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"The Floating Palace" is a television special of the Disney Junior animated series Sofia the First. It premiered on November 24, 2013 on Disney Channel as part of a family night special event.

Plot[]

Traveling across the sea aboard a ship known as The Floating Palace, Sofia is in the library reading a book when the Royal Family arrives at a cove known as Merroway Cove for a vacation. When Sofia asks if they'll meet any mermaids, Roland and Admiral Hornpipe both tell her mermaids are not real. Also accompanying the royal family is Cedric, who is out on another scheme to take over Enchancia -- only this time, he's not after the Amulet of Avalor. Instead, he’s in search of an enchanted comb known as the Mermaid Comb of Merroway Cove, that gives whoever possesses it the power to harness the ocean. He takes a boat to a cave and transforms himself into a sea monster and Wormwood into a squid.

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Sofia and Clover meet Oona.

Meanwhile, Sofia meets up with Clover and heads down to the swimming platform. Once there, they spot a mermaid who gets trapped in a net. Sofia pulls her onto the platform and helps her get untangled. Once free, Sofia introduces herself to the mermaid who introduces herself as Oona and the two girls become fast friends. Oona is amazed by the Floating Palace which was why she came up to get a closer look. She notices Sofia's amulet glowing and when she asks her about it, Sofia tells Oona it’s enchanted. Oona tells her that the comb she's wearing is enchanted as well, but doesn't know what its powers are because her mother refuses to tell her stating that she’s not old enough yet. After she gets back in the water, Oona discovers her fin was injured by the net. Sofia takes off her shoes so she can get in the water and help her. The moment her feet makes contact with the water, she transforms into a mermaid. Remembering the glow her new friend saw earlier and the amulet's rule, Sofia tells Oona her amulet gives her special powers when she does good deeds. Since she helped her when she was in trouble, her amulet blessed her with the ability to transform into a mermaid. All this makes Sofia squeal with joy as she happily hops into the water. She drifts down a few fathoms until she opens her eyes and squeals "This is incredible!" and starts swimming at lightning speed before returning to the surface. With the use of her new abilities, Sofia helps Oona swim home. Meanwhile, Clover meets a seagull named Farley who tries to make off with a bag of blueberries that Clover marked as his lunch. A battle erupts between them that causes the blueberries to get spilled overboard and gets them both stuck in a lifesaver.

Sofia-the-First-The-Floating-Palace-29

Soifa under the sea with Oona and Sven.

Meanwhile, Sofia takes Oona to the bottom of the cove and all the sights make Sofia squeal with delight. The two girls enter a shipwreck that Oona uses as her hideaway. Suddenly, a seahorse appears and calls out for Oona who tries to hide Sofia. She tells Sofia that seahorse is her friend Sven who gets very suspicious around strangers. Sven finds the two girls and then asks Oona about where she’s been and who her new friend is, stating he hasn't seen her in the cove before. Oona says Sofia is visiting from another colony and when she hurt her fin she helped her get back. When he hears this, Sven panics and says Oona needs to see the doctor right away just as an older mermaid shows up. After being told about Oona's hurt fin, the mermaid proceeds to examine her fin: It turns out her injury is so minor it can be treated with some moon kelp. Oona introduces Sofia to the mermaid who happens to be her big sister Cora, who was sent by their mother to check on her. After Cora bandages her fin and leaves, Oona begins to moan about how her sister treats her like a merbaby, which Sofia understands completely as she knows how it feels. Then, Sofia asks where the other merfolk live and Oona and Sven give her a tour of the cove.

Unbeknownst to Sofia, she and Oona are being watched by Sea Monster Cedric and Wormwood the Squid who recognize Oona's comb as the item they seek. When he spots Sofia, he is shocked because he knows she will ruin his chances of getting the comb. Suddenly, the Floating Palace appears from above and Cora shows up to tell Oona their mother wants them back at the castle. Sofia follows the two mermaids to the coral castle where she meets their mother, Queen Emmaline of Merroway Cove and her chief advisor, Plank. It turns out that the merfolk think humans are dangerous because many years ago, a ship entered the cove and tried to capture one of the colony's inhabitants and most of its people were hurt. Plank proposes that Queen Emmaline move the ship from the cove by conjuring a storm with her Trident. Cora is the only one who supports this decision but Sven and Queen Emmaline view the plan as too reckless and irresponsible because it might sink the ship. Knowing her family is on that ship, Sofia is immediately against this plan and insists on a peaceful alternative. She tells Plank and Queen Emmaline that she will go up and persuade them to move the ship. When Queen Emmaline and Plank both ask her how she would do that since they think she's a mermaid, Sofia reveals she's actually a human and the ship belongs to her family to the shock of the entire mercolony except for Oona, who knew the whole time. When Plank and Cora start acting negatively towards Sofia, both Oona and Sven swim forward and defend her by telling everyone how Sofia helped Oona when she was hurt. Sofia gives the Mermaid Queen her word that she will get the ship to leave, with Queen Emmaline ordering that the Floating Palace never returns to Merroway Cove again, and sadly bids Oona farewell before leaving. Oona goes after Sofia and apologizes for how everyone acted. Sofia tells Oona the only thing she's upset about is that she'll never see her again and gives her a loving hug before sadly continuing to head back to the ship.

Just then, trouble erupts for both girls. As Oona starts to head back home, Sea Monster Cedric appears and attacks her. Sofia hears Oona calling for help and dives back into the ocean to help her. Oona heads into the kelp forest but gets ambushed by Wormwood the Squid and Cedric captures her. Sofia finally arrives in the kelp forest and calls out for Oona but to no avail. Realizing the monster must've kidnapped Oona, Sofia heads back to tell Queen Emmaline what happened. Unfortunately, Plank doesn't believe her and accuses her family of kidnapping Oona and urges Queen Emmaline to use her trident to conjure a massive storm that will sink the Floating Palace. Convinced that Plank is right, despite Sofia's pleas, Queen Emmaline gives Sofia until sundown to return her daughter or she'll use her trident to do as Plank suggested. Sven goes after Sofia because he could tell she was telling the truth the whole time. On the ship, it turns out the royal family hasn't even noticed that Sofia is gone and are only just now noticing but they all assume that she's in her room finishing her book. When Sofia gets back on board, she heads to her family and tells them about Oona's kidnapping and her mother's threat to sink the Floating Palace. Unfortunately they don't believe her and with no one else to turn to Sofia now believes its up to her and her animal friends to find and rescue Oona before it's too late. She frees Clover and Farley from the lifesaver and instructs the seagull to take to the skies and look for Oona. He finds her locked in a cage on the monster's boat and goes back to tell Sofia, Sven, and Clover. The four of them find the cave and find out the monster knows magic and wants Oona's comb, but Sofia does not realize it's Cedric. Sofia tries to rescue her but the sea monster is too powerful for her and she fails. Meanwhile, Queen Emmaline gets tired of waiting for Oona to come back and uses her trident to conjure a storm to sink the Floating Palace.

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Sofia with Princess Ariel.

Sofia notices the storm in the distance and finally feels like all hope is lost: She failed to rescue Oona and knows the second the monster gets her comb there will be no telling what he'll do to her mermaid friend and her family will be drowned for a crime they never committed. Sven suggests going back to tell Emmaline they found Oona, but Sofia refuses stating that she won't believe her, and pretty much gives up and sadly cries. Suddenly, Sofia's amulet begins to glow summoning Princess Ariel. She tells Sofia she still has a chance to save Oona by enlisting Cora to help by showing her that she cares about Oona as much as Cora does. Soon after Ariel vanishes after completing her task of boosting Sofia's morale, Sofia manages to convince Cora to help her and the two Princesses head off to the rescue while Sven and his family go to stop Queen Emmaline. Meanwhile, Queen Emmaline is about to turn the storm into a typhoon when Sven and his family intervene. With the trident in their possession, they lead Emmaline and Plank to where Oona is being held. With Sofia and Cora working together, they successfully rescue Oona and defeat the sea monster with the power of Oona's comb. The two mermaids are reunited with their mother who apologizes to Sofia for her rashness and, using the trident, stops the storm. While she does this, she is seen by Sofia's family and Admiral Hornpipe forcing them to realize that Sofia was right all along. Sofia heads back to the ship and happily reunites with her family who all apologize for not believing her. Then she takes them to meet the merfolk who all become good friends with them and Sofia and Oona are allowed to remain friends forever. Meanwhile, a defeated Cedric returns to the Floating Palace and turns himself and Wormwood back to normal.

Home Video Release[]

Songs[]

Cast[]

Gallery[]

Wiki
The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to The Floating Palace.

Trivia[]

  • This is the second time a Disney Princess shows up in a special (Cinderella) and the second special of the show (Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess). There are also similarities especially between these two meetings:
    • Sofia covers her eyes in despair seconds before her amulet glows and a glow is seen where the summoned princess will appear.
    • Both state that the amulet summoned them to help.
    • The princesses (Sofia and the summon) take a stroll (or a swim) in both cases.
    • The meetings include a musical number, and both hint on what Sofia should do to set things right and the one person (Princess Amber and Cora) she should converse with to get started.
    • The strolls end in a doorway to a "room" where an older girl is sulking (Princess Amber and Cora).
    • In the last word of the musical number the summoned princess and Sofia are in the same position in both cases, with Sofia facing the doorway and the princess right behind her, hands rested on the former's shoulders and as Sofia turns around to thank her, the princess had magically disappeared leaving behind a cloud of shimmering stars.
    • As Sofia meets the girl, they respond negatively at first until Sofia declares her mission to her. Both missions also involve a confrontation with Cedric or at least Wormwood with both girls working together.
  • This is the second time Sofia undergoes a magical transformation. In "Cedric's Apprentice", she became a lizard.
  • This is the second time Sofia strengthens ties between her family and supernatural creatures. Before, it was the trolls in the episode "Let the Good Times Troll".
  • Ariel is the fourth Disney Princess to assist Sofia.
  • Ariel is the first princess to not to be seen in her redesign as she was in her mermaid form.
  • When Oona asks what kind of animal Clover is, he says "I'm a Blue Ribbon Bunny", a reference to the song and the seventh episode.
  • Oona, in many ways, is similar to Sofia. Both are princesses who are the youngest members of a royal family, possess an enchanted object which gives them magical powers and have animal friends.
  • This is the third time we see Cedric's true evil side instead of his usual bumbling silliness. The first was in "The Amulet and the Anthem" and the Second was in "Princess Butterfly".
  • This is the second episode where Cedric doesn't go after the Amulet, the first episode was "Tea for Too Many".
  • Cedric undergoes a magical transformation for the first time in the series and so does Wormwood.
  • This is Cedric's last appearance in the first season.
  • Sofia is the only main character to interact with Cedric in the episode, but she doesn't recognize him.
  • Oona is the only one Sofia tells the truth about her amulet.
  • Oona and Sven are the only ones who know the truth of Sofia's Amulet. Queen Emmaline, Plank, Cora, and the other merfolk are aware of Sofia's powers but not the source.
  • This is the second time Sofia's amulet grants her a blessing. The first was Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess.
  • Sofia gains the ability to transform into a mermaid and back. This is the first time she has used this ability.
  • Sofia is almost forced to reveal the truth about her amulet to her family but she is able to avoid it when she gets the idea to ask Clover for help.
  • This is the only special so far that does not take place in Enchancia.
  • Baileywick is revealed to be prone to sea sickness.
  • This episode shows how inattentive the Royal Family is with Sofia and therefore why they are oblivious to the fact that she has powers.
  • This is the first episode where Sofia fights Cedric, though she doesn't recognize him.
  • When Sofia gets underwater, she says: "It's a whole new world under the sea!", which is a reference to the songs from Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.
  • This is the first time Kiernan Shipka, Darcy Rose Byrnes, and Zach Callison voice together in a episode since The Legend of Korra episode "The Revelation": Kiernan Shipka voiced Jinora, Darcy Rose Byrnes voiced Ikki, and Zach Callison voiced Skoochy.
  • Moral: Problems can be solved if both sides work together.

Goofs[]

  • Before becoming a mermaid for the first time, Sofia takes off her shoes through her gown.
  • Clover to the rescue has landed on Cedric's nose with a Tarzan yell, but instead of Clover's Tarzan yell he use as a rabbit yell.


v - e - d
Sofiathefirstlogo
Media
Sofia the First (Videography/Soundtrack/Songs From Enchancia) • Sofia the First: Once Upon a PrincessElena and the Secret of AvalorDisney Junior DJ ShuffleDisney Junior DJ Shuffle 2Books
Disney Parks
PLAY!
Characters
Princess SofiaQueen MirandaKing Roland IIPrince JamesPrincess AmberPrincess HildegardCedric the SorcererWormwoodBaileywickRobinMiaCloverWhatnaughtGoodwyn the GreatWinifred the WiseJadeRuby HanshawPrincess ClioPrince ZandarPrincess JunPrince HugoMinimusPrincess VivianCrackleKing Marcus and Queen CecilyTrollsLucindaPrince JinMagic CarpetJasperPrince KhalidMeg and PegMadam UbetchaPrince DesmondMiss NettleSir GilliumProfessor PopovHelen HanshawOonaQueen EmmalineCoraPlankAunt TillyWilbur the WombeastSvenEmperor QuonEmpress Lin-LinRexPrince AxelKing GarrickElectraVaughan and VanceMarlaSir BartlebySir MaxwellSir FinneganGwenChef AndreSofia the WorstLady JoyLord GilbertWu-ChangJade JaguarSir DaxBooPrincess LaniMamanuKamea and HaliaPralineFreedoPrincess ZooeyPrincess AstridSlickwellGreylock the GrandPrincess IvyDragons of EnchanciaWinterWhiskersGlacia the Ice WitchElliot, Amy, and KurtTizzyMaster ErwinBryce TwigleyButton, Benngee, and BrodyMossyCarol of the ArrowJanePrincess KariMiss ElodieFlukeSlimShellyFlipMantacornOnyx and OpalWendell FidgetMrs. FidgetSaffronMuck, Gunk, and GrimeSpruceBallerinaMazzimoPrince RoderickGavinKazeemSergeant FizzKing Habib and Queen FarnazChief GnucklesFlinchGrottaElfonsoElfredMilo the SnakeKing HenrikCordelia the ConjurorCalistaMorganaCrispyBarleySassofrasProfessor Zacharias FleeberGrand MumGemina and ArgusCount BarnstormSir OliverSir JaxonWillawingKaiPrincess CharlotteMorrisZinessaKing Philip and Queen EverlyLilyIndigoMarty and MapleGrimtrixWriggley, Pumpkin, and ChesterSkyePiccoloBaron Von RochaProfessor PecullianSea MonstersMalachite and FigOmarPrismaAzurineOrionVegaChrystaSizzleCinderSingeMare of the MistKing Roland IRomaGiggling GoblinCaptain QuiversTwitchVorNerissa

Elena of Avalor: Princess ElenaPrincess IsabelFranciscoLuisaShurikiAlacazarZuzoMateoMigs, Luna, and SkylarRafaChancellor EstebanArmandoKing Raul and Queen LuciaNaomi Turner
Guest Characters: Flora, Fauna, and MerryweatherCinderellaJasmineMagic CarpetBelleArielAuroraSnow WhiteMulanRapunzelTianaMeridaOlafMerlinArchimedes

Episodes
Season One: "Just One of the Princes" • "The Big Sleepover" • "Let the Good Times Troll" • "Cedric's Apprentice" • "A Royal Mess" • "The Shy Princess" • "Blue Ribbon Bunny" • "The Princess Test" • "Baileywick's Day Off" • "Tri-Kingdom Picnic" • "The Little Witch" • "Two to Tangu" • "Finding Clover" • "The Amulet of Avalor" • "The Buttercups" • "Make Way for Miss Nettle" • "The Amulet and the Anthem " • "Tea for Too Many" • "Princess Butterfly" • "Great Aunt-Venture" • "The Baker King" • "The Floating Palace" • "Holiday in Enchancia" • "Four's a Crowd"

Season Two: "Two Princesses and a Baby" • "The Enchanted Feast" • "The Flying Crown" • "Mom's the Word" • "The Silent Knight" • "Enchanted Science Fair" • "King for a Day" • "When You Wish Upon a Well" • "Gizmo Gwen" • "Sofia the Second" • "Mystic Meadows" • "Princesses to the Rescue!" • "Ghostly Gala" • "The Emerald Key" • "Scrambled Pets" • "The Princess Stays in the Picture" • "Baileywhoops" • "The Curse of Princess Ivy" • "Winter's Gift" • "The Leafsong Festival" • "Substitute Cedric" • "Clover Time" • "In a Tizzy" • "A Tale of Two Teams" • "The Littlest Princess" • "Buttercup Amber" • "Carol of the Arrow" • "Sidekick Clio"
Season Three: "Cool Hand Fluke" • "Minimus is Missing" • "Cedric Be Good" • "Princess Adventure Club" • "Minding the Manor" • "The Secret Library" • "New Genie on the Block" • "The Fliegel Has Landed" • "The Princess Ballet" • "All the Sprite Moves" • "Sofia in Elvenmoor" • "Stormy Lani" • "Lord of the Rink" • "The Secret Library: Olaf and the Tale of Miss Nettle" • "Gone with the Wand" • "Bad Little Dragon" • "Bunny Swap" • "Her Royal Spyness" • "Best in Air Show" • "Dads and Daughters Day" • "The Tale of the Noble Knight" • "The Bamboo Kite" • "Beauty is the Beast" • "Cauldronation Day" • "Camp Wilderwood" • "Royal Vacation" • "Hexley Hall" • "The Princess Prodigy" • "One for the Books"
Season Four: "Day of the Sorcerers" • "The Secret Library: Tale of the Eternal Torch" • "The Crown of Blossoms" • "Pin the Blame on the Genie" • "The Mystic Isles" • "The Mystic Isles: The Princess and the Protector" • "The Royal Dragon" • "The Mystic Isles: The Mare of the Mist" • "Through the Looking Back Glass" • "Princess Jade" • "Ivy's True Colors" • "Too Cute to Spook" • "Pirated Away" • "The Mystic Isles: The Falcon's Eye" • "The Mystic Isles: The Great Pretender" • "The Mystic Isles: A Very Mystic Wassalia" • "The Birthday Wish" • "In Cedric We Trust" • "The Mystic Isles: A Hero for the Hoodwinks" • "The Mystic Isles: Undercover Fairies" • "A Royal Wedding" • "The Royal School Fair" • "The Lost Pyramid" • "Return to Merroway Cove" • "The Elf Situation" • "Forever Royal"

Songs
Theme Song

Once Upon a Princess: I'm Not Ready to Be a PrincessRoyal PrepA Little Bit of FoodTrue SistersRise and Shine
Season One: Princess ThingsAnythingPerfect Slumber PartyMake Some NoiseCedric the GreatGoldenwing CircusAll You NeedBlue Ribbon BunnyI Belong(You Can Always) Count On BaileywickPicnic of the YearGood Little WitchThe Ride of Your LivesBring My Best Friend BackI'll Get My/That AmuletThe ButtercupsMake Way for Miss NettleEnchancia AnthemMake It RightBigger Is BetterWho's That?A Recipe for AdventureThe Simple LifeMerroway CoveThe Love We ShareWassaliaPeace and JoyRoyal Fun
Season Two: Sisters and BrothersTwo by TwoAll You DesireHuzzah! Huzzah!Me and My MomTilly, Oh TillyFriendship Is The FormulaBe Your Own KingMake Your Wishes WellBelieve in Your DreamKeeping Promises No Matter WhatMystic MeadowsStronger Than You KnowGhostly GalaA Princess TrueIn Your PawsKnow It AllHelping HandA Kingdom of My OwnSmoke, Wings and FireDare to Risk it AllFrom the HeartI Feel So FreeNever Forget the Sorcerer's SecretHoppin' Out With YouMake Our Dreams Come TruePlay With UsIt's a Small New WorldImproviseAny Deed For Those In NeedMy First FlightWings of a Dream
Season Three: Moment to ShineWendell's WayA Better MeWhen It Comes To Making FriendsIt's Up To YouDo I DareGenie RulesThis Fliegel Has LandedGotta Reach a Higher HeightI Like You So MuchElvenmoorHappy ThoughtsTake A LeapMy Finest FlowerMagic Like MerlinYou're the Cutest ThingLiving It UpBe an Expert ExpertI'm A New Horse NowDads and Daughters SongA Knight Such As IThis Panda Just Wants to DanceMore to AdoreThe Broomstick DanceThe Summer Camp BluesWhat A VacationThe Great UnknownThe Spirit of AvalorMy TimeOur Wizards Are the BestThe Magic in the MusicLive It to Learn It
Season Four: My Evil DreamsThis Island Belongs To UsThe Right Wrong Thing To DoGive The Kid One More ChanceThe Magic of the Mystic IslesOur Royal PlanMy Power Will Be Crystal ClearThat's Not Who I AmTough EnoughAll Fired UpPick MeMagic TouchThe Dunwiddie DittyThis Feeling I'm Feeling In MeSuper Spooky NightNever Lost AgainListen UpLearn This RhymeThat's What Wassalia's ForGonna Be GreatI Am On Your SideThe Boldest, Bravest Bunny of All TimeThe Fairy WayMeant To BeWhat You're Gonna DoCome To Your Senses With MeWhen I Start to Make Some WavesYou've Gotta Have FunA Big DayGet WickedFor One and AllOn Your/My Own

Locations
EnchanciaRoyal Preparatory AcademyTanguMerroway CoveWei-LingMystic MeadowsWildwing ValleySecret LibraryElvenmoorHakaloFreezenburgEnchanted Animal ParkAvalorDragon HoldMaruHexley HallMisty PalisadesMystic IslesEverRealm
Objects
Amulet of AvalorAunt Tilly's Carpet BagEnchanted MirrorFloating PalaceMermaid Comb of Merroway CoveEnchanted Swing SetWishing WellEmerald KeyPin of KlutzenheimerFlying CrownFamily WandDazzleballSnowdropsDragonclaw WandKazeem's LampBehind the WallsShuriki's WandEternal TorchForever FountainCrown of the GnomesEnchantletLooking Back GlassWicked Nine
See Also
Elena of AvalorButtercupsSpells and MagicJaquinsMerpeopleChanulHoodwinks
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