BBB - late appointment "worth it"?

[sadiwest]

I really dropped the ball on this one. I hesitated, not sure if we should do this for DD (4 YO). Now that I'm trying to reserve for early Feb, all that's left for the days we'll be at MK are 6pm or later. Not sure if it's worth booking, since she won't get much wear out of her style...

I didn't check to see if another day is available (I checked the two days we had earmarked () for MK but got the same story for both) but then I'd have to literally change EVERYTHING we have booked for the days involved: Dining reservations.., FP+, etc.).

I made a res for DTD at 4pm the day we arrive (10:30am scheduled landing at MCO, 2:50 dining @portabello and 6pm Cirque tix) but it's not really a great option. Lots of running upon arrival.

I call daily to check for reservations, but not sure how that'll end up.

MK visits are Feb 5th and 8th.

Thoughts?

 

[emldrl]

Well, the way I see it, you have a few options here:
1. Cancel, and break her little heart- ok, not really an option!
2. Stalk the website, and cancellation threads here, relentlessly til something opens up. I would imagine more times will open up right before you go.
3. Keep it as is, and don't wash her hair that night. Then, dress her up the next morning the same as the BBB did, fix hair as needed, etc. This way she'll actually get like a day and a half out of it! And yeah, I'd keep the MK apt, and cancel the DTD one.
Good luck, and have a great time!!

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

We usually book first thing in the morning so we can enjoy the make up over for the entire day. Once we did book for 3pm and then went to CRT for supper. Since your DD is only 4 she won't have long to enjoy the make over since I assume she'll be in bed fairly early. If she'll have an opportunity to go next year I would skip it. Next time book BBB first and build your day around it.

 

[Grumpy4196]

Keep trying. We were there the week of Thanksgiving and the only resi we could book was the day after Thanksgiving at DTD at 6:00 pm. The week before the trip a 1:00 Thanksgiving Day opened up at the BBB in the MK castle. Also granddaughters hair was still fine the next day so she milked two days out of it. lol

 

[sadiwest]

Well, the way I see it, you have a few options here:
1. Cancel, and break her little heart- ok, not really an option!
2. Stalk the website, and cancellation threads here, relentlessly til something opens up. I would imagine more times will open up right before you go.
3. Keep it as is, and don't wash her hair that night. Then, dress her up the next morning the same as the BBB did, fix hair as needed, etc. This way she'll actually get like a day and a half out of it! And yeah, I'd keep the MK apt, and cancel the DTD one.
Good luck, and have a great time!!

DD actually doesn't know it exists. She really has no idea what she's in for at WDW. We don't have a MK appt....we have DTD. You think it's better to do very late at MK than slightly earlier at DTD? I guess I can see it both ways. I'll check daily 'til we go, for sure.

Thank you for the input.

Sandi

 

[sadiwest]

We usually book first thing in the morning so we can enjoy the make up over for the entire day. Once we did book for 3pm and then went to CRT for supper. Since your DD is only 4 she won't have long to enjoy the make over since I assume she'll be in bed fairly early. If she'll have an opportunity to go next year I would skip it. Next time book BBB first and build your day around it.

Thanks for your reply...though it kind of feels like I'm being scolded...


I originally wasn't going to book it at all, so there was no thought about building a day around it. Besides, we "have" to go to MK on those two days for personal reasons. If I had to go back and change everything around, it means changing things for too many people and events to make it worthwhile.

 

[aaarcher86]

We've done afternoon BBB before and the kids don't love or enjoy it any less. In fact, there's less time worrying about their hair coming out or keeping stains off their dresses lol.

 

[emldrl]

DD actually doesn't know it exists. She really has no idea what she's in for at WDW. We don't have a MK appt....we have DTD. You think it's better to do very late at MK than slightly earlier at DTD? I guess I can see it both ways. I'll check daily 'til we go, for sure.

Thank you for the input.

Sandi

I was just kidding about breaking her heart, sorry. And yes, in my opinion, it would be better to do the later time at MK, don't wash her hair, then fix her up the next day the same way they did. I would think, with such a busy arrival day, it might be too much for a 4 year old to do all you have planned. (jmo)
There are also other options to BBB. Bring her an outfit or princess dress along, and book an apt at one of the salons. The one at GF has a flowergirl package that looks really cool. Maybe that would be easier to work in than BBB. Good luck whatever you choose!!

 

[sadiwest]

I was just kidding about breaking her heart, sorry. And yes, in my opinion, it would be better to do the later time at MK, don't wash her hair, then fix her up the next day the same way they did. I would think, with such a busy arrival day, it might be too much for a 4 year old to do all you have planned. (jmo)
There are also other options to BBB. Bring her an outfit or princess dress along, and book an apt at one of the salons. The one at GF has a flowergirl package that looks really cool. Maybe that would be easier to work in than BBB. Good luck whatever you choose!!

Sorry, just overly sensitive I guess.

I will probably cancel the DTD one for the 4th and make it at MK late on the 5th, just for the sake of not having to run so much when we arrive.

Hopefully there will be a cancellation for earlier in the day as it get closer.

 

[ilovedisneymm]

This will be our third BBB in three years and I actually prefer the later time. I'm not sure about your DD but ours really plays the princess part after being made up She walks slower cause of the dress and always wanting to check herself in the mirror (lol) and talk about glitter galore. You leave a trail of glitter on each ride and if you are riding with her then guess what???? You are instantly glitter bombed. We like to hit MK early and ride everything we can and then back for a light nap and then back for BBB appointment & parade. The CM usually yell out to the BBB princesses and that just makes her night!!!!! The past two years my daughter likes to meet a princess and then run as fast as she can back to the resort to sort through her goody bag. In fact I had an early appt scheduled and DD made a comment that she wanted to go back to resort directly after her appt to play so I ended up changing it to later so that our day wouldn't be shot.

I would book in MK at 8pm verses a 8 am at DTD any day!

Have a great time!

 

[gtpoohbear]

DD's first BBB was at 6pm (MK location), and it worked really well. She was more comfortable for touring all day, then got to be all fancy for dinner.

We have also done the one at DTD, and it really isn't as "magical", IMO, as the castle.

 

[marmalade]

At 4yrs old it won't make a difference if she is in the park as a princess for a few hours, a few minutes or the entire day, because she is in the park as a princess!!!

I personally wouldn't spend the money on such a short time frame (I'm cheap though), but if you don't mind the money issue go ahead and do the 6pm one at MK and enjoy your princess.

 

[sadiwest]

I personally wouldn't spend the money on such a short time frame (I'm cheap though), but if you don't mind the money issue go ahead and do the 6pm one at MK and enjoy your princess.

This is exactly why I hesitated for so long. I wasn't into spending the money, but the more I thought about it the more I wanted her first WDW trip to be EVERYTHING it could be. She'll never have another first visit, and we'll never have the chance to see her there again for 'the first time'.

Meanwhile, I cancelled the DTD appointment for 4pm and rescheduled for 6:35pm on the MK day. We'll see what happens. I think I'll try to get even a 3pm or 2pm appointment if I can. Will keep calling and hope for the best

Thanks.

Sandi

 

[TravelandLeisure]

Last summer my dd's BBB appointment was not until 6:00 at Magic Kingdom. It worked out great for us because we were able to go take pictures at Castle Couture before hopping the monorail for the Grand Floridian (we had Cinderella's dinner at 1900 PF booked). When we left dinner we returned to the MK and stayed until the park closed. We got wonderful pics and still got to do a lot of rides. DD still received comments and compliments from many cms and other guests and had a great time. I definitely feel like I got my money's worth.

 

[Jrits]

My girls hair stayed in for 2 days and it would have stayed longer. They're hair is in a bun, the hair you see is fake

 

[sadiwest]

My girls hair stayed in for 2 days and it would have stayed longer. They're hair is in a bun, the hair you see is fake

This sounds like a silly thing to worry about but DD's hair isn't that long. It's curly, so it's shorter than shoulder length. I'm sure they will still do something nice with her hair, but I'm pretty sure it won't stay through a sleep.

 

[Jrits]

They put a ton of hair spray and gel so you would be surprised how good it stays

 

[PoohBearAndMe]

Hello!

I can't speak from experience, because we are making our first BBB visit when we go in February with our DD who is 7 years old. It is her first visit to DW too, and I wanted to do everything I could to make it extra special. She is ALL about the princesses right now.

I was only able to get a 4:40pm appt in MK for our Thursday there, and I had originally wanted an earlier appt. too. Then it all kind of worked out because when the FP window opened for us, the only A&E visit I could get was 5:50-6:50pm that same day! And I had already booked the Cinderella dinner at 1900 Park Fare for 8:00pm! So she will be going straight to see Anna and Elsa, and then to a fancy Cinderella dinner while she is dressed up

You probably will find something a little earlier, once you get closer to the date, but if not, I'll bet it will still be great!

 

[robndani]

You should keep it for the 5th. Mostly because it's my birthday and I'll be in MK that day too...lol!

Seriously though, I don't think it matters what time you do it! I'm sure she will love it!

 

[marmalade]

My girls hair stayed in for 2 days and it would have stayed longer. They're hair is in a bun, the hair you see is fake

I guess it depends on what kind of hair her DD has. My DD has very long white blond hair that looks like plastic barbie hair. Her bun (100% bun, nothing fake about it) never would have made it to day 2, it was falling out by the end of the night. She was 8yrs old at the time, so it's not like she was rolling around on it or anything.