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 on 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 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!
Overview of Meeting Princesses at Disneyland
Even though there are some 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. Always keep your eyes open for princess sightings!
Of course, meeting princesses at Disneyland changes from time to time because character meet and greets are more spontaneous at Disneyland. Parades are a great way to spot a lot of princesses as well.
And we now have a new princess to meet! Princess Asha from the movie "Wish" is now at Disneyland. You can find her outside the Royal Hall in Fantasy Faire.
Sometimes you get to meet princesses with the villains from their story. The villains are a bit scary, but also fun to talk to, as long as you remember it's all pretend. We've seen Snow White and the Evil Queen near the Wishing Well by the castle. The Evil Queen does love to get attention. Gaston is always on the search for Belle. He is toadally vain and hilarious!
You can find the hours and locations for some princess meet and greets in the Disneyland app. Others just hoppen when you least expect it.
Surefire Ways to Spot a Princess
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 maybe 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, Belle or any surprise friend. We have seen Mulan, Anna, Elsa, Elena, Tiana and Pocahontas 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.
The nice part about this location is that you can take your time with each princess. One line grants you time with three princesses, one at a time. You also have the princess all to yourself before the next group comes in. So if you need to do some twirls or curtsies, get a good hug or ask all the things you wanted to know about being a princess, you have time to do it.
Even though you can meet Ariel from the live-action film, "The Little Mermaid," you can still meet Ariel from the animated movie at the Royal Hall or anywhere else she spontaneously appears.
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! Also, if the app says they meet until 5 p.m., that means they close the line to meet them at 5 p.m. But sometimes if there's a short line, you may be able to hop in to see them after 5 p.m. Crowd levels vary per day.
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. That's where you'll find Asha as well.
Want to know another secret? If you watch the Tangled or Beauty and the Beast shows at the Royal Theatre, sometimes the princesses stick around afterward for photos.
In Parades and Cavalcades
You can spot a lot of princesses at once in parades. Magic Happens features Moana, Anna, Elsa, Tiana, Cinderella and Aurora, plus many other characters. Magic Happens has ended its run in 2024 to make way for Holiday Time. During Holiday Time at Disneyland, you catch princesses in a full parade. A Christmas Fantasy Parade returns in late fall 2024 to early January 2025.
Princess Breakfast Adventures Character Dining
You can meet a princess during character dining during 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. It is on the pricy side but is a great way to celebrate a special occasion. 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, Raya or Aurora.
If this brunch is simply out of your budget, here's a free tip. On brunch days, you can sit outside Storytellers Café and watch the princesses walk by when they take their breaks. They won't be able to stop and visit, but it's fun for aspiring princesses to wave to their heroines as they pass by.
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. Sweethearts' Nite features many princesses and their princes too! Princess Nite launched in 2023. It included many princesses, including Princess Leia! Pride Nite also had princesses in attendance. We met Mulan in her warrior outfit.
During the Oogie Boogie Bash, we saw Cinderella with Lady Tremaine and the stepsisters. At Halloween parties, it's always fun to catch unexpected characters and interact with them.
Best Common Spots for Meeting Roaming Princesses at Disneyland Park
Here are the best spots and our hop tips for meeting your favorite princesses at Disneyland.
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. We ran into Anna there one day! The Evil Queen likes to lurk about there too.
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, in or near her new restaurant, Tiana's Palace. She has a new dress these days! (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. Sometimes we've caught sight of her near the exit to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Other times we've spied her in front of the petrified tree.
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! Belle sometimes appears in her blue dress. Other times in her yellow gown. Aurora may decide to greet guests in her castle courtyard.
Always keep your eye out for rare and unusual characters in Fantasyland. Spunky Merida might just strike up a conversation with you. She appears less often 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? Sometimes princesses greet guests near the entrance to the park. Keep an eye out for them when you enter and leave the park. We 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. (Although we have seen Mulan in the Royal Hall.) 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. Fairy Godmother, the three good fairies (Flora, Fauna and Merryweather) and the Blue Fairy also appear in the Magic Happens parade.
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 peeled.
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. Ariel from the live-action "The Little Mermaid" was there, but now she's a roaming character. She tells us she uses her human legs to get around Fantasyland!
Lady Tremaine, Cinderella’s evil stepmother, and the evil stepsisters also lurk in that area (as well as Cinderella's mouse friends) from time to time. 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 princesses 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 meet Anna and Elsa in California Adventure in the Animation Building in Hollywood Land. 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.
They wear outfits from "Frozen II" and a new color scheme in the background in Disney California Adventure! But if you hoppen to catch them in Disneyland, they'll be wearing their outfits from "Frozen." I love to change up my dresses too! We have, on occasion, seen each of them individually in the Royal Hall in Disneyland.
Disney California Adventure hosts special princesses during certain holidays. Mulan, along with her buddy Mushu, comes out to greet guests in Paradise Gardens during Lunar New Year. They now appear in a Lunar New Year procession.
At Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Although she is a rare character, sometimes you can meet Raya in the afternoons and evenings in California Adventure, near the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Her area is beautifully decorated with colorful lanterns. She usually comes out for Lunar New Year.
Tips for Meeting Princesses at Disneyland Resort
Visit Them Early in the Day or When They First Appear
Arrive before the lines get long! Reserve a Lightning Lane Multi Pass time 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! You may be able to type in a character's name to see appearance times. Some are listed, but many are not. Also, try typing in "meet." It will bring up some of the characters you can meet, especially the ones with fixed meeting areas.
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 talking to the princesses, although there are some fun do-it-yourself crafts that the princesses can 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 if they pass by in a Rainy Day Cavalcade vehicle.
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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