“Hear Ye! Hear Ye! By royal proclamation, the Princess
Fairytale Hall at Walt Disney World’s New Fantasyland is now open.”
Photo by Paul Perrello
With a bit of pomp and circumstance only fitting for
royalty, guests can now pay a visit to the fairest princesses in all the land
at the recently opened Fairytale Hall located in the Castle Courtyard in the
center of an expanded Fantasyland at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Here you will be able to meet and greet some
of your favorite Disney princesses. On
opening day when I visited Cinderella, Aurora, Rapunzel and Snow White were
holding court.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
The new hall is located at the site of the former Snow
White’s Scary Adventures attraction, the classic dark ride that had been part
of the Magic Kingdom since opening day in 1971.
It closed in 2012 to make way for Fairytale Hall. But for Disney fans, just like other
previously closed attractions, Fairytale Hall pays homage to Snow White by
having her portrait prominently displayed inside the high-ceiling Royal gallery
which leads you toward the princess greeting rooms. Snow White’s portrait is one of six featured
in the arched, wooden-beam, high-ceiling hall along with Cinderella, Rapunzel,
Tiana, Mulan, Jasmine and Aurora.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
As you wait in line before entering the main hall, pay close
attention to the stain-glass windows which feature images from the 1950 Disney
animated classic movie. You will spot
her mice friends Gus, Jaq, Susie and Perla.
Photo by Paul Perrello
Anticipation builds as guests of all ages wind their way
through the royal purple and gold trimmings, stone walls and ornate chandeliers
snapping pictures before arriving at the portal to the princesses receiving
rooms. Before you enter either of the
two chambers, Cinderella’s dazzling glass slipper sparks in your face. Be sure to catch a quick photo op before you
are ushered in to meet the princesses.
Photo by Paul Perrello
Once inside the princess chambers, Disney royalty takes
their time to meet and greet each and every guest and of course pose for your
photos as well as the Disney PhotoPass photographer. In my family’s visit Cinderella and Aurora
were most accommodating talking to each and every guest and making them feel welcome
inside their new rooms and pausing to sign autographs for those small princes
and princesses-in-waiting. Each royal greeting chamber is ornately decorated
with wood paneling, flowers, a table and framed fairytale landscape paintings
that look like there are on loan from Disney’s the ink-and-paint department.
Photo by Paul Perrello
Guests can either choose to visit the princesses by using
the standby queue, FastPass+ and Legacy FastPass. We opted for the standby
line and our wait was about 20 minutes. Chances are lines are likely to get
long as your visit to the new Fantasyland extends throughout the day.
Photo by Paul Perrello
As you bid a fond farewell to the princesses and exit the
royal chambers into the gift shop, make sure you look over your left shoulder
for the reigning queen of the Magic Kingdom.
Minnie Mouse stands there waving goodbye as you continue your journey
into the New Fantasyland.
Photo by Paul Perrello
The Princess Fairytale Hall is the latest gem in the crown
jewel of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Work
continues across the Castle Courtyard on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction
which is on track to open in 2014 as the final piece of the current New Fantasyland
expansion.