by Sandi Lamborne
In honor of the upcoming movie “Frankenweenie,” Walt Disney World celebrated a special weekend in honor of the director, Tim Burton, at Downtown Disney, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 28-30.
As part of that weekend, Jack Skellington and Sally from the director’s film “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, had their first-ever Meet-n-Greet at Walt Disney World. Jack and Sally were scheduled to meet their fans from 6 to 11 p.m. each night. They were located right outside the AMC Theater next to the Harley-Davidson shop.
Fans started lining up hours before the scheduled time. My husband Dave and I got in line at 5 p.m. and there were approximately 100 people in front of us already, some with chairs and umbrellas. Most of the fans in line had dolls or T-Shirts or hats depicting Jack because he is so popular.
Everyone was wondering how Disney would outfit Jack so that he would still appear to be a skeleton. He appeared to the cheers of the crowd with a mask covering his face from the lip up. He was able to talk and asked us if we went through a door to get there. His voice even sounded like the real Jack, and Sally just batted her very long eyelashes and looked confused when I shook her hand, as if to signify that she didn’t know what shaking hands was all about. Dave told her she looked nice and she smiled and said thank you.
The cast members kept the line moving quickly. There were no autographs allowed and you could take a photo as an individual or group, but not both. When we got to the front of the line, a cast member took our camera and bags while another cast member ushered us to Jack and Sally. Our camera was handed off to another cast member, who took a picture along with the PhotoPass photographer (who took only two). Our bags were given to another cast member, who then collected our camera and they were waiting at exit so that the line kept moving along.
We’re all hoping that Jack and Sally show up for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!
You must have gone on Saturday or Sunday. I went on Friday and We got there around 5:10pm and there were about 25 people in front of us but the line quickly built and I would say by 6:00 the line had around 150 to 200 people in it. No one brought chairs. Im guessing that word got out about the big lines so people brought the chairs on Saturday and Sunday. Also autographs were allowed and everyone was taking groups and individual pictures. The photo pass photographer took at least 10 pictures of my daughter getting her autograph book signed and posing and about 10 more of my daughter, my mother and myself. A girl that worked at DTD told me that they were the actors from Disneyland. I’m not sure if that was true or not but I do know that Jack and Sally are at Disneyland during Halloween and Christmas. I was super excited to met Jack and Sally. I hope that Disney see what a big draw Jack and Sally brought in and they will be at future MNSSHP.