bbb do or don't?

[mom2my2gr8kids]

I say DO IT!!!! My daughter is going to be 9 this year and we have done it 2 years in a row and plan on doing it this year!! She can't wait .. she LOVES doing it and keeps asking is she can still do it when we go in November! I plan on letting her do it until she doesn't want to anymore!

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

We had it booked for our last trip. I have to admit that when I got there and saw all the little girls walking around looking the same I was a bit regretful for booking it, but I ended up very glad that I did.

My daughter didn't know I had booked it. "Cinderella" sent a scroll invitation to our hotel room inviting my daughter to lunch in the castle and to stop by the royal hairdresser for a make over and to choose a gown before she came. She was SO SO SO excited that Cinderella herself had invited her to get dressed up and to come for lunch. She chose not the get a gown, she wore one we brought from home (which was fine by me!!). Never the less she loved it!! The people that worked there heard that Cinderella invited her and they played it up big for her.

Even though she looked like every other girl with that same bun that day I can't tell you how many of the cast members and characters made her feel extra special by telling her how beautiful she was.

The make up wasn't bad. I didn't ask the FG to put it on light but she did. You couldn't even see it on her unless you looked for it.

It was totally worth it for us!

 

[Minniemouse07]

Even though she looked like every other girl with that same bun that day I can't tell you how many of the cast members and characters made her feel extra special by telling her how beautiful she was.

I guess my point is that dd didn't have her hair up at all and wore her princess dressed around the parks in December about half the time... and she was treated exactly the same way.

In fact, she wore her Minnie dress our first night and her Snow White dress the next day...it wasn't until the third day that she wore regular clothes.

The first two days she kept asking us why everyone (ie CMs) kept calling her princess... and we pointed out that she was wearing her dress.

On the third day she was still flummoxed because they STILL called her princess. I of course heard, "But mom...I'm not wearing my dress today!"

I think the CMs do this with all the little girls... BBB or no, dress or no...

 

[JulieNMM]

I agree with letting your DDs choose. Some girls are into this kind of thing and others aren't. My DD went when she was 4 and loved it! The hair stayed in for a few days and she was just so ecstatic and happy looking like a Princess. It was worth every penny. (We got the middle package and brought our own dress.)

We are going again next month and she wants to do it again. So does her 9yo cousin. My 11yo step-DD wants NOTHING to do with it, though. She is kind of a tomboy and was never really into Princesses that much. My DS feels a little left out so I told him he could to the "Cool Dude" look where they put gel in your hair and a Mickey tattoo or something but he said no way was he going to sit in one of those girl chairs in a girly place like that!!

Anyway, I think it all depends on your kid and if she wants it. I would say not to take her if she doesn't want to, but you want her to. Conversely, don't not take her just because you don't like it, if she really wants to do it.

JULIE

 

[littleteapot]

i was reading up on the BBB and i was debating if its worth it to try for my 6 yr old and my 3.5 yr old on our next trip. it seems very pricey.........if i do do it can i bring my own costume for them??
any info would be appreciated.

We didn't end up doing it. My daughter is a dancer, so I just did "recital" hair. She already had a beautiful Sleeping Beauty dress I'd bought her for Halloween. We were glad we did it this way, because we got lots of compliments and pictures and didn't have to waste much park time doing it.

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

Ok, I am confused, reading this tread, lots of posters said they did this on their "down" day. How long does it take?!!

I scheduled my neice for 2pm and I have dinner ressies at Epcot at 4:20pm. Do I need to try and reschedule!??

Help!

 

[Corjack]

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!! Then if you don't like it don't do it again!!!!!

My DD LOVED IT!!!!!! We will even do it again next trip!!! We took our own dress and only did the $49.97 package. She felt so specail and people made a HUGE fuss over her.

It was a HIGH point in memorable things on our trip!

My Dh thought it was to expensive and didn't want me to do it before we left but after we did it he was saying how cool it was and how he was glad I did't listen to him.

It was really fun and worth the money to me. Now I would NOT do it at DTD, it would HAVE TO BE AT MK!

Jackie

 

[Wendy5055]

My DD6 is more interested in getting her hair "painted with tinkerbell glitter" at the Main Street Barber Shop than she is about BBB. I think it is a HUGE price difference too!!!

She would rather have the ponytail than a tight bun anyday!!! If we were at WDW for a longer period of time, I would not hesitate. That said, we are only there for 5 days/4 nights...MSBS is the place for us!!

BTW...she DOES want a crown AND a gown...what a girl!!!!!!!!

 

[polineedyan]

I have to admit that Ive been on both sides of this fence. My DD is 5 and will probably not be back after this trip. (not for a long time, anyway..)
After reading about being hurried thru, and combs ripping thru hair..And knowing Disney's difficulties with compensation for dissatisfaction..I would not in a million years spend 400 bucks on that. I love my daughter, but come on..

 

[brymolmom]

Unless it is her bday money or budget is no object - I, for one, would not agree with the let the dd decide. A decision that involves that kind of money is made by the parents in this house!

 

[Naisy68]

Me again,
I'm getting the idea that a lot of people feel they need to do the whole castle package. You don't need to do that. Buy a princess dress at Walmart or Target before hand and take that dress with you. You can even find one on e-bay, that's where I got my DDs last Snow White dress. I saved about $150 doing it this way. The clothes are the spendy part. I think if you only have the hair and makeup done then you will be only spending around $40. It's totally up to the individual but for us it's a memory our DD will never forget. That's is why we are planning to do it again this year. She will be 7 and the magic is still there for us for a little while longer. However, I will be buying a dress on e-bay or at a local department store and packing it for our trip.
Also for the person that asked about how long it takes, it really depends on what you have done. Our DD had her nails, hair and makeup done only and then pictures. I would plan on at least an hour 1/2 or a couple hours so you may want to give yourself a bit more time in between. Be sure and allow for travel time to and from where your ressies are. Enjoy!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

My DD has asked to go to BBB. Now I am usually the first one on board for things for the kids but I am having a hard time with this one. I guess because I used to be a hairdresser so I think it is way overpriced and I do a better job (sorry!). The hair is pulled so tight that I get a headache just looking at these kids. Also- there is no way my DD would leave that in for more than a short while pulled like that and definetly not for 3 days. How can you go swimming without messing it up anyway? I know it is the experience and all and yes I did take her to the tea party at the GF last trip and had a ball but I am having a hard time with this one. The only thing that might convince me is the photo session. Do they just paint the child's nails or do they do a real manicure? I don't know. I know she'd have fun but I also know that if her hair is pulled that tight with all that gel on it she will want it out pretty fast.

 

[livndisney]

My DD has asked to go to BBB. Now I am usually the first one on board for things for the kids but I am having a hard time with this one. I guess because I used to be a hairdresser so I think it is way overpriced and I do a better job (sorry!). The hair is pulled so tight that I get a headache just looking at these kids. Also- there is no way my DD would leave that in for more than a short while pulled like that and definetly not for 3 days. How can you go swimming without messing it up anyway? I know it is the experience and all and yes I did take her to the tea party at the GF last trip and had a ball but I am having a hard time with this one. The only thing that might convince me is the photo session. Do they just paint the child's nails or do they do a real manicure? I don't know. I know she'd have fun but I also know that if her hair is pulled that tight with all that gel on it she will want it out pretty fast.

When my DD went, it was just press on plastic nails (That pop right off).

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I guess my point is that dd didn't have her hair up at all and wore her princess dressed around the parks in December about half the time... and she was treated exactly the same way.

I think the CMs do this with all the little girls... BBB or no, dress or no...

I totally agree that you don't need to go to have your daughter treated special.

I have two daughters so I know how CMs at Disney like to call the girls beautiful and princess to make them feel special. I will say that the day we went to BBB she had SO much attention, way more than she had ever had before. CMs went out of their way at times to make comments to her. People on the street made comments to her. It was just different, it was more.

I'm not saying that you NEED the attention or that you have to spend money to have your child feel special or like a princess, we have gone to WDW many times without doing the BBB and left with just as many special memories. I had no idea that she would attract that much attention just for going to BBB. It was simply worth it for us to have done BBB on our trip because it gave me daughter such a wonderful memory.

 

[CMudd23]

We did the BBB at Downtown Disney on our last day there before we had to catch our flight out. She had the full package and when it was time to head to the airport we changed her clothes so her hair and make-up were still done but she was in regular clothes and shoes. The best part was when we got back to our resort to catch the Magical Express, one of the Dream Team members was there and we got a limo ride back to the airport for The Year of a Million Dreams. We only wish she had still been in her costume so we could have gotten a picture of her getting out of the limo at the airport all dressed up!

We're planning to go back in 2010 - I know it's a long time - our DD will be 9 then and she may do the Hannah Package but I still love looking at the pics!

Hope this helps!

 

[adell557]

DD loves BBB, she asks to go back all the time, I may be in the minority, but the hair isn't that tight. It is a tiny ponytail holder, it is just slicked back kind of making it look tight maybe, my daughter never complained and she has a sensitive head. I don't care what anyone says, you feel more special when you are "treated" to something different in a magical place other than the norm, like your mom doing your hair, which is done every day. Just like I would reather be treated to a pedicure in a spa than do my own toes, it is better.

Also, check out the make up it is not alot like everyone has said.

If you want to know more about BBB they have a thread called FAQ's it has about 200 pages of pics and advice.

Also here are some pics of my DD last year.

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[/IMG] THis is the one with makeup done, you can hardly see she has anything on.

 

[adell557]

Here is the BBB Thread I talked about it has pics of the dresses, accessories, kids pics, and pricing info.

If you take her a dress from home, maybe let her pick out an accessory to go with it like shoes or wand or purse or something.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1333944

 

[jorgelm]

im going with my DD in september she is about to be 3 years old but she is still 2. I know that she is supposed to be 3, but why is that? Even tough she is young she loves makeup and dressing up so she wont be bothered by it. How do they know she is three or should I say a little lie...

 

[adell557]

im going with my DD in september she is about to be 3 years old but she is still 2. I know that she is supposed to be 3, but why is that? Even tough she is young she loves makeup and dressing up so she wont be bothered by it. How do they know she is three or should I say a little lie...

The official rule is they need to be 3 within 30 days of their scheduled appointment. However, I was told that as long as they can sit and be still without wanting you to hold them etc, then they don't mind. Some 2 year olds can't sit for 40 minutes without whining. So if your daughter won't have aproblem then don't worry. Or if she meets teh 30 day criteria then you are fine too!!

 

[Benducci]

The buns are tight but all three of my girls picked this lok out which surprised me - there are two other designs where locks are added.
I think it was worth the price. We brought our own dresses - I went to JC Penney's around Easter & bought fancy dresses for the girls - they were about $20-25 & they looked gorgeous in them. They loved having the attention of being in the salon.
As for the price - It was $50 - for that you get (mind you- the prices are Disney prices but if you wnted to buy it all separate, this is what it costs at Disney)- the sash - $8; the crown - $10; two bottles of nail polish (unused portion put in bag to go home) -$3.0 a piece - $7; a jeweled hairclip - $10; make-up -I think it was $8? (unused portion put in bag to go home) ; face jewels - $5 (extras put in bag to go home) - all put in a pretty pink bag promoting the BBB. they sprinkle glitter all over the kids so they have that glow. So for the $50 - you are getting over $40 in Disney merchandise. Not a bad bargain - they are all dolled up & have people oohing & aahing over them all day. The best part was going to the photo studio afterwards & the photog took a ton of pictures of them. together, individually. I think he took about 50 pictures which I put on my photopass & he didn't even try to sell me a picture or package.
If your girls are into being dolled up, it was worth every penny!