Disney's FASTPASS To Be Available for Meet-and-Greet for First Time

[eas423]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blo...s22-02-11@0020

Mickey FASTPASS: Guests Will Be Able To Determine a Time To Meet Mickey Mouse Begin This Spring at Magic Kingdom
posted on February 22nd, 2011 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

How about this: For the first time at Disney Parks, you’ll have the opportunity to nail down a time for a face-to-face meeting with Mickey Mouse at the Walt Disney World Resort. Beginning this spring, we’ll be offering FASTPASS for Mickey at his new permanent home, Town Square Theater, located inside the current Exposition Hall area at the entrance of Magic Kingdom park.

Once open, it’ll be more than just a new greeting space for Mickey. Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for Magic Kingdom park guests, including an interactive queue – with an extra touch of Disney magic. Also, during the New Fantasyland construction, royalty will be visiting as the Disney Princesses will be in Town Square Theater to meet and greet their loyal subjects this spring.
How will it work? Magic Kingdom guests will be able obtain a Disney’s FASTPASS specifying a one-hour window when they can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs – without waiting in the standby queue. This marks the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been utilized for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.

Walt Disney Imagineers are already working to completely transform the space for the new experience. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more updates on this one-of-a-kind experience.

What do you think?

[DisneyMom12]

I like the idea of it, but would rather it be for a character harder to meet. You can meet Mickey at many character meals.

[Narawen]

Not sure I like this. I know on rides there's a certain ratio of FP:stand-by riders they can let through if the line gets too backed up. It moves quickly for the continuous loading rides, but people take their time with characters. Who wants their kid in the stand-by line waiting 10 mins without moving while families from the FP line are filed in?

[John]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Magic Kingdom officials have a hunch a really "hot ticket" in their realm this summer is going to be something other than a ride, a snack or a show. Rather, it's a first-ever opportunity to nail down a time to meet with Mickey Mouse.

When meet-and-greets with Mickey move into a permanent new location in Town Square later this spring, Magic Kingdom guests will be able obtain a Disney's FASTPASS ticket specifying a one-hour window when they can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs -- without waiting in the standby queue. It will mark the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been available for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.

Since spending time with Disney characters is at the top of the "must-do list" of many guests, the FASTPASS ticket will allow them to experience their Mickey Mouse meet-and-greets more conveniently. As a result, guests will be able to devote more time enjoying other Magic Kingdom experiences with family and friends.

The new meet-and-greet location, Town Square Theater, will be located inside the current Exposition Hall area just inside the park entrance. Imagineers already are working to completely transform the space for the new experience. "This isn't just remodeling Expo Hall; it is completely re-imagining this entire venue as a beautiful Victorian-era theater and the new home for Mickey Mouse," Jon Georges, WDI Director, Senior Show Producer, said.

"Mickey and Main Street, U.S.A. are great examples of pure Americana that complement each other very well," Concept Designer Jason Grandt said. "We drew a lot of inspiration from classic Mickey animated shorts such as The Nifty Nineties and Mickey's Grand Opera. Many of the scenes in these shorts look like they take place right on Main Street."

Guests arrive at a building befitting Mickey Mouse's stardom -- with a grand-Victorian-theater elevation, including a marquee that glistens with gold-leaf trim and sparkles with lights. Inside, there's a mosaic floor, lush curtains with gold rope tie-backs and polished-brass chandeliers. Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for Magic Kingdom guests, including an interactive queue -- with an extra touch of Disney magic -- and highly themed retail shops.

The queue takes guests "backstage," where Mickey is waiting to greet them in a rehearsal-room environment amid posters, steamer trunks and stage props.

In addition, during the New Fantasyland construction, royalty will be visiting as the Disney Princesses will be in Town Square Theater to meet and greet their loyal subjects.

Currently, guests can visit with Mickey Mouse in Tomorrowland, in a location to the right of Space Mountain. Meet-and-greet experiences with the Disney Princesses are currently at Adventureland Verandah.

[rjmdds]

Not sure how this is going to work. I agree with the above poster in regards to the inability to measure the amount of time per guest. Rides are fairly predictable in terms of loading times,length of ride, etc. Character interactions have too many variables involved. We'll be down in November so hopefully they have it all figured out by then.

[Granny Jill A]

I like the idea, especially if CMs keep the line moving at a reasonable speed. It's not like the kids are going to talk to Mickey like they would Santa Claus

[ransam]

aww, what's wrong w/ the good old fashioned First come First served?

[caryrae]

aww, what's wrong w/ the good old fashioned First come First served?

That's what I was thinking. Do we really need a FP to meet characters? I have never done any meet and greets with characters are the lines really that long that people can't wait?

[WDWFRK]

The Type-A control freak part of me says this makes sense and is a good idea, but I so miss the days when you would just "accidentally" run into the characters at random places and times. The delight of that unexpected encounter is now gone.

[Melanie]

I've had almost a week to think about this since it was mentioned last week, and I still think it's a terrible idea. There's something to be said for spontaneity on a Disney vacation, at least in my book.

[WDWfanatic742]

That's all I think about it...

[Dsnygirl]

I've had almost a week to think about this since it was mentioned last week, and I still think it's a terrible idea. There's something to be said for spontaneity on a Disney vacation, at least in my book.

Melanie, I'm with you on this... I think it's the beginning of a very bad trend, esp. when it hits home computers and other activities. Blech.

PS - Disney is SO into Social Media right now that it's almost embarassing.... you'd think they'd be reading all the feedback, esp. the feedback on their own blog, about what people think. Most are NOT in favor of this kind of thinking moving forward....

[brer frog]

I like the concept, but don't like how everything can be planned now. When you can set times to meet characters before you even leave on the vacation, how much of a vacation is it?

If they want to get more people seeing the characters, put more of them out there, or for longer times.

[shadowden]

I think this is a great thing. Hope it is in effect when we go at the end of June...

[PinKy]

That's what I was thinking. Do we really need a FP to meet characters? I have never done any meet and greets with characters are the lines really that long that people can't wait?

Yes. The lines can be hours long and the Princess lines can take the better part of an afternoon. Doing this with children under 10 is just really difficult. We don't ever make our kids stand in those lines and opt for the character meals instead. I think the fastpass option for characters sounds fabulous! I hope it works!

[BluewaterBrad]

The Type-A control freak part of me says this makes sense and is a good idea, but I so miss the days when you would just "accidentally" run into the characters at random places and times. The delight of that unexpected encounter is now gone.

Those were "Good" times!

[PinKy]

Those were "Good" times!

hear hear!!

[BrerGnat]

WDW needs to just do away with the "Character Meet & Greet" dedicated spaces altogether.

For the life of me, I can't understand how Disneyland has successfully managed to keep it simple in this regard for SO many years. Characters simply walk out, a line forms, and then they go backstage after whatever amount of time. Then, new characters come out. It's mostly random, and IT WORKS. The lines are never longer than 5-10 min. People don't mob the characters. Lines form quickly and WITHOUT the aid of any CM's (sometimes, the characters themselves will direct people to form a line, using gestures, and will THEN start meeting with people when everyone is nice and orderly---Goofy is particularly good at this).

At the (few) dedicated character meet and greet locations, lines move rather quickly as well.

What's it about WDW that the visitors are so character crazed??? And why has it gotten so out of hand to the point where it will behoove people to have a Fastpass for a character meet opportunity?

The whole thing is insane. They should go back to the days of spontaneous character interactions. If you see Mickey on vacation, then lucky you!

[squijee]

I think they should have a location somewhere in one or even all of the parks to meet obscure characters. I would love to see some of my old friends again.

[Jeany031]

That will be awesome!