Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: So we finally got to meet up with Rapunzel and Flynn at their greeting area--which used to be Belle's story telling area. We met them on Saturday 10/23/10 and it was a very nice experience. ORDDU: Indeed! But the thing that struck me is that good/bad ideas at the Disney theme parks don't always die. Remember all the fuss over the idea of coloring with Princess Aurora and how that idea was supposedly kicked to the curb? Well, not really. Instead of coloring with Aurora you get to color with Rapunzel. ORWEN: That's right! So I'm glad I didn't throw my crayons away after all. ORDDU: According to the cast members in charge of this new meet and greet, there is an experiment going on as a test to see how guests react to the idea of something that goes beyond the usual meet and greet. ORWEN: For one thing, you are handed a sheet with a picture of Rapunzel and Flynn on it before they actually come out to greet you. You're encouraged to color it while sitting at this long oval shaped table in the center of the greeting area. ORDDU: Then when Rapunzel and Flynn come out on the little stage area, they announce who they are and ask everyone if they'd like to dance. Medieval music begins to play and before you know it all the little ducklings who just put down their crayons are encouraged to do a sort of circular line dance with Disney's newest romantic couple. ORWEN: As soon as the dance is finished, guests are instructed to line up against the wall for the purpose of getting pictures and autographs. But while you wait they have this little game you play with everyone else. It's a lot like the game of hot potato. ORDDU: Yes, what they do is have a little plush toy of Pascal--Rapunzel's lizard friend from the movie--who is constantly being passed from one guest to the other all the way down the line and back again. In this way time passes more quickly and you are distracted from having to wait so long. Depending on one's tastes, this is either a good idea or a bad one. But we were told it's all part of the testing phase for a new way to meet and greet the Disney characters. ORWEN: I know I enjoyed the whole thing. What about the rest of you? Would it appeal to you? ORGOCH: 'Bout the only thing that'd appeal ta ME right now is a steamin' hot plate a frog legs--er lizard legs would do in a pinch. Go ahead 'n pass down that Rascal character!
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt Thank all you Witches for this report! I would enjoy this since it gives the kiddies something to do while waiting. Gets rid of the "are we there yet" mind set. Orgoch, have you tried talking to Guest Relations about adding frog legs to a Park menu. They are French, non? Maybe EPCOT? Great addition to Food & Wine! Il'd try it.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: Heck! I never goes ta Pest Relations 'bout hardly nothin'! An' in this case there ain't no need ta. Any time I wanna' find myself a big fat bull frog I just goes over ta Tow Sawdust Island in Rivers of America an' does my frog huntin' right there along the shore! ORDDU: She really does. In fact, if you've ever been at the parks and seen this little old lady standing waist deep in water off of the island you can be certain it's my little sister you're watching. ORWEN: Of course you don't want to drink the water or even swim in it after that nasty old biddy's contaminated it!!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I can see how having something to do in line might be nice for parents with kids, but it seems a little like overprogramming to me. Kids will never outright tell you, but they need some downtime during abusy day, like those at the parks. While they're still standing and moving forward, most kids in line aren't doing much else, which helps them recharge a little. Heck, I need that some of the time, and I'm glad to have it! I don't see this type of thing happening for every attraction though, so it might be good in small doses. It also sounds like the whole experience is a lot more time consuming (though you get more 'interaction' time) than a traditional meet and greet, and requires more staffing and materials. It still doesn't sound like an attraction, but it might be a step up from the normal experience. From what I've heard, the setting is right, a little understated and off to the side, not a headliner attraction in the center of the land, so that might help it too. It will be interesting to see what comes of this.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Yes, it did seem to require a lot more staffing for this particular meet and greet. Aside from the two characters being there, they also had 3 girls dressed as medieval wenches to hand out crayons and pictures to color. There were at least 6 security guards watching over the whole affair, as well. Then there was the professional photographer. That's 10 people--not counting the characters--to staff this new concept!!!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Hmm. A test for something that's supposed to be dead for the FLE? Interesting.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Hmm. A test for something that's supposed to be dead for the FLE? Interesting." The meet and greets are rumored to be going into SWSA. So there is no reason that the coloring, dancing and games couldn't be used there.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ Oh. Right. Forgot that they want to rip out a ride for something much more important. *headdesk*
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 ^^^^ that's what happens when people keep saying a ride is stale. It gets replace with m & g.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> ^^^^ that's what happens when people keep saying a ride is stale. It gets replace with m & g. << If that was the case, 90% of the parks would be turned into M&Gs.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I've been going since '79 and I don't find it stale. But I don't spend all my time there. The only m&g I'd be interested in would be Malelificent.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Over on Mice Chat someone has posted that--even if Snow White's current attraction is changed into a princess meet and greet--it will only be temporary. Supposedly a new dark ride will eventually replace Snow White. Of course we don't know how true this is. But, supposedly, a more permanent home for the meeting and greeting of princesses will be found when they tear out the current skyway station to build a princess meet and greet over there. We'll have to wait and see if this happens.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>^^^^ that's what happens when people keep saying a ride is stale. It gets replace with m & g.<<< Well...I don't know about that. Stale things can be fixed without being ripped out. All it needs is a refurb. The same thing happened in EPCOT about 15 years ago...
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>ORDDU: Over on Mice Chat someone has posted that--even if Snow White's current attraction is changed into a princess meet and greet--it will only be temporary. Supposedly a new dark ride will eventually replace Snow White. Of course we don't know how true this is. But, supposedly, a more permanent home for the meeting and greeting of princesses will be found when they tear out the current skyway station to build a princess meet and greet over there. We'll have to wait and see if this happens.<<< That's the ideal situation, and the one that will cost the most money. That's why I doubt it so heavily.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I really really doubt that they will tear out the Snow White ride (or even a portion of it) to build meet and greets, and then tear those out to replace with another bus-bar darkride. Why not just skip the step in between and turn one dark ride directly into another? There are plenty of other unused spaces (like the Skyway station) that can be used for meet and greets at a minimal cost and won't have an impact to other facilities in the park. I could see them replacing Snow White with another dark rider, or maybe even replacing Snow White with some meet and greets, but the plan to do both just doesn't make any sense with the other facilities available in the park.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper The ride path/bus bar won't be ripped out, a floor will be put on top of it.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The ride path/bus bar won't be ripped out, a floor will be put on top of it.<<< Just like JII... Isn't that a great ride?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Really?! They built the new ride directly on top of the old one, without even taking it out? That's really interesting. I guess it did always seem a little strange with the size and placement of the props in relation to the track (even before the redo to add Figment back in), so that does make some sense. Any particular reason that they did it that way? It seems like the planning that had to go for something like that would have been just as expensive as tearing the whole thing out and filling it in with concrete to create a level floor. Does this mean that the turntable at the beginning of the original ride is still there?
