Meeting the Princesses

[Sjwillia]

So it looks like there will not be a princess character meal when I take my 3 year old grandkids in early May. I have also heard the BBB Castle package no longer includes front of the line privileges to Royal Hall. The Disneyland App does not show wait times for the Royal Hall, Pixie Hallow or the Anna and Elsa meet and greet. Can anyone tell me what wait times I should prepare for each of these activities? I assume none of them are open for early entry. TIA

 

[Disney_Alli]

So it looks like there will not be a princess character meal when I take my 3 year old grandkids in early May. I have also heard the BBB Castle package no longer includes front of the line privileges to Royal Hall. The Disneyland App does not show wait times for the Royal Hall, Pixie Hallow or the Anna and Elsa meet and greet. Can anyone tell me what wait times I should prepare for each of these activities? I assume none of them are open for early entry. TIA

You're right none of them open for early entry and I believe Pixie Hollow doesn't open until an hour AFTER park open. We waited for all three in August 2016 and June 2017. We waiting about 20 minutes for the princesses and Pixie Hollow and caught Anna and Elsa at a great moment and waited less than 5 minutes. I would say about 20 is average for all of them unless the park is extremely busy.

 

[agamble]

We went to see Tink and the princesses in January. The wait posted for Tink was 15 or 20 minutes, but there wasn't a wait we were the only ones there. Sadly my 2yo wasn't into it. There wasn't a fairy friend or a photographer as there uses to be either.

We waited a long time (over 30 mins on a non busy day) for the princesses. The line was short but didn't move for at least 15 min. Not sure if something happened inside or if they were just switching princesses. They did have a group come up with priority entrance while I was waiting. There were 3 princesses inside and photographers, but I read somewhere that they've been experimenting with the photographer locations so I'd check if that is important to you.

While we waited Jasmine and Aladdin began meeting with guests outside the queue. That is a common spot to see princesses and sometimes their princes. Also, don't forget the 2 princess shows in the theater. They are cute and usually the princess will meet afterwards.

 

[Vala]

The Anna and Elsa can greatly vary. I've seen anything from walk up to an hour.

Pixie Hollow rarely has a wait over 20 minutes unless the park is extremely busy. The Fairy Friends have not been there anymore for over 2 years. I saw Fawn on the app suddenly last trip and ran out of the TSMM line to Pixie Hollow.

I've still seen groups from BBB getting priority in November at the Royal Hall for the Princesses. So if there was a change it was fairly recent.

 

[Disney_Alli]

The Anna and Elsa can greatly vary. I've seen anything from walk up to an hour.

Pixie Hollow rarely has a wait over 20 minutes unless the park is extremely busy. The Fairy Friends have not been there anymore for over 2 years. I saw Fawn on the app suddenly last trip and ran out of the TSMM line to Pixie Hollow.

I've still seen groups from BBB getting priority in November at the Royal Hall for the Princesses. So if there was a change it was fairly recent.

Both times we've been to pixie hollow "recently" (2016 and 2017) we met Tink and a friend. We did the Tink meet twice last June as we didn't have an autograph book the first time and went back again so she could sign our book. (I remember this specifically only because it was the same "friend" of Tink both times and she commented on the large Tink tattoo on my thigh the first time and remembered me the second) so while it's definitely been hit or miss we've managed to hit every time.

 

[Vala]

Both times we've been to pixie hollow "recently" (2016 and 2017) we met Tink and a friend. We did the Tink meet twice last June as we didn't have an autograph book the first time and went back again so she could sign our book. (I remember this specifically only because it was the same "friend" of Tink both times and she commented on the large Tink tattoo on my thigh the first time and remembered me the second) so while it's definitely been hit or miss we've managed to hit every time.

Fawn 2017 was the first one for me in about a dozen tries, and when I met her Tink wasn't even there.

Now that you mention it though, I saw Rosetta and Tink on the app together about a month before I left.

 

[ktlm]

We go in July (so right in summer crowds) and have not waited over 15 minutes for the Princesses since they moved to the Royal Hall- usually 10 minutes or less. The line can vary greatly during the day. We have learned not to go at opening (unless it is your number one priority) and not to go as one of the Princess shows right next to it is getting out. During a show is usually a good time. Just keep an eye on the line and you should be able to do Royal Hall without a long wait. We have gone in the middle of the afternoon many times with virtually no wait. It is all about timing. There is also typically a Princess meeting right outside of Royal Hall--- we have seen Rapunzel and Flynn, Merida (since she lost her old location), and Jasmine and Aladdin (after Moana moved them out of their old location). The Disneyland app will show you what Princesses are meeting and where.

Tinkerbell is usually good first thing (really the first hour) in the morning. We have walked right in or had no more than a 10 or 15 minute wait multiple times. We usually do a couple of rides first, too and still have not had much of a wait. Sadly, it is very rare to see another fairy at Pixie Hollow now. They got rid of the "friends" being regulars. I believe her friends left around the end of 2016. Aside from a friend maybe occasionally showing up, Tink is by herself. We saw her alone in July 2017- first time in years at DL or WDW we have not seen a friend with her. Interestingly, I think the Disneyland website now says meet Tink OR a fairy friend. That goes with what Vala said about meeting Fawn and not Tink- I would think it would be the rare occasion that Tink wasn't there.

As far as Anna and Elsa- last summer their line was still long and they no longer have FP. If I remember right- it seems like Kristoff started appearing with them in 2017 and Olaf moved from his outside meet and greet in with Kristoff. I bet that is what made that line stay really long. I think that is the one that will probably take the most time. That line was supposedly about an hour when we were there last July- and it seemed like it remained pretty consistently that long. I would think that first thing in the morning may be better with that one if it is an absolute priority, but I'm not sure. DD is older now and has met all the Princesses (and Olaf) multiple times and Frozen has never been her favorite-so she did not make the Frozen meet an absolute must do priority that we had to plan ahead for last summer so we didn't strategize for that one (Royal Hall and Tink are still must do). We never saw that line shorter during the day, so we skipped them.

 

[Vala]

As far as Anna and Elsa- last summer their line was still long and they no longer have FP. If I remember right- it seems like Kristoff started appearing with them in 2017 and Olaf moved from his outside meet and greet in with Kristoff. I bet that is what made that line stay really long. I think that is the one that will probably take the most time. That line was supposedly about an hour when we were there last July- and it seemed like it remained pretty consistently that long. I would think that first thing in the morning may be better with that one if it is an absolute priority, but I'm not sure. DD is older now and has met all the Princesses (and Olaf) multiple times and Frozen has never been her favorite-so she did not make the Frozen meet an absolute must do priority that we had to plan ahead for last summer so we didn't strategize for that one (Royal Hall and Tink are still must do). We never saw that line shorter during the day, so we skipped them.

I ropedropped Anna and Elsa one day. Wait was about 10 minutes. But it was quite a stampede there. I was one of the first cause I had no stroller and knew where the rope would go up first.

Downside of that: they warned us when in line that they couldn't tell us who would be there, it probably would not be all four. When I was let in they actually warned me it may be Anna only. It turned out to be Olaf and then Anna and Elsa. But catching Kristoff took me nearly all day. In the end CMs decided to grant me a little Pixie Dust and told me to come back at a certain time - then they let me straight through to Kristoff. I had been through that line three times before, mixed with waiting over 2 extra hours because I was told Kristoff would be back at certain times, which he wasn't. In the end even Elsa took pity on me.

 

[Sjwillia]

Thank you all for the great information. I think we will be able to do the Royal Hall and Pixie Hallow with 20 minute waits but will have to just watch the line for Anna and Elsa. The 3 yo twins wait time max will be about 20 minutes and no way will I try to stampede there at rope drop.

 

[lcp9]

Another good time to do royal hall is during/right after the parade (as in, the final floats are still moving down the street.) We are usually there at slower times of year, and even if nothing else has a wait, Anna/Elsa has consistently been 30 mins for us. Like a PP said, probably b/c Kristoff meets with them now too. We had to wait 40 mins for Pixie Hollow last time we did it, but that was 2016 and Fawn was there.

 

[dmaxphil]

We did BBB Sunday at 5pm and FOTL access was still given for the princesses. Very cool experience.

 

[ktlm]

Downside of that: they warned us when in line that they couldn't tell us who would be there, it probably would not be all four. When I was let in they actually warned me it may be Anna only. It turned out to be Olaf and then Anna and Elsa. But catching Kristoff took me nearly all day. In the end CMs decided to grant me a little Pixie Dust and told me to come back at a certain time - then they let me straight through to Kristoff. I had been through that line three times before, mixed with waiting over 2 extra hours because I was told Kristoff would be back at certain times, which he wasn't. In the end even Elsa took pity on me.

I forgot about that. Even when they were over on the DL side and in the height of their popularity- I remember running there at rope drop and getting not too far back from the front of the line, only for the CMs to tell us that it was only Anna or Elsa (can't remember which) and we found out while standing there. it was never both of them until 20 or 30 minutes after park open. All of us who were around the spot where we heard that were shuffling to stall and get farther back in line, so we wouldn't get to the front until they were both there. Guess that hasn't changed. Rope drop might not be the best idea anyway>