Ex-Disney Theme Park Princess Reveals Tearful Rule Many Tourists Break

We all know some of the basic Disney etiquette—like no adult costumes that could confuse children, and no folding chairs or drones in the park. But there’s another rule many guests aren’t aware of—one that involves how you interact when meeting the park’s onstage characters.

Former Disney cast member Kayla Nicole—who portrayed Ariel, Merida, and Cinderella during her eight-year tenure—recently shared a TikTok revealing the most important unwritten rule at princess meet-and-greets. She says it’s something she’s still surprised guests don’t know.

Don’t Make One Princess Go Unnoticed

Kayla highlights one behavior that frequently disappoints cast members but goes surprisingly uncommented on by guests:

“If you’re in a meet-and-greet location like the hall, where you have one princess on this carpet and a different princess on the other carpet, do not skip one to go to the other.”

That means if two characters are meeting guests side by side—say, Tiana and Elena—you must acknowledge both. You can’t walk straight to the character you prefer, ignoring the other.

Why It Matters: Operational and Emotional Impact

Kayla explains that this rule serves two important purposes:

• Operational Fairness:
  The standard expectation is about 70 seconds of interaction per guest. Skipping a princess and holding longer with another throws off the flow and timing.

  “Per our rules, we’re supposed to average around 70 seconds for each interaction to make it fair for every family. So if you’re skipping a princess, you are saving one minute of your time and potentially causing a world of hurt to that performer.”

• Human Decency:
  These performers, while in character, are still people beneath the costumes—and skipping someone consistently can be hurtful.

  “Operationally, that tiny little area between princesses is getting clogged up. But beyond the operational aspect, there’s a humanity aspect. How would you feel getting consistently skipped over? With side eyes and smirks and backs turned, not even acknowledging you.”

Representation and Sensitive Interactions

Kayla notes how skipping certain characters can hit even harder when they represent marginalized groups:

“Imagine you’re a person of colour playing Elena or Tiana, the two characters that meet in the hall. In real life, you feel looked over, given fewer opportunities, etc, and then you come to your job and people are still looking over you.”

She recalls moments where performers were emotionally overwhelmed:

“We’ve had to stop loading the rooms so many times throughout my Disney career because my Elena was crying at how she was being treated.”

It’s Not Just a Job—It’s Real Life

These roles are deeply personal for the performers. Many face intense expectations around appearance and behavior—and the emotional toll can be significant.

Kayla explains that meeting guests should be fun, not painful:

“If you’re a guest, just walk up, smile, and say hey. The performer should, in theory, take the reins and guide the entire interaction from there on. Just ‘yes and’ everything they say and it’ll be over before you know it.”

She reminds guests: they’ll still have the same park experience—your Space Mountain FastPass or dining reservations won’t be affected.

Guests Speak Up, Too

Her video sparked a wave of supportive comments from guests who’ve seen this behavior:

“Elena was my daughter’s favourite princess when we went. People kept skipping her over, and she spent extra time with my little, and we never knew of that princess before.”

Another added:

“I never watched Elena’s show, but we had such a great interaction when I met her! I’m glad she took the reins because honestly, I was so nervous about what to say to her. Total sweetheart!”

Tips to Respect Cast and Keep the Magic Alive

1. Greet every character in a meet-and-greet setup. Even a simple “Hi!” helps.

2. Use the 70-second interaction rule—don’t monopolize.

3. Engage positively and play along. Let the performer lead.

4. Be inclusive—especially with characters representing diverse backgrounds.

Disney wants everyone to feel seen—including the cast behind the magic. So next time you’re at a princess meet-and-greet, remember the golden rule: Acknowledge them all. It’s fair, respectful, and just plain kind.

This isn’t about being watched—Disney’s already got that covered. It’s about recognizing that the magic works both ways.