Ariel's Grotto & PFF delimna....what should I do???

[Misskitty3]

I have reservations for DD to do the BBB on Tuesday (May 12th) at 10:30am. The plan was to have DH & DS stand in line at PFF and hold our place while DD & I did BBB.

After seeing the photos of the BBB, we both agree DH is going to want to be there when DD gets her "make over"...it will be too cute to miss.

So, that means that if we want to do PFF at least one of us will need to get into line and stand there for appox 2 hours or so....I love the back drops of PFF and would really like to get pics of DD all decked out in her princess stuff there. Yet "wasting" 2 hours in line seems a bit much!

So now I am wondering if we should do Ariel's Grotto for lunch. We went 2 years ago before they changed the menu and frankly, I thought the food was great. So with all of the good comments about how improved it is, maybe we should try it again assuming I can get a PS for that day. Does anyone know what the lunch prices are? It would be enjoyable for both kids but the photos wont be quite the same as at PFF and since I am a scrapbooker, photos are pretty important to me.

So what would you do???

 

[Mybananas]

When I called to make our May PS for Ariel's Grotto the lady quoted me the price of $39.64 (adult) and $22.29 (child) for lunch time.

 

[mechurchlady]

Actuall the PFF is a meet and greet nowadays with maybe 3 princesses.

I have eaten twice recently at Ariel's Grotto and it is a much better scrapbooking spot. You can take pictures of her coming down the stairs, meeting with Ariel and pictures with the princesses. Uusually there are about 5 princesses and sometimes a prince. there is the pretty decor, kid stuff that you can take home like a paper crown, and if you ask they might let you take home the paper part of the menus. Do not forget to take photos of idnner and she might even participate in some dancing.

the food is excellent and is meat, veggies and potatos. I ate someo f my veggies and that is rare. They have cioppinni, fish, chicken, vegetarian, and yummy tri tip.

 

[Misskitty3]

Actuall the PFF is a meet and greet nowadays with maybe 3 princesses.

I have eaten twice recently at Ariel's Grotto and it is a much better scrapbooking spot. You can take pictures of her coming down the stairs, meeting with Ariel and pictures with the princesses. Uusually there are about 5 princesses and sometimes a prince. there is the pretty decor, kid stuff that you can take home like a paper crown, and if you ask they might let you take home the paper part of the menus. Do not forget to take photos of idnner and she might even participate in some dancing.

the food is excellent and is meat, veggies and potatos. I ate someo f my veggies and that is rare. They have cioppinni, fish, chicken, vegetarian, and yummy tri tip.

Only 3 princess, I thought it was more like 5???

 

[Kayla's Mom]

It was three when we were there in January.

 

[Vala]

In October/November last year it were three princesses as well. Jasmine, Belle and Cinderella.

 

[pixiewings71]

There were 5 when we went in March. And you are all forgetting that Ariel is there.
OP, you see Ariel when you come down the stairs, same as before, then you are seated and again, as before the Princesses come to your table. We never have had less than 4 come to our table, not once. In March we had the standard 4, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora. Those are the Princesses we have seen the majority of the times we've eaten there (and with APs and 2 girls you can imagine we eat there pretty often lol) but we have also (on one trip) seen Mulan and Pocahontas, that time we also saw Snow White and Aurora I think, but it may have been Belle. I remember DD9 was sad because she didn't see Cinderella and that's her favorite.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

There were 5 when we went in March. And you are all forgetting that Ariel is there.
OP, you see Ariel when you come down the stairs, same as before, then you are seated and again, as before the Princesses come to your table. We never have had less than 4 come to our table, not once. In March we had the standard 4, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora. Those are the Princesses we have seen the majority of the times we've eaten there (and with APs and 2 girls you can imagine we eat there pretty often lol) but we have also (on one trip) seen Mulan and Pocahontas, that time we also saw Snow White and Aurora I think, but it may have been Belle. I remember DD9 was sad because she didn't see Cinderella and that's her favorite.

I was talking about there being 3 princesses at the PFF. We have always had 5 princesses at Ariel's too.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you want these pictures for scrapbooking, I personally would go for the PFF. My son wanted to meet the princesses, and he was 3, and he waited for an hour just fine.

They do have a rotation of 3 princesses back behind the wall at PFF, and you do NOT know who will be there. Some people have said that you can find out, but I've read far more people saying that you can't find out and you can't wait to the side until your preferred princess is there, and even if you could find out ahead of time, how would you time getting in line, ya know??? So just know that it's random ahead of time.

 

[pixiewings71]

I was talking about there being 3 princesses at the PFF. We have always had 5 princesses at Ariel's too.

Ah, thanks for clarifying that.

 

[Vala]

I was talking about there being 3 princesses at the PFF. We have always had 5 princesses at Ariel's too.

Yes, same for me. 3 at PFF, once 5 at Ariel's and once 6 - Princess Minnie was there then, too.

Some people have said that you can find out, but I've read far more people saying that you can't find out and you can't wait to the side until your preferred princess is there, and even if you could find out ahead of time, how would you time getting in line, ya know??? So just know that it's random ahead of time.

I don't know if this is how it usually goes, but we saw Princesses coming and leaving while we were in line. Mulan left two people before it was my turn and was replaced by Jasmine. Not sure if this counts as finding out in advance though.

 

[mechurchlady]

Basically they hire CMs who look like the face characters and they have sets where they are on stage. The face characters rotate so that the CMs can have breaks. If you really want a princess who is not on stage then ask to wait for the specific princess. There is no guarantee on when you will get to see your princess and the princess you want may be unavailable.

 

[ballarinamom]

The long waits for characters are the main reason we do the character meals. Time is money and we have to eat. It's a win win. Ariel's Grotto has pretty spots for photos. PFF has really changed an is now a princess gift shop and the meet and greet. Which our DD would be dissapointed if she got in line and waited patiently. And her fav princess was on a break.
I vote for AG