Bibbidi bobbidi boutique age limit

[boppi25]

Does anyone know if/how the three year old age minimum for the bibbidi bobbidi boutique is enforced? We are going in October and my daughters will be 4.5 and 2.5; I know they would both love to be pampered a bit but it looks like the youngest won't be allowed? Anyone have experience with this? Thanks!

 

[Gracie09]

The age limits are strictly enforced. The makeup is not approved for kids under 3 and if there was a reaction Disney could be liable.

 

[MudQueen22]

I know I didn't start this thread, but am curious in case we're ever in that predicament...
Even if the make-up is not approved, would they still do the little one's hair and make a fuss over her?
It would probably make a little one so sad to see her sister being pampered, and she isn't allowed because she's a half year too young. :/

 

[Coonhound]

One thing is the tickets. A two year old gets in the park for free, so she won't have the same ticket as a 3 year old child would have, they will know she is only 2.
I suppose you could go ahead and buy her a park ticket as if she had already turned 3. Really that would be lying about her age though. But if you don't mind giving up the "two year olds get into parks free" thing, you could purchase a park ticket the same as what you purchased for your older daughter, and then everybody would think she IS three years old. I wouldn't do it because first of all it isn't honest and secondly there are concerns about the makeup being on a child under three for safety so I wouldn't risk it.
Part of the benefit of being 2 is you get into the parks free, but, that comes at a price because you're not allowed to participate in everything.

They are VERY strict on age limits and will NOT let a 2 year old participate. Many people have tried, but they always get the same answer.

I think you have three options:
1, don't take her at all, and tell her that's it's a special thing that she will get to do when she is older like her big sis and she can look forward to the day when she is old enough to go,
2, buy her a park ticket as if she is already 3
3, If you want to give her a nice experience but not have to lie about age, you can just take her to mickeys barbershop to get her hair done (they take babies) and bring a special dress you can give her to wear so that she can be a Princess too.

 

[nadira36]

I've never seen them ask about children who are too young. That begin said, when my DDs have all been for their first time, they've been JUST 3 and the CMs always ask the child how old she is. But I've never been asked to provide proof.

Even when older siblings have done the PL or BBB, we've never had more than a moment of sadness at not being able to also get done up. Mostly b/c until 3, ours haven't been able to sit still long enough - so they happily go ride the carousel with Daddy while I stay with the older child. (or vice versa).

We do purchase the dress and stuff for our younger ones, b/c that's really what they want, not sitting still, but being dressed up.

Also I wasn't willing to lie about my child's age just to avoid 2 minutes worth of sadness. They'll be old enough one day, and when they are, they get their special BBB reservation at that time.

 

[momto3boy1girl]

If the age issue is because of the make up could you just ask them to not do the make up but do the hair and nails?? And dress and pictures??? Still pay the same amount though

 

[boppi25]

Thanks for all the information. I won't lie about her age but I think I will ask if they can skip the makeup and do everything else for the same price. If not, I guess we will have to skip it all together. My younger daughter would be upset all day long if she didn't get to do it too and it just wouldn't be worth it. I hope they are willing to compromise- I know they would both love the experience!

 

[MmmSuite]

When I called for my boys I was told I could be given some pixie dust that I could put on the baby, but they wouldn't touch her at all.

 

[lizard1]

If the older one doesn't know anything about BBB, why don't you just take both of them to the Harmony Barbershop. Everyone can get their hair cut, then they will put the girls hair in ponytails and then sprinkly with colorful chunky glitter. I know my girls loved getting made up like that when they were 5 and 2 and they didn't know the difference because they didn't know about BBB. That way, everyone got to be fussed over and no one was disappointed. At that age, I don't think they really care about makeup and it is just as easy to do their nails in the room.

 

[Gracie09]

Thanks for all the information. I won't lie about her age but I think I will ask if they can skip the makeup and do everything else for the same price. If not, I guess we will have to skip it all together. My younger daughter would be upset all day long if she didn't get to do it too and it just wouldn't be worth it. I hope they are willing to compromise- I know they would both love the experience!

Honestly I would not count on it. The fairygodmothers are not allowed to change things up. Even if a reservation cm said fine, it's up to the cms at bbb. So you could be there and get turned away. The age restriction is pretty much hard. Even if they say fine will your dd sit still while the pull her hair in a very tight bun. The hair will get pulled hard. Also they use a ton of gel and hairspray to get it to stay. That is also approved for 3 and up.

 

[nadira36]

Thanks for all the information. I won't lie about her age but I think I will ask if they can skip the makeup and do everything else for the same price. If not, I guess we will have to skip it all together. My younger daughter would be upset all day long if she didn't get to do it too and it just wouldn't be worth it. I hope they are willing to compromise- I know they would both love the experience!

The age restriction has nothing to do with make-up and sensitivities. Any person of any age could potentially react to a new make-up. The age restriction has to do with developmental ability. Certainly some children develop differently, but mostly children under age 3 are not able to sit still to get their hair, make-up, nails done while many different people who are not mommy brush hair etc. It can be overwhelming for many younger children to be in such position. And so instead of leaving it up to CMs to decide on a case-by-case basis if a specific under 3 yr old looks mature enough, they say none under 3 are allowed.

Beyond that, Disney expects parents to be the judge of what their child can tolerate. With the FGMiT being very good at helping older children, with better vocabulary, understand what is expected of them. And the child themselves being better able to let the FGMiT understand if something is too much for the child.

If you book 2 appts and hope they bend the rules, they won't, and then if you walk away, they will charge you a $10 no show fee for each child.

If you'll have 2 adults with you, have one take the older child for her appt, have the other take the younger child to pick out the dress, etc (you can even buy the same make-up and hair stuff) and get the little one done up on her own by the other parent. Both will be happy with what they have, with the little one not realizing the difference between the two.

 

[PixieDustPrincessXO]

Thanks for all the information. I won't lie about her age but I think I will ask if they can skip the makeup and do everything else for the same price. If not, I guess we will have to skip it all together. My younger daughter would be upset all day long if she didn't get to do it too and it just wouldn't be worth it. I hope they are willing to compromise- I know they would both love the experience!

As a former FGIT, the rule is no children under three because the hair gels and products, as well as make-up, has not been tested on children under 3. Even the pixie dust should not be used on children under three or infants. Also the typical transformation can take 30-60 minutes and many young children are not able to sit that long. It can be overwhelming for even older kids to have a stranger doing their hair etc. and the boutique can get very packed and crazy. I would suggest the harmony barber shop as well. They do a nice job there of still making magic for young children with their glitter and hairdos.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Is the barbershop still doing pixie dust? We are considering it for our DD, but I could have sworn there were several upset posts a few months ago because the barbershop stopped with the glitter.

 

[rigs32]

I would think it would be more disappointing to go and then tell your kids no then to just make an alternate plan.

Better to not know what they're missing.

 

[pooh4evr]

If it is that important WAIT until they are both the right age. If you are willing to pretend she is 3 for this then she should be 3 for the trip, and have a ticket etc. We have 3 girls on one trip the 2 older ones did BBB, and they youngest who was 2 had her first haircut at harmony Barbershop, they did her hair and she loved it. It was much more enjoyable for her than BBB would have been. It was quicker, and her hair was more comfortable for a little one. We bring our own dresses anyway so she really didn't know the difference, and it is MUCH cheaper. I don't think you can even MAKE the appointment for a child under 3, so you would have to lie to even get the appointment to be turned away once you are there- which would be more upsetting for the girls and you?

 

[islandtimect]

I'm curious about the maximum age limit, I believe it's age 12. Our niece is 13 and has never been to DW and would really love to do BBB. Will this be an issue?? My daughter is 12 and we would book them together.

 

[amomma23]

I'm curious about the maximum age limit, I believe it's age 12. Our niece is 13 and has never been to DW and would really love to do BBB. Will this be an issue?? My daughter is 12 and we would book them together.

The max age is 12. They will ask ages and it's your call if you want to lie. If you go for it, just know that there will be mostly preschool and early elementary age girls getting makeovers. Some girls would be totally fine with that and others would be totally embarrassed at 12/13. So I would say, it's your call.

 

[islandtimect]

My daughter has done it a couple of times starting at age 5 so we know there will be all much younger girls. Our niece is a girly girl and is very excited to feel like a princess so we really hope she can do this!

 

[momto3boy1girl]

How does the BBB in downtown disney know the kids ages??? Since you don't need a park ticket for there?? Do you have to show something for proof?? Are they less busy then magic kingdom location?? Thanks for any help

 

[Gracie09]

How does the BBB in downtown disney know the kids ages??? Since you don't need a park ticket for there?? Do you have to show something for proof?? Are they less busy then magic kingdom location?? Thanks for any help

They are just as busy. They will ask for ages when you make the appt and maybe when you show up. The age restrictions are there for a reason. If you want to lie to get a hairdo, that's really up to you.