Princess Experiences without a Princely Price Tag

Most Disney blogs and websites highly recommend that you take your princess obsessed little girl to a Character Meal if they want to meet any of the Disney princesses. For my first three trips I bought into that and paid big bucks for the Princess Breakfast at Akershus. We did meet lots of Princesses. The food was fine, but not filling nor was it exactly gourmet.

It was nice, but it wasn't really worth the more than $200 it cost my family of four last year.

If your little darling wants to be a princess most bloggers highly recommend the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique with packages ranging from $55- $200. I do not. I recommend you spend less money and more quality time giving your daughter a princess make over yourself.

I can think of 11 Disney Princesses - Ariel (Little Mermaid), Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Belle (Beauty & the Beast), Cinderella, Jasmine (Aladdin), Merida (Brave), Mulan, Pocahantas, Rapunzel (Tangled), Snow White and Tiana (Princess and the Frog). Hold in mind that you can't find all eleven at any one park.

So, how and where do you meet the Princesses of your adorable dear's dreams?

Disney World really does make it possible to see most of the princesses for free - after all, characters are one of their main draws. You just need to know where & when to look. The Magic Kingdom & EPCOT are prime princess viewing locations.

Disney changes characters and locations to keep up with current trends. Make sure that you pick up a  Times Guide when you enter any Park. Shows, parades and character greeting locations are all listed. Things change daily so get one every time you go.

Most younger children (4 and under) are happy viewing the characters from a distance. That makes your job easy. 

In the Magic Kingdom you can go to the Dream Come True Parade at 3PM any day. The main problem with this parade is that it is incredibly popular and therefore incredibly crowded. Instead of waiting on the curb for the parade to begin an hour in advance we go on the rides (the lines are shorter.)

Another alternative is to view the Dream Along with Mickey show that happens in front of Cinderella's castle. You can see this from almost anywhere in front of the castle, even if you aren't close.
 

 

Snow White, Cinderella & Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

Princesses are featured in Fantasmic (Hollywood Studios),

but it might frighten younger children.



Mulan, Belle and Snow White

Chances are that older girls are going to want to meet the actual princess. You know, snap a photo, chat, get an autograph, hang out...Belle and Ariel are Amanda's favorite. Danielle likes Aurora. The friend we're bringing with us this year loves Cinderella.

Check the Times Guide for the time and location of different characters. Or search the Disney site by typing "meet Ariel". For one on one meetings you'll need to wait in lines. An often overlooked character meeting spot is the gazebo  just to your right as you enter the Magic Kingdom. In the past we've met Snow White, Pinocchio and other characters there with almost no wait.

Now you can get a Fast Pass to meet the princesses at Town Square Theater.  This is one of the places where you might meet Cinderella...normally you have to book a character meal to see Cinderella up close. She's the most popular princess so you typically have to pay a premium to meet her. Other princesses that appear here are Aurora and Rapunzel. I think this is also the only place to meet Rapunzel.

 

You can meet other princesses in the Magic Kingdom in Fantasyland and around Cinderella's Castle. Look for Ariel, Belle and Merida.  Don't forget Tiana in Liberty Square! Also, while not princesses, you can meet Tinkerbell and the fairies as well.You won't find international princesses like Mulan and Jasmine here - try EPCOT instead.

 

You can normally find the EPCOT princess meeting times on line (follow links for each princess below). Be warned - if you show up at 2:59 for a character greeting that ends at 3:00 PM you won't get to meet the character! This is one area where Disney is completely inflexible. Character actors are closely scheduled to avoid overlap, heat exhaustion, etc. They will not wait even if your child is in line. Trust me, Mulan walked away from my kids.

Our best luck with individual princess meetings has actually been in the EPCOT World Showcase. We've met

Belle (typically near France)

 

 

Jasmine & Aladdin by Morocco Pavilion

 (We also saw Jaffar here, but my kids were scared of him).

Mulan ditched us just outside of the China Pavilion but we did see her up close. You can also meet Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) near France and Snow White in the Germany Pavilion.


There are no Princess greetings at Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom (although Pocahontas may appear at Rafikis Planet Watch or along the Camp Minnie Mickey Trails.)

We've never been on a deliberate search to find princesses because I've always scheduled the breakfast at Akershus. This time we're going without any advance dining reservations - and no character meals. I wonder who we'll find?