If you want to meet a Princess at Disneyland Paris then the Princess Pavilion is the place to go! As the royal setting for Princess meet and greets, the Princess Pavilion is one of the most popular attractions in the park. As huge Princess fans, we’ve visited the Princess Pavilion many times: if you’re planning to visit the Princess Pavilion in Disneyland Paris, here’s everything you need to know!
The Princess Pavilion at Disneyland Paris
The Princess Pavilion is the location for the Princess meet and greet in Disneyland Paris. The Pavilion, located in Fantasyland, is in the style of a medieval castle and is dedicated entirely to the Disney Princesses.
How Does the Princess Pavilion Work?
After waiting in line at the Prince Pavilion, guests meet one Princess when they reach the top of the queue. The identity of this Princess is only revealed when the actual meet and greet takes place.
The Princesses are wonderful at the Pavilion and are really engaging and personable during the meet and greet. We met Belle on our most recent visit (February 2024) and she was incredible with our 3 young kids: she truly won all our hearts.
Wait times at the Princess Pavilion
The Princess Pavilion is one of the most popular attractions in Disneyland Paris and the wait times reflect its popularity. The wait time generally hovers around 90 to 120 minutes and even hits over 3 hours at its peak.
Princess Pavilion Disneyland Paris: we’ve never known which Princess we are meeting until we’ve walked into the Princesses’ room for the meet and greet. It can be disappointing for younger children if they don’t meet their favorite Princess, especially after commiting so much time to waiting, so try to manage their expectations as you wait.
The Princess Pavilion is hugely popular. Its wait times are only matched by the Stitch Meet and Greet and, occasionally, Mickey Mouse at the Meet Mickey Mouse Meet and Greet.
The Princess Meet and Greet
There are usually 2 Princesses holding court at the Pavilion at any one time and the Princesses on duty switch out quite regularly – in fact, the Princesses hosting the meet and greets will likely change multiple times as you wait in line. The princess you meet is dependent on where you are in the line and which Princess is available for meeting when you reach the top of the line.
Inside the Princess Pavilion
After entering the Princess Pavilion, you will enter a narrow line that snakes around the curve of the castle.
Along the queue, stained glass windows depict Princess Castles.
Each is represented by an object accompanied by a short description from their story: for Snow White, it’s a poison apple, for Belle, a red rose, and for Cinderella, a glass shoe.
Halfway along the line, you reach the mirror of Evil Queen which offers a fun interaction to break up the wait time for younger guests.
The final stretch of the queue meanders up a slight ramp until finally, you are requested to proceed to the outside of the room where you will meet a surprise Princess.
Which Princesses meet at the Princess Pavilion?
While it’s possible you could meet any of the Dinsey Princesses at the Princess Pavilion, some are frequent visitors and some are extremely rare.
Jasmine, Snow White, Rapunzel, Aurora, Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Tiana, and Merida are regulars at the Princess Pavilion.
Mulan occasionally meets guests and we’ve seen her there during 2024. Moana also made a rare appearance at the beginning of February 2024, however, that’s the only time we’ve seen her in the Pavilion in recent years!
Asha had her own meet and greet at Disneyland Paris during 2023, around the time Wish was released but she hasn’t made any appearances at the Princess Pavilion as far as I’m aware. Raya and Pochahontas are rare sightings at Disneyland Paris.
Alternatives to the Princess Pavilion at Disneyland Paris
We’ve been there, we get it! You have a huge Princess fan who really, really wants to meet a Princess but you don’t fancy a 90-minute wait to meet one surprise Princess in the Princess Pavilion. There are other ways to meet the Princesses although some come at an additional cost.
Princess Dining at Auberge de Cendrillion
Guests meet 3 or 4 princesses and Pearla and Suzy (Cinderella’s mice) when dining with the Princesses at Auberge de Cendrillion, or ‘Cinderella’s Inn’. We’ve met Cinderella, Aurora, Rapunzel, Jasmine, and Merida during our princess meals and the setting and food are fabulous (make sure to check out the menu before reserving as the restaurant offers a 3-course fixed menu only). It costs €95 for adults and €50 for children aged 3 to 11.
Read our full review of Princess Dining at Auberge de Cendrillion.
Parades
The princesses have their own float in the daily Disney Stars on Parade.
Anna and Elsa also have a float – it is the only way to catch a glimpse of the Frozen duo.
Disneyland Hotel
The Disneyland Hotel is the ultimate Princess Pavilion – check Disneyland Hotel Prices here!
The hotel has an exclusive Princess meet and greet, a Royal Encounter, for guests, and the Princesses walk through the hotel regularly. They even join Castle Club guests (Castle Club rooms and suites are the most expensive rooms in the Disneyland Hotel) for breakfast in the Castle Club Lounge! The Princesses are joined by their Princes during dinner at La Table de Lumiere (this meal was an absolute highlight of our stay at the Disneyland Hotel), a meal which can only be reserved by guests of the hotel.
We met Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Merida, Cinderella, Aurora and Jasmine during a recent weekend in the Disneyland Hotel and our princess fans even enjoyed royal makeovers at My Royal Dream, another exclusive experience for Disneyland Hotel guests.
For more on the Disneyland Hotel:
- Check out our full review and guide to the Disneyland Hotel Paris
- Read about our experience at My Royal Dream in the Disneyland Hotel
Extra Magic Hour and the Princess Pavilion
The Princess Pavilion is closed during Extra Magic Hour (Extra Magic Hour typically ends at 9.30am and the Pavilion opens at 10am.
However, some guests choose to start waiting in line outside the Princess Pavilion before the end of Extra Magic Hour and we’ve seen this recommended as a way to beat the line. The idea is that you get a headstart on the larger crowds who enter at when the park opens.
Is it better to start queuing during Extra Magic Hour?
We’ve tried both joining the line during Extra Magic Hour and joining the line at the quietest part of the day and we find it much of a muchness – we’ve still waited around 90 minutes to meet a Princess! It might even have been slightly quicker when we joined the regular line in the middle of the day!
From our experience, the only advantage of starting to wait during Extra Magic Hour is that you will spend part of your wait outside. There are two ways to take advantage of Extra Magic Hour:
- If you want to be at the top of the line for the Princess Pavilion you will need to join the line outside shortly after 8.30am but that means you miss all the Extra Magic Hour fun and you will still be waiting 90 minutes for the Pavilion to open.
- If you join the queue for the Princess Pavilion towards the end of Extra Magic Hour you will only have to wait 30 minutes for the Pavilion to open but you are likely to be at least 20-30 places back in the line so you’ll still wait 90 minutes in total to meet a Princess!
Princess Pavilion tip: only two meet and greets typically operate during Extra Magic Time at Disneyland Paris. Stitch regularly kicks off his meet and greet at 8.30am at Casey’s Corner on Main Street U.S.A. Winnie the Pooh (or Max, depending on the time of year) also starts early at his meet and greet which is held in Town Square.
Everything you need to know about the Princess Pavilion in Disneyland Paris
What are the opening hours of the Princess Pavilion?
The Princess Pavilion is typically open from 10am to 5pm but it does vary so make sure to check the Disneyland Paris app for times during your visit.
Note, the queue may close earlier than the indicated closing time. For example, if the wait time is 2 hours at 3pm, the queue will close early to allow a 5pm closing of the Pavilion.
Is the Princess Pavilion open during Extra Magic Hour?
No, Extra Magic Hour usually ends at 9.30am with the Princess Pavilion opening later, at 10am,
However, Early Magic Hour guests have been using their early entry to get a head start on the lines for character meet and greets – I’ve explained above how you can utilise your Extra Magic Time with the Princess Pavilion.
How many Princesses are at the Princess Pavilion?
Guests meet one princess at the Princess Pavilion and the identity of the Princess is a secret until you meet her.
Typically, there are two Princesses present at the Pavilion, and the line is randomly split between the two meeting rooms.
Can I request my favourite Princess?
Not really, unfortunately. It is mostly down to a mix of luck, which Princesses are in the Pavilion, and how the queue is moving.
Cast Members will often ask who your favourite princess is when you reach the top of the line so hopefully they will direct you to your favourite Princess if they are on duty. If you have visited the Pavilion already, you can mention who you met previously to the Cast Member – this can help avoid meeting the same Princess multiple times in a visit but it does happen!
Is there a Photo Pass Photographer at the Princess Pavilion?
Yes, Photopass Photographers are on hand to capture the moment. The photos are available to purchase at the exit to the Pavilion or you can add them to a Photopass. You can also take your own photos at the Princess Pavilion.
Is there a separate line for DAS Pass holders?
Yes, there are two separate lines, a standby line and a line for DAS Pass holders, at the Princess Pavilion. DAS Pass holders wait in the queue at the Exit of the attraction and enter there.
The Princess Pavilion is extremely popular so there will likely still be some wait time – anything I’ve read, suggests the wait time can be up to around 20 minutes.
Is there a Premier/Fast Pass for the Princess Pavilion?
No. The Princess Pavilion is not included in the Disneyland Paris Premier Pass. The only way to expedite the queue for the Princess Pavilion is by reserving a VIP tour – you can check out the VIP tours on the official Disneyland Paris website, here!
