One of the most magical parts of visiting Disneyland is meeting a princess. I don't remember this, but my mom (Flora, or Mommy Frog, to all of you) says that I wore a Belle dress to my first visit to Disneyland.
Since then, I've made it a point to always visit a princess. What's really great is that different princesses at Disneyland seem to appear every time we visit! They also move about and keep us on our froggy toes when they pop up in unexpected locations. The Disneyland princesses like to keep their subjects guessing, so they do move locations and make appearances at different times and places. (It must help keep the paparazzi away.) But we’ve figured out the most likely places to find them.
Of course, all my tips and tricks for meeting princesses at Disneyland have changed recently now that princess meet and greets and hugs are back. The good news is that it's never been easier to find a princess, or two or five! Toadally!
Our Guide to Meeting Princesses at Disneyland
Even though there are specific places to meet princesses, keep in mind that at Disneyland, anything can hoppen! Sometimes a princess just goes wandering by or pops up in a new area. So keep your eyes open for princess sightings.
Sometimes you get to meet princesses with the villains from their story. The villains are a bit scary, but also a little fun to talk to, as long as you remember it's all pretend. The Queen does love to get attention. Gaston is hilariously vain.
The Royal Hall and Fantasy Faire
Where do you expect to meet a princess? Near the castle, of course! In Fantasy Faire’s Royal Hall (to the left of the castle), you can usually find three different princesses inside and a princess and a royal friend outside under an umbrella in Fantasy Faire. The lineup is always changing, but inside the Royal Hall, you might meet Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, Jasmine or any surprise friend. We recently saw Anna there! If one of them needs to go about her duties as a princess, a different Disney character or princess will step in to take her place.
Want to know a secret? You may know that you can check the times that princesses are in the Royal Hall in the Disneyland app. But did you know that they often appear earlier than posted? So hop by 30 to 60 minutes early for the shortest line of the day, and you just might get lucky!
In front of Royal Hall, there is an umbrella where you can meet long-haired Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Belle or Elena of Avalor. We've also seen Jasmine and her buddy Aladdin drop in. They alternate throughout the day.
Want to know another secret? If you watch Tangled or Beauty and the Beast at the Royal Theatre, sometimes the princesses stay after the show for photos.
In Parades and Cavalcades
You can spot a lot of princesses at once in parades and cavalcades. The Mickey and Friends cavalcade at Disneyland runs twice a day and is full of princesses and other characters. The nice part is you do not have to wait long to see the cavalcade. Just hop in place when you hear the music. Some ride in the Omnibus, but several princesses walk.
During Holiday Time at Disneyland, you catch princesses in a full parade. A Christmas Fantasy Parade returns Nov. 11, 2022, through Jan. 8, 2023.
Princess Breakfast Adventures Character Dining
Character dining has returned, so you can once again meet several princesses at the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose at the Grand Californian Hotel. You can spend a lot of time with them outside, learning about their adventures and stories.
This is a really nice and relaxing way to guarantee that you'll be meeting multiple princesses at Disneyland. You'll see a lot of princesses and get to spend some quality time with them. You'll meet one princess when you enter the Napa Rose Lounge at the Grand Californian Hotel. While you dine, several more princesses will visit your table. You'll have story time with another princess and get a photo-op final farewell with yet another princess. The princesses may vary, but you can expect to meet about six of the following adventurous princesses: Ariel, Rapunzel, Tiana, Belle, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas or Aurora.
Disneyland After Dark Events and Halloween Parties
During some Disneyland After Dark events and Halloween parties, princesses (including rare ones) and their villains come out to greet guests. Here are the best spots and our hop tips for meeting your favorite princesses at Disneyland. During the Oogie Boogie Bash, we got to see Cinderella with Lady Tremaine and the stepsisters. At Halloween parties, it's always fun to catch unexpected characters. In 2022, we hear Mother Gothel will be in attendance!
The Wishing Well
The area of the Wishing Well (to the right of the castle) is a popular meeting spot for princesses and their friends. You might spot Aurora, Ariel or Jasmine and Aladdin. Different characters may appear there, as well.
New Orleans Square/Frontierland
Princess Tiana greets guests in front of the water or near the Petrified Tree by Rivers of America. You may also find her on the Mark Twain Riverboat, or dancing to live music in New Orleans Square. Dr. Facilier also wanders about New Orleans Square. (I think Tiana and I would make a great team, me being a frog and all!) At times, we have spied Pocahontas waiting just around the river bend ... of Rivers of America, that is. This is a rare treat when she is not out exploring the wilderness.
In Fantasyland
You never know who you might find strolling through Fantasyland. You might encounter Belle wandering through, perhaps arm in arm with the Beast or even taking a spin on the King Arthur Carrousel! We got to ride with her once. It was toadally awesome! Aurora may decide to greet guests in her castle courtyard.
Always keep your eye out for rare and unusual characters in Fantasyland. Spunky Merida just might strike up a conversation with you. She appears less than some other princesses, but she's fun. Some princesses stand still, allowing a line to form. Others stay on the move, so you'll have to keep up with them if you want quality time or a photo.
Pixie Hollow
I know Tinker Bell is not a princess, but she wears a tutu, and that’s good enough for me! You can find Tink and her fairy friends in Pixie Hollow.
Park Entrance
Is there a better surprise than meeting a princess right when you enter Disneyland? Nope. Sometimes princesses greet guests near the entrance to the park. Keep an eye out for them when you enter and leave the park. We have spotted Mulan there, which is an extra special treat because she usually only makes regular meet and greet appearances at Disney California Adventure during Lunar New Year with her buddy Mushu. From time to time, we have spotted most other princesses near the park entrance at least once, so it’s definitely a good spot to have your camera and autograph book ready just in case.
Princess Friends and Acquaintances
Some characters are closely associated with the princesses. What does a princess aspire to be? A queen, of course, but hopfully a nice queen. If you are brave and know how to properly bow, you can meet Snow White's evil stepmother, the Queen. She is often somewhere on the path from Main Street, U.S.A. to the Matterhorn. We've encountered the Queen near the wishing well and tunnel to Fantasyland too.
Every princess could use a fairy godmother from time to time. You can find Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother in Fantasyland, and maybe even one of Cinderella's helpful mouse friends.
Gaston wanders around Fantasy Faire and Fantasyland. He is always on the lookout for Belle. The Beast also wanders through Fantasyland from time to time. Rumor has it that the Beast and Gaston do not get along. ;) Anyhoo, there are many other characters you might find at Disneyland if you keep your eyes open.
Near "it's a small world"
One of the newer locations where princesses have been popping up is on the raised area across from "it's a small world" and other paths in the general area. We've caught sight of various princesses there. Also, Lady Tremaine, Cinderella’s evil stepmother, and the evil stepsisters may also lurk about that area (as well as Cinderella's mouse friends). They may not be princesses, but they are delightfully bad. Keep your eyes out anywhere in the streets of Fantasyland because we've hopped by many a princess who was taking a stroll throughout the land.
Where to Meet Princesses at Disney California Adventure Park
While the princesses generally stay in Disneyland Park, you can usually meet Anna and Elsa in California Adventure in the Animation Building in Hollywood Land. But they have not returned to that spot yet since the parks reopened. For now, they greet guests outside Carthay Circle restaurant.
They wear outfits from "Frozen II" and a new color scheme in the background in Disney California Adventure! (But if you catch them in Disneyland, they'll be wearing their outfits from "Frozen." I love to change up my dresses too! Occasionally, Olaf and Kristoff may join them in their Animation Building location. Check the entertainment guide for the last time they'll be available before they have to go feed Sven, which can vary each day.
Disney California Adventure hosts special princesses during certain holidays. Mulan, along with her buddy Mushu, come out to greet guests in Paradise Gardens during Lunar New Year. They now appear in a Lunar New Year procession mini parade. You might see Elena during Fiesta Navidad during the Festival of Holidays at Holiday Time.
Tips for Meeting Princesses at Disneyland Resort
Visit Them Early in the Day
Arrive before lines get long. Reserve a Genie+ for your favorite attraction and then spend an hour hopping around to find the princesses. Now that you know where to find them, you can meet most of them pretty easily. Lines are the shortest in the morning.
Look for Royal Attendants to Ask about Meeting Princesses
They usually stand in place before a character arrives and near the Royal Hall in Fantasy Faire. You can ask them who is coming and be among the first in line to greet them. The lines form quickly once the character arrives and other guests hop over. These cast members can also give you good insider tips about meeting other characters. There is something called a Toon Finder. Ask a cast member when and where to find your favorite character, and they can consult a Toon Finder to get you your answers.
Use the Disneyland App
You can see many character locations on the map. If you click on a particular character, you view their appearance times. It's not always accurate, but it will give you a good idea of when and where to find your favorite princess. Only the regular characters are listed, so an unusual character will not appear in the app. You just have to magically encounter them, and when you do, it really is magic!
Dress Like a Princess, Too!
Guests under 14 can wear costumes to Disneyland (older guests can DisneyBound and dress with colors or elements of a princess without wearing a costume). The park sells princess dresses and accessories if you do not bring your own. Guests 3 to 12 can get made up with various packages at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (for an added cost, and reservations are recommended).
Your little one will feel like a real princess (or knight). One benefit you can ask about is skipping the line to meet princesses in the Royal Hall after getting certain princess makeovers. If you are lucky, you just might find a fairy godmother apprentice outside of the store. Every princess can use a fairy godmother from time to time, right? She’s great if you need a hug or a sprinkling of magical Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!
Have Your Autograph Book and Pen Ready
Some kids like to collect autographs from characters. I prefer a good hug and to talk to the princesses, although there are some fun do-it-yourself crafts that you can have the princesses sign (picture frames, pillowcases, ornaments, shirts, picture books and more). The nice part about the princesses is that they actually can talk to you. Masked characters usually cannot talk.
Bring a Prop
Are you nervous about what to say to a princess? When meeting princesses at Disneyland, bring a prop or even a small gift for her to spark conversation. Do a little research into her story. You can ask questions about other characters or what she thinks of something. Princesses love to talk about themselves. Ariel loves to chat about dinglehoppers or other human objects she'd like to add to her collection. Bring a small stuffed animal or toy that the princess might find interesting. She's sure to ask you about it and ask you about your life too.
Realize that a Princess Needs to Take a Break, Too
If she is not at her regular spot, just be patient and check back later. Sometimes the princesses take turns in a location so you might see one princess there, and if you come back later you can meet the other one. Be a good sport if she needs to take a break before it is your turn. Remember to use your courtly manners.
Find Princesses on a Rainy Day
If you visit on a rainy day, the princesses will not be out in the wet weather. They do not want to ruin their hair, makeup and beautiful gowns. You can usually find them indoors on rainy days, specifically in the hallway where Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln exits. We lucked out and saw three princesses there on a rainy day! The princesses may have wraps or changes to their clothing to keep them warm in colder weather. You may also wave to them as they pass by in the Rainy Day Cavalcade vehicles.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? Do you have any tips to share for meeting princesses at Disneyland? Let us know in the comments below! Good luck trying to find those princesses!
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