Meeting Ariel?

[BigEeyore]

My DD will be 3 when we visit WDW in October, and she LOVES Ariel! Every time we have been there, the line to meet her in Fantasyland is at least 45 minutes. Does anyone know of any tips to meeting Ariel? Is she anywhere else other than Fantasyland?
Thanks!

 

[cerberus]

Great question! My DD will be turning 3 in August and she LOVES Ariel too! She could care less about the other Disney Princesses, but Ariel is all that and a ball of wax to her!

 

[BellaDomani]

We met Ariel last year with absolutely no wait at all. We walked right up to her.
We got there when the park opened at 8am and rode a couple of rides. I had heard that even though they list Ariel's opening time as 10am, she routinely opens at 9am (or an hour earlier than her listed time), so we got there a few minutes after 9am and she was there and ready for visitors. Nobody else was around. So, my advice would be to arrive at Ariel's Grotto about an hour or so earlier than listed time and get in line then even if she isn't open. Otherwise the line is out of control.
Good luck!

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

My dd will be 3 in a few weeks too. She and my 6.5 year old both LOVE Ariel. PP gave great advice to get to the grotto super early.

You *might* also meet Ariel (in her ball gown, not fins) at the Princess Storybook Meal in Epcot. But I believe she has only been sighted at lunch and dinner, and even this is not a guarantee.

Let's hope we are all able to locate the mermaid!

 

[vcgirl925]

That's good to know. We've always wanted to meet Ariel but the lines were nuts. Maybe if we can get there early and if the wait is under 30 minutes i'll do it. My dd (2.5) LOVES Ariel and i have to say she's my favorite too.

 

[DesigningMouse]

THanks for the info, we always manage to miss her too. We'll try to catch her first thing this time.

 

[liquid]

Oh - Ariel. That is usually the only line on which we are willing to wait

I like the idea of going early but we are usually busy in Tomorrow Land at that time.

 

[kiteri]

If you get no other option than to visit her at the Grotto, I have a super suggestion!

Go when it is raining!

I pealed the kids down to their bathing suits, and let them play in the grotto (as long as there isn't lightning mind you) while I waited in line.

There is a gap in the fake coral wall where they put a trash can that is very close to where Ariel sits. I just let the kids play and get wet in the rain in their bathing suits (btw, my daughter's bathing suit had Ariel on it) until it was time to go in and see Ariel, and then my daughter ducked through that gap to where I was standing.

I have the cutest picture of my daughter looking like a mermaid herself in her bathing suit next to Ariel!

When Ariel saw my daughter's bathing suit, she made such a big deal! She kissed my daughter's autograph book with a big red lipstick kiss! I thought my daughter might explode with excitement!

 

[chrismartinique]

we met her TG week-end. We bee-lined to Fantasyland, rode Peter Pan and Poo then went to the Grotto. We only waited about 15 min by getting there almost first thing.

 

[BigEeyore]

Thanks for the great tips! We will try getting there before her listed opening time and see what happens. These boards are the best!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

My DDs love Ariel too, we were willing to wait in her 45 min line when we went. My kids played in the grotto while me and dh took turns running after them. It's really not a bad line to wait in.

 

[cerberus]

I agree!