Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Ultimately it isn't my decision. And to be fair, I know the MK staff has good intensions here. I just don't agree with them on this move. Witches, I had the opportunity to talk with Princess Aurora in the France Pavallion over at EPCOT. She can be a lot of fun. So, yes I do believe the Princesses have a purpose and are in my belief underrated in the minds of adult park visitors. But, having met a Princess outside of the MK, I really don't see why it is deemed necessary that the Princesses be primarily in the MK.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Oh, indeed, Dr. Hans--they've had the princesses doing meetings and greetings at Epcot for many years, now. They even have a princess breakfast in Norway at that restaurant I can never pronounce. I'm just surprised you didn't know it until now. ORWEN: Yes, Aurora and Belle appear in World Showcase's French section while Snow White can be found in Germany. Aladdin and Jasmine are always found in Morocco while Mulan is in China. It makes sense to me! ORGOCH: Yeah--all that frostin' an' no CAKE! ORWEN: Will you just shut up?!?! ORDDU: The princesses used to do meetings and greetings at DHS, too, Kennesaw Tom, duckling. But these days most of the characters you'll find are from the Pixar movies. So the princesses are mostly found at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. ORWEN: I was actually surprised to find Princess Aurora meeting and greeting at Epcot's Future World a while back--not far from the Land Pavillion. Chip and Dale were nearby and so was the White Rabbit!!!
Originally Posted By tashajilek Weird, i never seen any at Epcot. I knew they were at the restaurant in Morocco and its a shame i would have eaten there.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Weird, i never seen any at Epcot. I knew they were at the restaurant in Morocco and its a shame i would have eaten there.>> I thought Restaurant Marrakesh had middle eastern belly dancers... not princesses. At least that's how it's always been when I dined there. Let me tell ya.... a WHOLE DIFFERENT experience than Disney Princesses!!
Originally Posted By tashajilek HAHAH oops i meant Norway! i dont know why i was thinking of Morocco.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "ORWEN: I was actually surprised to find Princess Aurora meeting and greeting at Epcot's Future World a while back--not far from the Land Pavillion. Chip and Dale were nearby and so was the White Rabbit!!!" *sigh* Sad. I haven't been to EPCOT in at least a decade. I'm wondering if I'll be able to visit without getting my blood pressure up. lol
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>They have princesses at EPCOT now?<< >>They even have a princess breakfast in Norway at that restaurant I can never pronounce.<< The Akershus. It was my absolute favorite restaurant in Epcot. An authentic smorgasbord. The last time I took the family there, it was overrun with squealing little girls waiting on the Disney Princesses. I like the princesses. I will indulge little girls their harmless fantasy. But... this was dinner at a lovely, formerly sophisticated restaurant where I spent many happy meals with an attentive staff, enjoying authentic Norwegian food and customs. No more. The birthday girl at the next table was louder than the fireworks show out in the lagoon. I've never been back.
Originally Posted By DlandDug As far as loving or hating on Meet 'n Greets goes, there's no need for either. They are what they are. As others here have pointed out, Disneyland somehow manages to fit their M&Gs into the existing tapestry of Fantasyland without ripping out whole sections. Consider this: DL has a much smaller FL, yet there are five (count 'em FIVE) dark rides: Snow White, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland. Dumbo is represented by the Flying Elephant ride and the Casey Jr. Circus Train. Alice is represented with a dark ride and the Mad Tea Party. No one complains about that! (Alice has her own themed AREA in Disneyland, an ensemble consisting of the Mad Tea Party, Alice's dark ride, and the Mad Hatter shop.) There really is plenty of room in WDW's MK for charming Meet 'n Greet locations (which are FAR more labor intensive than a dark ride-- particularly an existing dark ride that has been in operation for years). The dark rides that are, for many, the signature attractions of the Magic Kingdom parks. I am still so very disappointed in the decision to remove Snow White's Scary Adventure. It is just so very short-sighted.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "The birthday girl at the next table was louder than the fireworks show out in the lagoon." Someone would have had to call an ambulance. Not sure if it would have been for me or her. Oh well, at least I've been warned and know what to expect if I should ever decide to visit EPCOT again.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Why don't you just leave Epcot behind, Dr. Hans, and make a much needed house call on your favorite witch in Morva? ORGOCH: Glinda don't live in Morva, ya tramp!!
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Hans, although the park now has characters, the place is hardly crawling with them. There's a M&G in one of the Inoventions buildings, a farm themed character meal at The Land Grill, the princesses in Akerhus and a few characters themed for the countries occasionally at some of the WS pavilions. Oh and I've seen Marie in FW once or twice. OK, reading that it sounds like a lot, but they've never seemed intrusively every where to me .
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Maybe not. Still, as a fan who followed the development of EPCOT Center as a kid during the mid 70s, and was there the day it opened, it saddens me to think that even one Disney princess would be allowed to do meet and greets in Future World, of all places. I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised though. I guess the next thing will be Tiana making appearances in the Africa section of Animal Kingdom.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Yes, having Princess Aurora in Future World didn't seem appropriate. Normally she's in World Showcase in France, along with Belle and Beast. I suppose there are times when they want to spreak the characters out for whatever reason. Sometimes we see Alice and her Wonderland characters over by the Land, as well, but Chip and Dale seem to be the most prominent characters there these days. ORWEN: The funny thing is they don't have Figment out anymore! They laid him off! That just doesn't make any sense to me! ORGOCH: Does ta me. He prob'ly quit outta protest after seein' how bad they botched his ride!!
Originally Posted By Manfried It is nearly time for my annual stock up on allergy medicine visit to EPCOT. Yes, it is time for some flowers.
Originally Posted By danyoung >... this was dinner at a lovely, formerly sophisticated restaurant where I spent many happy meals with an attentive staff, enjoying authentic Norwegian food and customs. No more.< Akershus used to be one of my favorites, too. I haven't been in since they started doing the princess thing. Very sad for me! And just last week I saw Jasmine, Alice, and Mary Poppins at various Epcot locations.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn I have no problem with princess M&Gs. Some of them are smokin' ~hot~!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I haven't noticed the ambiance of Epcot noticeably changed by the addition of the princesses. If you aren't looking for them you don't really notice them. Epcot is still far and away the best WDW park. Sadly, no one ever dined at the old Akershus... not even the hated DDP could fill the place. They probably had to do SOMETHING to keep from closing the place down.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I have never eaten at Akershus, but have always wanted to. For some reason the food choices in other EPCOT pavallions always seems to win out. And in my opinion the best food choices at WDW are in EPCOT, with a few exceptions. I always thought the Princess meet and greet in Akershus was a great idea. Yes, it doesn't appeal to me, but it is popular. I remember talking to one FL resident mother, daughter team whose sole purpose of visiting WDW was to see the Princesses. They decided for the sake of time to do the Princess breakfast at Akershus and said it was the highlight of their trip. And as I said, my party had a great time talking with Princess Aurora in the France Pavallion at EPCOT. My experience has been that the character meet and greets at EPCOT primarily take place in the Future World section of the park in the Innovations "like" building facing the Land and Imagination Pavallions. Althought this location may appear to an odd place for character meet and greets. It is a huge, well lite, air conditioned/ heated indoor space ideal for picture taking. So, I absolutely approve! Oh course, it is always a pleasure to find characters throughout that park as well. At least WDW didn't loose a ride or attraction to offer character meet and greets in EPCOT. Goodness knows there are plenty more empty and half empty pavallions for additional character meet and greets.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz I loved eating at Akershus. It had some really great food and the price was one of the lowest at WDW for a buffet. I have not been since the Princesses arrive. Of course when I was going it was not a super crowded place. Now Disney has doubled the price and the place is full. How do you fight that?
