Lady Tremaine being removed from MK

[Jake&IzzyLand]

Just terrible, she is fantastic and the 3 of them can really wow and spread the magic for the kiddos. So sad!

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

Such a shame, we've had so many great interactions with her and the step sisters over the years at MK - Fantasyland.

 

[horse11]

I really can not understand the remove of this group! They have been extremely popular. I was really hoping to meet them during our upcoming May trip. So disappointing!!!

 

[Skywise]

Destroying the magic... one item at a time.

My first thought was that it was odd because character budgets have to be insignificant compared to the daily operations budget. Until I realized how they're breaking it down - Rides, Shops, Entertainment, Parades, Character Interactions -
Where do you trim the budget? Parades are already gone from Animal Kingdom and DHS, Entertainment is practically gone from Epcot - Everything else is fixed or already cut to the bone. Character interactions (free ones) are all that's left to make any impact on the budget.

And YET they've crammed the parks tighter than ever, the on-site resorts are inconceivably overpriced (and still full) and they're still budget cutting and you're seeing the results here on the DIS as more and more people (myself included) are pulling back on trips.

I wonder if they're still reeling from the magic band/mymagic costs... (which, you'll note, has NOT been picked up by any of the other parks - including the newly opened ones)

 

[newdeal]

Destroying the magic... one item at a time.

My first thought was that it was odd because character budgets have to be insignificant compared to the daily operations budget. Until I realized how they're breaking it down - Rides, Shops, Entertainment, Parades, Character Interactions -
Where do you trim the budget? Parades are already gone from Animal Kingdom and DHS, Entertainment is practically gone from Epcot - Everything else is fixed or already cut to the bone. Character interactions (free ones) are all that's left to make any impact on the budget.

And YET they've crammed the parks tighter than ever, the on-site resorts are inconceivably overpriced (and still full) and they're still budget cutting and you're seeing the results here on the DIS as more and more people (myself included) are pulling back on trips.

I wonder if they're still reeling from the magic band/mymagic costs... (which, you'll note, has NOT been picked up by any of the other parks - including the newly opened ones)

I don't fully understand how the mymagic system was intended to make them money...I certainly don't spend any more than we used to, and I can say for sure that my trips are less enjoyable than in the days before mymagic came about and we have "cut down" from 3 trips a year to 2

 

[JJZMgailey]

1900 PF serves breakfast and dinner as of now

Maybe they can add lunch now too

Lady Tremaine is only there at dinner time though - makes me wonder if they'll change up the breakfast Characters? That would be cool!

 

[Tremaine Fans]

We are extremely disappointed that such a unique and special character interaction will be removed! That meet and greet is our favorite few minutes in the magic kingdom each trip

 

[KateP85]

Destroying the magic... one item at a time.

My first thought was that it was odd because character budgets have to be insignificant compared to the daily operations budget. Until I realized how they're breaking it down - Rides, Shops, Entertainment, Parades, Character Interactions -
Where do you trim the budget? Parades are already gone from Animal Kingdom and DHS, Entertainment is practically gone from Epcot - Everything else is fixed or already cut to the bone. Character interactions (free ones) are all that's left to make any impact on the budget.

And YET they've crammed the parks tighter than ever, the on-site resorts are inconceivably overpriced (and still full) and they're still budget cutting and you're seeing the results here on the DIS as more and more people (myself included) are pulling back on trips.

I wonder if they're still reeling from the magic band/mymagic costs... (which, you'll note, has NOT been picked up by any of the other parks - including the newly opened ones)

It's not issues at WDW that are causing budget problems, it's other areas of the company. Shanghai is costing them a fortune and from what I understand, ESPN is a disaster right now too. So they're cutting costs where they can, and labor costs are an easy one.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Lady Tremaine is only there at dinner time though - makes me wonder if they'll change up the breakfast Characters? That would be cool!

I wouldn't mind a change up at the breakfast just as long as they keep Mad Hatter and Alice there (mainly the Mad Hatter but when you get them both together to start their antics, they are hilarious!!). We always eat at 1900 for breakfast because the Mad Hatter is always so fun to meet with...we also LOVE the chilled strawberry soup too .

 

[starjazz]

Its odd because with all of the speculation about saving money, what I saw at DHS a couple of weeks ago has me dumbfounded. It was about 2:00 in the afternoon, and I was gonna meet my wife at the entrance to DHS on a Monday when it was the "most recommended" park, so low crowds. Now, I didn't see a ton of characters in the parks, except at their official locations.

I go outside the park to grab my wife, and low and behold, there's like 15 characters out there. Many of them just standing around, because everyone is INSIDE the park, not arriving at 2:00 in the afternoon (I guess, maybe some hoppers). Needless to say, i grabbed photos with a couple of the more obscure ones (Brer Fox, for one). But there were Mary and Bert, Aladdin and Jasmine, Snow White, Brer Fox and Bear, and I can't even recall the rest, but literally about 15 characters out there with no lines - it was nuts. I couldn't figure out the reasoning. So, despite the notion that they're taking characters away, there's still this kind of thing that happens. Odd.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Its odd because with all of the speculation about saving money, what I saw at DHS a couple of weeks ago has me dumbfounded. It was about 2:00 in the afternoon, and I was gonna meet my wife at the entrance to DHS on a Monday when it was the "most recommended" park, so low crowds. Now, I didn't see a ton of characters in the parks, except at their official locations.

I go outside the park to grab my wife, and low and behold, there's like 15 characters out there. Many of them just standing around, because everyone is INSIDE the park, not arriving at 2:00 in the afternoon (I guess, maybe some hoppers). Needless to say, i grabbed photos with a couple of the more obscure ones (Brer Fox, for one). But there were Mary and Bert, Aladdin and Jasmine, Snow White, Brer Fox and Bear, and I can't even recall the rest, but literally about 15 characters out there with no lines - it was nuts. I couldn't figure out the reasoning. So, despite the notion that they're taking characters away, there's still this kind of thing that happens. Odd.

What you saw is more then likely the Character's In Training, which BTW can be one of the best character interactions ever IMHO. They usually go to random places inside (and outside) the parks. Usually when we see some rare characters as we are walking by, we will stop and take photos with them and have them sign autographs (if they are allowed to do so). We love the Characters In Training. The only thing is, that you have to be there at the right place at the right times because it isn't a consistent thing. Also, to note...I too was there a couple of weeks ago and noticed a couple characters heading outside of the park as were trying to get into the park (it was a little after park opening). Thought that it was strange that they were meeting outside the park....the characters I saw were not rare ones but Chip and Dale, Donald, and Minnie.

 

[North of Mouse]

I'm really beginning to think that Disney is pushing guests into character meals. If they take characters out of park meet and greets, and leave them in restaurants only, well....character meals could get very crowded. And then I can see prices going up for these meals!

Going up?? Or going up even 'more' outrageously?? They are ridiculous as they are, and way over crowded.

We were just there last week and saw Lady Tremaine alone meeting guests at the entrance to the new Fantasy Land. She is soooo good in character. As others feel, taking her out is a big mistake - she 'belongs' near the castle - the story is 'not' complete without her.

 

[monorailrabbit]

What's next!? I'm so upset! We have a 1900 Park Fare dinner planned for our April trip, but had also planned to do the m&g at MK to meet them all together....First the Epcot character changes, now this....I cringe to see what else will go away before our trip

This. We are going in December, and I'm very worried this trend will continue and a lot of our favorites will be gone when we go. We adored Tigger & Pooh in Epcot, Aurora is my favorite princess and Lady Tremaine was hilarious! I'm so sad at the ones they are removing.

I'm really beginning to think that Disney is pushing guests into character meals. If they take characters out of park meet and greets, and leave them in restaurants only, well....character meals could get very crowded. And then I can see prices going up for these meals!

I was wondering this too. Which I think would be a shame. Don't get me wrong, I love a good character meal, but I love meeting them in the parks too. It's so much fun finding them in the parks and sometimes feels a bit less rushed than a character who has to go to each table...

 

[slbgnb]

I have to agree with all of this. Extremely disappointing. 1900 PF dinner is our favorite character meal and we do it every trip, but we love seeing them by the castle as well. The 3 of them together interact so well. I do love the rides, but I live right by Cedar Point and Kings Island. I go to Disney for the combination of magic, rides and characters. You start taking away the characters, that takes away a lot of the magic. I will not spend this kind of $$$ for rides. So very, very upsetting.

 

[Mikie]

So strange - I can't disagree with those saying it's a money issue (what else could it be?) but it doesn't make sense to me. As a PP said, it's a pretty insignificant cost in the scheme of things. One goal of MM+ was supposed to be to reduce at least he perception of WDW as a place where all you do is stand in lines. Taking away characters as an attraction just eliminates low-cost opportunities to eat part of the crowd. . .

Definitely the immersiveness, theming and characters are a huge reason I love Disney and what sets it apart. Paring down to "just rides" (of course they're still far from that) will make it more on par with any other amusement park. Comparing ride-to-ride only, many places offer better attractions for less price per day. . .

 

[ArwenMarie]

It seems like a small amount of money. But I think what happens is there is a decree from high up saying "Cut X% of your operating budget." So every single line of the budget has to get that cut, from the biggest things to the smaller things. But eventually all of the little cuts add up IMO.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Its odd because with all of the speculation about saving money, what I saw at DHS a couple of weeks ago has me dumbfounded. It was about 2:00 in the afternoon, and I was gonna meet my wife at the entrance to DHS on a Monday when it was the "most recommended" park, so low crowds. Now, I didn't see a ton of characters in the parks, except at their official locations.

I go outside the park to grab my wife, and low and behold, there's like 15 characters out there. Many of them just standing around, because everyone is INSIDE the park, not arriving at 2:00 in the afternoon (I guess, maybe some hoppers). Needless to say, i grabbed photos with a couple of the more obscure ones (Brer Fox, for one). But there were Mary and Bert, Aladdin and Jasmine, Snow White, Brer Fox and Bear, and I can't even recall the rest, but literally about 15 characters out there with no lines - it was nuts. I couldn't figure out the reasoning. So, despite the notion that they're taking characters away, there's still this kind of thing that happens. Odd.

At DHS, the characters were out for their Fantasmic/Character Palooza sets. Occurs in the late afternoon a few hours before Fantasmic.

 

[Lothlórien]

Wow. It seems like everyday there is another report of something being taken away. Yet it takes years for something new to be added to the parks (not counting the new hard ticket events or dessert parties you have to pay extra for) .

It truly does. Everything is changing so radically it seems.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Very disappointed to read this news. Our character interactions with the Tremaine family have always been a magical part of our vacation. While others run to make the most of their mornings, my daughter always wants to be first in line for their meet and greets.

 

[mom2rtk]

So disappointing. That threesome was so much fun in the MK. Even if you didn't line up to see them, they were a great part of the atmosphere and could be enjoyed from afar. I'm sure the sisters will still get in some trouble, but we love Lady Tremaine and she will be missed.

I'm a little dismayed at the number of rumors I keep hearing about cuts at WDW being a result of cost overruns in Shanghai. With ticket price increases coming soon, I wonder how much more they'll want the WDW guests to pay to help finance Shanghai.

 

[brb1006]

Now I'm worried about Marie ending up getting cut in the future.