Someone please save Pooh at EPCOT

[MaryJaneP]

M&G reservation system or special ticketed M&G event? How about a pre-published M&G schedule at one location throughout the day (i.e. meet Hercules at 11am, meet Moana at 12 noon). First come, first served. Not your fav character, ride, eat, or shop (or all 3) instead.

 

[drew81]

Winnie isn’t the only one needing saving.

Animal Kingdom’s lackluster offerings need a lifeline.

Not So Scary’s stale lineup needs resuscitation.

Very Merry needs a revitalization.

 

[MisterPenguin]

M&G reservation system or special ticketed M&G event? How about a pre-published M&G schedule at one location throughout the day (i.e. meet Hercules at 11am, meet Moana at 12 noon). First come, first served. Not your fav character, ride, eat, or shop (or all 3) instead.

Heh, that reminds me of the 'insider' who swore that coming out of the pandemic that all M&G were going to be pay-for and reservation only, and not just for the time-of-distancing, but that way forever.

Fun times.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I’m at Disneyland and in one day without even trying I saw Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Cinderella, and aerial at the entrance and in town square.

In Frontierland I saw woody, Jessie, and Pocahontas.

In fantasyland I saw Pinocchio, gipetto, Alice, hatter, and Gaston.

The next day I also saw Cruella on Main Street and Burt (from Poppins) in fantasyland, Tiana in New Orleans, and I saw goofy, donald, Clarabelle, and daisy, and Mickey in DCA near the fountain and entrance.

How people think Florida does it better is beyond me.

It’s so fun to see the characters greeting guests as you ride the red car trolley, or horse trolley, or just walking around. It makes Disney Disney!

 

[drizgirl]

I’m at Disneyland and in one day without even trying I saw Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Cinderella, and aerial at the entrance and in town square.

In Frontierland I saw woody, Jessie, and Pocahontas.

In fantasyland I saw Pinocchio, gipetto, Alice, hatter, and Gaston.

The next day I also saw Cruella on Main Street and Burt (from Poppins) in fantasyland, Tiana in New Orleans, and I saw goofy, donald, Clarabelle, and daisy, and Mickey in DCA near the fountain and entrance.

How people think Florida does it better is beyond me.

It’s so fun to see the characters greeting guests as you ride the red car trolley, or horse trolley, or just walking around. It makes Disney Disney!

No doubt about it. But a big piece of the difference is the difference in guests. Disneyland guests tend to be locals who are in and out of the parks a lot. They saw Mickey last time and don’t need to see him every time. They can live seeing characters from a distance.

Those characters would be mobbed at WDW because this might be the guest’s only chance to see them.

So while I do believe WDW is the stepchild resort, there is a small bit of logic to it.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Those characters would be mobbed at WDW because this might be the guest’s only chance to see them.

Prior to Covid when a few characters would be out in town Square would they be mobbed on a daily basis?

 

[castlecake2.0]

Prior to Covid when a few characters would be out in town Square would they be mobbed on a daily basis?

They all had queues

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

They all had queues

As do the ones in Disneyland? I don’t follow.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

No doubt about it. But a big piece of the difference is the difference in guests. Disneyland guests tend to be locals who are in and out of the parks a lot.

I feel like this argument is made a lot to justify lots of cuts in all areas of WDW. I’m sure the attendance mix is a little more “unfavorable” in California but not by nearly as much as people claim.

It’s always baffled me how fans want to give WDW an excuse for cuts. As a kid when I walked onto Main Street in WDW, there was always transportation running and characters were out. It’s still that way at Disneyland.

Same with all the live entertainment that’s been cut at WDW.

Heck even attraction hours, the WDW railroad closes early, at Disneyland you can still board a train at park closing at midnight.

Edit to add: park hours! When was the last time magic kingdom was open until midnight? I’ll be at Disneyland tonight at 12:20 am! Tonight MK closes at 10:00.

 

[5thGenTexan]

Yep nothing at WDW.

In June there were characters out on the walkways interacting with guests.

Saw Country Bears several times out.
Saw Country Bears with Chip & Dale, Clarabell, and some other horse thing out dancing with guests in the walkway for 10 - 15 minutes.
Saw step sisters out.

And not just a line for a meet & greet, they were actually out interacting

I know its not the level of DLR, but its also not nothing

 

[drizgirl]

I feel like this argument is made a lot to justify lots of cuts in all areas of WDW. I’m sure the attendance mix is a little more “unfavorable” in California but not by nearly as much as people claim.

It’s always baffled me how fans want to give WDW an excuse for cuts. As a kid when I walked onto Main Street in WDW, there was always transportation running and characters were out. It’s still that way at Disneyland.

Same with all the live entertainment that’s been cut at WDW.

Heck even attraction hours, the WDW railroad closes early, at Disneyland you can still board a train at park closing at midnight.

Edit to add: park hours! When was the last time magic kingdom was open until midnight? I’ll be at Disneyland tonight at 12:20 am! Tonight MK closes at 10:00.

The difference is very obvious when you've been to both a few times.

But I also agree that they use WDW as an ATM in a way they never seem to at DLR. Lots of different issues at play. Could be as simple as decision makers visiting and caring more about the DLR parks.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The difference is very obvious when you've been to both a few times.

I can’t imagine many people have been to both much more than me. I’m not bragging, I’m saying I’m crazy haha. But seriously I had a premier pass almost every year they offered it (couple of years I just had WDW).

I’ve been to both many many times and I feel like the difference in “attendance mix” is highly exaggerated.

 

[drizgirl]

I can’t imagine many people have been to both much more than me. I’m not bragging, I’m saying I’m crazy haha. But seriously I had a premier pass almost every year they offered it (couple of years I just had WDW).

I’ve been to both many many times and I feel like the difference in “attendance mix” is highly exaggerated.

I haven't had a premier pass, but I have been a DLR passholder. And while not a WDW passholder, I've been there even more.

I disagree.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I haven't had a premier pass, but I have been a DLR passholder. And while not a WDW passholder, I've been there even more.

I disagree.

And perhaps you’ve been to both at different times so your observations are different. I’m not giving WDW any excuses but feel free to excuse the cuts if you’d like haha

Today I’ve seen jack sparrow, pirate red, Captain Hook and the evil queen! Along with Tiana dancing with the Disneyland band.

 

[drizgirl]

And perhaps you’ve been to both at different times so your observations are different. I’m not giving WDW any excuses but feel free to excuse the cuts if you’d like haha

Today I’ve seen jack sparrow, pirate red, Captain Hook and the evil queen! Along with Tiana dancing with the Disneyland band.

Oh, I'm not excusing anything. It's really obvious that they use WDW as an ATM, withdrawing lots of profit, while depositing as little as possible.

But on this one issue, I can sort of see it. That's all.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

In June there were characters out on the walkways interacting with guests.

Saw Country Bears several times out.
Saw Country Bears with Chip & Dale, Clarabell, and some other horse thing out dancing with guests in the walkway for 10 - 15 minutes.
Saw step sisters out.

And not just a line for a meet & greet, they were actually out interacting

I know its not the level of DLR, but its also not nothing

Wait how is this possible? The characters are out and they are not being mobbed! Oh yeah…. Cause that doesn’t actually happen lol.

And is that Horace Horsecollar out with Clarabelle!?!?!?

 

[5thGenTexan]

Wait how is this possible? The characters are out and they are not being mobbed! Oh yeah…. Cause that doesn’t actually happen lol.

And is that Horace Horsecollar out with Clarabelle!?!?!?

There ya go!!! Horace Horsecollar.

 

[drizgirl]

Wait how is this possible? The characters are out and they are not being mobbed! Oh yeah…. Cause that doesn’t actually happen lol.

And is that Horace Horsecollar out with Clarabelle!?!?!?

You seem really stuck on that "mobbed" phrase. I don't think they get mobbed, but the demand is much greater. Which was the point.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Those characters would be mobbed at WDW because this might be the guest’s only chance to see them.

You seem really stuck on that "mobbed" phrase. I don't think they get mobbed, but the demand is much greater. Which was the point.

And yet…. We just saw photos of it happening at WDW and it didn’t look any different than at Disneyland…. Which was my point!

 

[Aries1975]

There ya go!!! Horace Horsecollar.

I wish I could find a photo of it, but years ago (2006-8?) there was a little show in that general area. It was Woody and Jesse and several CMs with a cart full of hobby horses. They did a little dance with the kids and let them ride the horses for a song. It was very simple, and my kids loved it.