Princess questions: princess overload? and do the kids ever figure it out?

[kimfirstdisneytrip]

Hi! First timers here. When we go to WDW we will have a newly turned 3yo and newly turned 6yo, both girls.

Q1: They both still believe they will be meeting the real princesses, but my older one is really smart and observant. I believe we will be meeting/seeing the same princesses several times during the week, even during the same day. Did your kids ever catch on, or figure out that different people were playing the same princess?

Q2: Is there such a thing as princess overload? Our focus will be the princesses and Mickey's crew. We have some princess character meals: Cinderella's Table, Akershus, Be our Guest. We hope to get fastpasses for things like FEA, Princess Fairytale Hall, Little Mermaid, Frozen Sing along, and also do Belle's enchanted tales, and maybe Beauty and the Beast at HS. This is a first trip for all of us, so we are trying to get a few adult rollercoaster rides in, such as Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, to help balance.

Any thoughts welcome, thanks in advance!

 

[mjkacmom]

At 6, none of my kids thought anyone was real (but still ejoyed meeting the characters). WDW has SO many great rides for all ages, that your girls can go on. If you are having a lot of character dinners, I'd spend less time standing on lines meeting characters, and more time with the other attractions.

 

[kimfirstdisneytrip]

Thank you for your reply! I was wondering that. We are doing Cindy's Table and then was thinking Princess Fairytale hall immediately after it. Are you saying we could consider skipping Fairytale hall and do something else instead? Thank you!

 

[stobaugh6]

Your DD will likely figure out that the princesses aren't "real", but I doubt that will have much effect on whether she has a great time. And I don't think you can do too much princess stuff with girls the ages of your daughters. They are only going to be this age for a short while and before you know it they will have outgrown the princess stage. I have 4 DDs of my own, so I speak from experience! Lol! Have fun!!!

 

[Gorechick]

My first trip with my B/G twins was very character centric. We did both princess meals, Tusker house and Hollywood and Vine Disney Jr. Breakfast. In addition, we spent lots of time meeting characters at all the parks. Yeah, we missed some things but my kids were happy and we had a great trip. Do what you think works for your family.

 

[kimfirstdisneytrip]

Thank you, that is helpful feedback!

 

[BlueHippo]

I think my 6 yo figured it out last year while we were there (she was 5). She would mention (several times) they had different faces but wouldn't directly ask us and it never seemed to impact how excited she was. We also have a 2 yo and she (6 yo) seems really into talking to her now before we go about meeting characters. ..so having the little one might help extend that magic a bit. We also have a 9 year old son and I am sure he has figured it out... but he honestly has shown zero signs - he still always has a great time meeting them. Getting autographs/ meeting characters is always one of their favorite things to do.

 

[jennygirlmt]

My girls were 2 and 4 last time and didn't figure it out. We go again in Feb so oldest will be 6.5 and I'm sure she'll put it all together but I think she'll get excited!

I will say while we loved the experience of Akershus I liked meet and greets bc the scenery was better for photos.

And I can confirm that Pappys DO get princessed out but little girls won't!

 

[ChasingLeslie]

My 8 and 5 year olds were so immersed in the excitement of Disney, I don't think they paid that close of attention. The characters we met twice were: Cinderella, Ariel (mermaid & human), Tinkerbell, Mulan, and Jasmine and Aladdin. We also saw two different Gastons. The first time, we passed by his line and it was cut off. My daughter shouted "ooh, ohh, Gaston!" and he turned and shouted back, "ooh, ooh, small child!" Everyone in line laughed and he went on about how popular he is. When we were able to meet him, it was a different guy.

Sometimes it's nice to see the characters more than once in case the pictures aren't so great. Like @jennygirlmt mentioned, our Akershus pictures were really dark.

You're going to have a lot of character overlap with CRT and Akershus...I would recommend switching one of them to 1900 Park Fare.

 

[kimfirstdisneytrip]

I really appreciate everyone's feedback! So helpful!
I agree that our younger child will help extend the magic - how fun!
LOVE that little girls never get princessed out!
That is good info about the backgrounds, and character overlap.
Will take it all into consideration.

 

[MadMadamMim1]

Yes you'll have repeats with Akershus and CRT. Last time when DD was 4 we did Akershus and this year she's 6 and we're doing CRT.

I like the princess meals because you meet a bunch of them at once, as opposed to standing in line to meet them individually and taking up your whole day. We had lunch at Akershus and then as we walked around Epcot DD saw Aurora and Snow White out doing greets and she said "I already met them!" And didn't complain. I wouldnt go to PFH immediately after CRT as that is a bit redundant. Although that is the only place to meet Rapunzel and Tiana usually. I thought we'd go without it this trip but DD will have a fit if she doesn't see Rapunzel so....

BOG stands alone because of the theming and at dinner you get to meet the Beast (he danced with DD and twirled her around, some of my favorite pics!)

As for them figuring it out, at 4 DD didn't but I have a feeling at 6 she might.....guess it depends on the kid

 

[Julylady]

Last April we stood in line to see Kylo Ren at Hollywood Studios. He was very much in character as he separated me from my niece with his body and talked to her about how strong the force was in her and that she should join him. She was pretty freaked out!, but it was a great moment. An hour later we got in line for the Visa meet and greet and low and behold, its Kylo Ren. But this Kylo was not at all menacing and was about 50 pounds heavier than the one we met earlier. Her only comment on leaving was "He must have eaten a big lunch."

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes little ones can get princess-ed out. I did the Frozen special ticket event during the Frozen summer at Hollywood Studios. Before the Frozen singe along while we were in line a little girl in front of us with a Elsa t-shirt looked at her grandpa and asked when they were going to do something non-Frozen! I guess they had done the Frozen parade, the play area that was set up, the sing along, and then would have the fireworks later that day. The little girl wanted to do anything but frozen at that point haha.

I would say if you are doing 1 character meal of all princesses there is no real reason do to a meet and great later that day unless it is different princesses. Most of the shows do no need FP+ and are just offered as filler. Even with FP+ I have not been turned away from Beauty and the Beast or Little Mermaid at Hollywood Studios.

Just note Be Our Guest is not really a character meal. Even at Dinner the only character is the Beast. So that may not princess them out. If they love princesses they will probably die thinking they are actually eating at Belle's house.