A Royal Tour of Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World draws guests from all around the world for countless reasons. From the new world of Pandora at Animal Kingdom to the classic view of the iconic castle at the end of Main Street USA, there is something for everyone at WDW. You can discover hundreds of animal species while riding some of the most daring attractions WDW has to offer in Animal Kingdom and feel the power of the Force at Hollywood Studios. But if your travel party includes a Disney Princess fan, you have to do a little digging to ensure all your princess fans’ wishes will come true! I will detail each attraction and entertainment offering you simply must check out in each park.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom doesn’t offer a whole lot for the guests who traveled to Walt Disney World in search of princesses. However, if you’re spending the day at Animal Kingdom and want to keep your princess fans feeling like royalty, be sure to take them to meet Pocahontas! The Animal Kingdom is the only place you can go to meet her. In my opinion, Pocahontas is one of the coolest princesses, and she should not be missed! You can find her on the Discovery Island trails where she meets with guests throughout the day.
EPCOT
While Animal Kingdom may leave you feeling more wild than regal, EPCOT will come as a royal treat! World Showcase celebrates the different nations of the world and the culture and heritage that make them unique. You will find cuisine, merchandise, and performances from each respective nation. In true Disney fashion, you will also find the princesses from your favorite Disney films located around the showcase! Mulan can be found in China, Belle and Aurora in France, and Jasmine (and Aladdin) in Morocco, and Elsa and Ana can be found greeting guests in their Royal Sommerhaus in Norway!
Are there any Frozen fans out there who want even more Elsa and Anna? Yes? I thought so. In that case, head over to the Norway Pavilion where you can board a boat, tour Arendelle, and encounter some familiar princesses and their friends. Keep your eyes peeled for Princess Anna and her friends around the town. Then, you will ascend to the top of the North Mountain where Queen Elsa will greet you with a flurry of magic and snow!
Touring a foreign country sure makes me hungry. Steps away from Frozen Ever After, you can dine with the princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. You and your party can enjoy a buffet-style meal in the company of true royalty. Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Aurora, and Snow White are some of the princesses you can expect to meet. Each princess will come to your table individually, sign autographs, and pose for photos. Make sure to have your cameras ready!
Hollywood Studios
There is even more Frozen fun to discover at Hollywood Studios. If you are still craving some sisterly love, you can catch a performance of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Here you will laugh, dance and sing along to with your two favorite princesses and their friends as the cast re-tells the story of the film, complete with showstoppers and snowfall!
Next, journey under the sea with Ariel in Voyage of the Little Mermaid. This is a live stage show where Ariel is the star! Hear the siren’s rendering of “Part of Your World” sung live, and delight in the clever black-light staging of “Under the Sea”.
Who could ever learn to love….a beast? I know you want to see the one who breaks the spell. One of my favorite shows in all of WDW calls Hollywood Studios its home. Beauty and the Beast- Live on Stage has played the Theater of the Stars since 1991. This show is perfect for kids, as its run time is less than 30 minutes. This show is a true stage show, with actors portraying the characters we all know and love. This is a fantastic show and should not be missed!
Fun fact: this show opened on the same day the film was originally released in theatres, and has been running ever since!
My all time favorite show in all of Disney World- I know, big statement- takes place under the cloak of night in Hollywood Studios. Fantasmic! Plays nightly at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheatre. While the show is famous for taking us into the wild depths of Mickey’s imagination, few know that this show boasts its fair share of princess action! Mid-show, there is a sequence devoted entirely to princesses. Ariel, Show White, and Belle take center stage on beautifully lit barges that circle the performance stage. You do not want to miss this! And make sure you stay to the end, the finale of the show is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Magic Kingdom
Of course, I’ve saved the best for last. You should be feeling relatively princess-happy at this point, but wait! There are so many more princess experiences that await you in the Magic Kingdom!
Let’s start in Fantasyland. The design, theme, and overall layout of this land in Magic Kingdom will have you and your party feeling like royalty simply walking around. Let Belle read you a story at Enchanted Tales With Belle, where your prince and princess can be part of the show! Board a clamshell and ride Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid. After, take a quick stroll to Ariel’s Grotto where you can meet the mermaid herself! Make sure to stop by Princess Fairytale Hall where princesses meet guests from park open to park close each day. The princesses featured here rotate-sometimes daily- so be sure to check the boards outside of the attraction to ensure you’re queuing for the princess you most want to meet.
To tell the truth, there are so, so many opportunities to meet princesses around Magic Kingdom. Jasmine can be found in Adventureland, Tiana in Liberty Square…the list goes on! If you want to save some time and skip the meet and greet queue lines, the best way to see all of your favorite princesses is to catch Festival of Fantasy Parade. The parade steps off at 2:00pm each day (make note that the parade time has shifted from 3:00 to 2:00!). Arrive early to get your spot, and maybe grab an ice cream or pineapple dole whip to keep you cool in the hot Florida sun whle you wait, thank me later.
There are LOTS of princesses in the parade. To list a few: Cinderella, Belle, Tiana, Elsa, Anna, Rapunzel, Ariel, and Snow White. And of course, make sure you save a big smile and wave for Mickey and Minnie!
The Be-All-End-All
Cinderella’s Royal Table
If you succeed in getting a reservation, your place as Fairy Godmother (or Godfather) will be forever secured in the eyes of your family. The most sought-after character dining experience lies nestled in the upper levels of Cinderella castle at Cinderella’s Royal Table. For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Cinderella invites you to join her in her castle banquet hall where she is hosting her royal friends! The lineup of princesses you meet here are rotating (the last time I went, it was Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, and Jasmine). This is the ultimate experience for any princess fan, as having a reservation for a meal here is the only way anyone can gain access to Cinderella castle. However, if this is at the top of your must-do princess checklist, make sure to make your reservation 180 days in advance, as reservations fill up extremely quickly and can be very difficult to get. Our friends at MickeyTravels can help with this! For an in-depth review of Cinderella’s Royal Table, check out my review of the restaurant here.
Summing It Up
So, our royal tour of Walt Disney World comes to an end. Which princess is your favorite? Have you experienced any of these character meet and greets, shows, or dining experiences, or will you try one on your next visit? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer/musician thrilled to be bringing you all things Disney! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon!