Is your favorite Disney Princess the feisty Scottish princess of Brave? If you have always wanted to meet Merida, you can do just that on your next trip to Disney World in Florida. While she took a short break from the park throughout 2020 and 2021, she was officially welcomed back on July 24th, 2022.
So if you’re planning a trip to Disney World soon, look no further than this article to find out where you can Meet Merida.
Merida Meet and Greet
Where: Fairytale Garden
When: 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM (subject to change)
The central place where you can meet Princess Merida is her meet and greet. This attraction has been gone for the last two years, but fans of Merida are overjoyed to have it back again.
You’ll be able to find the meet and greet in Fairytale Garden. The garden can be a little difficult to see from the central hub of Disney, as it sits back in a wooded area. You can reach the park by crossing the bridge at the main intersection and taking the walkway that leads to Cinderella Castle. Cosmic Ray will be on the other side of the walkway from Fairytale Garden.
The only time Fairytale Garden is open is during Merida’s meet and greet. For this reason, you’ll know immediately if she’s holding a meet and greet or if there will be one soon. Since she is such a beloved princess, the line does tend to grow fast. For this reason, we recommend getting there a little early before the meet and greet start time to avoid long lines.
It is also vital to note that even though most of this area is shaded by trees, some parts of the line are in direct sunlight. Please take this into account and protect yourself from the sun as needed. Sun protection can be purchased at various gift shops around the park, but it’s important to apply sunscreen throughout the day.
The times for Merida’s meet and greet seem to change often. For this reason, we suggest that you verify the time on your Disney app before heading off to Fairytale Garden. At the moment, the Fairytale Garden is only used for Merida, which allows the set to blend in with the style of Brave. Currently, Merida is the only character from Brave in Disney World.
When it is finally your turn to meet Merida, you join her in her castle-styled setting. There is a stone wall, her famous tapestry with her mother and father, and a few other decorations that point to her Scottish home. Additionally, there is an archery target and hay bales. It wouldn’t be Merida without a bit of archery, after all.
She occasionally has her bow with her, which can make for some great pictures. On sunny days, she may tell the guests not to worry; the sun won’t turn them all into bears after all…probably.
You’ll get to talk with Merida for a few moments, and she stays in character the whole time, complete with a Scottish accent. She’ll tell you stories about her adventures, and you can ask about her triplet brothers and her horse Angus.
At the end of the experience, Merida can sign her autograph if you want one, and you can even get pictures. There would be a PhotoPass photographer on sight if you purchased the Memory Maker package with your ticket. Otherwise, you can ask one of the cast to take a photo with your device.
Festival of Fantasy Parade
Where: Magic Kingdom
When: 3:00 PM daily
When writing this article, you can only see Merida in Fairytale Garden. However, she once had her float in the daily parade, and we hope it may come back at some point in the future.
The Festival of Fantasy Parade happens nearly every day in Disney World and features many of your favorite Disney Characters. There is Mickey and Minnie Mouse, of course, along with characters from The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Tangled, Alice in Wonderland, and so many more.
When Merida was a part of the parade, she had her bagpipe-shaped float where she stood at the very top inside a giant crown. In front of the float, a group of dancers performed a Scottish dance as they made their way along the parade route.
We don’t know if Disney World plans to return the Brave float or if it will be permanently removed. However, we hope that Merida will soon appear in the parade again.
Even if Merida isn’t in the parade at the moment, the train itself is always worth a watch, and it can be caught nearly every day at around 3:00 PM. The entire event lasts about 12 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few common questions that appear about meeting Merida.
Where can I meet Merida at Disney World?
Merida can be found in Fairytale Garden for a meet and greet a few times daily. The time tends to change, so we suggest double-checking the time on the Disney app.
Does Merida have her horse in Disney World?
Unfortunately no. Angus is more at home in Scotland for the time being. You are welcome to ask her questions about Angus at the meet and greet.
Is Merida back at Disney World?
She sure is! Merida was missing from Disney World for the last two years but returned in the summer of 2022.
Is there any other way to meet Merida at Disney World?
At this moment in time, no. Merida only just returned to Disney World, so we’re hoping guests will have more ways to meet her in time.
Conclusion
We hope that you have a wonderful time at Disney World and that you get to meet all of your favorite characters – including everyone’s favorite Scottish lass, Merida!
More about our TFVG Author
A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.
Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
