princess fantasy faire

[northshoremama]

we've been to DL 3 times with my girls in the last 2.5 years...but never been to princess fantasy faire. it think our next trip will be a good time to do it (DD1 is 5 years old, DD2 is almost 3 years old). i see that the park will be opening at 9am on our 1st day there...would you recommend heading straight to princess fantasy faire then (i believe fantasy faire starts at 9am also)? we plan on doing magic morning the following day (so i could hit all the FL rides at that time). thoughts?

also for those who've been to princess fantasy faire, what were your experiences? good, bad, etc?

 

[HydroGuy]

we've been to DL 3 times with my girls in the last 2.5 years...but never been to princess fantasy faire. it think our next trip will be a good time to do it (DD1 is 5 years old, DD2 is almost 3 years old). i see that the park will be opening at 9am on our 1st day there...would you recommend heading straight to princess fantasy faire then (i believe fantasy faire starts at 9am also)? we plan on doing magic morning the following day (so i could hit all the FL rides at that time). thoughts?

also for those who've been to princess fantasy faire, what were your experiences? good, bad, etc?

It is a good idea to go right away. Last summer in July we got to PFF about 10 minutes before opening because we were concerned about long lines. We were first.

We immediately got to see Belle, Tiana and Ariel. It took all of five minutes to get some photos. Then you can and probably should hang around for the coronation ceremony and princess storytelling. We also did face painting.

 

[DLR29]

PFF has long (and slow moving) lines that last all day. It is a very good idea to get there AEAP (as early as possible).

 

[marciemouse]

Our DD age 3 and a half doesn't yet care too much about face time with the princesses, so we just go to the coronation ceremony. No lines or waiting, and she still gets her princess fix. I'll ride that train as long as it lasts!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Here's the link to the blog I posted this month on the Princess Fantasy Faire shows, like the Coronation Ceremony and Storytime.

This will give you some idea of the other activities besides standing in that long line!

http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/03/21/schools-in-session-at-disneylands-princess-fantasy-faire/

Also, don't forget about Rapunzel's meet and greet in Fantasyland!

http://www.disunplugged.com/2010/11/08/rapunzel-lets-her-hair-down-in-her-new-cottage-at-disneyland/

 

[BecomingObsessed]

I'd rather pay to meet the princesses at Ariel's Grotto personally. We waited in a ridiculously long, slow line back when I knew nothing about Disneyland and I kept telling myself it would be totally worth it because it was likely moving slow because there were so many princesses to be met. We got to meet Ariel (who was unrecognizealbe to my 2.5 year old without her fins) and Jasmine (who my 2.5 year old did not know) and Sleeping Beauty. When she asked Aurora where Cinderella was, I broke down in tears. I'm scarred for life! (And perhaps a teeensy bit dramatic? )

Okay, seriously, if you plan to go, DEFINITELY make it a priority first thing for one of your days. The coronation ceremony and stories are super cute and must see for princess loving girls! We always do those when we visit and they have always been good experiences!

 

[northshoremama]

thanks, everyone! it's definitely #1 on my list for friday. park is schduled to open to 9am, so we'll be walking "briskly" to fantasy faire and hopefully be the first handful of people there.

my DDs LOVE face painting, so that'll be a must-do for them.

we did ariel's grotto back in 2009 and the girls loved it! they just enjoy the "face-time" with the princesses! if we get to tiana, that's a plus!

 

[northshoremama]

Here's the link to the blog I posted this month on the Princess Fantasy Faire shows, like the Coronation Ceremony and Storytime.

This will give you some idea of the other activities besides standing in that long line!

http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/03/21/schools-in-session-at-disneylands-princess-fantasy-faire/

Also, don't forget about Rapunzel's meet and greet in Fantasyland!

http://www.disunplugged.com/2010/11/08/rapunzel-lets-her-hair-down-in-her-new-cottage-at-disneyland/

thanks for posting these links! just curious...how long did you wait in line for both attractions? and for fantasy faire, how long were you there? after the royal walk, coronation, etc?

 

[Purplegal]

I am SO excited that they brought the coronation and Maypole thing back!!! My DD is going to be in heaven!!

So...does it always open at 9am or do I need to wait to check the schedule later in May?

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

thanks for posting these links! just curious...how long did you wait in line for both attractions? and for fantasy faire, how long were you there? after the royal walk, coronation, etc?

We literally walked right up to the coronation ceremony and storytelling. A lot of folks stop at the meet and greet and don't think to go further. That line was about 45 minutes. If you eat at the Troubador Tavern - really yummy loaded baked potatoes, you can watch the shows from the seating area.

Also - I wonder if they are still having the princesses come out front by the gates at 3:30pm like they used to last year. It was a super stealth meet and greet. Next time I'm in the park, I'll ask at City Hall, if they are still doing this.

 

[abouley]

After the coronation ceremony stick around for a few minutes. 2 princesses came out after for a quick round of pictures. We only got pictures with one of them because they closed off the lines pretty quickly but this worked great for us!

Also, we stood in line to see rapunzel this past trip. Line opened at 11:00 but we got in line early (about 10:15). They only let so many people in line, so they closed the line off before it even opened. Most of the people in line had one parent standing in line while the other parent took kids on FL rides. Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder were inside and my daughter loved it!

 

[AlexJanessa]

I would go first thing. We waited for an hour and a half mid-day in February and were so disappointed when we met Tiana (my girls hadn't seen the movie), The Fairy Godmother (who they had already met at Minnie's breakfast) and Princess Minnie (which they had also met many times). I'm not sure why they put those 3 together as NONE of them are classic princesses. It was a terrible disappointment for my girls. Ariel, Jasmine, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Belle... any single one of those would have made their day!

I think we just hit it at the wrong spot. Hopefully first thing in the morning gives you better selection.

 

[northshoremama]

So...does it always open at 9am or do I need to wait to check the schedule later in May?

honestly, i'm assuming right now that it starts at 9am. i just checked an april date on the DL website. the park opens at 9am and princess fantasy faire is also listed as 9am - 6pm.

currently, the date i'm looking at in may to do this, the park opens at 9am...so i'm hoping fantasy faire will also start at 9am!

 

[Piglet99645]

If you eat at the Troubador Tavern - really yummy loaded baked potatoes, you can watch the shows from the seating area.

This restaurant is not showing on the Disney Dining App! Does it possibly have another name?


Oh, it's not showing on my Map App either, so maybe it is closed right now.

 

[jordansmomma]

Get there early!! I was in line at 8:30 AM today and still had a 30 minute wait. At 9 AM when it opened the wait was already 90 minutes.
Today it was Pocahontas, Belle, and Ariel.

 

[lwilkison]

thanks, everyone! it's definitely #1 on my list for friday. park is schduled to open to 9am, so we'll be walking "briskly" to fantasy faire and hopefully be the first handful of people there.

my DDs LOVE face painting, so that'll be a must-do for them.

we did ariel's grotto back in 2009 and the girls loved it! they just enjoy the "face-time" with the princesses! if we get to tiana, that's a plus!

If you want a great, easy experience, jump on the first disney train @ Maingate and ride it all the way back and get off and walk on in to the PFF...we had 10 minutes to wait for train and we still only had about 4 people in front of us...our 2 1/2 yr old DD LOVED it! We saved our feet (always a good thing at DLR, beat the crowd of people walking "briskly" to get there and we strolled in and got loads of pics and time with each princess! Good luck! It was loads of fun!

Afterwards you are right in the fantasyland so you can then get on Pan and all of the other great rides before the line ups start