone to join into the line from a mid point.

 

[ksrogers]

Thanks eberyone for your feedback. I will start checking 30 days out and hope I get lucky! My kids are not big Pooh fans so i mainly booked it for the convenience of getting ahead of the huge crowds that will be let in at 9am!

While an ADR might get you to the ropes near the castle a bit earlier, you will have to rush your character meal to beat the crowds allowed into the park at 8:50 and then you will have to rush with them into PFTH and be corralled like cattle.

My understanding was that the rope at the castle and the rope at the front gate will both be opened at the same time, 9am. So i was thinking at least I would be ahead of the huge crowd. Is my undertsanding wrong?

Does anyone have experience with going to a early breakfast and only one from your party leaving early to grab a spot for family? Looking to see if they will allow this as I can pay the bill as soon as we sit down, grab a quick bite to eat and wait at rope while the family finishes and meets a couple characters. I also don't want to involve my wife and 2 kids to any craziness if I can avoid it!

 

[ferd]

My understanding was that the rope at the castle and the rope at the front gate will both be opened at the same time, 9am. So i was thinking at least I would be ahead of the huge crowd. Is my undertsanding wrong?

Yes. The morning show begins approx 8:45ish at the train station at Main Street. Those watching it have already gone through the tapstyles and after the brief show there is a countdown and the park is opened. (About 8:50 or so) Then everyone goes under the train station and into the park, making their way down mainstreet to the 'inner' ropes around the park blocking people from going into the different lands. At 9am when the park 'officially' opens, there is an announcement made and the ropes are then lowered and guests can enter the lands and go to the attractions/rides that they want. So with an ADR, you can get to the 'inner' ropes first, but you will not be able to get past them, and the crowds that come in after the morning show will then arrive to wait with you and be admitted when the ropes are lowered at 9am (if that makes sense.)

The ADR at MK is different to what those were doing with Arkeshus over in Norwary to see Anna and Elsa. Over there, the inner rope was past Norway, so people could get an ADR and either eat their meal quickly or skip their meal and eat the cancellation fee, and then get right into the queue line for A & E before anyone else was admitted into the park. MK early dining reservations do not allow you to do that. The inner ropes will stop you from getting to PFTH first.

 

[HopperFan]

And unlike the line situation over in Norway, you really do need to keep your party together. The queue is tighly packed and is mostly inside and it's very tricky for someone to meet up with their family who might be deep in the line. I'm not saying the CMs won't let your kid go potty, but it's not an open line like in Epcot, and it is not easy at all for someone to join into the line from a mid point.

I think this will be your biggest issue. In Norway the line was outside for almost the entire time. If you have not been to Fairy Tale Hall just under the overhang at the entrance the line has iron rails then you go to the inside in a foyer area, again with "solid" rails to queue, then you enter the gallery room still in a queue line. Once you hit these rail lines it means your family will be pushing their way ahead of people ..... that is probably not going to go over really well and may not even be permitted. The lines outside are rope lines and would be easier to join. Depends on where you are in line upon arrival, but to join you it be best if you were located outside in the rope queue.

 

[Liljo22]

FYI...Josh at EasyWDW is reporting that afternoon wait times are being inflated. The wait time will say 240 minutes but is actually 90-120. I know that is still longer than some are willing to wait but if you are going to go the standby route, I would do it after 11:30.

 

[ferd]

FYI...Josh at EasyWDW is reporting that afternoon wait times are being inflated. The wait time will say 240 minutes but is actually 90-120. I know that is still longer than some are willing to wait but if you are going to go the standby route, I would do it after 11:30.

Two of my friends saw them the other afternoon with an hour *actual* wait time (90 minutes was posted.) All of the posted wait times are inflated. I've yet to see a single person admit to actually waiting 4-5 hours, but I've seen multiple people admit to waiting far less time than what was posted.

 

[Winnowill]

We were told on Sunday (around 1:00), when there was zero line outside, that the best time to try to get in line was early-mid afternoon, because a lot of people are trying to get positioned for the afternoon parade. The CM also admitted that the posted wait time at that moment (which was 240 minutes) was HUGELY inflated, and that, if we'd gotten in line right then, we might only have about an hour wait.

 

[sarkell]

We were told on Sunday (around 1:00), when there was zero line outside, that the best time to try to get in line was early-mid afternoon, because a lot of people are trying to get positioned for the afternoon parade. The CM also admitted that the posted wait time at that moment (which was 240 minutes) was HUGELY inflated, and that, if we'd gotten in line right then, we might only have about an hour wait.

Its definitely dropping adn though you cant get in line ast 5 they meet past 5 so I hear.