This Popular Disney Character Just Debuted at Disneyland But It’ll Cost You Extra
Princess and the Frog fans got exciting news last night when Charlotte “Lottie” La Bouff made her first-ever appearance at Disneyland. However, the beloved character is only available at a separately ticketed after-hours event.
Where Charlotte Appears
Charlotte debuted at Sweethearts’ Nite, one of the Disneyland After Dark evening events that take place after the park closes to regular guests. The character appears for meet-and-greets during this Valentine’s-themed celebration, giving fans their first opportunity to interact with her at a Disney park.
Access to Charlotte requires purchasing Sweethearts’ Nite tickets rather than standard Disneyland admission. This means guests visiting during regular park hours cannot meet the character regardless of their interest in The Princess and the Frog.
About Sweethearts’ Nite
Disneyland After Dark events are separately ticketed themed evenings featuring park access from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., with pre-party entry beginning at 6 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 celebrates Valentine’s Day themes with romantic entertainment and character appearances emphasizing beloved couples. 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 a 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, and Meg and Hercules. These are characters who don’t regularly appear during normal park hours, making them draws for fans attending the after-hours events.
Why This Placement Matters in Disneyland
Charlotte La Bouff has been a requested character among Princess and the Frog fans for years. While Tiana appears regularly at Disney parks and Dr. Facilier shows up occasionally during special events, other characters from the 2009 film have remained largely absent.
Charlotte’s popularity stems from her exuberant personality, her genuine friendship with Tiana, and her role in the film’s happy ending. Fans have launched social media campaigns and repeatedly requested her inclusion in park character lineups.
Now that Disney has brought Charlotte to Disneyland, the decision to place her exclusively at a separately ticketed event creates accessibility barriers. The premium ticket price and limited event dates mean many Princess and the Frog fans won’t have opportunities to meet the character.
Disneyland Ticket Costs and Availability
Disneyland After Dark tickets cost significantly more than standard park admission, with prices varying by event but generally well above regular single-day ticket costs. For guests who specifically want to meet Charlotte but aren’t interested in other Sweethearts’ Nite offerings, the expense feels disproportionate.
The event only runs select nights in January and February 2026, creating scheduling constraints. Guests visiting during other months have no opportunity to meet Charlotte regardless of willingness to pay for special access.
Disney’s Strategy
From Disney’s perspective, offering exclusive character encounters at separately ticketed events creates additional value justifying premium pricing. Rare character appearances have become signature features of Disneyland After Dark events, driving ticket sales among fans seeking characters unavailable during regular hours.
This approach works financially by generating revenue beyond standard admission while creating exclusivity that makes events feel special. Characters like Charlotte serve as draw factors encouraging purchases from Princess and the Frog enthusiasts.
Future Availability Unknown
There’s no announced plan for Charlotte to appear at future Disneyland After Dark events, transition to regular park hours, or become a permanent character meet option. Disney hasn’t confirmed whether this is a one-time appearance exclusive to 2026 Sweethearts’ Nite or the beginning of ongoing availability.
For fans hoping to meet Charlotte, the current options are limited to attending one of the select Sweethearts’ Nite dates and paying the premium ticket price.
Disneyland Character Access Trends
Charlotte’s placement at a separately ticketed event reflects broader trends in Disney park character management. Increasingly, rare or highly requested characters appear exclusively at 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 rather than premium add-ons requiring additional spending.
For Princess and the Frog fans attending Sweethearts’ Nite, Charlotte’s debut provides the long-awaited opportunity to meet this beloved character, even if the access requirements aren’t ideal for all guests.
