Disneyland's new Fantasy Faire, the 15,000-square-foot expansion of Fantasyland on the former Carnation Plaza Gardens site, officially opens to the public next Tuesday, March 12—but Disneyland Resort annual passholders have the opportunity to view the expansion during special sneak previews that begin today and continue through this Saturday, March 9. We detailed the new area following a construction site tour in February (see “Behind the construction walls in Fantasy Faire“), and were invited to tour the finished product during a media preview earlier this week.
If you plan to visit Fantasy Faire soon, you may wish to skip this article to avoid spoilers. If you can't make it in person, we hope you enjoy this photo tour with images by Bryan Pugh.
Princess Fantasy Faire includes:
- The Royal Hall – a dedicated princess meet-and-greet area
- The Royal Theatre – with live storytelling sessions featuring Belle and Rapunzel
- Fairytale Treasures – a new shop
- Maurice’s Treats – a food cart named in honor of Belle's inventor father
These are all clustered around a central courtyard and a small replica of Rapunzel's tower from Tangled.
Village Square
Rapunzel's Tower is the centerpiece of the courtyard in Disneyland's new Fantasy Faire. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Rapunzel looks out from her tower over the new Fantasy Faire. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Many areas of Fantasy Faire have a view of Sleeping Beauty castle. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Two neat elements in the Village Square are worth seeking out. An animaronic figure of Figaro (Geppetto's cat) naps on a window sill above the Royal Hall, next to a caged bird. The bird's call occasionally wakes Figaro, and the cat responds by opening his eyes, moving his head, and batting a paw towards the bird before falling back asleep.
Figaro naps on a window sill above the Royal Hall. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Watch a sleepy Figaro react to a noisy bird. Video by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Clopin’s Music Box, described by Disney as “a fascinating, interactive mechanical toy representing the Feast of Fools from The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” is outside the entrance to the Royal Hall and was one of the few things that captured the attention of the few male children present during the preview.
Clopin's Music Box is an interactive toy music box near the Royal Hall. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
A two-dimensional figure of Clopin moves when the handle of Clopin's Music Box is turned. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
See Clopin's Music Box in action. Video by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Royal Hall
This building houses the new Princess meet-and-greet area, and features a large outdoor shaded queue. Once inside, visitors navigate the corridors to a series of three chambers to meet three different Disney Princesses.
Character hosts welcome visitors to the Royal Hall to meet some of the Disney Princesses. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
The wait time board outside the Royal Hall lists which princesses are on hand for photos. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Each meet-and-greet area is designed to provide a pretty photo backdrop and some separation from the neighboring Princess. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Ariel greets a young fan in the Royal Hall. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Cinderella greets a young fan in the Royal Hall. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Royal Theater
The other big draw of the area is the Royal Theatre, where two performers, a Mr. Smythe and a Mr. Jones, perform “renaissance vaudeville” shows with the help of a piano player (Sir Samuel of Morocco), the stars of that particular tale, and a quartet of unnamed female assistants. Belle appears in the Beauty and the Beast show, with the role of Beast and the other characters performed by Smythe, Jones, and company. For the Tangled storytelling. Rapunzel and Flynn Rider both appear in their respective roles, with Smythe, Jones, and company portraying the other roles. Each performance is followed by a meet-and-greet, offering fans the chance to meet Belle, Rapunzel, and Flynn in person.
Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones set the stage for a show in the Royal Theatre. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Music for performances in the Royal Theatre is provided by “Sir Samuel of Morocco.” Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Belle helps Smythe and Jones tell the Tale Old as Time. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Lumiere appears as a puppet in the “Beauty and the Beast” show. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Belle and “Beast” dance during the storytelling show. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Belle professes her love for “Beast” during the “Beauty and the Beast” show. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Members of the audience wait after a performance to meet Belle. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Rapunzel takes the stage for the “Tangled” storytelling show. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Flynn Rider joins Rapunzel for the “Tangled” storytelling show. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Fairytale Treasures
Tucked outside the exit of the Royal Hall is Fairytale Treasures, offering a large selection of princess costumes and accessories.
Fairytale Treasures offers a large selection of princess costumes and accessories. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Fairytale Treasures is prepared to clothe aspiring princesses. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Props on high shelves around Fairytale Treasures pay homage to classic Disney fairy tales. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Maurice's Treats
Built to look like the steam-powered wagon of Belle's inventor father, Maurice's Treats offers a limited menu of sweet or savory twisted bread sticks—cheddar-garlic bagel ($4.19), chocolate ($3.49), and strawberry-almond ($3.49). Keeping with the trend of signature drinks, Maurice's Treats will offer Boysen Apple Freeze, which is essentially Red's Apple Freeze from Cars Land made with boysenberry instead of marshmallow flavor. The drink is $4.69, but is also available for $9.99 in your choice of a Princess goblet or Gaston's Tavern stein.
Maurice's Treats is the only food service location inside Princess Fantasy Faire. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Maurice's Treats serves sweet and savory pastry twists and its signature Boysen Apple Freeze. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Annual Passholder Previews
Here are some details if you are a Disneyland Resort annual passholder and wish to attend one of the three preview days:
- Annual passholders previews take place today, tomorrow, and Saturday (March 7, 8 and 9) from noon to 6:00 p.m.
- There is no advance or online sign-ups for this event; you must register in person on the day of the preview, and you must have both your annual passport and valid photo ID.
- Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. just inside Frontierland, next to the Westward Ho shop. Disney recommends that all members of your party register together to improve your chances of being assigned to the same two-hour preview window.
- Everyone in your party (age 3 and up) must have a valid annual passport; non-passholders are not permitted in this preview, even as your guest.
- Passholders receive a color-coded wristband that grants access to Fantasy Faire during a two-hour window. This should give you plenty of time to get through the princess meet-and-greet in the Royal Hall, see one of the shows (schedule permitting) in the Royal Theater, and grab a snack at Maurice's Treats.
