Disney Princess Fantasy Faire

March 2013 – present

LOCATION

Fantasyland – when standing on Main Street USA facing the castle, you will see the entrance to the Fantasy Faire on your left (between the castle and the entrance to Frontierland).

BACKGROUND

The princesses used to conduct meet and greets in the rear of Fantasyland, but the venue was largely empty and didn’t have the same charm or warmth as the rest of the land. So in 2011, Imagineers announced plans to open a new area specifically for the princesses and their friends, replacing the Carnation Plaza Gardens on Main Street USA. The Fantasy Faire would serve as a home for the princesses, providing a theatre to tell their stories and a grand hall where they could directly interact with guests. Although it’s not the only place in the park to meet princesses, visiting the Fantasy Faire is essentially a guarantee that guests will encounter at least one of their favorite royal ladies.

Construction of the Fantasy Faire marked the first expansion of Fantasyland since 1983. After a year of construction, the Fantasy Faire opened to the public in 2012, and its shows began running just weeks later. Today, the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire is one of the most visited areas in the park, and continues to capture the imagination of guests of all ages.

EXPERIENCE

Details:

• Single Rider Line – no
• Fast Pass – no
• Height Requirement – none
• Duration – N/A

Although it is newer and separated from the rest of Fantasyland, the Fantasy Faire fits seamlessly with the Bavarian village theme found in Disney’s most famous land. The buildings are incredibly detailed and rustic—it’s hard to remember that it hasn’t been in the park since day one.

There are a number of things to do in the Fantasy Faire, making it more like a miniature land itself than a walkthrough attraction. Guests can visit the Royal Hall and meet some princesses (and sometimes their princes), watch various slapstick-comedy depictions of fairytales in the Royal Theatre, dine at the fantasy-themed food carts, and buy a memento in the gift shop. Whether you spend a few minutes or a few hours in the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, you will experience some serious Disney magic.

MY RATING – ★★★★☆

The Fantasy Faire is an amazing showcase of Disney Imagineering. There are so many tiny details in the buildings, the Royal Hall captures the feel of a magic castle, and the theatre is charming. Although I personally don’t really care for the slapstick-humored retellings of the princess’ stories, little kids can’t seem to get enough. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that several princesses who weren’t meeting guests in the Royal Hall wandered around the Fantasy Faire, chatting with little girls sporting tiaras.

The Fantasy Faire is really cute, but guests who aren’t interested in anything princess-related won’t find much to do or see here. If you are princess-obsessed, this area is a must. Otherwise, stop in for a quick peek and move on.

TRIVIA

Rapunzel’s tower, which stands in front of the Royal Hall, glows at night.

On the tallest steeple of the main building, you can see a plaque with the letters “CPG”. This marks the site of the old Carnation Plaza Gardens, which was replaced by the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire.

If you want to meet a specific princess, ask a cast member. They usually know who will make an appearance that day!