PHOTO TOUR: Fantasy Faire Debuts at Disneyland

/PHOTO TOUR: Fantasy Faire Debuts at Disneyland

PHOTO TOUR: Fantasy Faire Debuts at Disneyland

Disneyland’s Fantasy Faire is a charming new village located just off the Hub, giving the Disney princesses a much needed permanent residence inside the park.  Small in space, but rich in detail, there’s much more to this area than just your standard character meet & greet, ensuring that Fantasy Faire will be a hit with the whole family.

Panoramic view from  Fantasy Faire to Sleeping Beauty Castle

Panoramic view from Fantasy Faire to Sleeping Beauty Castle

Looking into Fantasy Faire from the Castle bridge.

Looking into Fantasy Faire from the Castle bridge.

The main entrance into Fantasy Faire

The bustling main entrance into Fantasy Faire

Extending the architectural style from Fantasyland, Fantasy Faire is vibrant, yet cozy, and full of unexpected details.  The courtyard features Rapunzel’s tower, an audio-animatronic Figaro, and Clopin’s music box.  Keen eyes may spot some less-obvious, and even some hidden, details.

Village courtyard

Village courtyard

I love the flowers in the window box.

The flowers in the window box are a nice touch.

Rapunzel's tower detail

A closer look at the detail in Rapunzel’s tower

Small details pay homage to the original owner of the space, Carnation Plaza Gardens

Small details pay homage to the original owner of the space, Carnation Plaza Gardens

Soft kitty….warm kitty….

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Kids play with Clopin's music box. Hidden details will appear as you move the crank

Kids play with Clopin’s music box. Hidden details will appear as you move the crank to play the music.

Close-up of some of the detail inside the music box. Can you spot any characters that maybe don’t belong?

While there is a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique located in Disneyland’s Fantasyland, a new shop called Fairy Tale Treasures, featuring the latest in royal fashion for your own princess, has opened inside Fantasy Faire.  The Imagineers took this as an opportunity to sneak in some additional details, so be sure to look up while you’re in the new shop to see if you can guess all of the animation references (there are quite a few).

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Panoramic of Fairy Tale Treasures

Panoramic inside Fairy Tale Treasures

Maurice's Treats features new snack offerings.

Maurice’s Treats features new snack offerings.

Disneyland Fantasy Faire (25) Disneyland Fantasy Faire (6)

Located across from the snack cart is the Royal Theater.  Featuring vaudeville style performances of Tangled and Beauty and the Beast, this is a not-to-be-missed attraction.  Even if you’re not a big fan of the movies, the shows hosts, Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones, are a riot, and are sure to keep you entertained. Disneyland Fantasy Faire (18)

Disneyland Fantasy Faire (7) Disneyland Fantasy Faire (8) Royal Theater Players give their rendition of Tangled’s “I’ve Got a Dream” [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w14lfJcjLd0&version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0] Disneyland Fantasy Faire (9) Disneyland Fantasy Faire (10) After the show, the main characters will greet guests inside the theater, and either Mr. Smythe or Mr. Jones will head out into the courtyard to interact with guests.  The entertainment value between the the show, and their interactions afterward are the real attraction to Fantasy Faire.  They really outdid themselves here.

He was throwing that smolder all over the place!

Flynn Ryder was throwing that smolder all over the place!

Mr. Jones welcomes new royalty into Fantasy Faire

Mr. Jones welcomes new royalty into Fantasy Faire

The final attraction of Fantasy Faire is the Royal Hall, where you can meet 3 princesses inside a castle setting.  The good news:  you’ll know just who you’re waiting to meet beforehand. The bad news: you’re sure to wait in a long line.  Already familiar with their popularity, it seems that Disney has anticipated long lines for this and incorporated quite a bit of queue space here. Disneyland Fantasy Faire (27)

Who will you meet?

Who will you meet?

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A portion of the ample queue space

The queue ends once you enter the show building, and you will be escorted to meet each of the 3 princesses individually. PhotoPass photographers are available at each stop.

Your escort to meet the princesses

Your escort to meet the princesses

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Given all of the circumstances, it truly seems that Disney made the best of a not-so-ideal situation.  Admittedly, I went into the experience expecting to be underwhelmed, and it completely knocked my socks off.  If you’re visiting Disneyland in the near future, no matter who’s in your travel party (solo, all adults, or with the little ones in tow), make sure you stop by the Faire.  At the very least, don’t miss the Royal Theater!

View of Sleeping Beauty Castle from Fantasy Faire

View of Sleeping Beauty Castle from Fantasy Faire

By | 2013-03-14T06:35:04-05:00 March 14th, 2013|2013, Disneyland, Fantasy Faire, Fantasyland|Comments Off on PHOTO TOUR: Fantasy Faire Debuts at Disneyland

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