DLP Guide Forum - The Disneyland Paris magicforum community

So this slipped out on Monday, good timing with eyes elsewhere.

I noticed the World Chorus postshow of "it's a small world" was closed this week, and here's apparently why: It's going to become a new covered meet 'n' greet location for Disney Princesses, according to member Eve on Disney Central Plaza.

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The area was completely unique to Disneyland Paris and I believe the lovely animation segments were produced by the old Walt Disney Animation studio in Paris. (If anyone knows more about those, please let us know) Maintenance of the video clips and effects wasn't always that great, but I loved this area... what a loss.

And look here we are, I took this on Monday evening. I was disappointed at the time to see it closed...

(//http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/5875/p1220705.jpg)

...now I wish I'd broken the door down and had one last look!

Apparently it's part of next year's Magical Moments Festival. Yes, you read correctly, after MMP and NGF, it's MMF for 2011. Forced photo locations ahoy.

If I had known it would have been closed, I wouldn't have rushed through it so fast when we visited in July. :evil:

Is there any possibility that if the princesses move here, it might free up the Royal Castle Stage so that it can return to its propper use? One can hope :lol:

On another note... Magic moments? How original  :roll:

I must admit that  we used to only walk through and watch the films once on each trip but ride IASW about five times - but I loved the little films so sad to see them go! Can they not work them into the queue line at the beginning somehow instead? Put screens still boxed in little houses hanging from the ceiling some how showing them?

Quote from: "Festival Disney"Is there any possibility that if the princesses move here, it might free up the Royal Castle Stage so that it can return to its propper use? One can hope :lol:

Now wouldnt that be great? But that ugly word-budget springs up again! :roll:  :lol:

Although its a shame it going because i was unique,lets face it no one went to look and the long walk to get out of the attraction was hated by some.

Would like to see the castle stage being used for what it was made for again.

Well, we should have seen it coming. France Télécom has long pulled out, and those kids in the videos were stuck in an era long before iPhones. And of course it would be a princess meet-and-greet, and of course they would be selling it as the main attraction of something called the "Magical Moments Festival." Euro Disney is nothing if not dependable.

I loved the area as a child (particularly the fiberglass shooting star effect along the wall), so I'll be sad to see it go, too. It was one of Disney's better attempts at incorporating the sponsor into the attraction, and it encapsulated the message of the ride well. (Sorry, eulogizing came as a natural impulse.)

I wonder if things would have gone differently if 'Small World had been the popular ride they foresaw in 1992.

Quote from: "Anthony"The area was completely unique to Disneyland Paris and I believe the lovely animation segments were produced by the old Walt Disney Animation studio in Paris. (If anyone knows more about those, please let us know)

All I know for sure is that the animation was directed by Chris Bailey (who would go on to work on Runaway Brain, It's Tough to Be A Bug and Kim Possible) and that they were of course an application of the video-based Pepper's Ghost variety. Much like Star Course (defunct), Timekeeper's time machine (defunct) and the card players of Phantom Manor (still there for now).

Quote from: "pussinboots"I wonder if things would have gone differently if 'Small World had been the popular ride they foresaw in 1992.

Oh, it actually is quite popular. If its queue line is never very long it's mostly because it has the highest capacity of any ride in the park and no FastPass to inflate the standby wait time. Its guest satisfaction rate is also among the highest.

This has really bummed me out. I loved this post show area, and it really unified the theme. I don't think much to princess meets and greets at the best of time, but this is really a sad situation to me :(

wow, I feel bad lol I did not even notice it there when I was last in DLP lol ops

I have some more info if you'd like...

The working title is Royal Princess Palace.  It's designed by WDI, NOT Entertainment.  And the area will be open even when there are no Princesses inside, since there will be interactive elements all over the place.

Now that's sad news  :(  . At least I managed to take a last walk by during my last visit. Mainly when I did this ride I always visited the post show. On the other hand if you come to think about it, people rarely cared about it and they just made a quick passing by or didn't even notice it. Disney is just trying to re-invent a place where people as it seems have no interest. And what would it be more popular at the moment...? A meet and greet with princesses...unfortunately.

Well, I must say I never realized this area was actually there...
So, for 'normal' visitors it's not a big deal that it's being replaced with something 'normal' people would actually remember, right..? (I'm so bad at explaining my thoughts...:roll:)

QuoteApparently it's part of next year's Magical Moments Festival. Yes, you read correctly, after MMP and NGF, it's MMF for 2011. Forced photo locations ahoy.

Can we start an official thread for the Magical Moments Festival?

QuoteIs there any possibility that if the princesses move here, it might free up the Royal Castle Stage so that it can return to its propper use? One can hope

But any show like that would involve money. Something Management seem to be against doing unless its wasted on carnival rides and year long events. Its probarely to free up the space so the Entertainment can put on more silly meet & Smile type shows like Mary Poppins.

I really think the current direction Disneyland Paris is going in is very sad. Next month will possibly be my last trip to the Resort. I just don't see much to be positive about anymore :(

Come on, is Disney of today just about Princesses? First they ruined one of the best restaurants in the resort, Auberge de Cendrillion, with a Princess character meal and now it is it's a small world.

I didn't like the post show of it's a small world and so I don't mind that it will be removed. BUT why does it have to be replaced with another meet and greet.

In Florida they realized that they have to think about all the new princess meet and greets and now the whole expansion plan gets reworked. It looks like they are really afraid of Harry Potter and it is about time that Disney realizes that they don't create the best attractions in the themepark business anymore. All Disney can do is to use franchises and to squeeze the money out of it until nobody wants to see it anymore. Maybe that's a reason why "The Princess and the Frog" wasn't a success. Maybe people are getting tired of Disney princesses.

Quote from: "Kristof"It's designed by WDI, NOT Entertainment.  And the area will be open even when there are no Princesses inside, since there will be interactive elements all over the place.

At least there is some good news!

For me IASW is a bit like Marmite, love it or hate it, Loved the ride, hated the tune but always rode it and enjoyed walking round the post ride area. With that gone im almost glad its closed the next time we go.

Thanks for the info RiverRogue. That's right, I'd forgotten the connection to Runaway Brain.

Quote from: "RiverRogue"

Quote from: "pussinboots"I wonder if things would have gone differently if 'Small World had been the popular ride they foresaw in 1992.

Oh, it actually is quite popular. If its queue line is never very long it's mostly because it has the highest capacity of any ride in the park and no FastPass to inflate the standby wait time. Its guest satisfaction rate is also among the highest.

Funnily enough whilst the photo I posted earlier was taken during one of those many walk-on times, just as I was on my way home on Thursday I saw the queue completely filled, the whole waiting area full right down to the globe. Even then, wait time was only saying 30mins.

Quote from: "Kristof"The working title is Royal Princess Palace.  It's designed by WDI, NOT Entertainment.  And the area will be open even when there are no Princesses inside, since there will be interactive elements all over the place.

WDI is good. But it's a big shame to have to lose this postshow for it. Fantasyland has plenty of space and this hardly seems the most "Princessy" area, between Small World and Alice in Wonderland. I guess they just can't/won't pay and go through planning permission (if needed) for a whole new building.

It felt weird being dumped straight out of Small World back into the park via what should be the disabled entrance, no little finale or conclusion to bring you out of it gradually. Even if it had it coming, and few people bothered to look at the area, the ride has lost a special little extra.

Forgive me, I can't remember this area, but does this mean that guests exiting the ride will find themselves plonked in a Princess fest?

Why can they create some sort of new Princess show for the Fantasyland Festival Stage? Did WDW have some sorty of Princess show? Even do up the front so it looks a bit more Princessey - just as long as its far away from Classic rides and unique Paris experiances!

Personally, I don't mind if it is gone. It was nice to walk through, but that's all. Never payed much attention.
My little daughter will probably miss ist. She loved it, to look through the little windows an watch the differend children.

I have to agree with those who have said they won't mind if it's gone, I didn't even know there was anything to see apart from old "its a small world" furniture and usually walked passed it, just annoyed that it was taking so long to exit the ride.
I do think the Princesses are being far too overused by Disney in every respect! You can hardly walk into a shop these days without seeing them on something! I think it has ruined the individualness (if that's even a word) of the princesses themselves because now they are all bunched together and I really dislike that!

Its going to be very odd having a meet and greet that has nothing to do with iasw right beside it! :roll:

I would have even prefered an It's a small world merchandise store or something, with items unique to the ride, like dolls from the different countries and stuff, that would have been really nice and in keeping with the ride.

QuoteIn Florida they realized that they have to think about all the new princess meet and greets and now the whole expansion plan gets reworked. It looks like they are really afraid of Harry Potter and it is about time that Disney realizes that they don't create the best attractions in the themepark business anymore. All Disney can do is to use franchises and to squeeze the money out of it until nobody wants to see it anymore. Maybe that's a reason why "The Princess and the Frog" wasn't a success. Maybe people are getting tired of Disney princesses.

I was at the D23 Expo when Jay annouced the original Fantasyland plans. It was met with huge applause from the audience until the word Princess was mentioned. Than the packed Arena went awfully silent. While I did like some of the plans talked about. Most of it appeared to be aimed at one age group and market. So I was very happy to read that Disney was reworking the plans. Its a shame also Princess and the Frog wasn't more of a suscess. I think the movie is fantastic.

QuoteWDI is good. But it's a big shame to have to lose this postshow for it. Fantasyland has plenty of space and this hardly seems the most "Princessy" area, between Small World and Alice in Wonderland. I guess they just can't/won't pay and go through planning permission (if needed) for a whole new building.

I wouldn't say WDI is good. These are the same people who gave us TSPL. An addition that proves you can in Europe build any old crap and the fans will accept it. I cringe to think what will become of the former postshow for Its a Small World. But I do agree about the space that exist already in Fantasyland and that a new Meet and Greet could of been placed somewhere else. More concern for the future. :(

I also like "The Princess and the Frog" and I think it is a wonderful movie that proves that it doesn'T need to be CGI to be a good movie.

As a said in a previous post, Disney of today is just about franchises and their biggest is Princesses.

In my opinion the princesses don't fit to it's a small world. So why are they creating the meet and greet there? I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I even would prefere a shop dedicated to princess stuff than another meet and greet. The best would be a new post show related to the attraction.

Hopefully WDI does a great job on reworking the expansion plan, but I doubt it. Until now they are only adding one new ride, and a second Dumbo and they call it an expansion.
Do you think they realized at the Expo last year that fans aren't that happy with the whole princess stuff. I really hope that things will get better after Tom Staggs became head of Parks and Resort. But he is still another accountant and not a creative person.
Disney needs a team like Eisner and Wells were at the beginning of their leadership twenty years ago.

I'm sure it will not take a long time until people complain about the meet and greet, because it will get very crowded in there when girls want to get a picture with a princess. Exiting the ride will be tough.

I think some of you might want to consider the concept that just because you, for whatever reason, never took the time to have a look around the place, that doesn't mean that it was bad or that its demise is not a loss.

Anyway, I think it won't necessarily be disastrous if designed by Imagineering, as long as they stick to Mary Blairish designs (or the updated 1990s Paris version) rather than plunge the whole thing in generic princess treacle. And I wonder if it will retain its post show function at all. It doesn't seem impossible; the building is spacious enough to accommodate both the mandatory pink castle backdrop with the line of taffeta-clad twelve-year-olds and a corridor for exiting 'Small World riders.

Quote from: "Anthony"

Quote from: "RiverRogue"Oh, it actually is quite popular. If its queue line is never very long it's mostly because it has the highest capacity of any ride in the park and no FastPass to inflate the standby wait time. Its guest satisfaction rate is also among the highest.

Funnily enough whilst the photo I posted earlier was taken during one of those many walk-on times, just as I was on my way home on Thursday I saw the queue completely filled, the whole waiting area full right down to the globe. Even then, wait time was only saying 30mins.

It has a higher capacity than even Pirates, then? Wouldn't have thought that was possible without one of those inflatable airplane slides. A few months ago on a particularly busy Saturday — Crush was spilling out as if on its way to the Backlot — 'Small World was just about the only activity in the resort you could manage within twenty minutes. But that explains it then, obviously...

Well Crush can accommodate aout 800 per hour, IASW 3000, hence the difference in queues. Walt Disney learnt a lot of lessons on capacity for the 1964 world's fair, with boats and onmimovers being people eaters. It seems Disney in the large has forgotten how to make people eaters (thank goodness Buzz is an Omnimover, could you imagine it with slower loading?).

FWIW, my kids always adore the post show (as do I, as it is really the message of IASW). Hey, at least we are not getting the stupid toons like DL and HKDL did! Phew

Quote from: "davewasbaloo"FWIW, my kids always adore the post show (as do I, as it is really the message of IASW). Hey, at least we are not getting the stupid toons like DL and HKDL did! Phew

I thought the same. I don't mind seeing Jack Sparrow and Barbossa in the PoTC ride, I actually liked it in Florida, but I hope that IASW will stay without the toons.

Maybe Jack and Barbossa would boost attendance of the ride. It is so sad that this great ride doesn't get the attention it should get from people.

Quote from: "davewasbaloo"Well Crush can accommodate aout 800 per hour, IASW 3000, hence the difference in queues. Walt Disney learnt a lot of lessons on capacity for the 1964 world's fair, with boats and onmimovers being people eaters. It seems Disney in the large has forgotten how to make people eaters (thank goodness Buzz is an Omnimover, could you imagine it with slower loading?).

I read somewhere that Pirates eats 3400 guests per hour, the Haunted Mansions 3200. So if those numbers are remotely accurate, 'Small World must get even more than that. Apparently a standard dark ride digests about 1000, so Crush gets less than a C-Ticket. But what I really want to know, for obvious rat-based reasons, is the capacity of Pooh's Hunny Hunt... It doesn't seem like much of a man-eater to me.

But it seems to me Disney is building more Omnimovers than ever at the moment. Buzz as you said, the new Little Mermaid ride is one, Midway Mania is a variation. For thirty years prior to those every Omnimover Disney built was either a Haunted Mansion or some cornfield excursion at Epcot.

Or don't forget the amazing Adventure Through Inner Space (man, I miss that one - as well as the deceased people Eaters that used to be at Epcot). I am glad to see the revival of people eaters.

I never saw the preshow and i really regret not seeing it now.... :(
I dont really like the idea of a new princess meet and greet, i dont think it really suits IASW.
I do hope that when the begin the meet and greets all the princesses are there including pocahontas and Mulan who never seem to be included.

Quote from: "disneyrules"I never saw the preshow and i really regret not seeing it now.... :(
I dont really like the idea of a new princess meet and greet, i dont think it really suits IASW.
I do hope that when the begin the meet and greets all the princesses are there including pocahontas and Mulan who never seem to be included.

I agree that if they are going to be using this as an indoor meet and greet then ALL princess (well, atleast 4) should be out at a time. If they have one alternating every now and then would be awful and a complete waste of space. I'm sad to see the postshow go but I am sure the new meet and greets will be popular.

Quote from: "pussinboots"I read somewhere that Pirates eats 3400 guests per hour, the Haunted Mansions 3200. So if those numbers are remotely accurate, 'Small World must get even more than that. Apparently a standard dark ride digests about 1000, so Crush gets less than a C-Ticket.

Without going into too much detail, it's difficult comparing third-hand numbers because Disney uses two different ways to calculate hourly capacity... one purely mathematical, the other taking into account actual operational conditions and thus closer to reality. I don't have the numbers here but both Pirates and Phantom Manor seem to have capacities lower than those you've mentioned; 1000 for a dark ride is about right.

Anyway, to get back on topic, yeah, I'm going to miss that post-show too although I'll readily admit I haven't been through there in ages. For those wondering if it will still be connected to Small World as a sort of post-show, it would seem that the answer is no. I hope they'll find a convincing way of making this photo-location fit into that part of Fantasyland...

I suppose one of the reasons it was chosen is because of the doorway on each level, meaning future Princess fans can enter via the upper level and then walk around down to the meet 'n' greet and exit, perhaps.

It might make more sense in this location if it was given some vaguely rural/country theme, like the three fairies house (taken) or Belle's house. Royal Princess Palace doesn't quite suggest that though, does it?

QuoteDo you think they realized at the Expo last year that fans aren't that happy with the whole princess stuff. I really hope that things will get better after Tom Staggs became head of Parks and Resort. But he is still another accountant and not a creative person.

Not really because Disney tend to ignore the fans wishes half the time and just do what it wants. The verdict is still out on Tom Staggs but he has got three boys who are the perfect age for Disney parks. And he does seem to view the parks with them in mind.

QuoteDisney needs a team like Eisner and Wells were at the beginning of their leadership twenty years ago.

We do have John Lasseter. But my view on him has change lately after seeing TSPL and knowing he was heavily involved with the project. John just seems more concerned with his legacy at Disney. I'm sure his heart is in the right place, but he just appears to be wanting to push his own Characters that he created out inside the parks to much. While Michael Eisner made plenty of mistakes. Especially towards the end of his Disney career. He did have a good creative mind and when you go over interviews from Imagineers on past projects. Eisner is credited with coming up with a lot of brilliant ideas.

I'm not surprised with this news. I think that this is a start of a new theme - refashioning pre and postshow areas of rides into new uses. One example that I think will be redone is Art of Disney Animation, which I think will be rearranged at some point and could have some rooms used as either a shop, a very small ride or perhaps a restaurant.

I think that the postshow area for IASW is often ignored by repeat visitors, especially if busy, so I don't think it is a great loss. However, I don't think the replacement is a great idea either! However, better to use the space for something useful than use somewhere else for it.

If they are going to start doing this rubbish, it would be cool to use the Post Show of Star Tours for some Star Wars meet and greets like they used to do in the early 90's outdoors.

I agree that the post show of Star Wars needs to be re done and a meet and greet area would be ideal. I never see anyone in there on the games :?

I agree that the IASW exit area is an odd choice for a meet and greet, however an undercover princess meet and greet area was sorely needed as they were always getting cancelled in the wetter months. I know it has been requested several times to have a meet and greet area inside.

Although some of us (me included) dont really care for the princesses they are very popular, one only has to look at the size of the queue at the meet and greets to see that :? It would be nicer if they had the area to meet and greet the rarer Disney 'princesses' or a meet and greet with ariel as a mermaid... now that I would be interested to see  :-"

Quote from: "davewasbaloo"If they are going to start doing this rubbish, it would be cool to use the Post Show of Star Tours for some Star Wars meet and greets like they used to do in the early 90's outdoors.

A Star Wars meet and greet would be great. At DHS in Florida it was nearly impossible to get a picture with the Star Wars characters. It would be a reason to get rid of these stupid video games. There they have a video game that is really not suitable for a Disneyland Park.

I remember in 1992 seeing C3PO, Chewbacca and an Ewok in Discoveryland (as well as two different live bands - one future brass, and 1 percussion, as well as the Roc Shoc show in Videopolis - this is why toons in the theatre do not cut it for me).

At least a few years ago when they had the human pinball game that was free, and all the other free machines where you could distort your face, or change your voice, it was a worth while area. Now, not so much. And I love Star Wars.

Quote from: "PetiteSirene"I agree that the post show of Star Wars needs to be re done and a meet and greet area would be ideal. I never see anyone in there on the games :?

I agree that the IASW exit area is an odd choice for a meet and greet, however an undercover princess meet and greet area was sorely needed as they were always getting cancelled in the wetter months. I know it has been requested several times to have a meet and greet area inside.

Although some of us (me included) dont really care for the princesses they are very popular, one only has to look at the size of the queue at the meet and greets to see that :? It would be nicer if they had the area to meet and greet the rarer Disney 'princesses' or a meet and greet with ariel as a mermaid... now that I would be interested to see  :-"

I agree it would be great if you could meet mermaid ariel and princess like mulan and pocahontas who never seem to be with the other princesses.

Quote from: "davewasbaloo"I remember in 1992 seeing C3PO, Chewbacca and an Ewok in Discoveryland (as well as two different live bands - one future brass, and 1 percussion, as well as the Roc Shoc show in Videopolis - this is why toons in the theatre do not cut it for me).

Hmm, incidentally, they are looking for tall cast members to... um, "help" Chewbacca this winter. I wonder what that's all about...

Sorry, getting off topic again...

Lodged between the Old Mill, Wonderland and an abstract representation of the world, one has to wonder what would fit there that's not immediately part of one of those three themes.

Actually, is it really WDI doing this? Or DLPI? It seems like a small project to pass on to Glendale... DLPI doesn't have the same resources, but they generally keep closer to the original Imagineers' visions for the park.

I remember this post-show area and I've been at least trough it once on every visit. This area was clearly inspired by the original sponsor, France Telecom. I've never really seen the point to it, but small kids seemed to enjoy it, because it had some things for them to explore. In my opinion, it failed to explain itself and as such did not make any sense to most people.

Last time I've visited this area, it was in a desperate need of a rehab. To be honest, I don't mind them removing it, it wasn't really acceptable anymore in the current state and a simple rehab would not make it more attractive.

Of course, you could do something more inspiring to this area than just another Princess Meet-n-Greet. In that form, it will probably not be part of the IASW attraction anymore. I actually would prefer a decent post-show area, something that makes the transition between the attraction and "the rest of the park" more fluent. The Star Tours post-show, before it degenerated to its current state as desolate, misplaced, rundown arcade hall with games nobody wants to play, was a good example of a post-show that filled the gap between the attraction and the land outside.

Quote from: "johnd331"In my opinion, it failed to explain itself and as such did not make any sense to most people.

And we wonder why Disney keeps stooping to a lower common denominator.

It's not the Tate Modern for pete's sake. It was a display of children from different countries communicating. Must everything be labeled "ride," "shop" or "restaurant" for people not to get hysterically confused and run for safety?

Quote from: "RiverRogue"Lodged between the Old Mill, Wonderland and an abstract representation of the world, one has to wonder what would fit there that's not immediately part of one of those three themes.

Actually, is it really WDI doing this? Or DLPI? It seems like a small project to pass on to Glendale... DLPI doesn't have the same resources, but they generally keep closer to the original Imagineers' visions for the park.

It's pretty much physically a part of the Small World complex, though, isn't it?

They did manage a nice marriage of themes with the Fantasia Gelati area, where they kept the pastel colors and gaiety of It's a Small World but without the abstract element. Perhaps if they build the princesses something with the aesthetic of a cupcake, it might fit...

If its going to be a princess meet and greet area then they should theme it around IASW. Using the Princesses from other cultures such as Pocahontas and Mulan. At least that way it wouldn't seem as odd coming off a ride about different cultures to be confronted with Belle, Aurora and Cinderella...

I think this is a great idea. Maybe some of you forget, but the entire resort only has ONE - partially - indoor meet & greet location (Woody's Roundup Village). All the other meet & greets are outside, which are often cancelled due to the Paris weather conditions. This is very needed (all other Disney Resorts have simular locations) and having several meet & greets with different princesses at the same time will result in less waitingtime. Bare in mind that we have 2 NEW princesses added to the Princess-franchise lately (Tiana and Rapunzel by the end of the year). Concentrating them in one indoor themed location is what I always thought DLP would need. Now, finally, they've got the message.

There is no such thing as too many 'organized' meet & greets (not the loose characters wandering through the park, but the ones with queue's). DLP had so many meet & greets in the early years, but most of them are no more. This new Princess location is very welcome, in my opinion. And no, I'm not the target audience for Princesses...

I Hope the Magical Moments Festival won't be all about Disney Princesses... Meet and Greet seems fine.

One can hope the magic moments will be rather similiar to the Year of a Million Dreams in WDW, where they suprise random guests with special experiences like being in the parade. Of course the best prize of the Million Dreams was being picked to stay in the castle... They cant do that here but maybe an upgrade to a suite in the DLH?  Oops! :offtopic: :lol:

They need more meet and greet areas like the one they have in Epcot (though I have heard that Woodys round up is sometimes run in this fashion) Where you have one queue and you meet a bunch of characters in a row.

But why not use the Fantasy Festival Stage? It doesn't seem like they have any intention of ever using that again anyway.

I agree the FFS would be a good meet and greet area, but perhaps if the rumours of its destruction in the future are true than they may be avoiding using it for any purpose that might mean they would need to keep/move it?

Quote from: "pussinboots"It's pretty much physically a part of the Small World complex, though, isn't it?

They did manage a nice marriage of themes with the Fantasia Gelati area, where they kept the pastel colors and gaiety of It's a Small World but without the abstract element. Perhaps if they build the princesses something with the aesthetic of a cupcake, it might fit...

Yeah, I guess they may also play up the cartoony qualities, as they did with L'Arbre Enchanté and with Belle's Christmas Village in that area. That'd at least link the different styles around it. But it doesn't solve the fact that it's an odd spot to shoehorn the princesses in. I'd think they feel more at home near the Castle...

QuoteAnd we wonder why Disney keeps stooping to a lower common denominator.

It's not the Tate Modern for pete's sake. It was a display of children from different countries communicating. Must everything be labeled "ride," "shop" or "restaurant" for people not to get hysterically confused and run for safety?

No, not everything should be Rollercoaster Tycoon compliantly categorized... absolutely not. For example, I love the Nautilus, Adventure Isle, La Cabane des Robinson, etc. All those are not your average ride, shop or restaurant, they just part of the land they're in... Just like people who first visit to Pirates on a not so busy day, they don't even know they're in a ride until they see the loading station.

I'm repeating mystelf, but I would love a post-show that would make sense in the context between "It's a small world" and the park. It is quite clear this post-shows original intention was to cater to the primary sponsor. With that connection totally gone, it made even less sense in my opinion.

Yes, it is a shame France Télécom pulled out. Perhaps they would have gotten around to updating the display to 21st century communication if they hadn't... Children typing grammatically incorrect text messages or reporting their breakfast on Twitter or whatever it is we're supposed to do nowadays. Although looking at the popularity of the thing even on a Disney forum, I suppose not.

For those who've never taken a look inside the plywood buildings:
[youtube:12aemqgl]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M4LlYC38x4&feature=search[/youtube:12aemqgl]

It has to be mentioned that the children's singing was timed to harmonize with the background music. Without it, it's nails on a chalkboard, haha.

Well, rest in peace, kids. I hope they've moved on to cordless phones in Heaven.

This is such a small spot to put a princess meet and greet. I agree that its a shame that they have decided to close the postshow, it was something that was completely fun and unique to the Paris park. But like a lot of you have said would it not be better to but the new meet and greet closer to the castle or maybe utilise one of the stages that haven't been used in a long time??
I still think we need a Pixie Hollow somewhere in Fantasyland. But even that would be too big to but in such a small plot!
would it not be better just to turn it into a meet and greet area for all Disney characters and not just limit it to the princesses? As its next to 'It's a Small World' would it not be better to meet and greets with characters that come from all over the world? and have specific times and days for different countries?
Just a thought!  :)

Great idea sophieD i much rather see all the characters at different time. Rather than just the princesses.

Not really sure what I think of this tbh, I kinda like the post-show area even if it was outdated.

If they was changing it to bring in Tink and friends then maybe I'd be a bit more excited, Princesses are so blah now even if my DD adores them.

When did France-Télécom pull out of IASW? And does anybody also know when this was even added? I swear not remembering seeing this when I went in 2001 (when the façade of IASW was still being redecorated), nor do I recall seeing it in 2004. I knew it existed prior to my 2010 trip, though.

I thought that the IASW post-show was sweet and a nice way to exit the ride, though ultimately nothing extremely gripping. I'm slightly sad to see it go, but nothing more than a shrug and an "oh, that's a shame". I have to say that I'm glad that they are creating some indoor meet-and-greet areas for both face and fully masked characters; in particular, the queue under the baking sun at the Royal Castle Stage looked particularly painful for meeting princesses. Needless to say, I still would like more random character encounters like there used to be.

Quote from: "Wonderlicious"When did France-Télécom pull out of IASW? And does anybody also know when this was even added? I swear not remembering seeing this when I went in 2001 (when the façade of IASW was still being redecorated), nor do I recall seeing it in 2004. I knew it existed prior to my 2010 trip, though.

I thought that the IASW post-show was sweet and a nice way to exit the ride, though ultimately nothing extremely gripping. I'm slightly sad to see it go, but nothing more than a shrug and an "oh, that's a shame". I have to say that I'm glad that they are creating some indoor meet-and-greet areas for both face and fully masked characters; in particular, the queue under the baking sun at the Royal Castle Stage looked particularly painful for meeting princesses. Needless to say, I still would like more random character encounters like there used to be.

It was there in the '90s, as evidenced by the type of phones the children pick up. France Télécom was the ride's sponsor from 1992 all the way to 2009, so I suspect the postshow might have been there from the start. But I'm not 100 percent sure.

But even if it was "nothing extremely gripping," it still seems rather harsh that it had to be executed for that crime. If "extremely gripping" were a standard to which everything in the parks had to be held, there wouldn't be much left.

I remember it was there in 1993.

For me it´s just sad to see this gone. Not just because they change something. That´s ok. But why again a princess meet an greet. Why there?? At IASW?? It doesn´t fit. They could juse other place for princesses. Let this place be something for the better understanding between the people of the world. Not for royal girls that only have two gestures. You can meet them everywhere at every Disney Park in the world. Why is everything about princesses?? I mean I loved the Frog-Movie but I don´t need girly princesses everywhere! Keep the things in balance!

Quote from: "Riebi"I remember it was there in 1993.

For me it´s just sad to see this gone. Not just because they change something. That´s ok. But why again a princess meet an greet. Why there?? At IASW?? It doesn´t fit. They could juse other place for princesses. Let this place be something for the better understanding between the people of the world. Not for royal girls that only have two gestures. You can meet them everywhere at every Disney Park in the world. Why is everything about princesses?? I mean I loved the Frog-Movie but I don´t need girly princesses everywhere! Keep the things in balance!

That'S the Disney Company of today. It's just about franchises and focusing on little girls. And to be honest, Disney makes still a lot of money with them, but it doesn't last forever.
You are so right, it doesn't fit. I'm curious how long it takes until people are getting tired of the princesses. Tom Staggs realized it and ordered to rethink the whole princess meet and greets in MK's Fantasyland. I'm not sure if boys want to meet the princesses.

At least we don't get the Disney characters in the ride. Then the ride would really lose its premise, because the guests would just look for the characters. I'm not sure if most of the guests know, that IASW is about better understanding between the people of the world.

I'm surprised that DLP didn't already add the boutique where girls get dressed as a princess.

Isn´t that a pity? I really really like the princesses. It isn´t something like I hate the princesses. I love Princess and the Frog! But I hate to have it everywhere. They have their place - but not at every corner!

Quote from: "dagobert"At least we don't get the Disney characters in the ride. Then the ride would really lose its premise, because the guests would just look for the characters. I'm not sure if most of the guests know, that IASW is about better understanding between the people of the world.

I saw that at DL California. It was soooo sad cause the dads and mums didn´t said things like "Look germany, look africa..." They just had spotted all the characters while saying "Look there´s ariel!!". Sad. Not the attraction I loved from Paris.

Quote from: "dagobert"I'm surprised that DLP didn't already add the boutique where girls get dressed as a princess.

They already have, in the Disneyland Hotel, second floor. You can see it while standing in the lobby and looking up to the left side. You mean the 'Bibbedi Bobbedi Boutique'. You're right, they don't have that in the park, but the service in the Disneyland Hotel is the same.

Quote from: "Riebi"Isn´t that a pity? I really really like the princesses. It isn´t something like I hate the princesses. I love Princess and the Frog! But I hate to have it everywhere. They have their place - but not at every corner!

Quote from: "dagobert"At least we don't get the Disney characters in the ride. Then the ride would really lose its premise, because the guests would just look for the characters. I'm not sure if most of the guests know, that IASW is about better understanding between the people of the world.

I saw that at DL California. It was soooo sad cause the dads and mums didn´t said things like "Look germany, look africa..." They just had spotted all the characters while saying "Look there´s ariel!!". Sad. Not the attraction I loved from Paris.

I don't mind if Disney would add Captain Jack, Barbossa and Davy Jones to POTC, because it doesn't have a serious background like IASW. Since IASW was built for the United Nations it was considered to make people think about other nations and other peoples.

Quote from: "Tuvok"

Quote from: "dagobert"I'm surprised that DLP didn't already add the boutique where girls get dressed as a princess.

They already have, in the Disneyland Hotel, second floor. You can see it while standing in the lobby and looking up to the left side. You mean the 'Bibbedi Bobbedi Boutique'. You're right, they don't have that in the park, but the service in the Disneyland Hotel is the same.

Yes I mean this boutique. I didn't know that. When did it open and what did it replace. Does Disney advertise the boutique in the parks?

We wondered why it was always closed on our las visit. Dd was upset by this and we went back every da thinking it was just closed for refurbishment and hoping it would be open again during our stay. DD was sad when I told her earlier it was gone she looked like she was going to cry   :(

I also wondered why it was closed at our last visit back in August. It was fun to see all the children phoning each other...at least I hope it will look good after the remodelation.

Quote from: "dagobert"

Quote from: "Tuvok"

Quote from: "dagobert"I'm surprised that DLP didn't already add the boutique where girls get dressed as a princess.

They already have, in the Disneyland Hotel, second floor. You can see it while standing in the lobby and looking up to the left side. You mean the 'Bibbedi Bobbedi Boutique'. You're right, they don't have that in the park, but the service in the Disneyland Hotel is the same.

Yes I mean this boutique. I didn't know that. When did it open and what did it replace. Does Disney advertise the boutique in the parks?

In the 4 years I've been going, I never saw any advertisings of the Boutique. Neither at the parks, at the hotel or at the Park TV channel, maybe it is an exclusive service for guests of Disneyland Hotel.

Rumour has it that the new Princess Meet and Greet photolocation that has replaced the It's a Small World Post-show has been postponed until the 20th Anniversary.

"Our brochures also point out that these benefits may be closed, modified, delayed or deleted without notice."
So anything can dramatically change. ¬.¬


Source: DisneyCentralPlaza (//http://disneycentralplaza.englishboard.net/t17525p100-disney-princesses-a-royal-invitation-a-fantasyland-2012)

So disappointed if they do leave this as i was really looking forward to doing that this year for my daughter i may not go now this year.  

BOO!!!!!!! :(

Would be strange if it is postponed, when I was at DLP last weekend some soucres told me that they are working on the Meet'n'Greet at full force and that it would be part of the new season.

I can't believe that it can be so delayed it isn't launched until next year. They still have plenty of time until the new season starts and also, they can launch later in the year if need be, as per TSPL.

Maybe the 20th anniversary needs some fluffing up and they feel the need to delay it till then.

quote]

In the 4 years I've been going, I never saw any advertisings of the Boutique. Neither at the parks, at the hotel or at the Park TV channel, maybe it is an exclusive service for guests of Disneyland Hotel.[/quote]


No, we used it and wasnt stopping at the hotel. Bookings are made in the shop in the hotel

I've been going for seventeen years and I never knew it existed until I read it here, not that I'm interested (59 year old, overeweight man) it would probably be frowned on If I showed interest!!

Quote from: "Kobato"In the 4 years I've been going, I never saw any advertisings of the Boutique. Neither at the parks, at the hotel or at the Park TV channel, maybe it is an exclusive service for guests of Disneyland Hotel.

This service is avaliable to anyone and is advertised inside the Disneyland Hotel.

Quote from: "littlemermaid83"

Quote from: "Kobato"In the 4 years I've been going, I never saw any advertisings of the Boutique. Neither at the parks, at the hotel or at the Park TV channel, maybe it is an exclusive service for guests of Disneyland Hotel.

This service is avaliable to anyone and is advertised inside the Disneyland Hotel.

Well, I've never been inside the Disneyland Hotel, so I didn't know that, thank you!

Does this mean the ride is shut.

Quote from: "Stitch2011Stitch"Does this mean the ride is shut.

No, It's a small world remains open during the construction of the Princess Pavilion as it is not actual part of the ride itself.

Quote from: "PetiteSirene"If its going to be a princess meet and greet area then they should theme it around IASW. Using the Princesses from other cultures such as Pocahontas and Mulan. At least that way it wouldn't seem as odd coming off a ride about different cultures to be confronted with Belle, Aurora and Cinderella...

That's a really good idea  :thumbs:

My little girl LOVED the secondary part of IASW ride so it's a real shame to see it go, infact I would go as far as to say it was her favourite thing in Disneyland Paris. But alas, I will withold judgement until I see the Princess Pavillion open.

Just out of interest, how much does it cost to transform a little girl in the boutique at the DL Hotel?

Hair and make up was 60 euros in feb you can add a dress and a photo for 140 euros .

Lol even for someone as spendhappy as me that seems a little too much like daylight robbery to me!

Quote from: "Tuvok"

Quote from: "Stitch2011Stitch"Does this mean the ride is shut.

No, It's a small world remains open during the construction of the Princess Pavilion as it is not actual part of the ride itself.

best news ever since is my 67 years old father's favourite ride!!

I am SURE that was open when I went last week of June ...

infact it was as there were kids in it .. my 4 year old loves IASW and looked but didn't want to go and play ...

Witch is true it the small world post-show closed just like anthony said or is it open just like torillien said.

Well, it was closed in June 2010 and April 2011 with my own eyes, plus lots of people update this site. I would be surprised if it were open therefore.

It was closed in dec 2010 if i remember correctly if thats any help

This is such a sad loss if it is true but it will be nice to have a proper place where you can meet the princesses. This is very sad for me as it was my faverioute ride and i could'nt go on it last time we went as it was having some repairs  :cry:  :cry: :cry:

The rides not closed, it's the post ride exhibition that is being replaced.

InsideDLParis has been posting pictures of the development of the Pavilion!

From yesterday
(//http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/full/387057334.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1314988021&Signature=LM1dCovFPnsTqYRKjlOFHM%2FcV%2FE%3D)

(//http://s1.proxy03.twitpic.com/photos/large/387058653.jpg)

Today:
(//http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/full/387782065.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1314988063&Signature=TLMZIzi8NsVkB9ZbS5atUHHn9zo%3D)

It looks really good. It's so nice to see a new, high-quality, permanent structure at Disneyland Park.

Hi all

Exciting stuff!! apparently princess pavillion opens 8th October?

Fingers crossed it does!!!

I read that the Inauguration is on the 8th, but does that mean it will actually be open to the public that day? Don't see why not, but you never know!

ah, whos knows then.  I did think it was aimed for the 20th anniversary. so maybe not so exciting after all.

Here is what Mouetto one of the admin from the DisneyCentralPlaza has posted about the new princess photolocation. Concept art has also been included and details of the new objects inside, length of queues and just general stuff.

again, NOT MINE, TAKEN FROM THE DISNEYCENTRALPLAZA! =]

As you know, the work of House of Princesses or "Disney Princesses Palace" (code name also used in building permits) are in place finisher and place of the old post-show of "it's a small world" in Fantasyland.

This attraction will host the new photolocation princesses.
The first rumors speak of an inauguration on October 8, 2011.

During the presentation of the various rehabilitation projects at the resort in March, I had the chance to visit the site and to have some information about this new attraction.

I had already touched on the topic 2011 Rehabilitation of the resort [/url].

The building permit freely available in Chester City Council tell us some interesting concepts.

First, the facade of this building will do well in the Castle of Sleeping Beauty. There will be two doors but only one entry will be left for visitors, the entrance to the right will be backstage access to the princesses.

(//http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2774/pavillon6.jpg)

principle

After going through the queue, visitors can access a privileged encounter with a Disney princess (or two in low affluence) but without knowing in advance where he will meet.

Here are the ground plane, seen from the top of this attraction. We find the circular shape of the old post-show of "it's a small world" since the exterior walls have not been changed. For cons, the walls were created to define the queues (green and yellow) and two meeting places (in red).

(//http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5033/pavillon5.jpg)

So you will first take the queue the outermost (in green) to a first door. At this point, everything depends on the crowd.
In low abundance, the queue full (yellow) is not used and you can go directly to a space for meetings with the princesses (black arrows).
In case of overcrowding, the queue extends (yellow) to another door where you will go to a meeting spaces (blue arrows).
The output (red arrows) is by the old release of "it's a small world" passing the store of photos.

Indeed, an official photographer will be present at each meeting places and send directly to the wifi store pictures taken with the princess. It will give the family a ticket that will allow them to purchase the photos or not.
You can still use your camera to make your own shots.

The physical setting is that it is not possible to know what the princess who will be waiting a privileged space. And if by chance you fall just as they come through the outer door, you can not know in which each space is located. : P

Theming in the queue:

All along the queue, you can see the embroidered curtains hung on the walls and stone columns flanking alcoves presenting icons of princesses before the window illuminated their respective castle. Below is an example of Cinderella's glass shoe and Pink Crystal Belle will be illuminated by fiber optics.

(//http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/6277/pavillon2.jpg)

According to the ground plane, one can count the eight locations for the eight princesses: Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Ariel, Tiana, Jasmine and Mulan (or Rapunzel), knowing that at the time (the March 25, 2011), it was not intended that Rapunzel is present in the meeting spaces. (Reason unknown). But maybe they have changed their minds? Especially with the popularity of Rapunzel at Christmas 2010 and summer 2011.

Background music will be specially created for this attraction.

Note that depending on the building permit, the theoretical capacity of the queue was 308 people inside and outside a queue with removable railings is also provided which can accommodate 67 people.

Theming meeting places:

Once in this private space, so you can have a moment with one of the princesses, ask for an autograph and take pictures with her in an alcove with an arch and a background.

Here's the concept for Aurora:

(//http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4813/pavillon3.jpg)

Here's the concept for Tiana:

(//http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8823/pavillon4.jpg)

Remains to be seen what the exact time of waiting, we were told about an hour waiting for the queue shortened (green) and the final name of this attraction.

I hope this issue will have brought the elements in order to account for the rendering of this future photolocation that will send the final into oblivion trying to carnival now in place in front of Mad Hatter's Tea Cups!

Well the design there is much better than I wa expecting, so hopefully the final finish will be equally good! I'm actually inclined to say that this version is much more delicate and intimate than the version that used to be at WDW (still have to see how the replacement turns out).

The renovated exterior is much more than I expected (considering I wasn't expecting any changes at all), and it looks like it'll be a high quality installation which the park can finally be proud of! It certainly increases my interest in the Mickey version at the other end of Fantasyland. Actually, that's a key thing, the Toons are staying in Fantasyland... it's like they put some thought into retaining the thematic integrity of the lands!

I didn't think this would be something I'd be impressed with, but I've got to say, it's not really turning out to be a bad addition to the park!

Wonderful. Great to hear more about our own miniature Fantasyland expansion, although  have one question.

There are only two meeting spaces for the Princess (the areas in red). In the concepts below (with Aurora and Tiana) they have backdrops and colour schemes specific to their story, but presumably you'll be able to meet more Princesses than just Aurora and Tiana. So, do the backdrops change with the Princess inside?

I find it frustrating that you only get to meet one princess and you don't know until it's your turn. You could join the queue once each day and meet the same princess. If you want to meet mickey you queue for mickey, garunteed to meet him. My daughter wanted to meet belle in May, we queued 4 times and never met het :-(. We couldn't afford to do this princess meal!  Thankfully we joined the rapunzel queue (her 2nd fav) and met her and Flynn

Michelle

it looks nice but i am a little disappointed if i am queuing for an hour to meet one princess and not knowing who it will be.  Dont think this is very fair to be honest.  Could possibly end up wasting alot of time queuing  and meeting the same princess twice i would be very very annoyed!

I'm sure they'll have some method of perhaps posting at the entrance to the door who is currently meeting & greeting. :/

The Princesses change on a 30 minute basis so i'm guessing that is how it may operate in here.

I've just posted the concepts on DLRP Today with an English (non-Googled!) write-up of the information we were given: http://www.dlrptoday.com/2011/09/12/a-r ... -released/ (http://www.dlrptoday.com/2011/09/12/a-right-royal-beauty-concept-art-for-fantasylands-new-princess-pavilion-released/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Thanks to Mouetto for going out of his way to share these images with everyone!

I may never meet the princesses myself and I may always lament the loss of the cute Small World post-show, but this is a big improvement on the windswept Castle Stage meet 'n' greets and a smart use of an available space. Good thinking and good execution from DLP. :thumbs:

I wish they had set the date for beginning of the Halloween- Season. We are going to miss it by a few days :(
Another reason to go back, then!
Aurora1

Well I really hope so it open on 8th October since both me and my mum will there on 28th November.

I really love the design of this, and am sure my daughter will love queing in such an area before meeting the princesses.

It is a shame that after queing for so long you can't meet both the Princesses waiting, but good that you get a choice, as this should reduce SOME of the possibility of waiting twice for the same one.

When we were at Disney last there was a character meet and greet with the princesses outside where you qued up with standard rope fences. It was amazingly frustrating (& not really fair) to be queing for half an hour waiting for a Princess your daughter wants to meet, only to have then disappear at the last minute and be swapped for another you'd already seen. We wasted a good hour & a half, and only saw one princess, though many more appearing ad dissapearing within arms reach. grr.

That said, this new system will be better. If only they could guarantee upon entry which Princesses would be there by the time you got there - perhaps a ticket or token system on the door, OR simply only have 2 princesses in there per day (you could have a couple of cast members as each so they can swap in rotation & don't get tired out. (Pretty sure they think the kids wouldn't notice, as it's often completely different actresses in the parades etc!)

I never saw the aftershow of its a Small World - would have liked to as I'm especially interested in animation. However, I'm all for nicely themed, civilised queing areas for permanent meet and greets like this & the Mickey one. One thing we've vowed is never again to try & join the scrums when Princesses or Mickey/Minnie are randomly seen around the parks. Kids (& parents) turn feral!

I am honestly shocked at how little princesses will be waiting inside, especially for how long the queue will end up being. In the US parks they have similar queued/indoor princess meeting locations but about 3/4 are available and you get to meet them all, not just one. Pretty disappointed.

I agree, several would be better, but it's far preferable to the current system of just queing outside in a temporary area for just one Princess, who changes before you even get there! And the queing area and building look beautifully designed and realised. As a "permanent" meet and greet it would be rather more expensive for them to have a constant higher amount of Cast Members there, so this is a good compromise. There is nothing to stop them adding 2 princesses in each area (or indeed a Prince with them) in high season.

DLRPToday just posted new pictures of a very nearly complete looking building, with sign, gold flags etc attached:

http://www.dlrptoday.com/2011/09/15/pri ... ompletion/ (http://www.dlrptoday.com/2011/09/15/princess-pavilion-crowned-with-official-name-as-entrance-and-exit-near-completion/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

I'm very impressed with how quickly this was built, and the quality of the work.

Personally, I think the colouring, the sign, the flags on the top etc mean the building fits perfectly as complementing both the design of the main castle, and "It's a Small World" nearby. I was initially worried it may look out of place so close to IASW, but actually I think it looks rather beautiful. :)

The thing about this Princess Pavilion is, wouldn't it have been better off situated nearer Sleeping Beauty Castle? Perhaps they could've incorporated it into the Auberge de Cendrillon restaurant? That area always looks huge on satellite photos and, given how you have to spend a ton of money to get in there, perhaps it could be better utilised?

Quote from: "Alan"The thing about this Princess Pavilion is, wouldn't it have been better off situated nearer Sleeping Beauty Castle? Perhaps they could've incorporated it into the Auberge de Cendrillon restaurant? That area always looks huge on satellite photos and, given how you have to spend a ton of money to get in there, perhaps it could be better utilised?

They were probably unwilling to give up dining or retail space for it and constructing a new building would have been out of the question budget-wise. The location has actually really grown on me. When you think of a lot of chateaus or palaces, they tend to often have a small lodge or countryside pavilion somewhere in the grounds. It's quite nice to have this offshoot of the castle to thread that feeling a little deeper into the land. We can't have everything situated right next to the castle, it's good to bring some interest to this area of the land.

I think there are two small additions which would set this building off perfectly, the first being to add a small flowerbed outside the front, with ivy to crawl up the wall and made the building seem like a 'secluded discovery' when you approach it, as if it's there but a secret place for the Princesses to go. The second would be to clad the exit path with a wooden 'tunnel', to further the 'lost garden' theme, then I honestly think it'd look like it's always been there, and become a truely marketable NEW experience at the park! It makes all of the other photo locations look like something from a shopping centre!

I love the idea of the Princess Pavilion as It gives the Princesses that well-needed permanent meet and greet area. I would love to see this as I can remember queueing around the castle for ages waiting to meet the princesses and I was never able to see the one I wanted, especially Belle.
It looks perfectly situated too. I thought it may have looked out of place by It's A Small World but to me it looks like it was already there and it makes a brilliant addition to the already beautifully themed Fantasyland

The Princes Pavillion got it's very own wheelchair sign: //http://twitpic.com/6low0o

From @insideDLParis

The Princess Pavilion will have soft openings from the 30th Sept with the inaugaration (sp?) on the 8th October. Exciting stuff.

Wow! Only ten days to go! I can't wait to see the first videos of this.

Did anyone email dlp ambassdors for invites to the Inaugaration and heard anything back?

In December I'm bringing my 2 kids from Australia to DLP... We are sooo excited but worried we'll miss out on getting a pic with my daughters special princess Tiana. My almost 7 year old is called Tiarna pronounced the same... I remember the fuss we made being Disney fans when we discovered the new princess was going to share her name. My daughter kept laughing saying mummy Disney have stolen my name.... What an honor!!!
Anyway, she was bought the full Princess Tiana outfit for Christmas and on the January movie release here in Melbourne she dressed up as her own special princess and we went with friends to watch the movie.
Now, my daughters been to 3 disneylands around the world but since The Princess And the Frog was released we ve only done Hong Kong Disneyland and there's no Tiana there.
 Is there a way to Guarentee she gets her pic taken with her???

Quote from: "Disneyholic"In December I'm bringing my 2 kids from Australia to DLP... We are sooo excited but worried we'll miss out on getting a pic with my daughters special princess Tiana. My almost 7 year old is called Tiarna pronounced the same... I remember the fuss we made being Disney fans when we discovered the new princess was going to share her name. My daughter kept laughing saying mummy Disney have stolen my name.... What an honor!!!
Anyway, she was bought the full Princess Tiana outfit for Christmas and on the January movie release here in Melbourne she dressed up as her own special princess and we went with friends to watch the movie.
Now, my daughters been to 3 disneylands around the world but since The Princess And the Frog was released we ve only done Hong Kong Disneyland and there's no Tiana there.
 Is there a way to Guarentee she gets her pic taken with her???

Sadly what Princesses will be out are pot luck really. You can always enquire at City hall who may call the character hotline for you to see if she will be doing meets that day.

The Princess Pavilion soft opened today, and it looks really neat. Here are some photos, as seen on Disney Central Plaza from chester cat:

(//http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309061_2481445961302_1407157613_2889893_1377182069_n.jpg)

(//http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/320820_2481331078430_1407157613_2889798_1016479640_n.jpg)

(//http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/319547_2481308837874_1407157613_2889768_1694653493_n.jpg)

(//http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298363_2481310397913_1407157613_2889771_1052297895_n.jpg)

(//http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/297466_2481311117931_1407157613_2889772_569386942_n.jpg)

(//http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/313760_2481317158082_1407157613_2889780_1904519421_n.jpg)

(//http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/313942_2481319278135_1407157613_2889788_1540715659_n.jpg)

(//http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/299356_2481322238209_1407157613_2889790_840099717_n.jpg)

(//http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300783_2481327518341_1407157613_2889794_1659160886_n.jpg)

(//http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312632_2481333478490_1407157613_2889801_1344750586_n.jpg)

Love that they put the castle in the middle of an Eyvind Earle artwork - it looks quite photos hoped, but the fact that they tried to put it back into the world of Eyvind Earles artwork pleases me.

I wonder if the Pavilion comes with any official backstory? What is it? A country home for the royalty? it would be interesting to see whether Imagineering coined a story to go with it.

(//http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/314989_2481440841174_1407157613_2889887_1339969883_n.jpg)

Wow, it really looks beautiful  :D  :thumbs:

It looks gorgeous. I like how they incorporated the castle into it too. It just proves that this place was meant to be for royalty.

that is beautifully done - hmmm I wonder if I can interest my DD in going in (we usually run a mile from the Princess queued meet n greets, and this one, well you can't tell until you're in the queue how long you're going to have to wait, can you?)

It looks like a great, high quality addition- but the 'stain glass' château doesn't have the new colour scheme?!

@davidrsykes

Oh yes, well spotted. Epic fail on behalf of whoever did the "stained glass" inside this new pavilion. Did they not notice that massive castle has a new colour scheme?

Aww, it looks super pretty. Though I'm sure I read somewhere that the backgrounds were to change depending on what princess was meeting!? Like the back for Ariel should be Prince Eric's castle rather than Sleeping Beauty's?

Quote from: "Alan"@davidrsykes

Oh yes, well spotted. Epic fail on behalf of whoever did the "stained glass" inside this new pavilion. Did they not notice that massive castle has a new colour scheme?

Yes, and they also made it look like it's tiny, flat and made out of glass, those fools.


It's not bad! For a meet 'n' greet — I don't know why the French insist on calling it a "photo location," which makes it sound like one of those boards you stick your head through — it's as detailed as one could expect it to be. Granted, the Town Square Theater has raised the bar for these things to an absurd height, but then this is a princess meet 'n' greet. A response to a painful decade of Disney Princess merchandising mania, sweet sixteen and gypsy wedding reality shows and genre-subverting movies like Enchanted and Tangled. When faced with such a task, all you can do is make sure the quality is less Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and more Sleeping Beauty Castle.

And they pretty much managed, except for the sign... What a shame about that sign. I also think the facade on the whole is a bit... Lazy. They used the arched doorways already in place and added not much else. And a turret and some generic stonework lifted from Sleeping Beauty Castle does not make for a coherent concept. If they were going for rustic, they could have made the tower crooked and the masonry uneven. That way it would have blended better with the nearby Old Mill and Italian area, which are both truly rustic.

And while I appreciate the attempts at echoing Small World with those wind vanes, I think that might have been a mistake. Small World is too abstract and singular to try and incorporate it in this type of architecture.

just got back yesterday night.
We were able to be part of a soft opening. It took a while, the lines were long.(not much of a surprise,he?? ;) ) I thought it was beautiful. And what I was hoping for. All the time in queuing, before you got one princess. now you get two of them. Still no guarantee wich one, but two!
And in a nice and quiet athmosphere. Because no one else sees you, when your with them. And of course you`ll get to buy the pictures, right by the exit of the pavillon.
Aurora1

Wow form the photo I can't what to go there with my mum on November 28th we could meet 'n' greet the princess in the Auberge de Cendrillon Restaurant and again at the Princess Pavilion.

ooooh this looks gorgeous i cant wait to see it for myself

Does anyone know the situation for wheelchairs? I have seen on InsideDLParis that there is a wheelchair sign but is it the same que or not because from the pictures it looks a little tight to be getting a wheelchair through?

Quote from: "lubynoo"Does anyone know the situation for wheelchairs? I have seen on InsideDLParis that there is a wheelchair sign but is it the same que or not because from the pictures it looks a little tight to be getting a wheelchair through?

Hi, whilst my boys didn't want to wait the 90 mins to see princess' we did queue and turned around at the doors.  The doors looked very big, I think there were double door openings and would be no problem for a wheelchair.  I also saw someone in a wheelchair queuing up with the rest of us, so I assume you get to queue up as per any other guest.

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/kiki_304/Disney%2011/DSC_0857.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/kiki_304/Disney%2011/DSC_0856.jpg)

Thank you for replying. Oh that's fine just saw pictures of the inside and it looks like curved walkways and a bit tight. @InsideDLParis did post a picture of a wheelchair sign like the one in your picture though so wondered what the situation was. As long as it is big enough that's good.

Looking at that photo I can see a disabled arrow pointing toward the exit doors.  Maybe there is another entrance but not on the day I was there.  Wasn't officially open yet, so maybe people were just going in that one queue.  I thought it kind of odd to have wheelchairs in the line as you don't often see it.

I'll have to wait until next week and ask at city hall. I myself could do without it and see them elsewhere but I have a small boy who is OBSESSED with the princesses and is adamant he is going lol. Actually he would probably prefer the que because you get all the theming which looks lovely. Hopefully it won't be too busy next week, we shall see. Not long now!!

Oh, I know it is 'just' a meet and greet but that looks absolutely lovely. The sign is a bit 'meh' but apart from that...

The design inside is beautiful and it's lovely for this to have better home than just random spaces in the park. Especially with an indoor queuing area. It'd be nice if they could do this with other 'permanent' meet and greets. Like a Hundred Acre Wood one for Winnie the Pooh and friends. I don't know how much space DLP actually has to expand and add new major rides but something like that wouldn't take up too much space and adds a wonderful touch of magic.

Quote from: claire2281It'd be nice if they could do this with other 'permanent' meet and greets. Like a Hundred Acre Wood one for Winnie the Pooh and friends./quote]

Oh my days that would be amazing  :cheshire_bounce:
I have always liked the look of the one in America.
Oh please please please DLRP, please let us have one :D

And one the subject of the Princesses, does anyone know if you get to meet both princesses that are out or do you only meet one ?

xx Laura  :cheshire_bounce:

If you made it trough the waiting zone you`ll meet both princessess. You get to the first and after that around the corner you`ll see the other one. And you have the chance to buy the pictures right after that, before leaving the building.
Aurora1

It does look lovely, especially as it has the same colour scheme as Sleeping Beauty's Castle. I think the Stained Glass windows look a little basic though.
I heard somewhere that during peak days there will be two princesses and during off-peak days there will only be one. :D

Quote from: "Aurora1"If you made it trough the waiting zone you`ll meet both princessess. You get to the first and after that around the corner you`ll see the other one.

You are only guaranteed to meet one princess. When I lined up Sunday morning only Belle was there. A couple of families complained and the cast members were very adamant to point out that only one princess was guaranteed, if you saw two it was "a bonus."

If it's two princesses present you will meet both, but it is not guaranteed two princesses will be there.

Regarding wheelchairs the entry is through the exit doors. There's a quite steep incline in the normal waiting area which would be very hard to handle for wheelchairs. The wheelchair user that was queueing in front of me was directed to the exit and if I saw correctly the CM radioed someone to pick her up.

I was pretty sure I also had read that there were different backdrops for each princess. But this is not the case. I've been through twice - met Ariel, Mulan and Belle - and it's the same backdrop for all three. Landscape with a river and the same castle.

Hi all, I visited this over the weekend, I think Saturday or Sunday. We were with a girl in a wheelchair, not sure what the allowed number is.. but there was her, and 4 of us and they let us all in through the exit (no queue at all). I dont think the CM wanted to really so you are probably only meant to have 1 or 2 carers, but we were very pleased he let us.
First we went round one corner and met Ariel, the queue was stopped and we were immedietly pushed to the front, which was very nice. And we were given as much time as we wanted with each Princess. The CM took some pictures for us on the disney camera, and then another one took photos on our cameras, as many as we wanted. We didn't feel rushed or anything which was nice. Then when we left that location, we went to the next area and met Mulan there (we're all young adults and Mulan seemed to drop character which I wasnt too happy with but nevermind!) and did the same with photos there. Then when you leave and go to the part you can buy the photos, they are all shown in digital picture frames on the wall which is sweet! Beware though, if you buy a photo, you have to pay an extra 3.50 or something for the frame, read the price signs very carefully!

Overall, it was a nice experience, but I feel that if I had queued for 90 minutes, I would have been disapointed as I pictured it differently, and especially if there only turned out to be one princess!! Just seems like an awful long time. But nice for the young'ns :)
not a bad addition to the meet and greet locations. :)

It's good that the princesses have a home to stay in, but I can think of many things they could have done differenty.

1) an interactive queueline, screens to play minigames on, etc.

2) fastpass, like the meet n greet at WDW.

3) a two way system, where you only meet one princess, but two would be on at a time, you could get through people much quicker.

This would definitely lower wait times. However, has this meant shorter queues for nearby rides? 90 minutes of people is a lot.

As for the picture frames. You don`t have to buy them. They ask you. I only baught the photos there, that is no problem.
aurora1

Me and Kyra were present at the opening and must say it is very beautiful inside, we got to meet 2 princesses. Luckily we didn't wait longer than 1 minute but I don't mind waiting 90 minutes if its cold outside.

I think it's great that there is now a permanent meet & greet location. When I went this summer we had to meet them outside, which was nice but I personally really like the fact that you get to see all these beautiful themed displays while queuing.

I thought I had read on DLRP Today that Mulan was to be replaced by Rapunzel? Did they only mean that she wouldn't be included in the
"gallery" in the queuing places? Because it seems some of you met Mulan in the Princess Pavilion, and I'm really curious about it because Mulan is one of my favourite characters (she's special to me and my family, haha) :)

Is there still quite a long queing time for this?

Read someone waited 45mins last Saturday,which didn't seem too bad for a weekend.

oooh thats good hopefully bf wont mind that too much!!

Apologies if anyone's already mentioned this but can you take your own photos in there or is it just the "official" ones?

you can take your own to.

HI all we are visiting DLP next week and would like to know if Rapunzel or Ariel are often in the princess pavillion and also do you know before queuing which princess you get to meet and can you meet one or two at the same time thanks

When I was there in Disneyland Paris. I was exited for the Princess Pavilion, becuase it was my first time meeting a princess. I queued for an hour and I was always wondering which princess I would meet. And luckily I met one of my favorite princesses. I met ....... Princess Aurora!!  :thumbs:

Is the Rapunzel meet and greet area still going in Fantasyland does anybody know?  I assumed it wouldnt be due to the Princess Pavillion but I noticed on my Facebook new feed today that DLP are still posting pics of the Rapunzel/Flynn meet and greet.

No it is not. They only had it in 2011 for the Magical Moments festival. Now you have to meet her in the Princess Pavilion. But it can be hard to meet her because there are 7 other princesses in the Princess Pavilion too.
Can you meet Pocahontas in the Princess Pavilion?

Quote from: "Thecharacterhunter"No it is not. They only had it in 2011 for the Magical Moments festival. Now you have to meet her in the Princess Pavilion. But it can be hard to meet her because there are 7 other princesses in the Princess Pavilion too.
Can you meet Pocahontas in the Princess Pavilion?

This is what I thought.  That's why I found it odd that Disneyland Paris were posting pics of the Rapunzel meet n greet area on Facebook today with people commenting how good it looked and how they were looking forward to meeting Rapunzel and Flynn at that location.  Its a bit misleading for those not in the know.

They had it when  I was there in May this year........

Quote from: "amanda08"They had it when  I was there in May this year........

Well thats only 3 months ago so maybe it is still there or has returned.  Has anyone been very recently that can clarify?

We were hoping the Rapunzel meet n greet may have been replaced with a Merida/Brave meet n greet but apparently not.

Well, I was in Disneyland Paris this year in June and there wasn´t any Rapunzel meet n greet location. :(  But maybe I missed it. I don´t saw it and it didn´t stood anything in the brochure. But maybe I am wrong I thought they only had it last year for the Magical Moments festival and for the movie´s french cinema release.

We have just got back from Disneyland Paris and Rapunzel and Flynn were on their meet and greet stage from about 1.15pm for a couple of hours each day. Whilst we were waiting for them to arrive we could monitor the princesses walking to the princess pavillion changing over their half hourly shifts. They came in pairs although you definitely only get to see one after a queue of approx 90 minutes. I chatted to the cast member at the head of the queue and explained that my daughter had already met 3 of the princesses at Auberge de Cendrillon so he very kindly directed us to a princess that she hadnt met. It apparently is supposed to be a surprise though. We  saw Tiana that day and Aerial was in the other booth, you could tell that from the photograph screens afterwards! the following day whilst we were waiting for Rapunzel we saw Belle, Aerial, Sleeping Beauty and Snow white. It is lovely just to see them wandering across fantasy land and for some younger children that might be sufficient avoiding the huge queue!

So the meet and greet is still there with Rapunzel and Flynn.  Thanks very much for your update Fluffymilly :-)

Yes the Rapunzel meet and greet was brought back due to popular demand! :D/

Whereabouts is the Rapunzel meet and greet stage?

Quote from: "Martin  B"Yes the Rapunzel meet and greet was brought back due to popular demand! :D/

That's great! Do they still have these out on stage in the Winter months does anybody know?   :D

Does it say which princesses are meeting and greeting before you go in? Is there a best time of day to do this for less ques?

o0o0o what times is repunzel and flynn meeting and greeting we are coming on the 3rd and my daughter is massive on repunzel, so would love to meet them.
This would be a great surprise for my daughter as i explained that it might be hard to see them?

Quote from: "Twinkleybelle"Does it say which princesses are meeting and greeting before you go in? Is there a best time of day to do this for less ques?

No it's a surprise!

Quote from: "cassiepops"o0o0o what times is repunzel and flynn meeting and greeting we are coming on the 3rd and my daughter is massive on repunzel, so would love to meet them.
This would be a great surprise for my daughter as i explained that it might be hard to see them?

When I was there last year the times were in the programme/events guide thing that you get with all the parade times and other meet n greet times on.  So hopefully it will be again

The Rapunzel meet is not advertised on the programme this year and it may be taken away after the Summer season.

Just seen on InsideDLParis that they are doing a trial at the Princess Pavillion, where you will need to have a reservation to meet the Princesses. Does anyone know anymore about this?

It looks like you have to go between 11:45 - 13:45 and collect pretty much a fast pass for a time slot and return then to meet the princesses.

That's my reading off it

Lorrig, I've merged your topic with that of the original Princess Pavilion topic.  :-)

Thanks to our friend at http://twitter.com/insidedlparis (http://twitter.com/insidedlparis%22%20target=%22_blank%22%20rel=%22nofollow) for reporting this news.

I'd love to use that. On our last trip we were put off by the huge waiting time, time that we used to ride rides instead. This seems like a much better option though and I think the 'reservation' idea ADDS to the whole meeting a princess thing.

DLP has posted signs at the entrance of Disneyland Park that invites guests to participate in the recording of the new Disney Dreams commercial. Guests wishing to attend the recording can watch the show from a "VIP" area in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The taping will happen at 8pm, guests just need to approach any Cast Member in front of the Castle and will be guided to the VIP area.

Just to clarify what was happening, I came home last night and although not interested in meeting princess's myself I was intrigued by the signs! It seems that on certain "quiet" days the pavilion is only open for a restricted time and you need to collect wristbands from outside of the Old Mill which gives you a timed visit a la fastpass. On "normal" days you just queue as normal. Next weeks programme shows "normal" opening times on each day.
With ref to Kristof's comments about VIP viewing for Dreams, tickets were being distributed from beside the information board on Main Street and in Central Plaza.

Quote from: "captain rocket"Just to clarify what was happening, I came home last night and although not interested in meeting princess's myself I was intrigued by the signs! It seems that on certain "quiet" days the pavilion is only open for a restricted time and you need to collect wristbands from outside of the Old Mill which gives you a timed visit a la fastpass. On "normal" days you just queue as normal. Next weeks programme shows "normal" opening times on each day .

Oh, was that what was going on? We also came home yesterday and we walked past what seemed to be the queue for the princesses on Thursday, but I wondered why it seemed to be in front of the mill rather than the pavillion. In any case, it was when I turned to my husband and said "Aren't you glad that we've got a boy?" :D

QuoteWith ref to Kristof's comments about VIP viewing for Dreams, tickets were being distributed from beside the information board on Main Street and in Central Plaza.

And another mystery cleared up! Although it seems this also happened on Thursday? Hubbie decided that he and son were going back to the hotel rather than seeing Dreams again, especially as it was raining. But as it was our last night, I wanted to stay. Due to the rain, people were staying under cover, so at about 7.45 I was able to wander right up the middle of the central plaza to find a place. Two cast members were guarding a rope inbetween the lamp posts to mark out the area directly in front of the castle and I thought "Ah, that must be where the people who did the dinner offer stand". But I did think there seemed rather a lot of them.... :? They'd also been given a lot of balloons, which were frankly a nusiance!

But on the other hand, I was just the other side of the dividing rope and the gap in front of us helped the view considerably!

Here is the sign that appeared in Fantasyland.(//http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx319/PeteHawke/P69.jpg)

And here's the sign you had to queue beside. There was one further sign that requested that only one person per party queued, but the had to present park passes for all the people who wantged an "audience"(//http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx319/PeteHawke/P70.jpg)

If you are in the park during early magic hours you can collect your fast passes then, instead of waiting until 11.45. We got one on Thursday last week and the cast members encouraged us to go straight back in line for a second pass as not enough people were collecting passes for the early slots.
We had a slot between 10.55 - 11.25 and another for 11.05 - 11.35 and were worried that it would be the same princess for both but the CM assured us that they changed every 20mins.  
When we first went in at 11am the pavilion was empty and we were shown straight in to meet Sleeping Beauty. We then returned at 11.25 to join a short queue of about 5 people and the CM was asking everyone if they had met any princesses before. Depending on who they had met, they were shown to one side or the other of the pavilion, and we met Princess Tiana this time in the same side that Sleeping Beauty had been earlier.
Both visits were lovely, with no queuing and loads of time with the princesses.

I read about this on the other forum and on twitter. I was first very skepitcal about the idea that if you miss the time, you don't get to see a princess, but if you wait (like it use to be for now) then you still get the chance even if you wait about an hour.

But thinking upon it, it seems an amazing idea, I saw some photos of the empty line with the stain glass windows and it looked really.... calming? Since everytime I've gone in it's dark, cramped, smelly and loud,.

I heard the testing is only until the 30th Oct, so I won't be able to use this feature. Unless they keep it on.

 :thumbs:

Does anyone know if they are still doing the reserved slots for meeting the princesses or is it back to regular queuing?

We have just come back today and we thought the Princess Pavillion a complete disaster. The whole organisation of it must have been designed by a man WHO HAS NO DAUGHTERS! Yes it's pretty inside but it is already looking worn and it was rather dirty - people were throwing apple cores and rubbish all over the floor. My main complaint that it is just too long a wait to only see one princess and not even knowing which one it is likely to be. We kept asking if the could even give us some guide to who we were likely to see but they would give you no info. This doesn't come across as being  'a surprise' it just comes across as infuriating. I understand the princesses change every 30 mins or so but they must have a rough idea. We went 3 times and ended up with the same Princess each time. My little girl really wanted to see Rapunzul and was so dissapointed that we couldn't meet her - the CMs wouldn't even say if it was at all likely she would be there at all on the days we asked.
In WDW they have a Princess meet and greet which firstly you can fast pass and secondly you get to see at least 3 princesses and they let you know who they would be. It could have been organised from the start like this in Paris.
People were leaving the queue all the time as they were getting completely fed up or we saw people having to join the end of the queue time and time again to try and see the Princess that they wanted.
They just didn't think this one through at all - very dissapointed.

OMG.....never again

We visited DLP between 6th - 10th Dec and the waiting time each day we visited (around 10am and 4pm)to see one of the princess was 60-120 minutes....

For the first time DLP has shown us the light and to stay away from it  and visit better themed park places like Portaventura that has no Q's ,better rides,better weather an aqua park to boot !!

On the positive DLP side the evening show was amazing

Electric Dreams, Your expectations must be really high! Of all the criticisms that you could level at Disneyland Paris to say that other parks are better themed is a very bold statement!
As to the queues, if you visit at a weekend three weeks before Christmas I would say you would be extremely lucky not to find them!
Enjoy the other parks you visit and maybe you could revisit this site and let us all know what we are missing!

Besides Tokyo Disney Sea, I think there is no park better themed than Disneyland Paris Magic Kingdom.

Quote from: "lorrig"We have just come back today and we thought the Princess Pavillion a complete disaster. The whole organisation of it must have been designed by a man WHO HAS NO DAUGHTERS! Yes it's pretty inside but it is already looking worn and it was rather dirty - people were throwing apple cores and rubbish all over the floor. My main complaint that it is just too long a wait to only see one princess and not even knowing which one it is likely to be. We kept asking if the could even give us some guide to who we were likely to see but they would give you no info. This doesn't come across as being  'a surprise' it just comes across as infuriating. I understand the princesses change every 30 mins or so but they must have a rough idea. We went 3 times and ended up with the same Princess each time. My little girl really wanted to see Rapunzul and was so dissapointed that we couldn't meet her - the CMs wouldn't even say if it was at all likely she would be there at all on the days we asked.
In WDW they have a Princess meet and greet which firstly you can fast pass and secondly you get to see at least 3 princesses and they let you know who they would be. It could have been organised from the start like this in Paris.
People were leaving the queue all the time as they were getting completely fed up or we saw people having to join the end of the queue time and time again to try and see the Princess that they wanted.
They just didn't think this one through at all - very dissapointed.

I agree.  The whole secrecy thing of which princess is in there is ridiculous.  We were in DLP last week and visited the Pavillion twice- one lovely experience, one not so loveley.

In our party there are 3 Disability pass holders (including myself).  On our first trip we went to the disabled entrance and there was a lovely man there who told my daughter that she could choose between Cinderella and Ariel.  As she'd already met Cinderella at the Auberge du Cendrillon princess meal she asked if she could meet Ariel.  The man said it was no problem.  When we got in there he led us to the wrong room and it was Cinderella, by this time Cinders already had her arm round my girl so we couldnt exactly pull her out.  The man was fine about it and as he said it was his mistake he let her go to Ariel's room as originally planned.  On this day the staff couldnt be more helpful and I could hear therm asking people at the head of the queue to choose a princess- brilliant.

We visited the Pavillion later in the week and it was unpleasant.  At the disabled door we asked who it was assuming my daughter could choose.  A lady barked at us 'Its a Surprise!!!!' quite rudely.  I explained that it was difficult for the children to get in and out of the pavillion even with the assisitance of thr disbaled exit and it would be a great help if she could heklp us out, she refused.  On entering we realised it was between Cinders and Rapunzel and after asking her many times the lady finally agreed to let my daughter see Rapunzel but the lady at the next part of the queue took great offence to this and insisted my daughter see Cinderella.  My daugter was nearly in tears and kept asking why the CM was shouting at her.  Eventually my daughter was allowed to see Rapunzel.
The nastiness didnt end there however.  Another member of the queue asked which princesses were in only to be barked at again by the horrible CM.  When my Mum told the lady quietly which princesses it was, the CM went ballisitc and threatened to have my Mum ejected from the park for 'revealing company secrets'  at which my point my Mum laughed as did half the queue but the kids were mostly in tears at this CM's actions.

The Pavillion is popular and busy but I dont get what all the secrecy is about and why people shouldnt be given an option to choose when they reach the top of the queue.  Who wants to queue for hours to see a princess theyve already met?

You really want the answer? It's simple... The princesses rotate constantly, and if you go promising people in the queue that they'll see a certain princess and OOPS the princesses just rotated before you went into one of the alcoves, guess what is going to happen? Yes, you'll have dissapointed children! That's why CM's are asked to keep the schedule a secret to prevent dissapointing anyone having expectations of which princess they will see. Pretty straightforward if you ask me?

However, that is not an excuse for that castmember to bark at you ;) But on the other hand, you must understand that if that person behind you in the queue got promised to see rapunzel and just after your little girl the princesses switched, the CM's would have a complaint on their hand and it wouldn't even be their fault. But again, in all situations a CM should remain calm :)

And please, before anyone starts throwing america-paris comparisons towards me, sadly this is the way the princess pavillion is designed and if you have any ideas how to make it better I suggest you send an e-mail to DLP's customer service :)

Honestly, these reports are prove for me (once more, unfortunately) that the biggest problem DLP has on the staff side, is a constant high level in customer service. They have both fabulous cast members as well as absolute disasters.

As hard as it sounds: I just wished they got rid of the people obviously not willing or not able to hold up the standards of a Disney park employee. Every time I visit DLP, I have people that mess up at least part of my day. (I have never ever met a motivated cast member in Armageddon, for example). Probably, it just wasn't the best idea to have permanently employed staff after all... :(

Regardless of whether they constantly rotate princesses the secrecey is ridiculous.  When the princesses were outside you at least knew it was worth being in the queue or not.  And what is the problem with telling the person at the head of the queue what choice they have once they get there.  Fair play it would be pointless doing this at the start of the queue but when youre ready to go in I dont see the problem with being given the choice.

Sadly, there are always going to be less than perfect members of staff wherever we go but I think Disney should strive to employ people with excellent communicative skills and a fair grasp of different languages.

Is the fast pass system to meet the princesses staying at DLP? It sounds great, we hated the 2 hour wait when we went last year. It was crazy and we got the one princess we didnt really mind missing.

There was no fast pass system when we were there last month.  There was already a 90 minute waiting time 30 mins before it opened!

It's not a fast pass system, it's just a system like they used to have with the Lion King show, you stand in line to get a ticket which has a time on it, and in that time you can go wait in line to see a random princess.
(well yeah, kind of looks like a fast pass, but it's a CM giving you the tickets)

I believe they have continued doing this.

The virtual queueing system like you've described wasn't in place when we were there in December(at least not on the week we were there.)  I think it's mainly in place during peak times but considering the Pavillion is always busy it would be helpful to have it in place at all times or when queue times go over 60 mins

What time is the princess pavilion open in May? We used to queue 9:40 two years ago when it was outside and usually be within the front 5. We are considering the princess meal but I can't believe how expensive it is! We are a group of 4 adults two children...£250ish for 1 meal. Crazy!!!

Try to go there close to closing time. We did that last fall and we waited no longer than 45 min.

Asking people what princess thy want to see might pose the problem, that one is more "liked" then the other, and that could result into longer queues. Or people shountig from  the back , who want to see the other one and pushing in front.
I don`t really have a solution to this problem.
I think it would be great to see both princessess, but that  would make even longer queues then they already have. Or DLP would need to have 4 princessess in there...
Aurora1

I don't understand why they can't let you see both of them, or just put 3 or 4 princesses in there, and you get to see all of them.

Now, you've seen one, and you go back the next day or later that day, and chances you get the same princess again are big, and dissapointed.

I genuinely find it shocking that it still runs this way. Waiting 60+ minutes to meet one princess is a joke.

It is about time DLRP considered the constant disappointment to children at the pavilion. We waited 90 mins last March (off peak week) and saw the only princess my daughter didnt want to see. The year before, when it was still outide it was so much better. We have booked for the princess lunch this year so at least we might get to see cindrella. Yet meeting Tiana and Rapunzel does seem close to impossble these days from our experiences.

Does anyone know if you have to go and reserve a ticket still to get into the Princess Pavilion?
Or is it just like it was before where we just que?

I'm reading different things on the internet and I don't know which to believe and I don't want to get there and be disappointed!

As far as I know the ticket system is here to stay! You can check the schedule on DLRPmagic! The site dosn`t open right now. But it says something like "to get a ticket at certain times" . If it would be without ticket, then there would be timetable mentioned. (like 10:00am to 15:00pm or so)

when we went last month you would queue at certain time to get a ticket, the ticket would then have a time slot on it where you would go back and queue to see a princess. Does sound like a lot of queuing but seemed to go quite quick :)

Do we still just get to meet one princess?

Ah, thanks for the responses guys! Hopefully won't have to wait 2 hours like I had to last summer :P

No tickets when we were there in April and yes you only get to see one Princess, much disappointment from our two. Met Rapunzal quite by chance in the park near one of the Train stations, she spent more time talking to the girls than they did in the Pavilion.  Aerial, Snow White and the one from Alladin were in the Studio Park every day too.

Quote from: "DisneyG83"Do we still just get to meet one princess?

Ah, thanks for the responses guys! Hopefully won't have to wait 2 hours like I had to last summer :P

Last week it was still one princess. The queue was from the windmill (Ticket collection point), right down past Alices Curious Ladyrinth. We where hoping to go in but there was no way we where waiting again but luckly we had the princess meal and saw Cindrella, Snow white and the prince and Ariel. Plus the two mice.  :D

Quote from: "julesk"

Quote from: "DisneyG83"Do we still just get to meet one princess?

Ah, thanks for the responses guys! Hopefully won't have to wait 2 hours like I had to last summer :P

Last week it was still one princess. The queue was from the windmill (Ticket collection point), right down past Alices Curious Ladyrinth. We where hoping to go in but there was no way we where waiting again but luckly we had the princess meal and saw Cindrella, Snow white and the prince and Ariel. Plus the two mice.  :D

Oh gosh, that sounds busy!
Didn't think Disneyland would be that busy at this time of the year especially since schools haven't broken up yet! Or was last week half term? (Sorry, I'm not up to date with school holidays anymore as I'm at university!)

Guys,
What would be the best time to head down and get a ticket for the meet and greet? Cheers x

Wow that is a long time :s we went during french holidays and longest our friends waited for a ticket was 45 minutes.
best time we found was about 30 minutes before the first ones were given out. So ticket office opened up at 9:45 got there at 9:15 :)

Quote from: "gemmasteele84"Wow that is a long time :s we went during french holidays and longest our friends waited for a ticket was 45 minutes.
best time we found was about 30 minutes before the first ones were given out. So ticket office opened up at 9:45 got there at 9:15 :)

Where is the ticket office? Sorry for all the questions!

*adds to things to do and must queue for list

Its by the windmill in fantasyland, just down from the pavillion :)

Quote from: "gemmasteele84"Its by the windmill in fantasyland, just down from the pavillion :)

Thank you :D

Reading all this is scaring me as I'm going next month with my 5 year old daughter who loves princesses.  I'm finding it hard to justify myself to pay for a meal at Auberges for the 3 of us.  

If we have a timed ticket, how long on average is the wait for this ticket and then going back?

Quote from: "choti"Reading all this is scaring me as I'm going next month with my 5 year old daughter who loves princesses.  I'm finding it hard to justify myself to pay for a meal at Auberges for the 3 of us.  

If we have a timed ticket, how long on average is the wait for this ticket and then going back?

I got a ticket at 10:30 and then was scheduled to return to the pavilion between 11:15 and 11:45 so it wasn't that long. In the time we waited, we had chance to go on another ride. Once we got to the pavilion, we waited a max. of 15 minutes. :)

Quote from: "DisneyG83"

Quote from: "choti"Reading all this is scaring me as I'm going next month with my 5 year old daughter who loves princesses.  I'm finding it hard to justify myself to pay for a meal at Auberges for the 3 of us.  

If we have a timed ticket, how long on average is the wait for this ticket and then going back?

I got a ticket at 10:30 and then was scheduled to return to the pavilion between 11:15 and 11:45 so it wasn't that long. In the time we waited, we had chance to go on another ride. Once we got to the pavilion, we waited a max. of 15 minutes. :)

Thanks.. Did you have to queue when you got the ticket at 10:30?

Quote from: "choti"

Quote from: "DisneyG83"

Quote from: "choti"Reading all this is scaring me as I'm going next month with my 5 year old daughter who loves princesses.  I'm finding it hard to justify myself to pay for a meal at Auberges for the 3 of us.  

If we have a timed ticket, how long on average is the wait for this ticket and then going back?

I got a ticket at 10:30 and then was scheduled to return to the pavilion between 11:15 and 11:45 so it wasn't that long. In the time we waited, we had chance to go on another ride. Once we got to the pavilion, we waited a max. of 15 minutes. :)

Thanks.. Did you have to queue when you got the ticket at 10:30?

Yes, people started hanging around the area around 9:30ish but we went on it's a small world before we joined the queue as we didn't want to wait an hour for a ticket. It wasn't that bad really, but as the school holidays begin, I'm sure it will get busier. :D

Hi All,


So I've been hearing about this Princess Pavillion where the Disney Princesses hang out. In my 9 trips to DLP I have only seen a Princess (that wasn't on a parade float) twice. It was Snow White and Tiana. They were under this little meet-and-greet marquee outside its a small world. I saw both on the same trip, my 2011 one. Is that the Princess Pavilion? Or is it somewhere else? Is it a new thing?

The Princess Pavillion is where this meet and greet was. If you can remember when you come off IASW there was an area where you could see miniture figures from IASW, well this is shut & the pavillion is in there. Unfortunately you don't have a choice as to which princesses you see when you queue for the pavillion, it is which ever princess is in there and who is free when you get to the front.

By the pavilion, do you mean where that globe thing is?

Sometimes they let you choose if you are lucky

Quote from: PrincessA on September 16, 2013, 11:08:03 PM
By the pavilion, do you mean where that globe thing is?

To the left of it's a small world

If you remember where that walk through bit was at the end of small world years ago its in that area

Ah, ok. Thanks guys!  :)

Is the Princess Pavilion still operating the ticket in advance system?

I think, right now they are the tickets again! It looks like it on the schedule for this week.