How to Host an End of Summer Princess Party

Celebrate the end of summer with a fabulous, princess-themed party! Break out the picnic ware and your glitziest mouse ears, because back to school is on the way and we need some royal partying--Disney style.

Dress Up

I think we all have a soft spot for this brave bow and arrow-wielding princess--and her Scottish Princess dress. Love the hair, love the attitude. Pick one up for your little princess for your end-of-summer bash.

Or maybe The Wayfinder Dress is more your girl’s style? Who didn’t love Moana and the fabulous songs? Or go old school with this Snow White-inspired Poison Apple Dress. Whatever your girl loves, we’ve got a princess gown for her.

Inside Out Fruit Skewers

Here’s a way to get your children to eat fruit--slide chunks on a skewer in order of color and make them with the movie Inside Out in mind. This simple idea comes from D23, the official Disney fan club. The creators suggest playing a word game based on the character’s emotions as you thread the fruit. This is one time it’s good to eat your feelings! 

Ingredients

• Yellow fruit: pineapples or bananas
• Blue fruit: blueberries
• Green fruit: honeydew melon or green grapes
• Red fruit: watermelon, strawberries, or raspberries
• Purple fruit: purple grapes

Directions

1. Choose one fruit to represent each character: pineapples or bananas for Joy, blueberries for Sadness, honeydew melons or green grapes for Disgust, watermelon, strawberries, or raspberries for Anger; and purple grapes for Fear.
2. Cut fruit into one-inch cubes, except for grapes and berries which can be served as they are.
3. String one fruit of each color onto the skewer in any order you wish.
4. Repeat step 3 until you have as many fruit skewers as you need.

Blood Orange Tiramisu

This recipe comes from The Domestic Rebel and is based on tiramisu made on the Princess Caribbean Cruise. We changed it to blood orange from the coffee-based because, you know, children will be eating these. A child hopped up on sugar is more energy than they need. Let’s not try espresso! We love this easy, no-bake tiramisu.

Original author: Hayley Parker, The Domestic Rebel

Ingredients

• About 8 ladyfingers coarsely crushed into crumbs

• 8 ounces (one package) cream cheese softened

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar plus 1 tablespoon divided

• Juice from 1-2 blood oranges, depending on taste

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

• Blood orange zest (zest before squeezing!) and grated white chocolate for dusting

Instructions

1. Among four (14-oz) plastic or glass cups (I used Chinet crystal-cut cups), sprinkle the bottoms of the glasses with some of the crushed ladyfingers. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1 cup of the confectioners' sugar and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 1 minute or until creamy and smooth. Slowly add in the squeezed orange juice and beat slowly to incorporate. Set aside.

3. Meanwhile, in another medium bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream and one Tablespoon confectioners' sugar together with the mixer on high speed or until stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture gently until incorporated and no streaks of whipped cream remain.

4. Spoon 1/4 cup of the mousse into each glass; sprinkle with a little orange zest and grated white chocolate. Top with a remaining 1/4 cup of mousse and sprinkle with additional white chocolate. Can be served right away or refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 days.

Combine a Picnic with a Treasure Hunt

For a fun distraction, tie strings all leading from your picnic site to a happy treasure. Wind the string all over the yard so the kids have to duck under and climb over obstacles. Engineer the difficulty based on age, color-coordinating pathways for the children in your group. Younger children get the easier routes.

Treasures can be crowns, special treats, or maybe a new game or Disney flick the family can watch together.

Have fun!