Visiting the Kansas City Fairy Princess

2014 Edition

December 13, 2014

5:08 a.m.

The Light girls visiting the Kansas City Museum Fairy Princess

The Fairy Princess is a real-live genuine Kansas City Tradition and as the mother of four real-live Kansas City girls, it has become one of our family's favorite holiday traditions to enjoy every year! This year was the BEST.

For many years, the Kansas City Museum has been undergoing restoration. Over the years, the mansion has been unavailable to host the princess. We have visited her in a "Princess Pavilion" (pink tent), we have visited her in the Carriage House (beautifully decorated in holiday splendor), and this year, we visited the princess regally seated upon her throne in front of the great staircase in the entry of the mansion! It was such fun to see the beautifully decorated mansion and "throne room" - this was the best year yet!

Prior to meeting the Princess, we waited in the Carriage House where Christmas films play and shopped in the Princess boutique (where princess and fairy themed souvenirs are sold). Then, we entered the mansion where we began our adventure in the library and listened to a storyteller share a Christmas legend. Then, families are escorted one by one to the Princess. Each child is given a chance to visit with the Princess and share their Christmas wish, then they take photos (you may take photos yourself, but each visitor also receives one complimentary photo in a souvenir cardstock frame / card), and then with the wave of her magic wand, the special princess trunk opens and each child is presented with their very own Christmas gift (beautifully wrapped in a Fairy Princess bag). My three year old squealed with joy at the opening of the trunk (a special moment for the youngest visitors). As you wait for your photos to develop, children

enjoy making holiday ornaments and upon leaving each child receives a beautifully decorated Christmas cookie. Every year, I enjoy looking at past photos and seeing the girls grow up and enjoy this tradition.

How did Kansas City get to be home to a Christmas Fairy Princess?

The History of the Kansas City Museum Fairy Princess

In 1935, Kline’s Department Store of downtown Kansas City was celebrating the Grand Opening of their Toyland. Santa came to other stores; Kline’s wanted to do something original to attract visitors. So they introduced the Fairy Princess. For 25 cents, children visited the Princess, telling her their Christmas wishes. Then, she waved her magic wand and a surprise gift would appear! Over the years, gifts were presented sliding from chutes, appearing on revolving turn tables, hiding in fairyland trees or magically opening trunks. The tradition continued, at just 25 cents, until Kline’s closed in 1970. The Fairy Princess returned in 1987 when the Kansas City Museum brought her back for Christmas. You can visit the Princess for a photo, activities and, of course, a “magically presented gift” for every child.

Visiting the Princess in 2014:

Hours: Saturdays, December 6, 13, 20 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sundays, December 7, 14, 21 | noon-4 p.m. | $10

Kansas City Museum 3218 Gladstone Blvd, KCMO.

Enjoy Fairy Princess themed arts and crafts activities and beautiful holiday décor for visitors to enjoy. A complimentary photo is included with your visit. Also, check out the Fairy Princess Boutique to stock up on Fairy Princess Essentials. Visit the Kansas City Museum website for information and directions.

We LOVE Visiting the Fairy Princess Because...

The Fairy Princess is our family's favorite "Holiday photo op with a Christmas character" because it is a one-of-a-kind Kansas City experience, our little girls love it (she has gifts for princes too!) and the Kansas City Museum creates a magical and extra special experience for all! Each family meets the Fairy Princess privately in her throne room. The throne room is beautifully decorated as a magical winter wonderland. Children are each given the chance to visit with the Fairy Princess, share their Christmas wishes, and take photos... and then the REAL magic begins! With the assistance of the children, the Fairy Princess waves her wand, says the magic words, and her special treasure trunk mysteriously opens revealing a gift for each child in attendance! Our three-year-old was enchanted by the process, and our five-year-old inquired about every detail of the magic trunk opening process as if an understudy for the position she hopes someday to hold. After photos, visiting, and receiving a Fairy Princess gift, children are then invited into the Activity Room (also decorated) where they make holiday crafts and play. Each child receives their own keepsake photo in a Fairy Princess frame and the parting gift is a delicious iced sugar cookie! We have never been rushed or hurried and the throne room is set apart from the line (never too long) awaiting visits with the Fairy Princess... the entire experience is festive, magical, and fun for the whole family! Visit the Kansas City Museum website for information and directions.

Here are a few of our Fairy Princess Photos over the years: