Couponing to Disney

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World

If you’ve got little princesses of your own, chances are their number one priority is going to be meeting other princess, be they mermaids, magic carpet riding, or born with freezing powers.

The good news is, Walt Disney World makes it very achievable to encounter as many of your favorite princesses as you’d like! Across the four parks, princesses have meet and greets and dine with subjects. The locations will vary, with some princesses meeting indoors for the entire day, and others meeting outdoors during a specific time slot. Some princesses seem to be everywhere, while a few only meet in one place.

But that’s not all! You can also indulge your royal side with a princess meal at a deluxe resort, or ride their attraction 700 times, or watch their Broadway style stage shows, or wave to them as they parade by. The princess possibilities are so much more than just a meet and greet. You can fashion entire park days, even entire vacations, around your little one’s favorite princesses. By knowing where your favorite princesses are, you can craft the perfect plan to meet them all before you turn into a pumpkin.

Merida

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World

Ride: No.

Show: Merida has a featured scene in the Happily Ever After Fireworks Spectacular show at the end of the night in the Magic Kingdom.

Meets: Fairytale Garden, Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom.

Fairytale Garden is Merida’s specific spot, tailored to her. As such, the decorations are beautiful and specific to the film. The queue starts in the shade next to Fairytale Garden and continues into even more shade on a stone walkway that leads you into what looks like an outdoor part of Merida’s castle. We have always had a fantastic time with the Scottish Princess; she takes a good amount of time with each guest, so your little highlander will definitely get her fill. Usually 9am-6pm, but be sure to check the Character Times Guide.

FastPass: No.

Parade: Yes! Merida chases the wind and touches the sky with her very own float in the Festival of Fantasy Parade.

Dining Options: None.

Bonus Bears: While Merida doesn’t have a presence at Epcot currently, you could take your free spirited princess to the UK Pavilion for some great photo opps and fish and chips!

My Take: Our family loves the meet and greet with Merida at Fairytale Gardens (not to be confused with Fairytale Hall). The theming and attention to detail are that next level of Disney perfection (the stones! the tapestry!) and there is even a small play area for kids that is part of the queue.

What really sets this meet and greet area apart is the amount of space. Not only does the queue itself have much more elbow room than your average Disney attraction, the meeting area is very open and spacious. This makes for a more enjoyable wait and an infinitely more fun meet and greet, because Merida gets to move around and really engage guests in a different way. Our girls were given a little “tour” of the area that they still talk about. (“Over here is where I put my bow, sometimes I let Angus rest over here, but don’t tell my mum…”) Kids are so often entranced by not just the characters, but their surroundings. It is fitting that Merida, a princess who is all about exploring, hosts guests in a environment where they can be a little more hands on.

Maybe it’s because of her playful spirit, maybe it’s the fact that she’s got little brothers, but Merida is just plain fun, with kids and adults. She’s active, energetic, and asks great questions, making for a lively conversation. Our last trip, we met a couple in their 60’s who said Merida was the best character they had ever interacted with, in thirty years of coming to Walt Disney World. They always made it a priority to see her first thing at the Magic Kingdom to start their day.

While the quantity of Merida themed experiences is limited, with her meet and greet and parade appearance, the quality is high. I would expect nothing less from the only Pixar Princess.

Sadly, Angus is not included in the meet and greet. (Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World)

Is Merida your favorite princess? What is your favorite Merida experience? What Merida themed activity would you like to see in the parks? Tell me all about it in the comments!

Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!