How do I avoid a long line at PFF?

[nikki&petey]

My daughter really wants to meet the princesses but I don't want to wait in a two hour line. How do I beat the line? We will be there next week and it looks like they only have the PFF once at 10:30 each day.

 

[Triz]

Eat at Ariels Grotto for the character breakfast.

 

[audrabolster]

I would also recommend the breakfast. However, you could also wait in the line, while the kids are entertained with another adult doing crafts, or watching the princess show. I've seen other families do this before. I've been through the line and never had to wait more than 40 minutes. We've either gone first thing when they open, or during lunchtime

 

[Disney_Villain]

So, you don't want a line to meet the Princesses? Well, the only way you're going to do that is to book a meal at Ariels Grotto. Honestly, this works the best.

 

[Jenn1116]

The line isn't so bad, really! I prefer it to spending money at Ariel's grotto!

 

[Ross3half]

When we were there, it started at that time but then went all day until 6:00 I think. We'd heard that you should line up at least 30 minutes before they open but we only did that the first time we went because we too thought 10:30 was a one-time showing. We actually let our girls do it 3 times during our trip since the princesses are their favorite part of the whole Disney experience. We never had to wait more than 30-40 minutes and the workers encouraged us to have one parent wait in line while the kids went down and made a craft, listened to a princess tell a story, or attend the coronation where they were so excited they got to dance to Belle. It worked out great. They rotate princesses out every 15 minutes or so, so you never know who you're going to get once you get to the front of the line. We had reservations for Ariel's Grotto but cancelled it after they got such great interaction with a variety of princesses at PFF. (We also saw Cinderella and her crew at the entrance to DL one day and they spent some time chatting with the girls so that really made their day.)

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Every afternoon around 3:00 or so the princesses will leave DCA and walk over to Disneyland for the 3:30 parade. Once they get inside the main gates of Disneyland around 3:00ish, they will do a meet and greet for a few minutes before they have to leave for the parade.

The catch to this is that you have a very short window in which to see them. Just because you're standing in line doesn't mean you will actually get to interact with them. I have seen a line get cut off while people were still in it because the princess had to go and get ready for the parade.

Keep in mind too that the PFF meet and greet rotates. You have no way of knowing who is going to be there when your turn comes and your child may actually see her favorite princess leave right before her turn comes. I have been told by a CM that Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora usually do the last meet and greet of the day.

 

[davidsprincess]

When we were there, it started at that time but then went all day until 6:00 I think. We'd heard that you should line up at least 30 minutes before they open but we only did that the first time we went because we too thought 10:30 was a one-time showing. We actually let our girls do it 3 times during our trip since the princesses are their favorite part of the whole Disney experience. We never had to wait more than 30-40 minutes and the workers encouraged us to have one parent wait in line while the kids went down and made a craft, listened to a princess tell a story, or attend the coronation where they were so excited they got to dance to Belle. It worked out great. They rotate princesses out every 15 minutes or so, so you never know who you're going to get once you get to the front of the line. We had reservations for Ariel's Grotto but cancelled it after they got such great interaction with a variety of princesses at PFF. (We also saw Cinderella and her crew at the entrance to DL one day and they spent some time chatting with the girls so that really made their day.)

We plan on spending time each day that we are there at PFF because like your daughters, the princesses are a huge things for our daughter. We will be doing Ariel's for supper one night though so that I can see Belle(she better be there ) I don't want to chance not seeing her on this trip. I never got to see her except form a distance last year and many, many years ago I only saw her once at DW and I was to embarrassed to stand in line to get a pic taken with her and the Beast(I was 15 and thought that I was too cool to do this with all the little kids even though I really wanted to ) So I am not taking chances this year.

 

[pixiewings71]

I would skip PFF and do AG instead. Breakfast is good and they have a new menu for lunch/dinner.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

If you really want to see a character, I've heard that if you check with City Hall fairly early in the morning, they can tell when you when that specific character will be out.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

10:30 is probably just the opening time, not a "one time" deal for the day.

The venue is open for a few hours each day, and different functions of PFF happen at different times. The Royal Walkway (to meet the Princesses), the Royal Wardrobe, Enchanted Sweets cottage, and crafts areas all open at the same time (when the venue opens). The Coronation and Storytellings each have individual times listed on both your Times Guide and on a board within the PFF.

But again I stress, the 10:30 time is not the ONLY time to meet the Princesses. That line will open and close at the same times as the venue.