DGTG Splurge: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique - Transforming Little Girls into Princesses since 2006

Foreword: 

Stay tuned for another BBB post, "Parade of Princesses", a Gallery of submitted pictures of Disney Princesses in training!  There was an overwhelming response to my request for submissions and it was too hard to narrow it down, so I came up with the gallery idea! If your little one has experienced BBB, dressing up as a Princess at WDW, or even visiting with their favorite Princess,  please feel free to Email me pictures with a subject "Princess Gallery Pics"

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is the place little girls go "to be magically transformed into princesses."  If you have daughters between the ages of 3 and 12 you won't want to miss BBB on your next WDW vacation.

With 2 convenient WDW locations, Downtown Disney and the Magic Kingdom, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a makeover salon, offers little girls a pixie dusted princess adventure and memories to last a lifetime.

(Because of the length I will refer to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique as "BBB".)

Photo Credit DisneyWorld.com

My daughter is only 3, and even though BBB services are available for children 3 and up, I feel that she will be more ready for this experience next year... But can say I have smiled and even teared up at the sight of the newly made-over princesses parading about the parks, proudly donning their pink satin BBB sashes, shiny tiaras, and pixie-dusted tendrils.

To get an insiders view of the BBB experience, I decided to seek the help of a BBB expert, and my search led me to Kaylene Jablecki, mother of 5 beautiful children and BBB veteran. Many of you may recognize Kaylene, as she is a member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel and most recently launched her new blog MemoryMakerMom.com **



Ask Kaylene A Question at DisneyWorldMoms.com

With regard to BBB as a choice for those seeking luxury experiences at WDW, Kaylene says, "Every parent wants their little girl to feel like a Princess. The Fairy Godmothers in Training go out of their way to make your little sweetheart feel like royalty. From the crown on her head to the pixie dust in her hair, to the shimmering makeup and nails...your little girl will feel as priceless as she

really is."



4 Years Old / April, 2009

To date, Kaylene and her girls have experienced BBB 3 times,

most recently in 04/09 when her daughters were ages 4 and 6. 



Knight Package ~ Photo Credit Disney Parks Blog

BBB has something for every princess, even princes, with a multitude of regal offerings and packages:

 (via Website)  

Girls 3 years old and above can choose from 3 hair styles — Fairytale Princess, Disney Diva and Pop Princess — in 3 available packages:

• Coach Package includes hairstyling and shimmering makeup — starting at $49.95 USD plus tax.
• Crown Package includes hairstyling, shimmering makeup and nails — starting at $54.95 USD plus tax.
• Castle Package includes the Crown Package plus the Imaging Package (one 6" x 8" and four 4" x 6" photos in a princess-themed photo holder) and complete costume of your choice with accessories — starting at $189.95 USD plus tax.



Kaylene told me she purchases the "Crown" package for her girls each visit which includes hairstyling, shimmering makeup and nails.

When asked to summarize her experiences at BBB, Kaylene has nothing but praise: "From the moment we walk through the door of the enchanting Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, our girls feel like they’ve stepped into a fairytale. The Fairy Godmothers in Training are so attentive and wonderful with our little girls. When our youngest was only 3, she was really shy, but she wanted to go because her big sister was having a makeover. As soon as we arrived, she was so nervous. They let her sit on my lap, and were incredibly patient as she slowly came out of her shell. In the beginning she said, 'You do it, Mommy…YOU paint my nails.' Our Fairy Godmother waited while I did a few, then worked with me to convince my daughter to rest her hands on Mommy’s while they painted them. They brought over another Fairy Godmother to work on her hair at the same time…which sped up the process while she was distracted. In the end, she had thoroughly enjoyed the experience because they met her where she was at…and it was truly Magical. I was in tears as she admired herself in the mirror."

The finished product: Voila! A Princess!

The BBB fairy godmothers are trained to deal with every obstacle promising each princess that special treatment they are expecting, regardless of the situation. Kaylene commented "On our last visit my (then) almost 7 year old chose the, "Disney Diva" style. She has thick, gorgeous curls in her hair, so I was a bit curious to see how they would pull that off without hurting and tugging at her hair. They were very gentle and she was thrilled with how she looked. Each time, we've left with our little girls feeling like the little Princesses that they are."

6 Years Old ~ April, 2009 "Disney Diva"



Many families choose BBB appointments to enhance dining at Cinderella's Royal Table.  Everytime Kaylene's girls have visited BBB, they have done so before a reservation at Cinderellas Royal Table. Kaylene  feels that "this is the "icing on the cake" and  makes the experience even more Magical to dine with Disney Princesses after being transformed into one."

BBB does come at a price with packages ranging from $49. to $199.00.  I want parents to understand that this is a worthwhile experience, and as Kaylene says, "you can't put a price on memories." I asked Kaylene for her help in convincing skeptacle parents that BBB is worth every penny.  Her answer was simple:

"The look of sheer joy on a little girls face as she is sprinkled with pixie dust and turned around to look in the mirror for the"big reveal"...it's priceless."   

A Princess Making her Wish!!! Priceless!



A Few of Kaylene's BBB tips:

• A great tip for the budget concious, "We have the girls choose a Disney Princess dress at our local store and we bring it down with us. This saves us a considerable amount of money (especially since we are always paying for 2 girls to do it)."

• "To really get the most, "bang for your buck", be sure to visit with the Princesses afterwards. If you can't secure an Advanced Dining Reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table, then check the Times Guide to see where they are for Meet and Greets that day. 

• "If you have more than one little girl participating, be sure to request chairs near each other. While this is never guaranteed, Disney does do their best to honor this based on availability. Just know that you may need to wait a bit longer for chairs near each other to become available."

The Magical Transformation, and Memories to Last A Lifetime!

Kaylene and her girls have already experienced BBB on several occasions, but I just had to ask if she had plans to return, and her answer was not surprising. "Absolutely! We intend to cherish every moment that our little girls want to still be Princesses. They grow up so quickly, so thoroughly enjoying these moments is what our Disney family vacations are all about. "

Disclosures:

**Kaylene is a Proud Member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Visit www.disneyworldmoms.com for help planning your Magical Trip. She is not a Disney employee. The postings on this site are her own and do not necessarily represent Disney’s positions or opinions

Advanced reservations to both BBB and CRT are very highly recommended, if not required.  Reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-dine or online at disneyworld.com.