A pair of life-size Disney Classic Doll box installations featuring Rapunzel and Tiana debuted at Disney Springs on April 6, 2026, and guests can step directly inside them for photos through April 26. The experience is tied to a meaningful product change: Disney’s new Classic Doll packaging is now 100% plastic-free, and the switch is projected to eliminate more than 110,000 pounds of plastic per year compared to the 2020 design. That is roughly the combined weight of eleven elephants.
What the Photo Op Looks Like
The installations are designed to make guests feel like they are the doll on the shelf. Each structure recreates the new plastic-free box at human scale, complete with the updated packaging design that now shows the doll directly rather than behind a clear-plastic window. Guests can pose solo, bring friends or family in for a group shot, or use Disney PhotoPass to capture the moment with a professional lens. The Rapunzel and Tiana boxes are the two characters featured at the Disney Springs activation, and Once Upon a Toy — located right next door — carries the actual dolls in the new packaging so guests can take one home the same day.
The Packaging Change That Made This Possible
Disney’s Classic Dolls now come in boxes made from certified, sustainably sourced paper with no plastic components. The design also reduces the total amount of material used in each package. Fifteen characters are already available in the new packaging: Elsa, Anna, Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Merida, Moana, Mulan, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Snow White, Tiana, and Tinker Bell. More characters will roll out later in 2026. The updated boxes are available at select Disney Parks locations and Disney Stores in North America, as well as on DisneyStore.eu and DisneyStore.com.au.
Stefanie Majoras, Vice President of Global Merchandise Sourcing and Supply Chain Optimization at Disney, described the redesign as a chance to rethink the guest experience through both sustainability and design — eliminating plastic, reducing material use, and bringing back direct visibility to the doll itself. That last point matters to collectors and parents alike, since the new box lets you see exactly what you are buying without any plastic obscuring the figure.
Why This Is Happening During Earth Month
The Disney Springs activation runs through April 26 as part of Disney’s broader Earth Month 2026 programming, which the company is calling its most expansive yet. The campaign includes two new Disney+ streaming premieres, a free National Geographic subscription for Disney+ subscribers, and a series of in-park experiences tied to the Disney Conservation Fund’s 30th anniversary. The plastic-free doll packaging is part of Disney Planet Possible, the company’s framework for taking measurable, ongoing steps toward environmental goals. Disney is also running a “30 Days of Stories” countdown to Earth Day on April 22, highlighting a new conservation or sustainability story each day.
What This Means If You Are Visiting Disney Springs
If you are already planning a Disney Springs trip before April 26, the doll box photo op is a no-cost stop. It does not require a theme park ticket and is open during regular Disney Springs hours. The Once Upon a Toy connection is a smart detail — guests who want to pair the photo moment with an actual purchase can pick up one of the 15 newly packaged dolls immediately after. If you are a collector focused on Disney Consumer Products, the packaging change itself is worth tracking: the new box design removes plastic entirely, which changes the display profile for anyone who keeps boxes intact on a shelf.
The April 6 to 26 window is shorter than most seasonal activations at Disney Springs, so this one rewards guests who move quickly. For the latest on Disney merchandise, park experiences, and Earth Month programming, visit fantasylandnews.com. For more Disney Consumer Products coverage, visit fantasylandnews.com/disney-consumer-products/.
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Disney Springs Has a Life-Size Doll Box You Can Actually Step Inside
