Genevieve is one of twelve princesses who share a passion for dancing and live in a castle with their widowed father, King Randolph. The princesses’ adventurous personalities and unique hobbies are considered improper by other members of the royal society. King Randolph summons his cousin, Duchess Rowena, to help educate the princesses in proper etiquette; the Duchess's strict rules and instruction begins to deject the princesses’ spirits.
On their youngest, triplet sisters’ birthday, Genevieve and the others gift them with a copy of their late mother's favorite story: a princess discovered a magical land where she danced for three nights before it vanished. Looking at each other's copies of the story, and the tiles on their bedroom floor, Genevieve discovers how to open a gateway into the magical land. Upon entering, they are taken to a grand pavilion where they dance the night away. While there, the princesses discover that the hanging golden flowers grant wishes, along with discovering the water has healing properties; the youngest princess, Lacey, takes some water in a vial.
The next day, the princesses appear tired and the duchess finds their new dancing shoes worn out, arousing her suspicion. King Randolph falls ill, so Genevieve asks the royal cobbler, Derek, to investigate Rowena's true intentions upon returning to the kingdom. That night, the princesses return to the magical land; meanwhile, Derek discovers that Rowena has been poisoning the King.
The next morning, the sisters are again exhausted. Rowena, refusing to believe the sisters when they tell her the truth, decides to force them into servitude. After mishearing their father talking about them to Rowena, the heartbroken princesses return to the magical land for a third time, and Rowena finds them missing the next morning.
Derek figures out how to enter the gateway and goes to report his findings to the sisters. Rowena learns how to enter the magic land from her monkey, Brutus, after he spies on Derek, and takes one of the wish-granting flowers. Despite knowing from the story that they'll never be able to return to the magic land after their third visit, the princesses decide to go home and help their father; however, they and Derek find themselves trapped as Rowena orders her footman, Desmond, to destroy the gateway in the princesses’ bedroom. The group manage to escape when Genevieve and Derek are able to open a different gateway by dancing together.
Once home, they find out that the King is dying and that Rowena has taken over as Queen. While the other princesses outsmart and distract the guards, Genevieve and Derek rush in to confront Rowena. The Duchess uses the golden flower to wish for Genevieve to dance forever, but Genevieve manages to blow the magic dust back at her with a fan, forcing Rowena to dance uncontrollably. When Desmond tries to help her, he is pulled into the spell, and the two dance their way out of the castle. Lacey uses the water she took from the magic land to revive her father. King Randolph apologizes for not seeing through Rowena, and realizes how truly special his daughters are. Soon after, Genevieve and Derek celebrate their wedding.