Sorry if old news - Epcot character bus

[tjmouse]

The character bus is being discontinued. There will be a Character Connection set up at the old Pizza Piazza(??) at Innoventions instead. Just a heads up! I think this is happening this week or next.

 

[OneThingRemains]

I noticed the Character Connection signage as I was walking by the last night. I didn't know if it was something new or I was losing it. I haven't heard anything about the bus, but I figured they were setting up another place for character meet 'n greets.

 

[kilee]

I'm wondering- will it have as many characters as once as the bus???

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I read about the discontinuation of the Epcot Holiday Bus, too. I could cry and cry! Seems like characters are getting less and less. The bus usually had 12 characters on it, so I wonder if this room will have as many? I am afraid this room will become a "fab 6" room - Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, and Dale. That's what Town Sqaure at Magic Kingdom has pretty much become, also the Big Hat at MGM.

The Epcot Bus had some unusual ones, and I'll be sad if they don't get those characters out and about anymore. I'll be at WDW next week, so I'll go check out this new room!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Are you kidding?!?! I LOVE the characters on Holiday bus! It was so much fun to spot the bus and even more fun when the bus would stop and the characters would get off and interact with the guests. I am VERY sad to hear they are discontinuing it for yet another boring character meet and greet area. The Holiday bus was something different and fun.

I don't mind the character meet and greet areas necessarily, I know people want to meet characters to get pictures and autographs, ect, but why does it have to be at the expense and fun of the more unique ways to get the characters out?

Characters are fun to see for EVERYONE, not just those who want to/don't mind standing in line to get a hug, an autograph and a picture, sometimes it's more fun to just happen upon a character or have them happen upon you and just get a wave and a smile while the character is doing something more than standing there.

 

[fizz13]

No, not happy at all!! I will really miss this sight, and all the rarer characters like Hugsforeyeore said. the beauty of Epcot is its diversity and difference to the other parks, why make it the same as the others?

I will be very sad to see this go,
Claire xx

 

[Blueeyes101817]

where is it that they will be now? I dont konw where pizza piazza is..ill be there next week and just wanted to get a heads up

 

[addicted2disney]

I also dont know where Pizza Pizzaz is!!

I loved the character bus!! Id much rather do the bus, then go stand in some room, waiting in line.

Just one more thing that I will miss!!!

 

[Good Ol Gal]

UGH! I'm so disappointed!! I too loved the holiday bus and hyped it up to family who will be with us next week in WDW. Now I'm gonna have to tell them that it's gone.

Anymore info on the new spot would be great.

 

[VSL]

Argh! Gutted!

I've been all excited telling my BF about how the characters drive around WS in a double-decker, and I couldn't wait to see it myself, and now it won't be there!

Oh well.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

where did you find this info at? When I look at WDW's site it still shows the holiday bus.

 

[Maude4Disney]

Awww... bummer

 

[tjmouse]

It is somewhere in Innoventions, not quite sure where. This info came from an Epcot CM and as a previous poster said, the signs are already up.

Sorry! I will miss the bus too.

 

[bkline]

I always liked the character bus. I was watching video of it just the other day. It was fun to see who was on the bus and I like the idea of seeing the characters outside.

 

[micknpluto]

I loved the character bus, they played the music and the characters would come off and interact with the guests!

I am thankful I was just there last month and was able to see it, I think the meet n great woud be better closer to Worldshowcase.

 

[goofie4goofy]

WHY WHY WHY????

One of my favorite things in Epcot is to see the bus. Very sad to see it go.

 

[Kramer]

We will be so sorry to see the bus go... it was one of our favorite photo spots during our last trip.

 

[Fast Pass]

I loved the Holiday bus but I did feel for those poor characters out in the unforgiven sun in the summer months.

I will miss the bus but if the characters will be more comfortable I'm all for it. At least this way they will have air conditioning and won't have to worry about the weather.

 

[meeko_33785]

The Character Connection is located in the Innoventions Breezeway that leads to the Land/ Imagination area in the same building as the former Ice Station Cool (now Club Cool). Here's what http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/ has to say about it:

Epcot Character Connection
Meet & greet with some of your favorite VIP characters across from Innoventions West.
Daily intermittently from 9:00am to 5:30pm
Extra Magic Hours NP EPCOT CHARACTER CONNECTION Meet & greet with some of your favorite VIP Characters Back-to-back from 9:00pm and 12:00am Across from Innoventions West.

No real word on characters, but I assume from the info it's Mickey and friends and possibly Figment since his location is down (but don't quote me on that). Due to the bus being down, there are more characters in World Showcase though. The Brother Bear meet-and-greet in Canada, Pinocchio meet-and-greet in Italy, and Lion King meet-and-greet will now begin in the noon hour insteed of around 3:30 as previously. Looks like they just seem to be spreading the characters out more instead of having them all on the bus.

 

[AngieBelle]

Guys! Good news- this Character Connection is in a test phase...if you want your bus back, write to Disney and let them know! (Most character performers just loved the bus and are very sad to see it go.)