How to Meet Your Favorite Princesses at the Walt Disney World Theme Parks

If you're the parent of any Disney princess obsessed youngster you've likely stood in line more than once to meet The Princesses.

The Disney royalty meet-and-greet has quickly become a tradition during visits to the four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, some people have been spending hours in line just to meet a certain Frozen duo. More on that later.

What we're here to tell you, as the summer vacation season gets into full swing, is that meeting the Disney princesses shouldn't have to involve stress or tears (yours and the kids), or anxiety. There really are enough princesses for everyone and meeting them doesn't have to be a challenge.

Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in their former meet-and-greet locationRapunzel and Flynn Rider in their former meet-and-greet location

Let's talk about this park-by-park to keep things simple. And we'll start at Disney's Animal Kingdom where princesses are in very short supply. In fact, it's likely that you'll meet just one princess at the Animal Kingdom and that's Pocahontas. Sightings of this elusive princess are often hard to come by, so if you meet her consider yourself lucky.

Another park where princesses are less likely to frequent is Disney's Hollywood Studios. Sure, you can see Ariel (on stage) during the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and Belle sings her heart out during Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage. But actually meeting the princesses at the Studios is pretty unlikely, unless you want to meet Sofia the First.

Disney Junior's littlest princess is ready to meet her fans just outside Stage 5 in the Animation Courtyard.

Sofia the First meets guests at Disney's Hollywood StudiosSofia the First meets guests at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Over at Epcot your chances of meeting Disney royals are much better.

If you choose to dine at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway you'll have a chance to meet several princesses including Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, and Sleeping Beauty herself, Princess Aurora. The meal starts with a quick meet-and-greet photo session with Belle.

The princesses make their way through the dining room, stopping at each table for photos and autographs. There is also a princess parade at some point during the meal when the younger royals-in-waiting can walk through the dining room with the princesses. It's nice to know that you can meet Cinderella somewhere other than Cinderella's Royal Table.

Cinderella at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EpcotCinderella at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot

If you aren't dining at Akershsus, there are still plenty of places to meet Disney princesses. Mulan can be found near the front of the China Pavilion, while Jasmine and Aladdin are often found in Morocco near the water (the location may change due to the new Spice Road Table location).

Snow White can usually be found near the wishing well just outside the Germany pavilion while Belle and Aurora can both be found in France. Belle is normally near the water while Aurora has her very own meet-and-greet area near the gardens in the pavilion. As you travel over the bridge to the United Kingdom pavilion you might spot Princess Merida.

Belle in the France Pavilion at EpcotBelle in the France Pavilion at Epcot

And this brings us to the Magic Kingdom, home of Cinderella's castle and the Princess Fairytale Hall.

In the past, the hottest reservation in town was a meal at Cinderella's Royal Table where you can meet Cinderella and several of her royal pals including Jasmine and Ariel. And while that's still a good table service reservation if you can get it, the most popular girls in the Kingdom are Anna and Elsa.

The Frozen sisters are meeting guests at the Princess Fairytale Hall and yes, some guests are actually waiting in the queue for hours just to meet the dynamic duo. Here's our tip: try to get a FastPass+ to see Anna and Elsa. Don't spend half your day in line when there are so many other amazing things to see and do. And remember, you can always see (not meet) the princesses during the Festival of Fantasy Parade.

Anna and Elsa at Princess Fairytale HallAnna and Elsa at Princess Fairytale Hall

We think it's safe to say that the Anna and Elsa hoopla will eventually subside (remember a few years ago when everyone made a mad dash to Fairytale Garden to meet Rapunzel?) and the line won't always be four or five hours long.

Princess Fairytale Hall is also home to Cinderella, Rapunzel, and some of their other royal friends. You can also find Jasmine in Adventureland, Princess Tiana spends her days meeting fans in Liberty Square, and Ariel often hangs out at Ariel's Grotto. And if you missed Merida in Epcot you might find her in the Fairytale Garden area.

As with any other Disney character meet-and-greet, it's always good to pack a little extra patience when you're waiting to meet the princesses. And don't forget the autograph books!

Who is your must-see Disney princess when you're visiting Walt Disney World? Leave us a comment and let us know.

alicemouse wrote on Mon, 06/16/2014 - 19:22:

alicemouse's picture

Great article, Traci!

At DHS, I think you can still meet Princess Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph. According to Kenny the Pirate, DHS is also doing a character palooza event most afternoons where the characters from the Steamboat Willie scene in Fantasmic (which should include some princesses) roam the Streets of America. I missed it the last time we were down, but I hope to have an opportunity to verify this info in September.

Also, in the past few days (most likely right after this article was finished), there have been some rumors flying around about a shake up at Princess Fairytale Hall where Anna and Elsa may be the only princesses greeting at that location for awhile, so we'll see what happens there.

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