Flynn Rider to start meeting guests

[mm52200]

Mark Willard is reporting on twitter that this along with the rebel hangar have been tests to start moving to more random atmosphere and less static meet n greets.

Note that Mary Poppins and Snow White have moved from their town square areas to the hub - my money would be on them to be next. He also said part of this is to save money on attendants. Like DL has been doing all along...

If this takes hold it will be a seismic shift. Maybe one day we can reclaim some of this prime real estate that has been handed over to meet n greets

Seriously, to save money on character attendants? Those minimum wage workers are really eating up the budget I guess. Mary Poppins and Snow White are simply a location change, happens all the time.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Seriously, to save money on character attendants? Those minimum wage workers are really eating up the budget I guess. Mary Poppins and Snow White are simply a location change, happens all the time.

Everything in this company is financially motivated.

For a company that prides itself on Premier family entertainment, there seems to be less and less of it all the time.

That being said, I'm entirely in favor of characters that just wander around and say hello rather than the same meet and greet over and over and over again…

 

[Sped2424]

I just love that the decision maker here was "Oh disneyland has been saving money by doing this....let's do it" But I am all for walk around characters. I think every land needs a couple.

 

[Matt_Black]

I would just hope they don't switch all the characters to this. It's nice to have some characters in set times & locations so you're not spending the whole day walking around with your fingers crossed.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I would just hope they don't switch all the characters to this. It's nice to have some characters in set times & locations so you're not spending the whole day walking around with your fingers crossed.

I remember the first time I met Mickey, it was like that and by the fire house.

Also, 1978.

 

[Matt_Black]

Yeah, I'm betting there were less people, and those who were there were generally well-mannered.

 

[Sped2424]

I would just hope they don't switch all the characters to this. It's nice to have some characters in set times & locations so you're not spending the whole day walking around with your fingers crossed.

I agree, leave some of the princesses at fairytale hall and keep mickey and tink where they are as well. But I think all the lands should have walk around characters I really do.

 

[IMFearless]

I definitely think a mixture is the way to go here.

Have your set meet and greets which will keep the planners happy, but sprinkle in a mixture of characters that randomly appear accross the parks.

Here's the thing, it does need to be RANDOM. With the Internet and social media these days, if a character is regularly meeting in a set location, you will soon get those who are in the know, and go there and look or wait for said character.

Once this happens it's bound to fail as two things will happen, firstly uncontrolled crowding of inappropriate areas (think Characterplooza). Secondly, guests who are dissatisfied when the character they are expecting to meet does not appear.

This can be avoided entirely if guests don't know where these characters will be appearing until it happens.

 

[Matt_Black]

I agree, leave some of the princesses at fairytale hall and keep mickey and tink where they are as well. But I think all the lands should have walk around characters I really do.

Putting a few more set meet & greets with Fastpass in other parks, like DHS, might help offset some of the issues there until more rides open up.

 

[HappyCamper]

The Rapunzel tower is so well themed, I think it was just a matter of time before they started using it for character meets-but I.m surprised they never made that a permanent meet & greet spot for Rapunzel and Flynn-much like Ariel's Grotto

 

[ToTBellHop]

I would just hope they don't switch all the characters to this. It's nice to have some characters in set times & locations so you're not spending the whole day walking around with your fingers crossed.

You have to keep some scheduled. People expect to meet Mickey Mouse. But for less quintessential WDW characters, walk around would be fine.