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Credit: DisneyAt an exclusive Disney event, Disneyland quietly announced a character meet-and-greet that has sparked excitement, especially among fans of The Princess and the Frog. This beloved 2009 film introduced Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess, and featured memorable characters like Prince Naveen, Dr. Facilier, and Charlotte “Lottie” La Bouff.
While Tiana has been a regular presence in the parks, other characters, particularly Charlotte, have been largely absent, leaving fans disappointed. Charlotte, with her vibrant personality and strong friendship with Tiana, has been in high demand for meet-and-greets. After years of advocating for her inclusion, Disney has finally brought Charlotte to Disneyland, but there’s a significant catch that may limit guest access.
Charlotte Debuts at Sweethearts’ Nite
Charlotte “Lottie” La Bouff made her Disneyland debut at Sweethearts’ Nite, one of the Disneyland After Dark separately ticketed evening events held after the park closes to regular guests. The character appeared for meet-and-greets during the Valentine’s-themed celebration, giving Princess and the Frog fans their first opportunity to interact with Lottie in a Disney park.
However, access to Charlotte requires purchasing tickets to Sweethearts’ Nite rather than being available during regular park hours with standard admission. This means that daily Disneyland guests with regular tickets cannot meet Charlotte, regardless of how much they love The Princess and the Frog or how long they’ve waited for this character to appear in the parks.
Understanding Disneyland After Dark
Disneyland After Dark events are separately ticketed themed evenings featuring access to Disneyland after regular hours, typically from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., with pre-party park entry from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. These events include shorter attraction wait times, unique entertainment, rare character encounters, specialty food and beverages, exclusive merchandise, and unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital downloads.
Sweethearts’ Nite specifically celebrates Valentine’s Day themes with romantic entertainment, couple-focused photo opportunities, and character appearances emphasizing beloved duos and romantic pairings. The 2026 event runs select nights in January and February, featuring new entertainment including the “Celebrate Love Cavalcade” parade, “Once Upon a Dream” musical show, Disney Duets karaoke at Golden Horseshoe, and Valentine’s Dance Party with Donald and Daisy at Tomorrowland Terrace.
Character encounters at Sweethearts’ Nite have historically included rare appearances like Bernard and Bianca from The Rescuers, Esmerelda and Phoebus from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Meg and Hercules, and other couples who don’t regularly appear during normal park hours. Charlotte La Bouff joining this lineup makes thematic sense given her role in The Princess and the Frog’s romantic storyline and her friendship with Tiana.
The Disney Paywall Problem
Placing Charlotte exclusively at a separately ticketed event rather than making her available during regular park hours creates accessibility barriers that frustrate fans who have been requesting this character for years. Disneyland After Dark tickets cost significantly more than standard admission, with prices varying by event but generally ranging well above regular single-day ticket costs.
For guests who specifically want to meet Charlotte but have no particular interest in the other Sweethearts’ Nite offerings, paying premium prices for a separately ticketed event feels like being forced to purchase access to a character who should reasonably be available during normal operations. Families visiting Disneyland for a single day or a short trip may not have the budget to add expensive after-hours event tickets just to meet one character.
The limited event dates also create scheduling constraints. Sweethearts’ Nite runs only select nights in January and February 2026, meaning guests visiting during other months have zero opportunity to meet Charlotte regardless of willingness to pay extra.
Disney’s Strategy
From Disney’s perspective, offering exclusive character encounters at separately ticketed events creates additional value justifying premium pricing while driving ticket sales for these profitable after-hours celebrations. Rare character appearances have become signature features of Disneyland After Dark events, with guests specifically purchasing tickets to meet characters unavailable during regular park hours.
This strategy works financially for Disney by generating revenue beyond standard admission while creating urgency and exclusivity that makes events feel special rather than just extended park hours. Characters like Charlotte serve as draw factors encouraging Princess and the Frog fans to purchase Sweethearts’ Nite tickets they might otherwise skip.
What This Means for Disney Fans
For Princess and the Frog enthusiasts hoping to meet Charlotte, the options are limited. Attend one of the select Sweethearts’ Nite dates and pay the premium ticket price, or accept that meeting this character simply isn’t accessible during your Disneyland visit.
There’s no indication whether Charlotte will appear at future Disneyland After Dark events, transition to regular park hours, or remain exclusive to Sweethearts’ Nite annually. Disney hasn’t announced plans to make her available beyond this specific event, leaving fans uncertain about future opportunities.
Broader Disney Character Availability Issues
Charlotte’s paywall placement reflects broader trends in how Disney manages character meet and greets across its parks. Increasingly, rare or highly requested characters appear exclusively at separately ticketed events, character dining experiences, or other premium offerings rather than being accessible with standard admission.
This monetization of character access frustrates guests who remember when diverse character lineups were standard park features included with regular tickets rather than premium add-ons requiring additional spending.
For now, Princess and the Frog fans attending Sweethearts’ Nite should watch for Charlotte’s appearance and take advantage of this rare opportunity to meet a beloved character finally making her Disneyland debut, even if the circumstances aren’t ideal.