The Magic Kingdom began a 3 day test this morning that will not allow guests to stand in a long line to meet Anna and Elsa. Guests who arrive for the traditional stand by line after it initially fills within a few minutes of park opening will not be allowed to actually wait in the line. Instead they are being given a return time card that is reminiscent of the return time cards that are distributed at the For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-Long and the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow at Hollywood Studios
Today they're handing out return times for Anna and Elsa @WaltDisneyWorld. @Attractions @InsideTheMagic pic.twitter.com/Gtt8HO2Nqc
— branch nella vita. (@brandiORL) July 23, 2014
Guests who do not have Fastpass+ reservations are given a little card with a pre-printed return time listed on the card. How will this affect your experience ? The Fastpass-like card will allow you to meet the ladies with a “moderate” wait, but you’ll need to arrive early in the morning to pick up that card or you’ll be out of luck meeting the Frozen sisters. Disney World expects the average guest using the return time card during this test to wait no more than 30 minutes to meet Anna and Elsa.
The change doesn’t affect the regular Fastpass+ line. The return time card test is hoping to eliminate the astoundingly long lines to meet Anna and Elsa at Fairytale Hall, but could push many guests out in the cold, if they don’t arrive early enough to retrieve one of these FREE return time cards that don’t count against your Fastpass+ allotment.
Guests using the DAS system for guests with disabilities will also be given one of these return time cards, but are being escorted to the Fastpass+ return time line, rather than the former stand by line. They are expected to distribute about 75 return time cards per one hour time slot. This would limit the return time cards to about 1200 guests per day during this test.
The current test is slated to take place from Wednesday, July 23 through Friday, July 25.
Do they meet together or single. Would slow the line if each is single wonder how Elsa is as she lets Elsa do all the talking when lat meet
Same room, separate photos
[…] test concerning the Anna and Elsa meet and greet at the Magic Kingdom. They previously made guests show up early in the morning, with no warning, and pick up a paper return card. Well, that test has long passed and Disney has decided to confuse their guests again from […]
Does anyone know if they are still handing out the time tickets for a return time. We go in November and I have had no luck with the fast pass+ even when I am on at midnight of my 60 days – ugh!
No, they are not at this time. Did you try my tricks for finding Hard to Find Fastpasses?
I have been trying since the 30th to get one person a fast pass for Elsa and Anna. I check multiple times a day with no luck. Any further advice?
If you can’t find any, go at rope drop, 45 minutes before closing or late during a party
I’m going in November too and just stayed up to book FP+ and couldn’t get anything I wanted either. No Anna and Elsa, no Seven Dwarfs Mine Train…
http://kennythepirate.com/2014/03/16/how-to-get-difficult-fastpass-reservations-from-my-disney-experience/
I tried to get singles but they weren’t available either. There is a Christmas party both nights we’ll be at Magic Kingdom (a Thurs. and a Fri.) so I’m hoping we can get in at a reasonable wait during one of those (we’re attending on Thurs.) And thanks for the Christmas party tips post. Definitely following your instructions for that!
Can’t know what will happen for Christmas yet, but Halloween party waits are really low after 11pm. We waited 15 minutes last night
Yes! I saw that post and it gave me hope, although my kids are 5 and 3 so I don’t know how late they will make it. While I was stalking the FastPass system hoping something would open up, I noticed they extended the dates for the Anna and Elsa sing along in Hollywood Studios. We’ll go to that the day we’re there. At least that guarantees seeing them even though there’s no meet and greet with that.
Not really hard to meet them. Go at rope drop or 45 minutes before close or during a party.
I was unable to get Fast passes to see Anna and Elsa for our trip in November. My daughter has an appointment at the Boutique at 8:40. If we go at rope drop to see them, in your opinion, would we have time to make it to her appointment?
Could be iffy. Might want to go later in the day
We are going to MK in Oct and have tickets for “Not so scary”. I was wondering if there was a chance to get in the stand by line, right at or a little bit before, the party as there are no FP during the party. Will the lines still be really long even at the party? What are your thoughts.
I’ll be attending tonight to see when they actually allow the line to begin forming for the party. Here’s all the information that I currently have on the Halloween party: http://kennythepirate.com/events/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/
have a great time and I would love a report back on how they manage that.
Is there any word if Anna and Elsa will be at the Mickey’s not so scary halloween party this year?
Nothing official, but it’s likely
has this been established as the common practice yet?
NO
Does anybody know if this has been put into full effect everyday?
No, it hasn’t. I will notify you guys if it becomes a regular thing.
I’ve heard that during the test, they are re opening the regular stand by line in the early evening? Can anyone confirm this? We are hoping to catch them late one evening during our trip (not wasting FP+ on them as meeting them isn’t a “must do” for us)
No, they didn’t reopen the line, but the test has concluded for now.
In my humble opinion, they should bring a meet and great with Elsa and Anna back to Epcot until the demand slows.
If they go back to Epcot, the wait times will UP, not down.
I wonder how they came up with the 75/hr? That averages 0.8 minutes per guest experience. A family of 5 would be “alotted” only 4 minutes of a visit. However, if they are looking at averages, maybe 1125 (15 hours X 75 per hour) is around how many guests they were seeing per day? We will have to see what the test shows.
It’s not an “only” issue, it’s an average issue. You also have to factor in the experience, the autographs, the photos and the characters taking a short water break.
We are going this Friday. The last time I had a Fast Pass scheduled for the parade and it was cancelled because of the weather (so we ended up not going anyway that day), I checked my email and noticed one from Disney telling me my fast pass for the parade was cancelled and that I could choose any other attraction. When I went down that list, I noticed Anna and Elsa were on that list..I wonder if that will happen again this Friday, I have been checking the weather and it is a hit or miss. But I wonder if this will make a difference. (I should find that email and just paste it here since this probably does not make as much sense right now…It is late, give me a break! lol)
If you’re going Friday, just pick up the card at rope drop and come back and see them.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually GLAD that we are not going again until april (I usually wish I was there NOW). But I am hopeful that all of this will be figured out or at least be drastically improved by then. We absolutely have to see these sisters, so I am so grateful for all of your very helpful information regarding them (and all the other characters, too!). In your experience, can you give an educated guest on how how long A&E will have such crazy demand? Like, is there an average amount of months where newly introduced characters demand an hour+ or 2 hour+ wait? You may have no idea, but if someone would know, I thought it’d be you. ;)
Well Merida was still 45-90 minutes last May, that was over a year after Brave came out and she was never as popular as A&E.
She still has meets of 45-60 minutes every day
Princesses always have a huge demand and really only subside a bit once the newest one is introduced. People still wait 45-60 minutes to meet Tiana, Merida and Jasmine too.
Will be watching closely to see how this all pans out!
I think it is a good idea, you would be able to do other things in between, good alternative to a very long wait!
But only for those who arrive early enough to get the cards, the others won’t get to meet them at all.
Interesting. I can see why they do this, but if you aren’t in the park by 10 you probably cannot see them at all. Whereas before you could bite the bullet and wait if you really wanted to (and obviously many people did or there wouldn’t be a line).
Agree
If they keep this it will actually give me a glimmer of hope that maybe my girls can meet them. However I have already spoken to them and they understand if the wait is too long we will not wait. But fingers crossed that this sticks around because I have a few rope drop days planned!
I think this is a great idea. It is similar to what you have to do in order to participate with Jedi Training Academy. It is good to see them try to fill a need–yes, you should be able to do whatever you choose with your park ticket, but I imagine Disney is trying to make your vacation a little better by keeping you from spending half of your day waiting in a single line.
IF you arrive early enough to get one of these cards. Otherwise, you’re out of luck for meeting them.
Hmm considering disney expect you to nail so much down in advance what if the return time clashes with another fp or dining reservation? Also whilst standing in lime for 3+ hours is crazy it is each persons own decision in they do that. Disney should not be telling people how to utilise their $100 tickets.
That’s the part that remains to be seen, how it will affect people with other reservation types. That’s why they quickly adjusted the sing a long to allow people to choose their time slot.
I’m wondering if I should just break it to my daughter now that she’s not going to be able to meet A&E when we go in October. She was fine when I told her we couldn’t eat dinner at Be Our Guest, but this may just break her little heart. I’m assuming FP for A&E is like ADRs for BOG which means that anyone staying less than 10 days doesn’t have a chance!
As stated in my article. This is a 3 day test. No way of knowing if it will be that way in Oct. However, if they are using this system, go straight there at rope drop and pick up a card and you’ll get to meet them.
Can one person go and get passes for a group? If so, how many are allowed?
I’m not sure. I haven’t personally tested this. It will only last until Friday though.
You can still do BOG for lunch! And keep checking the App as your visit approaches. I am still messing around with FP+, and I still see return time come and go. Keep trying!
Thanks, Chris. I won’t give up yet but I’m trying to manage expectations. This is her first Disney trip…it will be special either way.