Princess Fairytale Hall First Impressions

[MickeyPeace]

The DisneyParks Blog Meet Ups are open registration on a first come, first served basis.

Kevin also attended the Contemporary preview. Same deal?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Kevin also attended the Contemporary preview. Same deal?

I believe so, but he would know better than me.

 

[KevinYee]

@KevinYee Why do you think TDO started including you on the free gift list recently? I remember reading in your column that they always excluded you.
Keep giving honest opinionated reviews . Don't lose your integrity.

I'm still not on the press list. The Halloween event and the recent California Grill event were both hosted by the Parks blog (totally different people) and both events were open to the public. I got lucky, in other words, for being among the first to sign up. I'd not been to any Parks Blog meets before this.

Spirit wonders if the list of those invited is truly left to chance (is it REALLY "first come, first served"?) and I suppose it could be that I'm being included on these lists intentionally. It is obviously not my intention to sell out, of course!

 

[Lokheed]

Kevin,
When you choose a line to stand in, do you know which other princesses you will be meeting aside from Cinderella/Rapunzel? I.E. - Would I know whether or not Snow White was there, and which line to stand in to meet her?

 

[jdmdisney99]

Kevin, I was wondering how the show building has been split up; is it just split in half? how many rooms are there before you meet the princesses? Thanks for the update.

 

[tirian]

I haven't seen it in person yet, but on its own—I like it. The princesses needed something of this caliber for the thousands of Guests who visit the M&Gs.

Should it have replaced a ride? No. The FLE isn't adding any real capacity to the park; it's absorbing the existing crowd levels. Another dark ride wouldn't have hurt, especially since the mine coaster has fewer scenes than the old Snow White attraction.

Is it worth hyping on its own merit? Absolutely not. It is essentially just a meet and greet. Disney is making itself look ridiculous by over-advertising ice cream sundaes! and a M&G! and bookends! and benches!

But does it add value for Guests, and does it improve the quality of MK character interactions? Yes, by far. Whether fans like it or not, characters are an integral part of many family vacations at WDW.

I was able to preview the Princess Fairytale Hall on Friday night (note 1: it was not a 'soft opening' and the scheduled opening date is still Sept 18) (note 2: I was part of the DisneyParks blog meet up that got us free admission to the Halloween party, this preview of the Hall, and Glow with the Show Mickey ears).

My first impressions are positive. It's a stately place that is vastly better than the current meet and greet zone for Princesses in Town Square. To the extent there are literally hundreds (thousands?) of families wanting this kind of princess interaction every day in the Magic Kingdom, this will be seen as a welcome addition.

The controversy about removing a ride for this, though, is unlikely to die away anytime soon. There is nothing supernaturally original in this experience - no giant OOH moment of technology like in Maurice's cottage - so I suspect those who preferred a ride will not find reason to change their minds once they see it.

I did notice several little touches:

1. The painting of Tiana includes not only Ray, but a companion firefly. Evangeline? Wishes do come true here?
2. The walls are plastered with Eyvind Earle art - backgrounds from the original movie.
3. The meeting rooms have wallpaper with slippers (Cinderella side) or a rose (Aurora side). EDIT - this is actually the Rapunzel side. Yes, this experience is like Mr. Toad (Orlando) or the Matterhorn--you stand in one line to see half of it. If you want to see the other half, you stand in the other line also.
   
4. The bookends from Cinderella are here in the meeting rooms
5. Many Disney movies are named in those book, including the Snow Queen
6. The "Frog King" is given here with the wrong German. It reads "Kiss the Frog" if translated, which is NOT the Grimms' title.

 

[Sped2424]

I hate to be that uni guy but you know what Ima do it. This thing is not only unimpressive but seriously took forever and a half to build. almost a year and a half. Meanwhile over at universal they build these hyper realistic sets all wonderfully themed for SEASONAL events. And it takes them half the time.

I just can't believe that this is the end result we got after waiting so long. Flame me for this if you guys wan't but I just am not a fan of this new meet and greet. A meet and greet which needs no ride system should be just as easy and quick to build as much as these houses.

 

[WDWYankee15]

Well, that's exactly what they did. Remember, Rapunzel wasn't supposed to be part of this project at all. She was supposed to get her own meet and greet with Flynn over near her new magically delicious restrooms. But yes, the space where Rapunzel "always" is now was intended to "always" house Aurora.

Any chance that Rupunzel is just temporary in PFH and that eventually the M&G by the tower will be developed?

 

[MickeyPeace]

I'm still not on the press list. The Halloween event and the recent California Grill event were both hosted by the Parks blog (totally different people) and both events were open to the public. I got lucky, in other words, for being among the first to sign up. I'd not been to any Parks Blog meets before this.

Spirit wonders if the list of those invited is truly left to chance (is it REALLY "first come, first served"?) and I suppose it could be that I'm being included on these lists intentionally. It is obviously not my intention to sell out, of course!

Kevin, thanks for the reply. Whenever I see your name attached to a blog post I read it. The reason being is that I know it will be honest and opinionated. I don't always agree with your viewpoint (SoTMK for example) but I know that it will be written with a critical eye. It doesn't bother me that you are accepting gifts. I do appreciate your honesty and hope that will not change.

 

[danlb_2000]

Any chance that Rupunzel is just temporary in PFH and that eventually the M&G by the tower will be developed?

This came up a few times during the construction of that area, but I don't see how they could squeeze a M&G in there without really congesting the area.

 

[WDWYankee15]

This came up a few times during the construction of that area, but I don't see how they could squeeze a M&G in there without really congesting the area.

Oh I am familiar with the construction converstations that went on. However, the decision to not have a M&G in the Tower area (at least for now) was made long before they should have been making decorating decisions in PFH. Therefore, it seems that they would have left the door open to a future M&G for Rupunzel outside of PFH. Just trying to see if anyone has any new information or insight.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Thanks for the "sneak peek" through your eyes into Princess Fairytale Hall.

I hope that it is very popular and that a million people are in line for it every second. Since I'll be going everywhere else BUT to the meet-and-greets, I'm hopeful it will keep lots of people out of all of the other attraction queues ahead of me.

 

[aladdin2007]

I hate to be that uni guy but you know what Ima do it. This thing is not only unimpressive but seriously took forever and a half to build. almost a year and a half. Meanwhile over at universal they build these hyper realistic sets all wonderfully themed for SEASONAL events. And it takes them half the time.

I just can't believe that this is the end result we got after waiting so long. Flame me for this if you guys wan't but I just am not a fan of this new meet and greet. A meet and greet which needs no ride system should be just as easy and quick to build as much as these houses.

Not a fan of it either, Instead of just princesses they could have made it Royal Fairytale Hall and included some of the princes along with their matching princess to appeal more to everyone. The real shame is losing a ride out of it, in what could have been a nice new little Tangled dark ride, or something. Whats that last creepy subway tunnel-like picture from lol?

 

[magicallactose]

Not a fan of it either, Instead of just princesses they could have made it Royal Fairytale Hall and included some of the princes along with their matching princess to appeal more to everyone. The real shame is losing a ride out of it, in what could have been a nice new little Tangled dark ride, or something. Whats that last creepy subway tunnel-like picture from lol?

I'm confused. Didn't the original plans for the Princess Meet and Greets in Fantasyland include 'magical' transformation effects? (ex: Cinderella's costume transforming from peasant outfit to ball gown before the visitor's eyes). I realize that the re-tooled New Fantasyland jettisoned Pixie Hollow and these meet and greets, but couldn't they have folded some of those practical effects into Fairytale Hall?

In response to your question, that subway photo shows the London Underground set for the American Werewolf in London Haunted House at Halloween Horror Nights this year, I believe.

 

[Skip]

Not a fan of it either, Instead of just princesses they could have made it Royal Fairytale Hall and included some of the princes along with their matching princess to appeal more to everyone. The real shame is losing a ride out of it, in what could have been a nice new little Tangled dark ride, or something. Whats that last creepy subway tunnel-like picture from lol?

It's the London "tube" from the American Werewolf in London house, based on the film of the same name.

This "super meet 'n greet" looks supremely disappointing, especially after the 1.5 year build-up and the loss of Snow White. A real shame.

 

[RandomPrincess]

I'm confused. Didn't the original plans for the Princess Meet and Greets in Fantasyland include 'magical' transformation effects? (ex: Cinderella's costume transforming from peasant outfit to ball gown before the visitor's eyes). I realize that the re-tooled New Fantasyland jettisoned Pixie Hollow and these meet and greets, but couldn't they have folded some of those practical effects into Fairytale Hall?

In response to your question, that subway photo shows the London Underground set for the American Werewolf in London Haunted House at Halloween Horror Nights this year, I believe.

They had a bunch of M&Gs similar to Enchanted tales with Belle in the original announcement but they got dumped and 7DMT is in their place.

 

[Sped2424]

Not a fan of it either, Instead of just princesses they could have made it Royal Fairytale Hall and included some of the princes along with their matching princess to appeal more to everyone. The real shame is losing a ride out of it, in what could have been a nice new little Tangled dark ride, or something. Whats that last creepy subway tunnel-like picture from lol?

American werewolf in london, thats part of the haunted house! Tell me that's not awesome!

 

[Sped2424]

I'm confused. Didn't the original plans for the Princess Meet and Greets in Fantasyland include 'magical' transformation effects? (ex: Cinderella's costume transforming from peasant outfit to ball gown before the visitor's eyes). I realize that the re-tooled New Fantasyland jettisoned Pixie Hollow and these meet and greets, but couldn't they have folded some of those practical effects into Fairytale Hall?

In response to your question, that subway photo shows the London Underground set for the American Werewolf in London Haunted House at Halloween Horror Nights this year, I believe.

They did, back when they were going to take place at cinderella's chateau, but since they scrapped that I guess they didn't reuse it.

 

[WDWYankee15]

Disney Parks Blog is doing another Imagineer Live Chat today (9/16) at 2:15 PM Eastern Time.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...airytale-hall-seven-dwarf-mine-train-sept-16/
No information being reported....

Q - When is the Mine Train Opening?

A - "We're looking at 2014 and we haven't set a date yet."

Q - Are Princess Tiana and Princess Jasmine going to going to lose their current meeting locations and only be in Fairytale Hall from now on? Will that mean Prince Naveen goes away> They are my favorites!!!

A- "The best way to find the Disney princess you want to meet is to check the My Disney Experience app or to check the Times Guide on the day of your trip."

====================

Thanks for all the breaking news!!!!

 

[lebeau]

Q - Are Princess Tiana and Princess Jasmine going to going to lose their current meeting locations and only be in Fairytale Hall from now on? Will that mean Prince Naveen goes away> They are my favorites!!!

A- "The best way to find the Disney princess you want to meet is to check the My Disney Experience app or to check the Times Guide on the day of your trip."