Sleeping Beauty question

[elainabelle]

My little 4 year old is a princess finatic, especially with regard to Princess Aurora. When we went to WDW last Feb. we did Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast and the Princess Storybook breakfast in Epcot. I have been looking around this board and can't seem to find anything like this at Disneyland. Are there any neat Princess activities or meals at DL?

I was told in WDW that the castle in DL is Sleeping Beauty's castle. If that is the case does Sleeping Beauty play a more prominant role in DL, like Cinderella does in WDW?

 

[daannzzz]

Inside Sleeping Beauties Castle is a walk through series of Dioramas telling the Sleeping Beauty story. This closed after 9/11 and has not reopened. Princess Aurora could sometimes be found there. If you are facing the castle look toward your right and you will see a little area with a Snow White fountain/waterfall adn wishing well. The princesses, Aurora, Cinderella, Belle and such are often in that area.

 

[Snurk71]

We had no problem meeting the Princesses all around Main Street last May. There is also a storybook hour (at Tinkerbelle's Treasures - or something of that nature) at which one of the princesses tells her story.

 

[tink2dw]

The store Snurk71 is refering too is on the fantasyland side of the castle. If you are looking at the backside of the castle it would be on the right and I think It was Princess something Store.

 

[ter-moo]

If your daughter likes Sleeping Beauty, there's a window in Fantasyland where the evil Malificent appears every minute or two. If you stand in front of the carousel facing the castle (near where the sword in the stone is) and look up to the second story windows a little in front of you on the right, you'll see her.

I hope my memory is correct about the placement. Anyone--correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[Grog]

The window is directly across from Peter Pan, if that helps.

 

[rrobalew]

To answer your main question: No, Aurora does not seem to be featured any more prominently at Disneyland. I've seen Cinderella at more locations and she always seems to have the longest lines.

Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel has characters for all three meals, almost always including one or more princesses. We ate several meals there last week and saw Belle, Jasmine, and Alice. On a previous trip Snow White was there. So maybe Aurora is there sometimes as well. I'm not sure how far in advance they know the characters, but worst case you could make a PS, call an hour or so beforehand, and cancel if you're not interested in the characters. An extra bonus is that one or two times during the meal all of the kids get to go up and gather around all of the characters for a dance. If you're not staying at one of the Disney hotels, it will be about a 10-15 walk from the park through Downtown Disney. You can also ride the monorail from Tomorrowland (I think that's the one) to the far end of Downtown Disney which puts you very close to the Disneyland Hotel.

On two different trips, last week and last Februrary, every day we were in the park Cinderella, Belle, and Aurora made several appearances throughout the day in front of the castle for pictures and autographs.

As previously mentioned, the shop just to the left as you exit the rear of the castle has a story time a few times a day with different princesses. After the story, kids line up for pictures and autographs. You can check-in first thing in the morning for the schedule. We've seen Belle, Snow White, and Cinderella here. Don't know if Aurora every does this. VERY IMPORTANT: Don't expect to show up at the end of the story and get a picture. I've see quite a few little princesses walking away in tears because the line got cut off before them. (Making that cut must be the worst job in the world.)

Finally, there's another place (I think somewhere in ToonTown), where there's a room to meet the princesses at various times of the day.

Here's one idea for getting "special" time with Aurora. During a previous trip, we just happened to be the last person in line to see Cinderella at the location in ToonTown. After taking pictures with Cinderella, she took my daughter's hand and walked with her through the park to her next "gig". Needless to say, this was one of my daughter's highlights of the trip. So, when you do find Aurora, you might want to ask the attending CM if you could be the last one in line when they make the cutoff. At the minimim, you'll probably get a little extra quality time. But you may end up getting a bigger surprise like we did.

Good luck.

 

[rrobalew]

Oh, and a post on another thread just reminded me of the Ariel's Grotto restaurant at California Adventure. Ariel sits up front and kids can go up and meet her whenever they want. On this last trip, there was also a few minutes of "circle time" where the kids sat around and talked with Ariel, played guessing games, etc.

Goofy, Pluto, Chip, and Dale are also at this one and periodically take the kids on a march around the restaurant making a racket with maracas and banging sticks.

Be sure to get a PS for this one. Every time we've gone (fortunately with a PS) the stand-by line was very long.

 

[Bell Family]

Ter-moo...

Right location, wrong witch. It is a window over the Snow White dark ride and the witch is the evil queen from Snow White.

There are no "Princess meals" at Disneyland, but the characters are around during the day. Ususally there is a meet and greet for Princesses near the Pinochio ride in Fantasyland. The princesses rotate through there during the day. They were also doing Princess meet and greets along the walkway going towards Small World a couple of months ago - where several princesses would be out at the same time (beware of long lines). I am not sure if that is still going on.

The Disneyland website says that the diorama in the castle will be reopening next month. I am not sure that I would count on that.

 

[almostGoofy]

This isn't at Disneyland; it's in Hollywood at a movie theater that Disney part owns.

Presently, the El Capitan is showing "Freaky Friday". You have the option of attending a Princess tea after the movie. Don't know if Aurora is part of this tea but it's very likely she is.

I believe this tea is due to end soon though. I think Labor day may be the last day.

 

[Sonya in Boise]

I love Aurora. There is one special Aurora that has been wonderful to my girls. We met her last October and she still remembered the girls in March. She is truely wonderful.

We have seen all the Princesses during our last three trips, so you will have no problems finding them. As you are walking on Main street, towards the castle, Snow white and Aurora will be in front of the castle to the right, Cinderella and Bell will be to the Left. There is usually 2-3 princesses out at a time. You can usually stnad in line for Aurora, meet her then walk on to Snow White.

There will be cast memebers helping the princesses and you can ask any of those cast memebers when a certain character will be out meeting people and they can tell you. If the line is long, make sure to ask the cast memeber how much longer the princess will be there....nothing worse than being steps away and being turned away.

We did see Snow White at Goofy's kitchen and it was much nicer than in the park. NO line and she spent lots of time with the girls. BUt I don't think there is a schedule or anything, so it's just hit or miss.

If you wanted a special surprise, write to guest realations and ask for a signed princess photo. DLR P.O. Box 3232, Anaheim CA 92803-3232

 

[ter-moo]

Bell Family...

Thanks for correcting me on the queen mix-up. I wondered as I typed it if I was rememberign the queen WITH or WITHOUT those "horn thingies" on her head, and I guess my memory (as if often does these days!) failed me!

But back to the original post, I would bet that you'll be seeing more of Princess Aurora these days since Disney is just releasing Sleeping Beauty on DVD.