Early Entry Replacement

[kevlightyear]

I"m not sure how many of you noticed this, but. . .

Upon reading a little newsletter for the Disney Club, I noticed a blurb about Early Entry. It said that on select days, a caravan of characters would visit certain resorts. This was a compromise of some sorts for losing Early Entry days. Here's the article:

"Disney's Character Caravan is one of WDW Resort's newest and most convenient ways to meet everybody's favorite pals. On certain mornings, wonderful Disney Characters appear at participating WDW Resort Hotels. The caravan is a memorible way to start the day as the characters give Guests a warm send off right to their resort.

To give Guests a better chance to meet with Disney characters, this new kind of cherished memory replaces Early Disney Theme Park Entrance (Surprise Mornings) with brand new morning magic--bringing the characters everyone loves right to them.

Disney's Character Caravan is exclusively for Guests at selected WDW Resort Hotels. . ."

The rest talked about an offer for club members.

I guess that means that Early Entry won't be coming back soon. Geez, something else replaced with a meet and greet. . .:animwink:

 

[General Grizz]

Well, it is like Toontown Fair early entry - but still not as good as the original! :lol:

 

[talkinghands]

Character Caravan is a real crock. Only a very few characters and never the ones you want to see.

 

[Cosmo]

early entry

Regarding early entry. I'm planning a big trip (i live like two hours away so i go for alot of weekends, but i'm planning a week for my birthday...yep..getting old) and will be staying at the Contemporary. When i received my confirmation in the mail the other day, there came with it a notice regarding EE. It said that most guests at the resorts did not care for or use that perk, but that many guests reported that they would like more time with their favourite characters. The announcement made it sound like they would have TONS of characters in central locations (monorail/bus boarding areas, dining areas) to see the guests off as they start their day.

Personally, i don't believe it. I have a hard time swallowing that guests would much rather see the characters than get into the parks early, but as i have no children i don't how little kids might feel.

 

[NowInc]

Oooooo boy....

So as usual, Disney decided to replace something they removed with a Meet and Greet....

I think the last thing I would want to see at 8 AM are unpopular cartoon characters all happy and stuff when i am just trying to drink a cup of coffee....

Id personally prefer to be sitting on main street eating a cinnamon roll

 

[Cosmo]

so would i. or maybe an ice cream (not much on the traditional breakfasts). I know disney's for kids but they so often try to tout the "adult" side also. The characters are cute and part of the whole disney thing, but sometimes they can get a little obnoxious (especially some of the character dining) and i get scared with these furry behemoths trying to swipe my entree...

 

[NowInc]

The ones I feel most sorry for are the poor CMs who are forced to go and be all happy inside the character suit at that god awful hour in the morning....

Thats not the way that I would want to start my day....I hope they get paid extra for it (although I highly doubt it)

 

[DisneyFreak]

Originally posted by NowInc
the poor CMs who are forced to go and be all happy inside the character suit at that god awful hour in the morning....

Who says they're all happy inside those character suits.

 

[NowInc]

Originally posted by DisneyFreak


Who says they're all happy inside those character suits.

Well...ACT happy

 

[mkt]

actually, the caravan was never intended as a replacement for EE. The timing and gross lack of communications between WDW and Walt Disney Entertainment led WDW to cancel EE at the same time that Character Caravan premiered. When the geniuses at WDW Public Relations saw this, they instantly touted it as EE's replacement, which in reality, it never was.

 

[Carl]

It may not have been the original intention, but

that is the official word now. They claim that they did some "research" which revealed that people did not care for EE and wanted more character greets. I'd like to know who they asked. I haven't read many people saying that they approve. I think there are plenty of opportunities for guests to see characters. And I believe that many people like to get a head start in the parks. It is especially nice to get that head start in Magic Kingdom. There is nothing quite like seeing Main Street early in the morning. How many people REALLY would want to give that up for a character meeting?

 

[mkt]

Re: It may not have been the original intention, but

Originally posted by Carl
that is the official word now. They claim that they did some "research" which revealed that people did not care for EE and wanted more character greets. I'd like to know who they asked.

they ask if they want more character meets, but they don't ask if they mind them at the expense of losing something else.

Anyhoo, FYI- WDW has no say over character meets. The characters in the parks, although they are in the same union as most other CM's, and work in the parks, they actually work for Walt Disney Entertainment (based out of Glendale, CA and New York City). So, Al Weiss could try to make more character meets, but ultimately, WDW doesn't have the final say.