’s Storybook Vale Expansion Pass added characters to the hit simulation game that broadened its scope. The first three characters introduced into the Storybook Vale’s first half, titled Welcome to the Vale, added Merida from Brave, Flynn Rider from Tangled, and Hades from Hercules. But alongside the promo for the Storybook Vale DLC as a whole, Maleficent was revealed to be one of two characters joining Disney Dreamlight Valley in the second half of the Expansion Pass – The Unwritten Realms.

Speculation over who the second character joining the game alongside Maleficent would be sparked among Disney Dreamlight Valley’s playerbase almost immediately. Disney Dreamlight Valley tends to split apart heroes and villains from the same film on its character roster between its base game and Expansion Passes. For example, Jafar and Gaston are both part of the A Rift in Time DLC, while Belle, the Beast, Aladdin, and Jasmine are all base game characters. This is also flipped in the case of Tangled, with Mother Gothel being part of Disney Dreamlight Valley’s base game and Rapunzel and Flynn Rider exclusive to the A Rift in Time and Storybook Vale Expansion Passes, respectively.

Many assumed that the pattern would continue with Maleficent, as she is a DLC-exclusive character. But references to a mysterious princess were quickly noticed by players, who speculated that Storybook Vale would break this routine during the Unwritten Realms. Yet again, Disney Dreamlight Valley players have been vindicated. Released across its socials and on its website, Disney Dreamlight Valley confirmed that the second character joining the hit simulation game in the Unwritten Realms would be Sleeping Beauty herself – Princess Aurora. Disney Dreamlight Valley did not release much more info about the new DLC in this press release, as it primarily focused on the upcoming Mysteries of Skull Rock update. However, gameplay from the previous chapter, like puzzles from the Lorekeeper and Snippets, were confirmed to be integral to the Unwritten Realms, which will arrive on July 9.

Princess Aurora’s addition to Disney Dreamlight Valley is certainly welcome, as the game slowly fills out its roster of iconic princesses. But one princess has been confirmed for the game since its initial trailers, but has yet to actually arrive in the Valley. Though all character additions should be welcomed, Cinderella should be marked as a priority for Disney Dreamlight Valley due to her early promotion.

The inclusion of a single character isn’t the reason most people play or purchase IP-based video games. But if a feature is advertised in a game’s marketing, it should be included at some point. Disney Dreamlight Valley officially launched almost two years ago, making Cinderella’s delay to the game feel like quite a wait. Disney Dreamlight Valley has also given no reason as to why she has yet to be added, making her exclusion all the more puzzling. Cinderella’s addition will also mark the roster’s expansion into older properties from Walt Disney Animation Studios, an area in which the property has lacked, as the game tends to focus on films from the Disney Renaissance and onward. Wreck-It-Ralph was another character depicted in early promotional material for Disney Dreamlight Valley who remains missing from the game. Just like Cinderella, Ralph’s addition should be higher on the character addition totem-pole, especially since his best buddy Vanellope is already on Disney Dreamlight Valley’s character roster.

At the very least, it seems that Disney Dreamlight Valley is aware of Cinderella’s absence and is moving to add her soon. Alongside the aforementioned press release, Disney Dreamlight Valley posted a free content roadmap for the second half of 2025. The Winter 2025 image depicts a familiar blue carriage and pumpkins, suggesting that while Cinderella will certainly arrive late to , she’ll at least make the game even more of a ball.