Estimating character M&G wait time... Gaston, Merida, PP, Tiana

[Paigevon]

I would appreciate any estimates on the length of wait time it'll take to see the following characters, so I can play accordingly. Thank you!!


Magic Kingdom: Two days planned.
1) TP crowd level 7; EasyWDW not recommend due to being on Saturday
2) TP crowd level 5; EasyWDW not recommended due to added evening EMH


Tiana (Day 1 approx 2 pm; OR Day 2 approx 12:30)

Gaston (Day 2, approx 11 am or 2 pm)

Peter Pan (Day 2 approx 12:30)

Merida (Day 2 approx anytime 5:00 - 6:30)

Fairy Godmother would have been on the list

 

[Paigevon]

 

[Rivergirl2005]

I'm not sure about exact waits, but Kenny the pirate has a wonder character meet and greet blog....I'd check there

 

[kadrachb]

I've found that doing Merida right in the morning (she starts at 9:15am) gives a minimal wait. I'm not sure what the predicted crowds were for the days we met her, but we got in line anywhere from 9:10 - 9:20, and maybe waited 15 minutes. Though I've seen people say as long as 30 minutes.

Gaston we waited about 20 minutes (counting the time we waited in line before he came out too), but we met him during his first time, and were about 6th in line. What we did for both characters was meet Merida at 9:15am, and then grabbed a snack/used our FP+ for Cinderella/Rapunzel and got in line for Gaston.

 

[Disney_Alli]

For Gaston I'd show up about 20 minutes before whichever set you're trying to see him in. We showed up at the start of a set and his line was already full. Merida also tends to have long lines, we went first thing and still had to wait through a full set before we saw her. I haven't met Tiana in a while but her wait isn't too bad. Sorry we missed Peter Pan on the last trip (and we tried for him - we needed one more signature to fill our second book)

 

[pmaurer74]

Merida you will likely wait 20 minutes to get into a set and then another 20 minutes once inside.
Gaston I agree about arriving before his set begins so probably 40 minutes total
Peter Pan is hard for us to find. We fond him once and the line was not long. It is more of when and where to find him.
Tiana, we always have trouble getting. Last time I think we waited 40 minutes before and then another 15 minutes once she arrived.

For a lot of characters their lines will close before they get there.

 

[mzsarah10]

Agree with PP about Merida. In June, when crowds were at a 7/8, we got in line close to 9:30am. We waited about 20 minutes in line and about another 15/20 once inside the area. Tiana's lines were really long. We ended up not seeing her this trip as it just didn't work out.

 

[showers2flowers]

I'm not sure about Tiana alone, but later in the day when she meets with Prince Naveen, the lines often close before the set even opens, so wait times can be long. I believe the wait for Tiana alone may not be quite as bad.

 

[Jrits]

Peter Pans line also closes before he even arrives

 

[Funfire240]

In early November we met Tiana about 2:00 on a Saturday with no line. Only one family in front of us when we walked in. Maybe just lucky...
Merida we waited probably 30 minutes but I can't remember what time of day.
Never met Gaston and for Peter Pan the one time we met him outside of Pirates and Pals Cruise, it was close to park open and we only had a couple minute wait

 

[Paigevon]

Oh wow! We definitely won't be able to see them all then, sadly.

Thank you all so much!!

 

[Paigevon]

How long is a "set" if you end up missing a full set and have to wait for the next?

 

[abnihon]

We waited maybe 10 min for Gaston but it was a low crowd rainy day and he had just come back from a rain break I think.

We couldn't find Peter Pan and I was sad...
I wonder if he doesn't meet on rainy days but that seems silly since I think his area is covered.
Maybe we just weren't in the right place at the right time.
Next time am planning to get in line before he arrives!

 

[DisneyLove2015]

Oh wow! We definitely won't be able to see them all then, sadly.

Thank you all so much!!

Not necessarily true!! We were able to meet 29 characters in one day (9 hours in MK and epcot) by using Kenny The Pirate's information. Look through his website!! We tried to show up before a set started to avoid longer waits. His information is wonderful!

 

[Paigevon]

Not necessarily true!! We were able to meet 29 characters in one day (9 hours in MK and epcot) by using Kenny The Pirate's information. Look through his website!! We tried to show up before a set started to avoid longer waits. His information is wonderful!

I've been wondering if it was worth it to pay for his app! 29, wow!!!

 

[SureAsLiz]

Oh wow! We definitely won't be able to see them all then, sadly.

Thank you all so much!!

I met every character in MK in one day, and still had plenty of time left at the end of the day. Meeting those 4 shouldn't be a problem at all, especially over 2 days.

And since Peter Pan seems to be hidden, he is between his ride and Columbia Harbour House, across from the Tangled bathrooms. There's a map of Neverland under an overhang

How long is a "set" if you end up missing a full set and have to wait for the next?

Generally a face character complete rotation is 45 minutes on, 15 off. Fur characters only need a 2-5 minute break

It looks like Gaston is on a 30-30 cycle. If it is especially hot out, the sets may be altered slightly.
If you are ever cut off (and the handler should let you know when you enter the line, if they allow you to enter at all. If not they give out warnings before the characters leave) the handler will tell you how long the wait will be


Merida only meets until 6:15, and you want to be sure to get to her line at least 40 minutes before then if you want to meet her at that time. I would plan on being in line no later than 5:15

 

[Paigevon]

@SureAsLiz Thank you! If you have time, would you mind looking over my plan? Moved some things around to try to make it happen.

We have ADR at Akershus, Tusker House, 1900 PF breakfast, CRT, and attending Chip 'n' Dale's campfire so that helps us get the opportunity to meet many of the characters.

~*~

Our first MK day, we have 8:05 ADR at BOG, then planning to ride Peter Pan's Flight, it's a small world, should put us at waiting for Gaston by 9:50 or earlier for his 10 am meet.

According to touringplans, we should be able to meet Tink at 7:45 with a 15 minute wait, Ariel a little after 9 with a 15 minute wait, and then it's a 12 am closing day so we're hoping to meet Cinderella and Rapunzel after Wishes with a 10-15 minute wait.

~*~

On our second MK day/last day there, we have 8:30 ADR at CRT. No intention of rushing the meal at all, but hoping to ride PPF (9:20 FP+) then go straight to Merida before 10 am meet. We have a First Haircut package scheduled for 12 pm at Harmony Barbershop, planned to participate in the Move it!etc Dance Party, then try to find Peter around 12:45-1:00 (meet starts at 12). 2:10 BOG lunch ADR, then 2:50 Anna Elsa m&g FP+, make our way to Tomorrowland to find Merida any time after this and ride rides in the area.

Trying to figure out where/when to add Tiana. We intended to have dinner at Columbia Harbor House our last day, but playing the evening by ear because we'll have a 3 hour drive home after an early morning. Looks like her set ends at 8:45. If we went there on the way to CHH say approx 7 pm, any estimate on the wait?


Thank you!

 

[bauer1168]

The following is based on my own experiences trying to meet characters you've mentioned above. I hope some of the follwing info provides you with some help.


My friends and I did a full on meet and greet day on Sunday February 28th. We managed to meet 33 characters at MK that day (crowd level 5, recommended park on easywdw crowd calendar, operating hours 9am - 10pm). This included a 6:40 pm ADR at CRT, so we met Cinderella, Jasmine and Ariel twice (although Ariel was in mermaid in one, and her human form at CRT).

Our plan for the morning was as follows:

Arrive at RD no later than 8:30

This didn't start off to plan as my friends were late so we got to MK at 8:40 and they had at this point stopped letting more guests into the initial holding area. We then droppped our bags off in lockers and headed straight to Merida, and ended up being second group in line, we were done by 9:22 am

Met Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, then Mad Hatter all before 9:45 am

Headed straight to Gaston after that, 3rd group in line, can't remember the time we had finished sorry

Met Aladdin and Jasmine and were done by 10:45 am

Obviously the crowds will be rougher on a Saturday, but I feel it is still doable to meet the character on your list. Tink is normally easy to meet (just don't go after FOF or MSEP), you should also easily be able to get her as a 4th FP+ if nothing else is available. Ariel/Cinderella/Rapunzel I've never really seen big waits for after Wishes as most guests seem to descend towards 7DMT, A&E, Space etc.

Peter Pan is a bit tricky as it's not uncommon for his line to close before he even comes out. I've personally found his line isn't that long if you head to it straight after FOF (try watching parade in Liberty Square, or opposite Diamond Horseshoe for a "quick" escape, that's when I've normally had the best success seeing him.

Tiana we met later in the evening when she met with Naveen.

the exact times for the Tiana meet, Gaston I would have to check times with my friend as they were taken on her phone.

Good luck with meeting the characters!

 

[Chrelaine]

According to touringplans, we should be able to meet Tink at 7:45 with a 15 minute wait, Ariel a little after 9 with a 15 minute wait, and then it's a 12 am closing day so we're hoping to meet Cinderella and Rapunzel after Wishes with a 10-15 minute wait.

We had a FP+ for the first MSEP on our trip in May last year. Where we stood, I was facing the door for Tink. I kept watching the wait time go down. It was at 5 mins by the end of the parade. After the last of the parade finished, as soon as they allowed us on the street, we booked it over and were 2nd in line to meet her...less than 5 mins. Then, we ran to Cinderella and Rapunzel...which was a feat with everyone scoping out their spot for Wishes. We waited less than 5 minutes. This saved us the FP we planned on using for them 2 days later. It wasn't the plan we went in with, but we we were glad we went with it when we saw an opportunity.

 

[Paigevon]

Peter Pan is a bit tricky as it's not uncommon for his line to close before he even comes out. I've personally found his line isn't that long if you head to it straight after FOF (try watching parade in Liberty Square, or opposite Diamond Horseshoe for a "quick" escape, that's when I've normally had the best success seeing him.

First of all, THANK YOU for all the great info!

I hadn't thought of this!! We were actually planning to watch FOF from Diamond Horseshoe area, maybe we could catch him immediately afterwards!