Looking for a great new holiday tradition to celebrate with your princess? Well, look no further than Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. My 4-year-old princess had the ultimate princess day out with Princess High Tea and ended the night with the most awesome (and quite possibly my favorite retelling) musical “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”.
Princess High Tea
We each had our own tiers of goodies! We happily munched on freshly baked breads, unbelievable scones and delectable desserts, as well as too-cute to eat finger sandwiches. I appreciated that they served kid-friendly tea sandwiches (hello, Nutella and banana sandwiches!). While I sipped on their delicious holiday tea, my daughter couldn’t get enough of her hot chocolate in her very own teapot.
The whole experience was made extra special by having all the little princesses get fancy by getting their hair and makeup done. My daughter requested all things glitter and sparkle and the makeup artist more than delivered. In fact, my daughter was obsessed with her makeup and did not want to take it off at the end of the night. It was a truly special time getting dolled up.
Read more about our experience at the Princess High Tea.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
After filling ourselves with finger sandwiches, pastries, and tea/hot chocolate, we were ready for our next adventure—watching “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” at Drury Lane Theatre. I wasn’t sure how my 4-year-old daughter would react to sitting through a 2-hour musical, but I’m happy to report she was engaged from the moment the curtains parted until the very end. Our entire experience watching Beauty and the Beast with my little princess at Drury Lane Theatre can be summed up in one word: WOW. I may be biased since Beauty and the Beast happens to be one of my favorite stories, but seeing it with my princess through her eyes made it an extra special experience.
First of all, the beautiful set and lighting were amazing. Using a rotating staircase, the set is transformed in seconds from a forest to an enchanted mansion. Instead of finding the enchanted rose under a cloche, the rose is included as part of the stage and prominent for all to see.
The costumes were beautifully designed and creative. The orchestra, hidden underneath the stage, was top notch. Oh, and we can’t forget the actors and actresses. Again, wow. A big shout out to Lumiere played by Tony Carter and Gaston’s right-hand man, Lefou, played by Paul Michael Thomson, who kept the audience laughing the entire time. Belle, of course, was nothing short of outstanding. But I believe the true highlight is when the cast comes together as a group with singing and dancing. My little one could be seen swinging her legs yearning to join the crew. The show-stopper, in my opinion, may have been “Be My Guest”—I’ve never seen a more fun rendition!
Whispers of my daughter, “I can’t wait to see Belle’s dress!” I couldn’t wait either. It seemed as if everyone held their breath as we watched Belle come down from the stairway in her magnificent yellow ball gown as if we were seeing a bride walk down the aisle, and then as both Belle and the Beast take the floor. *Sigh* It’s what dreams are made of.
So if you want to start a new holiday tradition or are looking for the perfect gift experience, I highly recommend spending the day at Drury Lane with a Princess High Tea and watching Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. We had a fantastic princess day out and you will too!
If you go
Saturdays, Dec. 29 and Jan. 5, 19 & 26 at 3:00 p.m.
Adults $30, children 12 and under $25
Through Jan. 27
Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Tickets start at $60
Follow Cheryl’s family adventures at O the Places We Go.
