Our 5 day itineraries also include some new characters! Woody and Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, and Remy all cruise along with us! These Pixar favorites are extremely popular since they aren't offered on the 3 and 4 day cruises and I assume they would be difficult to catch in the Disney parks. Naturally, the lines for these characters were insane! Luckily, I was not the greeter for any of these characters. In case you're wondering what a greeter is: each character meet and greet set is controlled by at least two character greeters who set up and organize the line, make sure guests are ready to see the character, works with the photographer who takes shots of the interaction, and monitors the length of the line and overall time frame of the set. I usually really enjoy greeting characters because it allows me the opportunity to meet some guests and talk to the kids in line. I thoroughly enjoy asking little girls who if they've met the princesses and if they have a favorite princess! If they say their favorite is Ariel, I always tell them she is my favorite too!
Each character set has specific time frames that we must follow. Our fur characters (Minnie, Mickey, Woody, Jessie, etc.) are only allowed to be out on set for 30-45 minutes. Our princesses and other face characters like Aladdin, Peter Pan, and Captain Jack Sparrow, are allowed to be out on set for 30-120 minutes. Obviously some characters are a lot more popular than others and those lines are anticipated to be incredibly hectic and difficult to control. For example, Woody and Jessie were scheduled to go out for a 30 minute set, have a 30 minute break in between, and then go out for another 30 minute set after. The line for the first set was so crazy that they were out there for 50 minutes, had a 10 minute break, then went back out for another 45 minutes!!! That's the craziest it's ever been!!! Again, thank goodness I did not have to greet that line of impatient guests!!!
This is me greeting the line for Goofy on Deck 11!
Each character set has specific time frames that we must follow. Our fur characters (Minnie, Mickey, Woody, Jessie, etc.) are only allowed to be out on set for 30-45 minutes. Our princesses and other face characters like Aladdin, Peter Pan, and Captain Jack Sparrow, are allowed to be out on set for 30-120 minutes. Obviously some characters are a lot more popular than others and those lines are anticipated to be incredibly hectic and difficult to control. For example, Woody and Jessie were scheduled to go out for a 30 minute set, have a 30 minute break in between, and then go out for another 30 minute set after. The line for the first set was so crazy that they were out there for 50 minutes, had a 10 minute break, then went back out for another 45 minutes!!! That's the craziest it's ever been!!! Again, thank goodness I did not have to greet that line of impatient guests!!!
My friend Michael greeting the HUGE line for Princess Gathering!
At some point during each scheduled meet and greet, we must cut off the line. Busy lines are the most unfortunate to close because you have to turn away lots of guests who don't understand the time limits of our characters. Though our characters are out for 30 minutes, we close the line after 15 because it accumulates over that time period. It's hard to explain this to guests because they see a character and a line and figure that the character is open for meet and greets. This mostly happens when the character is seeing their last family and guest will run up thinking there is no line! Guests are not very happy when they are told, "This is actually Mickey's last family for right now, but he is coming back later if you'd like to get pictures and autographs then!" Even if you give them 5 more meet and greet times for Mickey Mouse and you have the brightest smile on your face and the kindest tone to your voice, these guests 8 out of 10 times will plead with you to see "just one more family" or else storm off angry. And that's when we get negative comments. A lot of guests will leave comments about the lines being too long, or that they were turned away from every character, or that the characters were not out enough. The truth is, if guests arrive on time for any advertised set (they are all advertised) they are guaranteed to see that character. They may have to wait in a line, but with 4000 guests, they really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone!
On a lighter note, guests can also leave positive comments! Guests will comment on specific characters and even specific greeters that went above and beyond their expectations to make their cruise special. I made it my contract goal to receive a positive greeting comment, and guess what...I got one!!! My good friend Ariel also received a positive comment a couple cruises ago! She hopes to receive more in the future!!!
The Disney Fantasy is now Sailing around the Bahamas and based out of Port Canaveral just like the Dream! She was Christened in the New York Harbor just last month and her godmother is Mariah Carey! There was a spectacular show in the Walt Disney Theatre hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and all of the Disney Characters were invited!!! Hopefully I'll get a chance to explore the ship someday when we're in port together!!!
On a lighter note, guests can also leave positive comments! Guests will comment on specific characters and even specific greeters that went above and beyond their expectations to make their cruise special. I made it my contract goal to receive a positive greeting comment, and guess what...I got one!!! My good friend Ariel also received a positive comment a couple cruises ago! She hopes to receive more in the future!!!
This banner was hanging when we docked in Port Canaveral! I guess we just missed the Fantasy!
Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day!!!!
