Question about boys at the Princess Faire

[Monkey Monkey]

Is it really only for girls, or do they have princes too?
(If they don't, they should!)

We are going to DL and DCA in April with 5 friends, 4 of whom have toddler girls, so we will definitely be doing princess things, and I was hoping there would be prince things for the 2 boys.

 

[Quest4fun]

Is it really only for girls, or do they have princes too?
(If they don't, they should!)

We are going to DL and DCA in April with 5 friends, 4 of whom have toddler girls, so we will definitely be doing princess things, and I was hoping there would be prince things for the 2 boys.

I don't believe they do princes but your boy can probably take part in a lot of the festivities. I don't think they want to get their hair done or wear a dress but I know the pirate themed event allows girls so I would think the princess version isn't completely segregated. It's probably not the best thing in the world for them but I don't think it will scar them in any way. If your boy is into a autographs this is a good way to pick up a few easy ones.

 

[bumbershoot]

As we waited in line with our 3 year old BOY who wanted to see the princesses, we definitely saw Cinderella leaving with Prince Charming.

The coronation ceremony they have states that it is for princesses and princes.

And when DS didn't want to leave b/c he was having such a great time, and we went down to listen to a storytelling by a princess, after he insisted on getting autographs from the Ladies in Waiting, one of those Ladies in Waiting chose him to dance with the princess, who turned out to be Sleeping Beauty. He got to dance with her while she sang.


Also, in front of us in line were cousins, an older boy and a younger girl. He seemed just as happy to be in the long line as his cousin!

The merchandise area is kind of hidden; I'm not sure my son even noticed it was there. He already had a Prince Philip shield and sword (they are both foam, the shield is decorated with a dragon, and they were so inexpensive it wasn't even funny...they are sold all over, even in the Lego store!) so there was nothing I could imagine he might need in there.



When we got to the princess autograph area, it was Belle, Pocahontas, and Princess Minnie...if it had been Aurora I might have wondered if Prince Philip might be there, too, but I suppose she was back preparing for her story.

But just know that there is NO guarantee who will be there at the end of the long line, should you choose to wait in it. They switch out often. While we were in line after seeing Cinderella and charming leave, we heard that Mulan was in there, but by the time we got there she was gone. There is no guarantee, so make sure any kids in line do not have their hearts set on ANY princess (or prince).

And the last tidbit is that the princesses love the boys. They don't just dote on girls. They might dote on them in different ways, but they really seem to adore all the children. Even when it's not quite reciprocal.

 

[AndyLL]

My son (5) did not really enjoy meeting the princesses our last trip but did enjoy the storytelling.

Andy

 

[Monkey Monkey]

Yay, thanks for the info! As you can see in my signature, mini-man did not have a problem meeting Snow White last week , but besides her, he's so into Pixar movies and Peter Pan that he won't give the traditional princess movies a chance!

I think it will be fun for him to watch his best friend Emma become a princess, but he might get a little jealous.

 

[Quest4fun]

Yay, thanks for the info! As you can see in my signature, mini-man did not have a problem meeting Snow White last week , but besides her, he's so into Pixar movies and Peter Pan that he won't give the traditional princess movies a chance!

I think it will be fun for him to watch his best friend Emma become a princess, but he might get a little jealous.

I'll give a final thought and idea on this one before the trolls step in and turn this into a gender role argument.

Disney does their best to round out the experience so everybody can enjoy it. That being said, the Princess Faire is geared towards girls which is why the Pirate themed even exists though that one is a little more gender neutral. Disney will put a little more effort into the more popular (Pirates) attractions while letting other ones go it alone. They will do their best to sneak in references to the princes in the crowd but they still have to cater to the majority of the crowd which is of course the girls. It is indeed the Princess Faire.

I would recommend picking up the cheap sword and shield for your boys as they will feel slighted while they watch girls get makeovers. It's not because they want makeovers, it's just because they want a boy themed experience which is not really offered. Younger boys will enjoy the princesses but older boys tend to be entering the "Girls are yucky" stage and won't be as thrilled with the prospect of meeting Snow White as a toddler would be.

To keep all of your children happy you would want to visit both attractions to ensure all of your kids get to have the same experience.

 

[bumbershoot]

Are there actual makeovers in the princess area? I thought those took place at Libby Lu. All I saw was merchandise over there when I peeked.

As for pirates being boy-themed, I just disagree. (so sayeth a former tomboy...I do admit that there are girly-girls who might feel that it is boy-themed, but IMO they are wrong, and it is their own feelings keeping them from joining in the fun)

And you rarely get a princess without either a king or prince being involved (and not in Disney princesses' cases!), so there's always some guy around, and I personally think it's important we show BOYS the same movies as we show girls, b/c otherwise we'll continue to have pie in the sky swoony girls expecting their knights to rescue them, with boys having no frame of reference to understand them.

DS requested both Aladdin and Cinderella with our last Disney Movie Club purchase. And he was much more brave about the stepsisters and stepmom than I was at that age (had a hysterical fit and had to be taken out of the theater, and this was before the era when movie theaters would refund you for leaving!).


I personally would like it if they called it the Royalty Faire.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

I was just really hoping that I could get DS a prince crown too. I know that there is no reason that my son can't be interested in princess movies and princesses; it's just that right now, he's not.

I don't want to get him a sword or any pirate stuff either, because he isn't into that, and I don't want to force violent themes on him just so he doesn't feel left out.

He's not even 3 yet. If he wants a tiara because his girl friends got one, he's going to get one too.

It seems to me like Disney is missing an opportunity by leaving out the princes. I don't think that pirates (which are villains in the only movie that is remotely appropriate for smaller children that feature pirates, Peter Pan) are an acceptable alternative.

JMO.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

Are there actual makeovers in the princess area? I thought those took place at Libby Lu. All I saw was merchandise over there when I peeked.

As for pirates being boy-themed, I just disagree. (so sayeth a former tomboy...I do admit that there are girly-girls who might feel that it is boy-themed, but IMO they are wrong, and it is their own feelings keeping them from joining in the fun)

And you rarely get a princess without either a king or prince being involved (and not in Disney princesses' cases!), so there's always some guy around, and I personally think it's important we show BOYS the same movies as we show girls, b/c otherwise we'll continue to have pie in the sky swoony girls expecting their knights to rescue them, with boys having no frame of reference to understand them.

DS requested both Aladdin and Cinderella with our last Disney Movie Club purchase. And he was much more brave about the stepsisters and stepmom than I was at that age (had a hysterical fit and had to be taken out of the theater, and this was before the era when movie theaters would refund you for leaving!).


I personally would like it if they called it the Royalty Faire.

ITA!

They do hairstyling and face painting at the Princess Faire, for a fee. My friend's little girl did it and looked beautiful!

 

[Quest4fun]

I was just really hoping that I could get DS a prince crown too. I know that there is no reason that my son can't be interested in princess movies and princesses; it's just that right now, he's not.

I don't want to get him a sword or any pirate stuff either, because he isn't into that, and I don't want to force violent themes on him just so he doesn't feel left out.

He's not even 3 yet. If he wants a tiara because his girl friends got one, he's going to get one too.

It seems to me like Disney is missing an opportunity by leaving out the princes. I don't think that pirates (which are villains in the only movie that is remotely appropriate for smaller children that feature pirates, Peter Pan) are an acceptable alternative.

JMO.

I assure you the pirate themed event excludes the violent aspects of piracy. Your children will not be raping and killing. They do allow the kids to be rowdy and some parents would rather their child have a softer personality. Personally I think it's okay for a kid to say arrrrr and pretend he's a colorul pirate. I would not consider a tiara suitable for my son. If he wants one when he's a young adult then that's his decision and I'll love him. Until then I will encourage him to be a boy. I abhore guns and violence but that doesn't mean I'll be buying my son barbies to curb his appetite for violence.

That being said I wholeheartedly agree that it should be dubbed the Royalty Faire and have a more gender neutral theme and I'm amazed that Disney overlooked this little bit of sexism. I think they're thinking was to have one event for the boys and one for the girls and didn't think that parents would have a problem with that. I think once the complaints started rolling in they had already invested too much to make such a drastic change.

/not a flame.
//I love the disboards
///I want to be friends with everybody regardless of my contrary opinions.

 

[PrincessKell]

They do offer things for boys as well as girls.
Feel the Force flow within you as your Jedi training begins. Hone your lightsaber skills as you and other Padawans learn techniques and moves from a Jedi Master. Then, put your training to the ultimate test as you do battle against the dark side. May the Force be with you!

As a Jedi Knight Padawan, you will:

* Take the Jedi oath
* Master lightsaber skills
* Learn moves such as the joust, parry and block
* Battle the forces of the dark side, including Stormtroopers, Darth Maul, and Darth Vader

Jedi Training Academy is located at the Tomorrowland Terrace Stage in Tomorrowland. For show times, please check the Calendar online, or the Entertainment Times Guide at the Park.

Here is what the DL website says about the PPF

nter the enchanted world of "happily ever after" where little princesses and knights are invited to a royal gathering. Immersive storytelling, fun crafts, including sparkling crowns to decorate, and regal ceremonies make this a fairytale experience come true.

Activities at the royal gathering include:

* Disney Princess Storytelling — Join a Disney Princess for a special story where Guests are invited to help tell the tales.
* Royal Coronation Ceremony — Learn what it takes to be a true princess or knight with a regal celebration.
* Royal Dance — After taking the Royal Oath, Guests are invited to take part in a lively group dance.
* Royal Arrivals — Three Disney Princesses make their grand entrance and greet their Guests.
* And many more royal celebrations.

 

[PrincessKell]

I assure you the pirate themed event excludes the violent aspects of piracy. Your children will not be raping and killing. They do allow the kids to be rowdy and some parents would rather their child have a softer personality. Personally I think it's okay for a kid to say arrrrr and pretend he's a colorul pirate. I would not consider a tiara suitable for my son. If he wants one when he's a young adult then that's his decision and I'll love him. Until then I will encourage him to be a boy. I abhore guns and violence but that doesn't mean I'll be buying my son barbies to curb his appetite for violence.

That being said I wholeheartedly agree that it should be dubbed the Royalty Faire and have a more gender neutral theme and I'm amazed that Disney overlooked this little bit of sexism. I think they're thinking was to have one event for the boys and one for the girls and didn't think that parents would have a problem with that. I think once the complaints started rolling in they had already invested too much to make such a drastic change.

/not a flame.
//I love the disboards
///I want to be friends with everybody regardless of my contrary opinions.

I think to each their own. If you chose not to let your son have Barbie or crowns that is up to you. I do not think she was meaning that she would force her son to have dolls and tiaras instead of pirates. SHe said he was not into it, and if he wants something else she will gladly let him have it.

I too, would do the same thing. I think not letting my son having something and FORCING him to have boyish things is not giving him a choice. This doesn't mean he is less of a boy, or will grow up less of a man. That is like saying I will not let my dd wear football jerseys or like the color blue.. because its is more of a "boy" color at her age.. She loves football and blue, I give her the choice, and she loves her barbies and pink too!

Like I said everyone has the right to parent how they want to. Just as you would not allow your child to play with dolls, I would think its fine. Its not harming them in anyway.

 

[Quest4fun]

I think to each their own. If you chose not to let your son have Barbie or crowns that is up to you. I do not think she was meaning that she would force her son to have dolls and tiaras instead of pirates. SHe said he was not into it, and if he wants something else she will gladly let him have it.

I too, would do the same thing. I think not letting my son having something and FORCING him to have boyish things is not giving him a choice. This doesn't mean he is less of a boy, or will grow up less of a man. That is like saying I will not let my dd wear football jerseys or like the color blue.. because its is more of a "boy" color at her age.. She loves football and blue, I give her the choice, and she loves her barbies and pink too!

Like I said everyone has the right to parent how they want to. Just as you would not allow your child to play with dolls, I would think its fine. Its not harming them in anyway.

I smell what you're steppin' in. When your kids are young they can pretty much play with whatever makes them happy. As long as my son doesn't want to breast feed his teddy bear when he's four I'll be fine. I will never force him into one bias over the other. I will of course encourage him to take part in sports or like dinosaurs or astronauts unless he doesn't want to.

------

I think the Jedi Training academy may still be too violent for the more sensitive parents. The precious snowflake generation pretty much needs to be shielded from anything involving weapons. They could have placed a little more emphasis on the Force and had the kids pick up boxes and rocks with their "minds" but once again we're entering into the metaphysical realm which undermines parents that are trying to raise their kids to frown upon any form of spirituality.

The Princess Faire is really the only safe bet. No weapons. No religion. It's a little on the dainty side but it will in no way scar their children. I especially recommend it for kids that are home schooled. Everybody there will treat them like they are royalty and will provide a sense of entitlement that is absent from many aspects of their life.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

I smell what you're steppin' in. When your kids are young they can pretty much play with whatever makes them happy. As long as my son doesn't want to breast feed his teddy bear when he's four I'll be fine. I will never force him into one bias over the other. I will of course encourage him to take part in sports or like dinosaurs or astronauts unless he doesn't want to.

------

I think the Jedi Training academy may still be too violent for the more sensitive parents. The precious snowflake generation pretty much needs to be shielded from anything involving weapons. They could have placed a little more emphasis on the Force and had the kids pick up boxes and rocks with their "minds" but once again we're entering into the metaphysical realm which undermines parents that are trying to raise their kids to frown upon any form of spirituality.

The Princess Faire is really the only safe bet. No weapons. No religion. It's a little on the dainty side but it will in no way scar their children. I especially recommend it for kids that are home schooled. Everybody there will treat them like they are royalty and will provide a sense of entitlement that is absent from many aspects of their life.

My 2.5yo son doesn't know what a Jedi is, and would probably only want to poke everything in his path if I gave him a sword or light saber. You should thank me for keeping those things away from him rather than patronizing me for it.

 

[Quest4fun]

My 2.5yo son doesn't know what a Jedi is, and would probably only want to poke everything in his path if I gave him a sword or light saber. You should thank me for keeping those things away from him rather than patronizing me for it.

I know if I was in the neighborhood of 3 I'd put out an eye or two. I'd keep them out of my kids hands as well until they're old enough to understand you don't hit other people with them. I don't think you like the cut of my jib and that's fine. I do tend to lean towards creating a masculine environment and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Boys should play in the dirt, run around, and to put it simply be boys. You can still enforce rules which I have many. A few bumps and bruises will happen from time to time but they heal and are all part of the learning process. I find it's better to allow some experiences rather than to isolate my children from everything. If I don't they're in for a rude awakening when they leave the nest.

 

[fairycat]

I was wondering if since they offer face painting if they wouldn't offer the whole selection of designs they offer in the rest of the park? If his little friend is getting gusied up maybe he can get his face painted?

I also would assume from everything I have heard any child boy or girl can make a crown or whatever the activities that are available for the day no matter if they are a boy or girl. I think that just as girls can be Jedi's, boys can have fun at the PPF too!

 

[Quest4fun]

I was wondering if since they offer face painting if they wouldn't offer the whole selection of designs they offer in the rest of the park? If his little friend is getting gusied up maybe he can get his face painted?

I also would assume from everything I have heard any child boy or girl can make a crown or whatever the activities that are available for the day no matter if they are a boy or girl. I think that just as girls can be Jedi's, boys can have fun at the PPF too!

They'll paint whatever you want them to. I've heard if you pass out THEY decide what to paint on your face.

 

[Disney Dider]

What is this Pirate event that is being spoke about? I have a 7 year old who loves pirates!

 

[Hound 109]

.......I personally think it's important we show BOYS the same movies as we show girls, b/c otherwise we'll continue to have pie in the sky swoony girls expecting their knights to rescue them, with boys having no frame of reference to understand them.

Bumbershoot, i couldn't agree with you more. It boggles my mind how Cindy & Snow White are more popular "disney girls" than (for example) Mulan & Alice... a couple of cool girls who can hang with the boys.

I personally would like it if they called it the Royalty Faire.

"Royalty Faire featuring Brats & other Sausages & german chocolate cake"........ & DS & i are IN.

hound <----- pretty much agrees with Quest. boys will be boys (grunting, scratching, going arghhh & mutilating the Darths with light sabres & stuff.......& if they're not into barbarian activities, that's ok too.