World Princess Week 2022

If you didn’t follow along with us in real time over on Instagram, you can totally catch up via our Princess Week highlight. I saved all of our stories inside the park, our Animal Kingdom Lodge resort tour, and many frequently asked questions HERE.

We chose to keep the trip as a surprise for the kids all the way up until we got to our gate at the airport. So I put together some Disney Princess themed travel kits for the girls (and some fun snacks and Disney themed hot wheels for Xander) and stashed them in their backpacks before we left. They were so excited when they found out where we were going, as we hadn’t been to Walt Disney World since our military move to California. Watch their reactions below.

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The Disney Princess-themed travel kits were a lifesaver when it came to our cross-country flight, airport transport, and restaurants and waiting areas. I can’t say enough how much I recommend getting a few things, many available at the dollar store, to make traveling with little ones easier. Get a closer look at the Disney Princess themed travel kit below, and check out my top 5 Tips for Taking Toddlers to Disney post HERE.

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#WorldPrincessWeek and the Ultimate Princess Celebration aren’t exclusive to Walt Disney World. Both Disneyland and Disneyland Paris also celebrated. As a matter of fact, Grammy Award-winning recording artist Brandy visited Disneyland Resort for a special performance in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle of “Starting Now” to kick off the entire week. Watch the performance HERE.

As a part of World Princess Week, our goal was to discover and experience all things Disney Princesses–this includes rides, meeting the princesses, and trying all of the specialty-themed princess foods. Check out the entire World Princess Week Foodie Guide HERE. Alright, so let’s dive into the fun. I’ll do a recap by park below.

EPCOT

We started our magical journey in the heart of the World Showcase in EPCOT, a section of Epcot consisting of 11 pavilions, each themed to a different country. We went to The American Adventure to grab lunch at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbeque. Y’all, this place was PHENOMENAL! I highly recommend the Texas Beef Brisket Sandwich, Mac and Cheese, and Tennessee Lemonade. I don’t think we left even the slightest crumb behind. Regal Eagle Smokehouse is also where we got to try the Tiana Banana Pudding; Banana pudding, whipped cream, vanilla wafers, and caramel sauce, topped with a Tiana white chocolate piece. It tasted just as good as the banana pudding my mama makes. I can’t recommend it enough. This was Mark’s favorite treat of the entire trip.

There were also several opportunities for royal meetings throughout the World Showcase: Belle and Aurora in France, Mulan in China, Anna and Elsa in Norway, Snow White in Germany, and Jasmine in Morocco. We were THRILLED to meet Mulan in the China Gardens, one of my absolute favorite pavilions in the World Showcase. I love how each princess represents character, beauty, and kindness. Zarie was so excited to show Mulan her face on her fanny pack, and Mulan cracked the funniest “reflections” joke. I love the playfulness and disarming nature of the princesses. They really do exude magic.

DISNEY PHOTOPASS

If you aren’t already familiar with Disney PhotoPass, it is a paid service that allows you to snag professional shots of your family and memories in iconic places throughout the parks. We linked our PhotoPass to our My Disney Experience app and could download them to our phones immediately! As a mom, a very sentimental mom who loves her photos, it was incredible knowing that I would get some great family shots. Learn more about Disney PhotoPass HERE. US military personnel also purchase Disney PhotoPass memory makers at a discounted rate. Learn more about military rates at Disney World HERE. 

After strolling through The World Showcase, we made our way over to Norway to ride the Frozen Ever After ride. We used our Lightning Lane to get on this incredible, song-filled slow boat ride. Frozen Ever After is a family favorite, and I love that it’s a ride that all 5 of us can enjoy. You can head over to THIS post for a list of rides appropriate for the entire family (no height requirement).

We ended our night at EPCOT with a gorgeous private dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway, which isn’t open quite yet to the public. 

MAGIC KINGDOM

I can’t explain the joy I felt from seeing Cinderella’s castle at the end of Main Street again. I’ve missed that awe-inspiring site so much. Thanks to Disney Parks, we got to enter the park before opening, and it was so magical to see Magic Kingdom in silent glory. Xander flew down Main Street to the castle, and Raegan and Zarie were so excited to get an early morning peek at all the treats and confections being made in the beautiful windows of Main Street.

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We were treated to a beautiful breakfast at Tomorrowland Terrace, which boasted beautifully decorated tables, Mickey waffles, and the prettiest view of Cinderella’s Castle. The girls are still in love with their Ultimate Princess celebration wands and activity books.

After breakfast, we went to Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland to meet the Princesses. You can use a Lightning Lane at Princess Fairytale Hall, and each side typically has two princesses. We met Princess Ariel, Princess Rapunzel, Princess Elena, and Princess Cinderella. The girls were thrilled to chat with and hug the princesses. Even Xander got in on some of the sweet meetings–though he would get super shy and hide behind my leg when they spoke with him. It was the cutest thing to see our bashful mini Prince Charming.

If you do end up stopping by Princess Fairytale Hall, you’ll surely end the visit inside Sir Mickey’s, a lovely gift shop right behind Cinderella’s caste, which is also home to the Royal Portrait Studio. Here you can use your Disney PhotoPass to take regal photos with beautiful backdrops and whatever props you’d want. We got the cutest pictures of the girls in their princess dresses and even a few of our little Prince Charming with his knightly shield and sword. I highly recommend this PhotoPass destination. The cast members are so patient and kind.

After photos inside Sir Mickey’s, we hopped over to Storybook Treats to snag a frozen treat inspired by the Princess that started it all, Snow White! The Snow White Cone is a lemon dole whip served in a blue cone and topped with the prettiest little red bow and blue bird. I’ve craved this cone daily since trying it. The lemon dole whip is exquisite and the perfect frozen treat on a very hot day. Using our Disney Gift Card made paying a breeze. The girls often get Disney Gift Cards from family and friends as birthday and Christmas gifts. They love swiping for their gifts and treats.

If you’re headed to Magic Kingdom, grab a spot for the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. We got prime reserved viewing of this music and dancing showcase that pays tribute to the tales of Fantasyland. Festival of Fantasy is a perfect opportunity to see the princesses AND their princes, along with plenty of fun favorites like The Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan, and Mickey! Mark and I get just as excited about seeing everyone as the kids. Every detail of Festival of Fantasy was stunning. It is a must see.

After the parade, we walked over to the outdoor porch of Town’s Square to meet Snow White. She was my favorite princess of the entire trip. She was so sweet and beautiful. Fun Fact: Her dress is my favorite of all Disney princesses.

After meeting Snow White, it was ride time! Mark and I used Rider Switch on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, because Xander is still too small to ride. He went on first with Raegan, and then Zarie and I hoped on. You can find out more about Rider Switch in THIS post. We also made our way over to Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, which is another family favorite.

On our way to lunch at Be Our Guest, we stopped for a few Disney PhotoPass photographers. How fun is this MagicShot with my Froggy Prince Naveen?!

Dining at Be Our Guest is always a treat. As a matter of fact, it’s probably my favorite place in Magic Kingdom to eat. We always try to get a reservation while we are there, and what better place to dine for World Princess Week than in Belle and Beast’s ballroom? Lunch was a pricer, but a delicious prix fixe 3-course lunch featuring French-inspired dishes. We devoured all three courses, including the cutest little edible paint-your-own white chocolate Chip dessert for the girls.

I always recommend Be Our Guest especially to my Boy Moms, as I feel like its a really fun opportunity to meet and interact with Beast AKA Prince Adam!

After lunch, we went to Enchanted Tales with Belle, which was once a storytelling attraction, but is now a fun way to meet Belle in her storybook cottage. Zarie and Xander were living their best lives getting in a stroller nap, so Raegan and I met her all on our own. She was darling, just as we’d expected she would be.

After a few more rides, we headed to Tomorrowland Terrace for Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Party: Disney Enchantment Treats and Seats. We enjoyed the most beautiful spread of 50th-themed desserts, cheeses, and an assortment of beers and wines. As always, they went above and beyond to accommodate Raegan and Zarie’s food allergies, which we very much appreciated.

Afterward, we enjoyed reserved viewing for Disney Enchantment–a nighttime spectacular. I believe Xander’s face spoke for us all. He was utterly dazzled by this over-the-top celebration of magic and wonder. Enchantment is a must-see experience!

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Animal Kingdom is a family fav around here! When people ask me which is my favorite: Disneyland or Walt Disney World, I think Animal Kingdom tips the scales for me toward Disney World. It’s such a vast park that is full of so much magic. We were so excited to get back to it.

My first stop when visiting Animal Kingdom is Creature Comforts (Starbucks). We snagged some much-needed caffeine along with a Pocahontas Mousse dessert to share. This princess-level treat is comprised of pineapple banana cake with cream cheese coconut mousse, turquoise glaçage, colored sprinkles, a chocolate gem, a chocolate feather, and a sugar flower. It was rich and tasty. I definitely recommend this one to share, as the portion is excellent.

After our treat, we went straight for the RIDES! Expedition Everest is one of my favorite rides in all of Disney Parks. Zarie (5) was just tall enough to ride this trip, and you MUST visit my Instagram highlight to see her reaction. We were so excited for her. We also couldn’t stop laughing at the PhotoPass photo from Mark taking the girls to ride. I think that drop may have gotten the best of Raegan–haha.

Speaking of PhotoPass images, we had to take the opportunity to snag a family MagicShot right in front of snowy Mount Everest.

We also made it a point to ride Avatar Flight of Passage in the World of Avatar. This ride is next-level immersive. I’ve never been on anything like it and would highly recommend a Lighting Lane, as it typically boasts a long line. Mark and I cooled off with a Mo’ara Margarita at Pongo Pongo, to the left of the ride’s exit. We got the girls Dole Whips from Tamu Tamu, all of which were delicious.

Our last stop of the day was to ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari. I always recommend this experience, as one safari ride is never the same as another. You could ride the Kilimanjaro Safari in the morning and see a completely different set of animals when riding in the evening. It was so fun to see how excited Xander was to see the animals up close. This was the perfect way to wrap up a magical trip.

HUGE thank you to the Disney Parks team for taking such great care of us for World Princess Week. Our accommodations, travel, and park days were top-notch. I loved meeting so many other fantastic creators and the opportunity to share such a magical trip with my community and with my family. This was a total dream come true.
If you have any World Princess Week or Disney questions, please leave them below, as I am happy to help!