Walt Disney Company Files Permits for 1.08 Acre Expansion to Epcot's World Showcase

[Lacy]

Such a shame - glad to see new attractions but really new development for a meet n greet. So much lost potential in my opinion. Pretty much echoing what was already said.

[TheVBs]

Agreed. My first thought was finally! Then, oh .

Jan

Perfect description of my reaction!

I would rather see something different. I can't fault Disney for cashing in on something that has a HUGE fan base. I'm one of those people who liked the movie, but was surprised by the craze. But, something about it connected with a huge number of little ones in a big, big way and it's going to be a crazy popular m&g.

[SurferStitch]

agreed. My first thought was finally! Then, oh .

And then i thought at least the meet & greet might keep the congestion down inside norway itself. :d

jan

ditto!!!!

[Jeff Handshaw 100+visits]

They are pandering to the lowest common denominator with cash grabs

Who are those you call the lowest common denominator, Frozen fans? Disney is simply meeting a HEAVY demand for guests to meet and greet Anna and Elsa and I imagine that the new attraction and the "simple" meet and greet location will be filled with Disney magic. I just wonder how many pairs of Anna and Elsa's there will be to satisfy the meet and greet needs, and will the meet and greet continue at the Magic Kingdom as well? The show at DHS is VERY entertaining, and the kids just love Anna and Elsa, who like Stitch did a decade ago, are taking over WDW. I'm sorry, but the kids have just as much right to have their demands met as adults do.

[mickeyman42]

interesting note about this meet and greet, they are already out of FP's and CM's are now handing out paper return tickets to come back in 12 months and get in line

[DonaldDuck1117]

This needed to happen for no other reason then to have space for the massive crowds that are going to be decending on the Norway pavilion. As we have seen Frozen is a gigantic draw. Could you imagine the scene in Norway if the area wasn't expanded in some way?

This will allow for space for the crowds to go. Also, I am really hoping that this meet and greet building will have several rooms-I would do at least 4-to allow for 4 sets of characters at once to finally cut that line down.

And don't count me as one of the people who think Disney is no longer a leader in the industry. Carsland and the Fantasylsnd expansion have proven that Disney can still make quality attractions. From all accounts the Avatarland is going to be spectacular and they are about to totally redo Studios let's see what they produce with that before declaring Disney dead.

This feels like the old Mark Twain quote, "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

[RavsRuleDisney!]

Echo most comments here - Meet & Greets are now sadly the Disney "norm"....little imagination, small footprint, easy to set up and money in the bank. And to think, back in the day the characters wandered the property with the rest of us - OMG!! There's still creativity going on with the future HS overhaul, AK addition, etc. but for a cash cow company like Disney the money does not seem to trickle down to the Imagineering or, better yet, the maintenance of the 'World'....

Pretty soon going to the parks will feel like visiting Santa at the mall, over and over again!

[Ms. Mode]

Could you imagine the scene in Norway if the area wasn't expanded in some way? This will allow for space for the crowds to go.

And don't count me as one of the people who think Disney is no longer a leader in the industry. Carsland and the Fantasylsnd expansion have proven that Disney can still make quality attractions. From all accounts the Avatarland is going to be spectacular and they are about to totally redo Studios let's see what they produce with that before declaring Disney dead.

This feels like the old Mark Twain quote, "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

Exactly!
I have no problem with the Meet & Greet after seeing the congestion in Norway in 2013.

[Jeff Handshaw 100+visits]

Echo most comments here - Meet & Greets are now sadly the Disney "norm"....little imagination, small footprint, easy to set up and money in the bank. And to think, back in the day the characters wandered the property with the rest of us - OMG!!

The norm? Disney has always had meet and greets and the standard characters are still the prime meet and greeters, so it's no different...and there's no sadly about it considering the wonderful theming (and magic) of the meet and greet locations, from Belles magical cottage where everyone can be part of her story, to actually talking with Mickey (with his articulate mouth) and Ariel grotto which came with a wonderful new dark ride (we need more of these and less roller coasters). Furthermore, characters still come out and visit at the entrance hub. Back in the day, the characters "wandered the property" because they had no place to go/be and if you didn't get in line fast enough you got nothing. Considering how much the park (referring to the Magic Kingdom) has grown, far more attractions have been added than meet and greets, and the meet and greets that have been added are far better than the norm. And as far as cost goes, the "Entertainers" get a lot more money than the ride operators, so the cost (including their "handlers") of running a meet and greet is more than a normal attraction. And I don't know WHAT you're referring to when you say "easy to set up", because there isn't anything easier to set up then sending a character out into the street like the good old days, whereas now-a-days many of the characters require a themed location for their meet and greets?
Why people hate on meet and greets which don't hurt anyone and the kids love more than anything and which create those VERY special moments that you go to Disney for is beyond me???

[joonyer]

. . . . Why people hate on meet and greets which don't hurt anyone and the kids love more than anything and which create those VERY special moments that you go to Disney for is beyond me???

I don't think of it so much as "hating" on the meet 'n greets, as it is expressing disappointment that a long awaited "expansion" in Epcot is not going to be a new country pavilion, exposition hall or major attraction. If anything, Epcot has contracted with the closure of some attractions (WoL). Plus, you have to consider than the people who post on these boards about Disney's plans are not little kids, and while many of them do have small children, waiting in line for a really long time to see a character doesn't hold the same level of excitement and anticipation as it does for their little ones.

[Stu29573]

I think part of the problem is that Disney is now breathlessly announcing "attractions" that a few years ago didn't merit more than a quick nod on a guidebook schedule. Now, granted, Disney has always been a bit loose with the definition of an "attraction," (bathroom of the future, anyone?) but it wasn't that many years ago that characters were simply streetmosphere, and, while kind of neat, not something you would write home about. Also, granted, the meet and greet areas are now themed to the hilt, but I think maybe folks would have really liked those funds to go to a real "attraction" that pushes the envelope a bit more.

[Goofster]

I'm sure the pavilion will be done well and it's not like they are using a ride pavilion for it (i.e., Snow White's Scary Adventures to Princess M&G). It was an empty lot that will now allow access to a very popular and in-demand Disney IP. With a sequel coming, etc., I don't see the Frozen popularity to dissipate anytime soon with its young fans.

As for the conversion of Maelstrom to the Frozen ride, that I am not on board with.

[1DisneyNut]

I don't think of it so much as "hating" on the meet 'n greets, as it is expressing disappointment that a long awaited "expansion" in Epcot is not going to be a new country pavilion, exposition hall or major attraction. If anything, Epcot has contracted with the closure of some attractions (WoL). Plus, you have to consider than the people who post on these boards about Disney's plans are not little kids, and while many of them do have small children, waiting in line for a really long time to see a character doesn't hold the same level of excitement and anticipation as it does for their little ones.

I agree and would like to add a little about the negativity towards the meet and greets.

The meet and greets with the characters mostly only appeals to a narrow window age group. I know some will disagree but for the most part it is young girls around ages 6 to 13 or so. Any younger and many are scared of them. A 6ft mouse is sort of scary to small children that don't yet grasp it is a character. Most boys including mine could not have cared less about the characters. They, like myself, felt we were wasting valuable real attraction time while standing around waiting to get a pic with characters. We would much rather the money be spent on real attractions.

The upside to the meet and greets, though, is they pull a lot of the huge strollers off the paths and our ankles for a little while so we can walk around with skin intact.

[Pally]

Thanks Jason!

While I've long wanted an addition to the WS, a meet and greet just wasn't what I was looking for.

Ditto....Disappointed is an understatement!

Agreed. My first thought was finally! Then, oh .
Jan

Agreed...

I got all excited and then discovered it was a Frozen meet and greet........in the world showcase.

Given repeated evidence we pretty much need to face facts: Disney is no longer a visionary company wanting to give guests unique and exciting experiences. They are pandering to the lowest common denominator with cash grabs. They still do their guest service things well, but the days of imagination and innovative experiences are gone.

Like mentioned above got really excited then found out it was a meet & greet and that was the end of my excitement

Wow. Epic fail on SO many levels...

And speaking of "fails," I just saw where the Avitar movies are being pushed back.. again... I never thought that was a good wagon to be hitched to anyway...

You know, I liked the movie, but good lord, I didn't like it THAT much! I guess long gone are the days when Disney takes the profits from a smash hit and invests them all back into the creative side of the company. Now its all stockholders and CEO's...

I don't think of it so much as "hating" on the meet 'n greets, as it is expressing disappointment that a long awaited "expansion" in Epcot is not going to be a new country pavilion, exposition hall or major attraction. If anything, Epcot has contracted with the closure of some attractions (WoL). Plus, you have to consider than the people who post on these boards about Disney's plans are not little kids, and while many of them do have small children, waiting in line for a really long time to see a character doesn't hold the same level of excitement and anticipation as it does for their little ones.

All of the above and more. I hope they have more in mind than just this. How can they compare Maelstrom to a meet and greet? Ohh my aching feet thinking of just being in that line. I don't think I could do it.

[PopPhan]

How can they compare Maelstrom to a meet and greet? Ohh my aching feet thinking of just being in that line. I don't think I could do it.

The Meet and Greet is NOT the replacement for Maelstrom. That is something completely different, even if it IS themed to Frozen. The Meet and Greet is an addition in the space between the Norway and Mexico pavilions. We have yet to see much for detail on the Maelstrom replacement other than it uses pretty much the same footprint as the original ride (+/- the film area???)

[JerseyDad]

....saddest part of all this "anticipated excitement" regarding the 'expansion' ...is that ...given the normal attention span of a person in this day and age (equal to that of a harried gnat) ...the whole Frozen popularity phenomenon will soon be a distant memory.

.....unless Disney intends to pop out something like "Frozen II: The Thaw Continues" ...in the very near future.

[joonyer]

....saddest part of all this "anticipated excitement" regarding the 'expansion' ...is that ...given the normal attention span of a person in this day and age (equal to that of a harried gnat) ...the whole Frozen popularity phenomenon will soon be a distant memory.

.....unless Disney intends to pop out something like "Frozen II: The Thaw Continues" ...in the very near future.

Oh, don't worry, there WILL be sequels, . . .

[WiltonJohn]

Frozen IV: Global Warming

[snowflakegirl]

Agreed. My first thought was finally! Then, oh .

And then I thought at least the meet & greet might keep the congestion down inside Norway itself.

Jan

Definitely how my thoughts went, too. I actually really enjoyed the movie Frozen, but I am so disappointed that when the WS finally gets an "expansion" it is to insert *another* Frozen themed thing.

[cajunmickey]

They are tying to make EPCOT appeal more to families. I like it just the way it is, a few more countries would be nice. NOT more meet and greet.