Tell me about Princess Fantasy Faire!

[twinspluscade]

Is it crowded even if you don't wait in line to meet the princesses?

I'm sure my daughters would love this--they are big-time into the princesses.
I think we'd probably skip the meet and greet thing, since we'll already be doing the Ariel meal. But I'm sure they'd love to see the storytelling, Maypole dance thingy, or even just sitting and doing the crafts.

We'll be there mid-week September, probably won't be hitting the Princess Faire until early afternoon, will it be a mob scene just doing the crafts and the little shows?

Kelly

 

[DangerMouse]

September mid-week, I'd say you're pretty safe that it won't be a mob scene.
I went with my dd in November and did the storytelling coronation ceremony. It wasn't crowded at either, and she was chosen to participate in the storytelling.

 

[bumbershoot]

That's the nicest I've ever seen DangerMouse talk about the PFF. Nothing about them being held captive or anything!


In early December we stood in line for a very long time because my son wanted to meet princesses (and for his b'day he wants to have b'fast with them, so guess where we're going early AM in DCA?), but after that when he didn't want to leave, we kind of had the run of the place for the storytelling and such. If it hadn't been so cold and windy we would have stayed for the coronation ceremony, but it had *just* ended when we were done meeting princesses and were in a time-crunch anyway, so we didn't experience that. But the point is, even with a long line to meet the ladies, the rest of the place was open.

 

[DangerMouse]

That's the nicest I've ever seen DangerMouse talk about the PFF. Nothing about them being held captive or anything!
.

Oh, I'm still not a fan, believe me.

As with most negative changes at DLR, you just have to learn how to work it to your advantage. I don't ever wait in the line to meet the princesses unless I am there first at the ropes before they open the PFFT, and I only will do the shows/storytelling if I'm there during an uncrowded time.

Of course I would prefer they release the princesses and will refer to their prison as PFFT with a big ol' raspberry on top!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Oh, I'm still not a fan, believe me.

As with most negative changes at DLR, you just have to learn how to work it to your advantage. I don't ever wait in the line to meet the princesses unless I am there first at the ropes before they open the PFFT, and I only will do the shows/storytelling if I'm there during an uncrowded time.

Of course I would prefer they release the princesses and will refer to their prison as PFFT with a big ol' raspberry on top!

Yikes! We have avoided this area on our last two trips as I much preffered running into the Princesses in front of the Caslte but seems they are no longer hanging out there so we may have to venture into this scary place during our June trip.

So I am guessing we need to plan on being at rope drop if we want to meet and greet a princess??

 

[sand2270]

My DD8 wanted to go when we were there last week. I told her we weren't going to stand in line to meet the princesses since we had Ariel's Princess lunch scheduled for the next day. She was fine with that. Sounds like you are doing the lunch. Even though the food isn't great, we do Ariel's Princess lunch every time we go because it gives me an opportunity to sit (I also noticed they have a drink menu if you want one) and let's my DD meet about 5-6 princesses without waiting in any lines. Nice alternative if you don't mind spending the money.

Regarding the Princess Faire, we stayed and listened to Belle tell a story. It felt very rushed and not very interesting. I remember a few years ago catching Cinderella telling a story in the gift shop in Fantasy Land. It was such a great treat to catch it. It was full of humor and some sly sarcasm (enough for the adults to catch). This didn't have the same charm.

DD was more focused on putting the stickers on the paper crown she received than listening to the story. She also tried to talk me into purchasing one of the very expensive princess gowns at the nearby shopping area which I nixed since she has some at home already.

Overall, not terribly impressed. We didn't spend too much time there.

 

[Pamb]

We are taking my two little girls in September and the main thing they will want to do is meet the princesses. We will do Ariel's and the PFF but I was hoping to meet the princesses by the castle also. Are there no longer spontaneous princesses?

Maybe they should watch Enchanted and use some of Giselle's moves!

 

[DangerMouse]

We are taking my two little girls in September and the main thing they will want to do is meet the princesses. We will do Ariel's and the PFF but I was hoping to meet the princesses by the castle also. Are there no longer spontaneous princesses?

Maybe they should watch Enchanted and use some of Giselle's moves!

Nope, not in front of the castle anymore. I have seen Cinderella right inside the turnstiles in front of the large Mickey planter on occasion, but not regularly.

Other places to see princesses outside the PFFT are:

Ariel in her Shell in King Triton's Gardens
Jasmine at Aladdin's Oasis during Storytime Adventures
Drawn to the Magic show in DCA (always one princess)
And for about another month you can see Snow White outside the Animation Studio in DCA along with Dopey, the Evil Witch and the Old Hag cycling through.

 

[lilpixie]

If you do a princess lunch at Arie's Grotto - you will be able to meet many of the princesses. Unfortunately, on our last trip we never saw any princesses by the castle or "out and about". I really miss the storytelling at the Once Upon a Time princess shop (it was so nice that you could find out what princesses would be storytelling and a particular time). The storytelling at Aladdin's Oasis is really cute and they get to meet Jasmine and Aladdin at the end. I agree with the previous poster who wants DL to "free the princesses" LOL Maybe we should have t-shirts made up that have that slogan on it
It would be nice to have them out by the castle again!
At the PFF, we bit the bullet and stood in line for an hour. It wasn't the most fun wait, but people wait in lines much longer than that for a 3 minute ride at DL -- at least we had good interaction with the princesses and good photo ops (Princess Minnie was adorable with my little 2 year old and they played ring around the rosie and lots of other fun things)-- so IMO in was worth the wait for my girls. Many don't feel the same, but it just depends on how much your kids want to see the princesses and how well they do standing in a long line.
We went to the coronation ceremony and maypole dance and decorated crowns. My girls had fun and that is what was most important to me

 

[justkeepswimmin]

At the PFF, we bit the bullet and stood in line for an hour. It wasn't the most fun wait, but people wait in lines much longer than that for a 3 minute ride at DL -- at least we had good interaction with the princesses and good photo ops (Princess Minnie was adorable with my little 2 year old and they played ring around the rosie and lots of other fun things)-- so IMO in was worth the wait for my girls.

An Hour! Is this per princess?? Is this the "norm" as far as wait times go?

Hmm..Maybe lunch at Ariel's Grotto IS a good idea.

 

[keeperofzoo]

I agree with the previous poster who wants DL to "free the princesses" LOL Maybe we should have t-shirts made up that have that slogan on it

I agree t-shirts would be good!

 

[lilpixie]

Justkeepswimmin ~
The hour wait was to see all of the princesses (not per princess, thankfully!). It is a looong wait sometimes. You wait in line, then you go to a princess and have some interaction, photos, autograph, and then move right on to the other princesses. My favorite thing about it when we went was to see Princess Minnie. I don't think she is there all the time, but we were lucky we got to see her. We took the crowns and stickers and had the kids make those while we were standing in line. Any other activities they could do while in line would be good. I don't know what the average wait is, but it seemed to be pretty long when we were there.
Ariel's Grotto is a great way to see the princesses without the long wait!
Keeperofzoo ~ maybe some of the ladies on the creative dis-igns board can make some "Free the Princesses" designs for t's -- and have a castle motif with it LOL!

 

[bumbershoot]

The long line at PFF is to see 3 princesses. They vary, and you have absolutely no guarantee of who you might see. If you have a child who absolutely must see one in particular...I don't think it's the best idea to do.

While we waited, we saw Cinderella and Prince Charming leave, and I could sense some heartbreak from the kids (girls mainly) in the line. Then we heard that Mulan was there to be met, but by the time we got there she was gone. We met Belle, Pocahontas, and Princess Minnie (DS's favorite of the three).

You have to be flexible, with no expectations of any one particular princess.

I thought the storytelling was quite charming, though Sleeping Beauty's hair just bugs me. We sat down on the floor, then DS wanted autographs of the Ladies in Waiting (he was quite sure they were princesses), and shortly after he did that one of them came over and asked if he wanted to dance with a princess. He did, so we moved to a special spot, then the princess came out (SB), and at the right spot in her story DS was called over and they danced.

I think maybe I had a different, not-so-scary, experience b/c the reason I was there was for a child who just wanted to meet any princesses, rather than a child intent on meeting ONE princess...he was going to be happy no matter what (though he just wasn't into Belle, poor Belle). I could feel the excitement coming from some of the little ones in line, it was palpable, and from their dresses I could tell who they wanted to meet, and I felt bad that they weren't all going to get their exact wish.

Oh, and for those of you who have never done the princess-meeting, they let one family through at a time. You meet each of the 3 princesses one at a time and they spend pretty much as much time as the child wants/needs. Belle gave me a talking to because I was trying to hurry DS up (I could tell he didn't like her and I was urging him to do what she requested). So once you're in, you realize why the line is so long, because they do give the children some nice attention.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I agree t-shirts would be good!

Free the princesses from Disney's castle!



On the back:
Member of HAPI (Humans Against Princess Imprisonment)

 

[Pamb]

The long line at PFF is to see 3 princesses. They vary, and you have absolutely no guarantee of who you might see. If you have a child who absolutely must see one in particular...I don't think it's the best idea to do.

While we waited, we saw Cinderella and Prince Charming leave, and I could sense some heartbreak from the kids (girls mainly) in the line. Then we heard that Mulan was there to be met, but by the time we got there she was gone. We met Belle, Pocahontas, and Princess Minnie (DS's favorite of the three).

You have to be flexible, with no expectations of any one particular princess.

I thought the storytelling was quite charming, though Sleeping Beauty's hair just bugs me. We sat down on the floor, then DS wanted autographs of the Ladies in Waiting (he was quite sure they were princesses), and shortly after he did that one of them came over and asked if he wanted to dance with a princess. He did, so we moved to a special spot, then the princess came out (SB), and at the right spot in her story DS was called over and they danced.

I think maybe I had a different, not-so-scary, experience b/c the reason I was there was for a child who just wanted to meet any princesses, rather than a child intent on meeting ONE princess...he was going to be happy no matter what (though he just wasn't into Belle, poor Belle). I could feel the excitement coming from some of the little ones in line, it was palpable, and from their dresses I could tell who they wanted to meet, and I felt bad that they weren't all going to get their exact wish.

Oh, and for those of you who have never done the princess-meeting, they let one family through at a time. You meet each of the 3 princesses one at a time and they spend pretty much as much time as the child wants/needs. Belle gave me a talking to because I was trying to hurry DS up (I could tell he didn't like her and I was urging him to do what she requested). So once you're in, you realize why the line is so long, because they do give the children some nice attention.

Do any of you know if the PFF changes during the slow season with only 2 princesses, or is it always 3? Is this also part of MM or only a chance to wait in line an extra hour before they open. Can you ask who will be there before getting in line?

I really appreciate all of the information so far. I have one daughter that must meet Aurora or she may just *die* the other wants to meet Snow White, but she rolls with the punches much better. If there is little chance of meeting them, I had better start preparing my girls now.

Pamb

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

but I just need to clear up some questions for a friend of mine. She`s going in 3 wks with her ds5 and dd4, and DD is, of course, beside herself with excitement about meeting the princesses.
So how does PFF actually work (sorry - punctuation on computer doing funny things - can`t make question mark work!!) Do you wait outside in the line to get in, then wait in separate lines once inside for all the different `events` such as the storytelling and interaction with the princesses
sorry - she`s asking me how all this works (cause I am major research queen) and I can`t help her, cause I confused too!

Any help would be appreciated, and sorry for threadjacking your thread, twinpluscade!

 

[tink too]

We'll hopefully be having dinner at Ariel's, so that should give DD6 her fair share of meeting with the princesses. I'm glad to see that you don't have to wait in excessive queues for the storytelling and shows though, because I still wanted to take her to see them.

 

[keeperofzoo]

Free the princesses from Disney's castle!



On the back:
Member of HAPI (Humans Against Princess Imprisonment)

DD4 is wondering why I am laughing so hard!

Oh we so should make t-shirts with that on it.
H.A.P.I. OMG that is killing me! I think we should start a club.

I remember Danger Mouse talking about "Free the Princess" before by didn't really think anything of it. After going to DLR last fall for the first time and hearing what it was like before I absolutely, positively agree "FREE THE PRINCESSES!"

 

[keeperofzoo]

but I just need to clear up some questions for a friend of mine. She`s going in 3 wks with her ds5 and dd4, and DD is, of course, beside herself with excitement about meeting the princesses.
So how does PFF actually work (sorry - punctuation on computer doing funny things - can`t make question mark work!!) Do you wait outside in the line to get in, then wait in separate lines once inside for all the different `events` such as the storytelling and interaction with the princesses
sorry - she`s asking me how all this works (cause I am major research queen) and I can`t help her, cause I confused too!

Any help would be appreciated, and sorry for threadjacking your thread, twinpluscade!

The PFF is a big open stage with a roped off corridor in front of it. The corridor, The Royal Walk, is where you can wait in line to meet whichever princesses are there. I didn't do it but it looked like there were different "stations" with Princesses at them. Personally I liked doing the Ariel's Grotto thing to meet the princesses (the food was just okay though).

Anyone can go watch whatever is on the stage....I don't have a picture of the corridor but I do of the stage....

The sign for "The Royal Walk"

 

[keeperofzoo]

The stage at PFF