How are the wait times for Belle in Epcot?

[mum2four]

Planning for a trip in mid-May. We have two little princesses who will NEED to meet Belle. We are doing CRT for breakfast, but I understand Belle is no longer there. We are still keeping the CRT ADR because my DD's are also fans of the other princesses and I think they would love eating in the castle.

My girls are very much on the shy side, so I don't think they would enjoy participating in the new Belle attraction at MK. (Although my older DD will be wearing her Belle gown on our MK day that we go to CRT, so that's something else to consider).

I'm wondering how the wait times are to meet Belle in World Showcase Epcot? Anyone have experience with that? I realize she will be in her blue dress and my girls won't be wearing their princess gowns that day, but I think that will be ok. We just want a quick "hi" and to take a couple pics.

Because we are paying OOP and already dining at CRT, I decided against making an ADR at Askerhus. Plus, I have two older boys and I would like to limit the amount of "princess" they are subjected to on their vacation LOL!

So, what do you think? Am I better off doing the Belle meet and greet at Epcot or trying out the new Belle attraction at MK? Thoughts???

 

[Jbleonard]

Planning for a trip in mid-May. We have two little princesses who will NEED to meet Belle. We are doing CRT for breakfast, but I understand Belle is no longer there. We are still keeping the CRT ADR because my DD's are also fans of the other princesses and I think they would love eating in the castle.

My girls are very much on the shy side, so I don't think they would enjoy participating in the new Belle attraction at MK. (Although my older DD will be wearing her Belle gown on our MK day that we go to CRT, so that's something else to consider).

I'm wondering how the wait times are to meet Belle in World Showcase Epcot? Anyone have experience with that? I realize she will be in her blue dress and my girls won't be wearing their princess gowns that day, but I think that will be ok. We just want a quick "hi" and to take a couple pics.

Because we are paying OOP and already dining at CRT, I decided against making an ADR at Askerhus. Plus, I have two older boys and I would like to limit the amount of "princess" they are subjected to on their vacation LOL!

So, what do you think? Am I better off doing the Belle meet and greet at Epcot or trying out the new Belle attraction at MK? Thoughts???

At epcot there is a sign with the times that Belle comes out. There is usually a line of people waiting before the time, so get in line early because she only stays for a certain amount if time (not sure of the length of time), but no matter if people are still in line, they will cut you off when we went in Nov, it was only Belle, but on a past trip the beast was with her!!

 

[RachaelA]

In October, we made sure we are there like 10 minutes before the WS opens. We just hang out at the rope by the bridge. We were first there in October and Belle walked next to DD's stroller on the way to her M&G area I ended up taking DD out part of the way so she could walk next to Belle for the last bit of the walk.

But I also didn't see super long waits when we walked by her at other points during the day.

 

[memakwed]

We've never had good luck with meet and greets in EPCOT. Usually either in line and then they leave or aren't even allowed in the line. That's just our experience over the last almost 25 years. I am hoping our luck will change next trip a bit. I've never had a problem in any other park and would love for my son to get pics and signatures in EPCOT. Knowing my experience I would opt to try the MK. It is new and sounds cool anyway.

You have already made is clear that you will not do Akerhaus but IMO that would be what I would do to guarentee seeing Belle and getting a nice pic in her ball gown. I've never gone but have several friends that have and the pics were nice and the girls felt special.

I guess I'll also need to read more about princesses in the castle as I didn't know she was no longer there. We went for dinner to CRT last trip Sept.'11 and she was there wearing her blue and white outfit not her ball gown. I need to catch up on my reading as I start planning this trip.

 

[mum2four]

Thanks for the feedback! We will be in Epcot on a Monday and then our MK days are Wed/Fri, so I think we'll give it a shot to meet Belle at Epcot first. If that doesn't work out, we still have two days to try and see Belle at MK.

 

[ktlm]

Print off the Epcot character schedule from kennythepirate.com. That will have the exact times she is out so you can plan ahead. Plan to be in line for her about 15 to 20 minutes before she comes out, earlier if you want to be at the front of the line. You shouldn't get cut off 15-20 minutes ahead of time, but you won't be at the front. Belle's line has always been a little long at Epcot, especially when she had the Beast meeting with her. The Beast is gone now, but with it being the only place to actually get an autograph from her in any any park or actually talk to her for a minute, other than at Akershus, the line hasn't gotten any better, and if anything I'm sure it has probably gotten worse.

Really, it is the only place to talk to Belle for a minute at all, and you aren't missing much at Akershus other than her gold dress, because at Akershus they shove you through the photo area really fast. They shoved us through so fast on our trip last month, that even Belle got irritated and made a snarky comment to the photographer about it. She was going to get DD to do a cute pose with her,and he didn't give her the chance to do it and Belle has this surprised look on her face in the photo because he rushed her. We've always felt extremely rushed with Belle at Akershus, but this was the worst we ever had. In fact, we heard the hostess mention to the photographer that she liked working with him because he was quick and she couldn't get people there fast enough so she never had to deal with a line.

I wouldn't skip Enchanted Tales with Belle, even if your girls don't want to participate in the play. It is pretty impressive. Just tell the CM as you walk into the room after the casting that your girls would like to take a picture at the end with Belle even though they do not want to participate in the play. They should get you in line, especially if you have a little Belle with you. Be sure when the kids start lining up for photos at the end that you get your kids moving over there if the CM doesn't remember to come get them.