Skip to Content

We met Anna and Elsa at park opening today at Epcot’s Norway pavilion and a ride on Test Track

We met Anna and Elsa at park opening today at Epcot’s Norway pavilion and a ride on Test Track


For a stress-free Disney or Universal Studios vacation, let the FREE expert planners at Royal Carriage Vacations take care of every detail including dining reservations, applying discounts, and onboard cruise credit.


My girls haven’t had a chance to meet Anna and Elsa since they began appearing.  My son’s basketball games required a lot of our Saturday mornings lately, but they were well worth it!  So, we decided to see if we could meet Anna and Elsa and ride Test Track before heading off to church.

We arrived at the gates at 8:20 am to find this small group of people waiting for the park to open.  Many were there specifically to meet Anna and Elsa, so it would be a foot race :)

Click any pic for super large photo.  Oh speaking of photos.  I’m often asked if someone can use a photo in a memory book.  Go ahead, use them in your memory books if they help!  If you place them on a website, I’d appreciate a mention.  Just don’t sell them and we’re all cool.  But, why would you sell them???

Walt Disney World, Epcot, rope drop

We could have chosen a totally empty tap point on the right of this group, but we wanted a typical guest experience.  We were like family number 5 or 6 on the left hand side.  The Epcot Times Guide knew that Anna and Elsa have changed times this week.  It didn’t know when they changed times two weeks ago though.  Disney’s app didn’t know the times had changed today, but the Character Locator app knew about it.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Times Guide

Here’s the lines at 8:30 am in the next two pics…Walt Disney World, Epcot, rope drop Walt Disney World, Epcot, rope drop

And here’s the mass of humanity at 8:45am, shortly before the park opened.  Epcot advertises a 9:00am opening, but often opens 15 minutes or more early to allow the early risers to race to Test Track, Soarin’ and the Anna & Elsa meet and greet. (3 photos to remind you to arrive at least 45 minutes early!)  We entered the park at 8:51 am.Walt Disney World, Epcot, rope drop Walt Disney World, Epcot, rope drop Walt Disney World, Epcot, rope drop

I powerwalked my way back to Norway.  My girls went the path around Test Track and I took the direct route past the fountain and turned left at the lagoon.  They arrived just a tiny bit before me.  We were on the second row of the queue line about 15 feet into the line.  It took me 9 minutes to walk quickly there.  I passed a few people just past the fountain because they were becoming tired.  It’s a LONG walk.  I did see people running, but that doesn’t help you guys with strollers much.  I would like to ask one thing of you:  Dad’s please don’t run with little kids on your shoulders!  The walkways are always wet in the mornings and if you slip it would be a terrible accident.   I saw a few doing this and it’s very dangerous.  It’s 9:00 am.  Oh, you’re guaranteed to be beaten into the line by some families that were having breakfast at Akershus or someone who booked a breakfast and skipped it.  Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway

They have these nice pics inside the windows at the Princesse Plass.  In case you’re wondering, you enter Norway and the meet and greet is past the Kringla Bakeri on the left.  You’ll see the queue line there.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa meet and greet

Well, at least the Times Guide and Character Locator app had the times right :)Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa meet and greet

My little girl kept getting Anna and Elsa backwards.  This is Elsa for training purposes.  I can’t blame her, she was uber excited to finally meet these characters.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa meet and greet

This is such a fun meet and greet.  Anna is really light-hearted and chatty and Elsa is a bit more quiet, yet very kind.  Debbie and Anna chatted about our love for snowmen and showed her our snowman Stitch.  Anna thinks Olaf was visiting the beach today because it was absolutely beautiful weather. Photo taken at 9:42 am.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa meet and greet

Debbie chose a top that would compliment Anna and Jordyn chose something that works well with Elsa.  When I met them, I just wore my Character Locator shirt.
Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa meet and greet

Debbie was given these awesome collector cards as a gift and she decided to bring them along to have Anna and Elsa sign them for her.  Anna would sign in green and Elsa in blue she determined.  Girls and their color coordination!   I could scan them, if you guys wish to have them for your memory books.  Just let me know in the comments, if that is something you’d like.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa, autograph

The ladies also signed her book for her.  I’m a real slacker when it comes to getting character autographs.  That’s something my girls always kept up with.  I’m just the awkward looking, stalker-dad waiting alone to meet a character many times.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa, autographWhile people were standing in line to meet the ladies, a kind Disney CM worked the crowd asking if anyone needed any help with Fastpass+ reservations.  Kudos on having this guy out helping the rope drop crowd so they could still book their Test Track or Soarin’ (Grrrrr Tier 1) Fastpass.
Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa meet and greet

So where’s the line at 9:45?  It looks kinda short right?  You don’t see anyone in the photo above, so it must be inside the queue.  NOPE!  It snakes behind the Stave Church.  There’s a break there in the line for the bathrooms too.  If you arrive anytime after 9:00, you’ll need to join the line around Stave Church.  If you see people standing over there, they aren’t waiting to see the inside of the church.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa meet and greet

And continues all the way back to the Agent P reservation area!  I believe I wrote a tip a long time ago about arriving early.   ARRIVE EARLY or just come back after lunch.   If you are going to wait 1.5 to 2 hours or more, why not just do that in the afternoon?Walt Disney World, Epcot, Norway, Anna and Elsa meet and greet
So we arrived at the gates at 8:20am and met the girls at 9:42.  It was a 1 hour and 22 minute commitment all totaled.  Of course, we would have waited those 25 minutes just to head straight to Test Track too.  Speaking of Test Track.  We arrived at 9:53 am to find this line snaking back and forth and all the way back to the logo.  The MDE app said it was a 50 minute wait, but I think it appeared much longer than that.
Walt Disney World, Epcot, Test Track Walt Disney World, Epcot, Test Track

We used a pre-arranged FP+ and entered the queue at 9:55 am.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Test Track

Who cares if the car is efficient?  The car is fast and it looks cool.  And girls created this car.  I’m such a proud daddy.   We completed our car creation at 10:03 am.  The FP+ line moved quickly to get us to this room.  Walt Disney World, Epcot, Test Track

It’s 10:15 am and we’re about to board our Test Vehicle.  It took 12 minutes to move that short distance.  Walt Disney World, Epcot, Test Track

Debbie didn’t know they moved the camera during the rehab last year.  It’s in the morning sun, so we are all squinty looking. We were off the ride at 10:21 am.   Using FP+ Test Track took us 26 minutes for the entire experience.   When we did our ultimate tour the day after Christmas this attraction took a total of 17 minutes.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Test Track

We headed off for church.  Good thing our church offers an 11:15 service.  We were only a couple of minutes late this morning.  Here’s a Spaceship Earth photo of the lovely day.  BTW, there were hundreds of lemmings in line for this attraction as they walked into the park.  DON’T DO IT!  Resist the temptation and come back in the afternoon or evening for no wait.Walt Disney World, Epcot, Spaceship Earth

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

HWH

Wednesday 9th of April 2014

Experience on April 6th, 2014 (Sunday):

7:30a - Arrived Epcot, way too early (my first time to Epcot, didn't realize entrance was right next to the parking lot -- thought I'd have to take a monorail like at MK).

7.35a. Eight families in the breakfast line, only one other person here for rope drop -- who thought Epcot opened at 8a.

7.45a. First other insane person arrives at turnstiles besides me.

8.00a. About fifteen families here. They all showed up almost exactly at 8am. (But it's still pretty sparse, so 8am is definitely the optimal arrival time.)

8:15a. Arrival rate picking up. About six families per turnstile line.

8.30a. Complete insanity. About 20 families per turnstile.

8.40a. Lines have doubled. I can't see the back of the line

8.50a. Rope drop. Started running... maybe four other people in better shape than me. We all got yelled at for jogging as we passed the fountain, and absurdly started power walking -- then started running again when we heard other people jogging behind us.

8.56a. Made it into line.. About 25 families ahead of us -- presumably from the lunch. Disney employee informs that the wait will be approximately an hour.

9.56a. Made to front of line -- and just missed cutoff for the first hour. Anna and Elsa to take 5 minute break "to eat some chocolate".

9.56a. Disney employee reports that the line is now **4.5 to 5hrs long**.

10.00a.

Ginette

Sunday 23rd of March 2014

Hi Kenny. Do you have any idea if Disney will do a Olaf character? Thanks!

kennythepirate

Monday 24th of March 2014

No plans

Jason

Wednesday 12th of March 2014

My daughters are wondering where you found those pictures of Anna and Elsa for the autographs.

Can you provide the link? We are going to Disney March 29th and our 8 & 4 year old daughters are so excited.

Thanks

kennythepirate

Wednesday 12th of March 2014

Those aren't pictures, they are part of a set of cards that were distributed around Christmas time.

Tegan

Tuesday 11th of March 2014

Our first trip is the first week of May my daughter is dying to meet Anna and Elsa as is everyone else. I had first planned at rope drop my hubby and daughter would head to TT and my little one and I would go save our place in line. After reading this (thank you for the great tips) we will be there extra early and I was thinking to have my hubby run ahead (extra long legs) to save our place and I will hoof it behind with both girls in the stroller. Question is after I arrive to hold the place do you think he and my oldest will have time to go ride TT and be back in time?? Or would it be better to try and ride late in the evening?? We are visiting on a Mon no EMH just FYI

kennythepirate

Wednesday 12th of March 2014

I couldn't guarantee you that you could ride Test Track. You could always FP+ it to be sure though.

Jessica

Tuesday 11th of March 2014

Excuse my ignorance, but I am a little confused. You mentioned entering and going past the fountains from the main entrance, and then going through the IG. Is that an entrance? Is that an option if you are using the Disney bus system? This will only be our second trip to Disney, but I want to make sure I am taking full advantage of positioning for my morning run! Thanks! :)

kennythepirate

Tuesday 11th of March 2014

IG is separate entrance. International Gateway. You don't do both. Either or. Only way you could use ig with buses is to head to Beach Club and walk from there.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.