What to do first, Fantamic FP or Olaf meet n greet?

[crystal1313]

HI! Taking my son next Friday, Feb. 13th for his 7th bday. It's his actual bday that day and we are driving down early AM from NorCal. Hoping to be at the parks around 11ish. He really want to meet Olaf and see Fantasmic. Any suggestions what FP to grab first? I realize the wait for Olaf will probably be long no matter what and that's ok. It's his bday and I will do whatever he wants to do. I'm just worried if we meet Olaf first, FP will run out for F! TIA!

 

[figment_jii]

I would probably go into DL and get the Fantasmic FP because you just have to get the FP and then you're done until the show starts in the evening (assuming you can get in and out without deciding to go something ). After getting the F! FP, you can head to DCA and go see Olaf.

Another option would be to do one of the F! dining packages. Then you wouldn't have to worry about getting the F! FP because it would come with the dining package.

 

[Geemo]

Is Olaf a FP too?
If it is and the wait is long, I'd get the FP for Olaf first. Then go over to get a Fantasmic! FP.
You'll have both FP's and can go back to meet Olaf.

Have a Happy Birthday trip!

Geemo

 

[neonderlyn]

Is olaf meet still on the pager type systems that i seen posted on here a couple weeks ago? If so im sure those dont reach very far so its probably best to go get F! fast pass then go wait of Olaf

 

[figment_jii]

Hi crystall1313, I've been thinking about it a bit more, and I tried to see if there has been any recent news about how Olaf's meet and greet is being handled. I think the last information (mid-January) indicated that you can get a Return Ticket (kind of like they do for A&E) for Olaf. However, I couldn't find any information about when the RT are running out or if that's still the system being used. Given that, I would consider bumping/asking again in the Olaf's Snow Fest thread about the more/most recent procedures.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/olafs-snow-fest.3364890/

If Olaf is using a RT, given his popularity, I would probably head straight to DCA to get the RT for him. The park will have been open since 8:00 am, plus it's DCA's EMH morning, so the RT might be going fast (I just don't have a good sense for it all). I tried calling Ask Otto to find out if "he" has information about Olaf's Snow Fest, but it said to "ask a Cast Member", so I couldn't get any information from that route. There are two showings of F!, so I think those will probably be lasting longer into the day (I know that they were available until fairly long into the day in mid-December). I suppose the other thing you could do is ask your son which he wants to do the most: see Olaf or F! and then start at the one he says is the most important to him.

 

[MommyJKM]

Hey Crystal1313! What a fun Mommy and Son trip on his Birthday!

I happened to listen to the DISUnplugged podcast 2 weeks ago, and Nancy Johnson mentioned for Olaf M&G it's not a paper FP, but it was a buzzer, like you get at a restaurant, that buzzed at the return time. I don't know her DISBoards name, but Mary Jo or ImTooExcitedToSleep (Tom) should be able to help.

She said they got the buzzer then went and played in the snow while waiting and when it buzzed, they went into the meet and greet. So MAYBE you would have time to grab the buzzer then hop over to DL for the F! FP and back in time??

If they don't think that's feasible I would get the F! FP when you get there then go over to the Olaf M&G and get the buzzer since it kinda sounded like the wait wasn't very long...again Nancy should know better.

Have fun and post pics when you get back!!

 

[rms123]

When we went mid January, there were no return paper tickets. You'll wait in a long line outside then go inside to get your pager. Others have said at that point you can leave and do other things but we stayed for the snow. When your pager goes off you get in another shirt line for the meet.

So, to answer the original question, go get the Fantasmic fastpass first since there's nothing to run out of at Olaf. I would recommend a dining package for fantasmic if you can afford it.

 

[crystal1313]

I would probably go into DL and get the Fantasmic FP because you just have to get the FP and then you're done until the show starts in the evening (assuming you can get in and out without deciding to go something ). After getting the F! FP, you can head to DCA and go see Olaf.

Another option would be to do one of the F! dining packages. Then you wouldn't have to worry about getting the F! FP because it would come with the dining package.

Thank you Figment! I think it would be hard to walk by BTMR and not ride! LOL.

Hi crystall1313, I've been thinking about it a bit more, and I tried to see if there has been any recent news about how Olaf's meet and greet is being handled. I think the last information (mid-January) indicated that you can get a Return Ticket (kind of like they do for A&E) for Olaf. However, I couldn't find any information about when the RT are running out or if that's still the system being used. Given that, I would consider bumping/asking again in the Olaf's Snow Fest thread about the more/most recent procedures.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/olafs-snow-fest.3364890/

If Olaf is using a RT, given his popularity, I would probably head straight to DCA to get the RT for him. The park will have been open since 8:00 am, plus it's DCA's EMH morning, so the RT might be going fast (I just don't have a good sense for it all). I tried calling Ask Otto to find out if "he" has information about Olaf's Snow Fest, but it said to "ask a Cast Member", so I couldn't get any information from that route. There are two showings of F!, so I think those will probably be lasting longer into the day (I know that they were available until fairly long into the day in mid-December). I suppose the other thing you could do is ask your son which he wants to do the most: see Olaf or F! and then start at the one he says is the most important to him.

Awe! I appreciate your help so much! Calling Otto too, wow! Thank you! I will for sure ask him what he wants to do most, but I am guessing Olaf for sure. He LOVES Olaf He cried last time just watching the animatronic Olaf on the roof. He's my sweet innocent boy. I'm going to ask on the Olaf snow fest board too!

Hey Crystal1313! What a fun Mommy and Son trip on his Birthday!

I happened to listen to the DISUnplugged podcast 2 weeks ago, and Nancy Johnson mentioned for Olaf M&G it's not a paper FP, but it was a buzzer, like you get at a restaurant, that buzzed at the return time. I don't know her DISBoards name, but Mary Jo or ImTooExcitedToSleep (Tom) should be able to help.

She said they got the buzzer then went and played in the snow while waiting and when it buzzed, they went into the meet and greet. So MAYBE you would have time to grab the buzzer then hop over to DL for the F! FP and back in time??

If they don't think that's feasible I would get the F! FP when you get there then go over to the Olaf M&G and get the buzzer since it kinda sounded like the wait wasn't very long...again Nancy should know better.

Have fun and post pics when you get back!!

Thank you MommyJKM! I am SO looking forward to some one on one time with him and just letting him lead the way and doing anything he wants! We gave him the choice to do this trip, or a friend party and he picked DL! I got the hotel free using points. I'll have to find that podcast too. Thank you!

And thank you to everyone for helping me! Normally, we are there more then one day and arrive at opening, so this will be a whole different experience!

 

[figment_jii]

Hi Crystal1313! I saw on the Olaf Snow Fest thread that you and your son got to meet Olaf.

Did you get to see F! as well? Any updates on how the F! FP system is working?

 

[MG3G]

Do you NEED to "meet" Olaf or are you cool with seeing him from a distance? We were there last week - there are two different lines! (I had no idea and stood in the wrong one at first) Anyway the line on the left facing the building gets you into the snow where you can see Olaf but not "meet" him - it is MUCH shorter. The line on the right of the building gets you the pager and a chance to actually meet Olaf - it took us over an hour to get the pager! In hindsight I would have just done the snow (20 minute wait) and waved at Olaf from a distance.

 

[crystal1313]

Do you NEED to "meet" Olaf or are you cool with seeing him from a distance? We were there last week - there are two different lines! (I had no idea and stood in the wrong one at first) Anyway the line on the left facing the building gets you into the snow where you can see Olaf but not "meet" him - it is MUCH shorter. The line on the right of the building gets you the pager and a chance to actually meet Olaf - it took us over an hour to get the pager! In hindsight I would have just done the snow (20 minute wait) and waved at Olaf from a distance.

We ended up waiting for the pager (only about 15 min), then went inside to play in the snow. DS got to hug and high five Olaf while we waited in line to sled. We took a ride on the sled, played in the snow, shopped in the little store, took a potty break and about an hour after we got our pager, it went off. DS got a lot of time with Olaf and got to give Olaf lots of warm hugs. It was fantastic!