How do FP work for Character Meets?

[Frozen2014]

This may be a silly question, but I'm trying to understand. My DD5 is a HUGE Frozen fan (ok, probably like 90% of little girls these days). We have a few character meals book so don't plan on standing in line for any others, except for Anna and Elsa (FP+ only...not the 4 hr wait).

What I'm trying to understand is how does a FP work for character greets; where they only take one at a time? e.g. I can see how on a ride perhaps they fill certain rows with FP holders, but character greets are single like anyways and there is only one Anna/Elsa?

Also, lets say you book FP+ for 10am. Does that mean that you actually get to see them at 10am? Or do you still stand in line for awhile and wait?

Just trying to understand...

 

[Joanna71985]

It works the same as a ride FP (where once the window opens you can get in line). But for character FP locations- multiple groups can go in at once. But I will say- depending on the time of day, I've seen the Frozen FP line be over 20 minutes long

 

[mesaboy2]

This may be a silly question, but I'm trying to understand. My DD5 is a HUGE Frozen fan (ok, probably like 90% of little girls these days). We have a few character meals book so don't plan on standing in line for any others, except for Anna and Elsa (FP+ only...not the 4 hr wait).

What I'm trying to understand is how does a FP work for character greets; where they only take one at a time? e.g. I can see how on a ride perhaps they fill certain rows with FP holders, but character greets are single like anyways and there is only one Anna/Elsa?

Also, lets say you book FP+ for 10am. Does that mean that you actually get to see them at 10am? Or do you still stand in line for awhile and wait?

Just trying to understand...

They don't take guests one at a time, they are taken in groups like anywhere else. You're overanalyzing this. FP saves time for M&Gs the same as it does for rides. You essentially skip to the front and see whatever it is at the end, ride or character.

 

[Chevy]

Oh wow I didn't realize they took in groups. 2 years ago when we were in disney Paris they took in one family at a time for the princess m&g. Good to know so i can warn my kids they don't get the princesses to themselves!

 

[tazadd0420]

A group goes in, but you still meet the character individually. You just have other people waiting until you are done. I hope that makes more sense. There are not 10 strangers all around the character at one time vying for the characters attention. Hopefully that puts your mind more at ease.

 

[Chevy]

Oh good, thanks!

 

[Frozen2014]

They don't take guests one at a time, they are taken in groups like anywhere else. You're overanalyzing this. FP saves time for M&Gs the same as it does for rides. You essentially skip to the front and see whatever it is at the end, ride or character.

Actually, I'm just new to Disney and thus, a "Fast Pass Rookie". Can't really visualize how FP works at all, to be fair to those that have been standing in line.

So, with FP, does the FP group essentially "bud in line" for the scheduled time? If it's just a 20 minute wait at that point, then I would definitely take my daughter. If still hours, then I think we'd pass, and maybe try to catch the parade.

 

[mesaboy2]

Actually, I'm just new to Disney and thus, a "Fast Pass Rookie". Can't really visualize how FP works at all, to be fair to those that have been standing in line. So, with FP, does the FP group essentially "bud in line" for the scheduled time? If it's just a 20 minute wait at that point, then I would definitely take my daughter. If still hours, then I think we'd pass, and maybe try to catch the parade.

FastPass gets you into a separate queue. If you arrive when the FP says to arrive, your wait will almost always be 15-20 minutes or less (including for Anna and Elsa, who you seem to be referring). The other queue, called standby, can be anywhere from walk-on (no wait) to several hours. These queues merge into one, but the FP queue will usually save you time. Guests in the FP queue get priority over those in standby, by a ratio that can be 30:1 or more.

I wrote the OP in the green link in my signature to help guests figure out which FPs usually save the most time.

I hope that helps.

 

[dimndgal1]

Actually, I'm just new to Disney and thus, a "Fast Pass Rookie". Can't really visualize how FP works at all, to be fair to those that have been standing in line.

So, with FP, does the FP group essentially "bud in line" for the scheduled time? If it's just a 20 minute wait at that point, then I would definitely take my daughter. If still hours, then I think we'd pass, and maybe try to catch the parade.

We are taking my ILs in December and they had a hard time understanding the concept of FP, so FP+ has been even harder, so DH explained it like this:

When FP first came out, the idea was you got a FP and 'waited' elsewhere out of line... you would pull a ticket and it would tell you a time to come back - sometimes quick, sometimes hours later. The point was you usually still had to wait (be it 5 minutes or 5 hours).

Now, with FP+, the idea is that you are 'reserving' your spot in line ahead of your trip. Similar to the difference between making a dinner reservation and walking up to get a table... you aren't butting in front of the rest of the line, rather you are picking the time you wish to be there ahead of time.

With Elsa and Anna, it's like the hottest 4 star restaurant in town... hard to make a reservation but a long wait if you try to walk up.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you for explaining. So the two lines merge into one (regular stand by and FP line). Must slow the regular line down even more. Will sure try to get FP+ for A and E. Imagine this is not an easy one to get though.

 

[MudQueen22]

I'm guessing FP+ is like an appointment at dr office. You make an appt, and standby people wait for the next available opening. Is this correct?

 

[mesaboy2]

I'm guessing FP+ is like an appointment at dr office. You make an appt, and standby people wait for the next available opening. Is this correct?

Very broadly, yes. Priority is given to FP holders over standby, similar to appointments versus walk-ups at a doctor's office.