A land of make-believe for kids on Balboa Island
Some girls got to celebrate Valentine’s Day being treated like a princess.
Sophia Aguilar, for instance, traveled two hours with her family from Ventura to Newport Beach on Sunday so the 3-year-old could be like Cinderella for the day and get to meet her favorite princesses from films and stories.
Creating a wonderland where dreams come true is what it’s all about at Once Upon An Island, a children’s entertainment venue on Balboa Island where kids can step into a world of make-believe to dress up as princesses and mermaids.
And so boys don’t feel left out, there are pirate and knight costumes too.
Many of the princess characters kids interact with appear in the YouTube web series “Princess Perplexity.”
“Kids see them in the video and want to meet them, which is where Once Upon An Island Comes in,” said Ashley Ummel Denton, who created the series with her twin sister, Sarah Ummel Cunnings.
Through a relationship with “Princess Perplexity,” Balboa Island resident Briana Baker opened Once Upon An Island about six months ago after the storefront below her Agate Avenue apartment became available for lease. The aim was to create a storybook setting complete with a team of princesses and mermaids.
Baker, who has worked at a theme park and done characters at private events and parties, feels the fairy tale-themed establishment fills a need for family-oriented activities on the island. “There’s not much for younger kids besides going to the beach, and this gives them something else to do,” she said.
Baker and Denton agree that every little girl wants to be treated like a princess.
“We crawled inside the mind of a child to figure out what they would enjoy,” Baker says on her website.
Anai Aguilar, Sophia’s mother, learned about Once Upon An Island on Facebook and figured there was a connection between the venue and the “Princess Perplexity” YouTube channel that her daughter watches.
“The children’s princess experience is so cute, I would live here if I could,” Aguilar said with a laugh.
During Sunday’s story time, three kids sat mesmerized as Cinderella, with authentic makeup, hair and ball gown, made her grand entrance and sang as she recited her story.
The experience includes a beauty salon for children named The Jelly Fish Salon, where layers of tulle surround hair and makeup stations create glamorous makeovers. There is a Magic Meadowland section for tea parties and an Enchanted Forest where story time is held.
Once Upon An Island also has a retail section where custom costumes, swimmable mermaid fins and accessories can be purchased. The business also hosts birthday and tea parties and daily character events such as Mermaid Monday.
“I like to go to the princess store to put on the mermaid tail,” said Denton’s daughter Winney, 3.
An all-inclusive event similar to the one on Valentine’s Day costs $70. Birthday parties range from $450 to about $1,000.
Between events, it’s not unusual to see Rapunzel donning mermaid fins and riding around in a bright turquoise golf cart promoting the venue.
Besides Facebook and YouTube, most of Baker’s business is via word of mouth, she said, with occasional inquiries from people getting on the Balboa ferry who are drawn to the princess dresses displayed outside the front door.
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IF YOU GO
What: Once Upon An Island
Where: 118 Agate Ave., Balboa Island, Newport Beach
Phone: (949) 791-2162
Web: onceuponanisland.net