bippity boppity boutique- is it worth it?

[RogueLeader]

Yes, I know there is a whole thread on BBB, but all the people on there seem to be fans that go what seems like multiple times. So I have some questions for people, fans or not.

Is it worth it? The whole package I mean? Speaking from a strictly middle class, don't have money to burn perspective that is. Is there anyone that has gone and feels it was NOT worth the cost?

Is the dress any better than the ones I can get for $20 at Wal Mart?

My DD will be almost 11 by the time we go. She says the one thing she REALLY wants to do is go here. But most of the pictures I see are of little kids. I know the age is up to 12 but do older kids really get anything out of this?

I take it since the age is up to 12 they have larger size dresses (average size 10-11 year old)?


To be clear it's not going to be a hardship for us to go if she really wants, just want to make sure I am getting something that's worth what I pay.

Thanks!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Yes, I know there is a whole thread on BBB, but all the people on there seem to be fans that go what seems like multiple times. So I have some questions for people, fans or not.

Is it worth it? The whole package I mean? Speaking from a strictly middle class, don't have money to burn perspective that is. Is there anyone that has gone and feels it was NOT worth the cost?

Is the dress any better than the ones I can get for $20 at Wal Mart?

My DD will be almost 11 by the time we go. She says the one thing she REALLY wants to do is go here. But most of the pictures I see are of little kids. I know the age is up to 12 but do older kids really get anything out of this?

I take it since the age is up to 12 they have larger size dresses (average size 10-11 year old)?


To be clear it's not going to be a hardship for us to go if she really wants, just want to make sure I am getting something that's worth what I pay.

Thanks!

Our girls did it once. And we feel it was worth doing once. We did the big package...the "Castle" package? The girls had an amazing time!!!

The dresses were wonderful quality, and far better than anything you will get at Walmart. I found them to be even better than what you could get in the Disney store at the time (did it in 2009). The dresses were sturdy, more elaborate and beautiful. The pictures came out awesome (both the ones taken during the process and the ones in the studio afterwards). Definitely memories to cherish. We paid $400 for both of them, we don't regret spending that at all.

Luckily, our girls haven't asked to do it again...they did Pirates League last year and had just as much fun. But, if they asked, we'd do it again.

 

[Disneylover99]

We took our daughter when she was five and she loved it!

We bought her a dress from Costco just before we went down for $20 (it was good timing for us cause they had just put out their Halloween stock). We paid between 50 and 60$ for the package. I think hair, nails and a bit of make up.

We will probably do it again, but I would definitely bring my own dress from home. I can't justify paying more then 60$ or so for the bbb.

The one thing I did notice when I was there is that the place was packed with girls between the ages of about 3-6. There were a few 7 - 9 year olds who seemed to be getting the rock star type of look. But I don't think I noticed anyone as old as 11. Of course I have only been one time. Maybe others could weigh in on this for you. I'm just thinking that she may get there and then not want to get her hair done or dress up because of all the little kids.

However, if your daughter truly wants to go, I say go for it!

 

[MacClemsons]

My DD8s still love it and asked to do it last week when we went. It was very last minute so we had to go to DTD. We've done MK twice and must say I prefer MK. DTD was over 45 min past my reservation time. It didn't seem as special there either.
That being said, I always buy the coach package (cheapest- $54) My girls had picked out dresses to wear at the outlet. I was excited about that because I figured they thought they were too old. I just can't bring myself to pay $200 x 2 for the Castle package. Same experience. Less $.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it is worth doing at least once.

I took my youngest niece, who was and still is a very girly girl. She loved it! I had purchased a very fancy Cinderella dress from the Disney store ahead of time to save a tiny bit of money. After we went to 1900 Park Fare for dinner, and the characters made many sweet comments about how nice she looked. And Prince Charming asked her if he would see her at the ball later.It was very cute!

It is a lot of money, but well worth it.

 

[mommyarewegoingback]

I say every princess should do it once, especially if she wants to. All the CMs treat them special afterwards too (like at the parks and such). As for the dress, we bought our own "little adventures" dress because she didn't like the itchy stiff dresses at the store. But I love the dresses there, because they have the have to find ones. Like Ariel's wedding dress, rapunzel's wedding dress and belle's winter dress, which are truly magnificent.

 

[TxYates]

We are doing the cheaper package as well. I got her dress on eBay for $35 ( Rapunzel wedding) and we are getting photo pass + so we will have the pictures taken and print them out locally. I agree that you should do it once but I'd bring your own outfit to save money.

 

[4kids4karen]

Yes, I know there is a whole thread on BBB, but all the people on there seem to be fans that go what seems like multiple times. So I have some questions for people, fans or not.

Is it worth it? The whole package I mean? Speaking from a strictly middle class, don't have money to burn perspective that is. Is there anyone that has gone and feels it was NOT worth the cost?

Is the dress any better than the ones I can get for $20 at Wal Mart?

My DD will be almost 11 by the time we go. She says the one thing she REALLY wants to do is go here. But most of the pictures I see are of little kids. I know the age is up to 12 but do older kids really get anything out of this?

I take it since the age is up to 12 they have larger size dresses (average size 10-11 year old)?


To be clear it's not going to be a hardship for us to go if she really wants, just want to make sure I am getting something that's worth what I pay.

Thanks!

Is it worth it? Yes, it is.
The one thing about the "whole package" I found a waste was the picture package that came with it. Old backgrounds, just plain pictures. I liked my pictures taken with my own camera and characters better. If I were to skip any part of the package, it would their studio package.

Is the costumes better than Walmart's? Yes, of course they are. The last time we did it my daughter picked the Jasmine costume and I have not seen that version anywhere at the time.

My daughter is 9 (10 in march, but already going on 15) in March and feels she is now too old to wear a princess dress around Disney. We are going this summer with a 4-year old cousin. I reserved BBB and will do the full package for the 4 year old. This is the 4 year old's first trip to Disney and all she can talk about is being a princess for the day. I offered my daughter the same (any package she wanted) but she says no she doesn't want to do it. She loved it when she was little.

I suppose it depends on the 11/12 year old but for most, I would think they would think of it as a younger girl activity to be dressed up like that. If this is their first time to Disney they may want to do it.

 

[LisaTN]

We do the cheaper package and LOVE it.

We bring our own princess dress. The walmart ones are crappy... but you can usually find some at the online disney store on sale (clearance usually after halloween and after christmas)....

so because we bring our own dress, we don't need the big package. And DON"T pay for the photo package, espcially if you're getting the photo pass CD.... you can walk over to the portrait studio and get the pictures made and just have them added to your Photo Pass.

So we got what was like the full experience for just around $60. Worth every penny.

DD loves wearing her hair up as long as she can... her hair lasted three days so she could be a princess for most of the trip.

 

[merbobear]

It is well worth it! Particularly with your dd almost aging out of being able to have this experience, I would say at this point it's once in a lifetime for her. DO IT!

The dresses are a much higher quality than the walmart/target/toys R us variety. The attention heaped upon the little girls is the stuff princess' dreams are made of.

I would say to go for the Castle package, if it's affordable.

 

[livibug]

My daughter has done it twice and the first time we brought our own dress and did the cheapest package. She loved it. The second time we did the cheapest package again but since she was a little older, I bought her a cute disney pillowcase dress from Etsy. She didn't want to wear the dress up dress.

I say it is worth doing at least once at the castle. We were happy with the cheapest package and I got to take as many pictures as I wanted while she was getting it done. I made sure to do it on a day when we were going to a character meal too so that I could get pictures with her all dolled up with some characters.

 

[RyMacJ]

We haven't done this yet, but have appointments in May for our two DDs...the highest package, I can't remember what that one is called.

We feel it will be worth it. Yes, it is a lot of money, but for them I'm sure it will be a once in a lifetime experience. I know DH and I will remember this forever, and we are lucky enough that both grandmothers will be with us and get to experience it as well. Not only will this be for DDs but for us adults to watch this magical time for these little girls we love more than life itself.

 

[redkel]

The service and products are not worth the price tag by themselves, but the overall EXPERIENCE is well worth it. They truly go out of their way (the Fairy Godmothers in Training and the Photopass Photographers) to make each girl feel special during her time in the chair. An hour plus of being taken care of and the center of attention is affirming for just about anybody -- young girls especially.

Since she is at the upper edge of the age range, does she really WANT to even have a princess dress? Would she just want to dress nicely in a special outfit of her own and wear the sash? She'll still get the "royal treatment" wherever she goes. And you could get some Mom/Daughter time and maybe go shopping for it together ahead of your trip? Sometimes girls that age would rather have a more mature dressy look vs the princess image.

The dresses go to size 10 or 12 and are pretty true to size. They have improved the fabrics and designs tremendously the past 5 years or so and they don't itch and irritate like before.

Also -- the Disney Store has new designs out right now. The new Merida and Rapunzel dresses are super soft and flowing.

Ebay is a great source for dresses -- we got a beautiful Ariel one (official Disney Parks dress) there 2 years ago for under $30 that was in pristine condition (only worn the one time).

I think the Courtyard Package would be perfect. It's more of a modern hairstyle (twist like braid look) that looks pretty hip -- at least to my 45 year old self My DD (6) doesn't care for the princesses, but loves Merida -- and she's doing the Courtyard on 3/2.

 

[revdon64]

The service and products are not worth the price tag by themselves, but the overall EXPERIENCE is well worth it. They truly go out of their way (the Fairy Godmothers in Training and the Photopass Photographers) to make each girl feel special during her time in the chair. An hour plus of being taken care of and the center of attention is affirming for just about anybody -- young girls especially.

Since she is at the upper edge of the age range, does she really WANT to even have a princess dress? Would she just want to dress nicely in a special outfit of her own and wear the sash? She'll still get the "royal treatment" wherever she goes. And you could get some Mom/Daughter time and maybe go shopping for it together ahead of your trip? Sometimes girls that age would rather have a more mature dressy look vs the princess image.

The dresses go to size 10 or 12 and are pretty true to size. They have improved the fabrics and designs tremendously the past 5 years or so and they don't itch and irritate like before.

Also -- the Disney Store has new designs out right now. The new Merida and Rapunzel dresses are super soft and flowing.

Ebay is a great source for dresses -- we got a beautiful Ariel one (official Disney Parks dress) there 2 years ago for under $30 that was in pristine condition (only worn the one time).

I think the Courtyard Package would be perfect. It's more of a modern hairstyle (twist like braid look) that looks pretty hip -- at least to my 45 year old self My DD (6) doesn't care for the princesses, but loves Merida -- and she's doing the Courtyard on 3/2.

Our dd7 is excited about it for our August trip. Problem is, they don't make any of the princess dresses in a size larger than 10 and she's a 12. Still, she did the dress up thing when we went in 2011, so I think she'll get by. We've decided to try to have her appointment coincide with taking ds3 over to the Pirates League. So we'll be escorting a pirate and a princess on our big MK day.

 

[dprincessmom]

We did this once in July - DD had a ball with the experience but there was no way I was putting her in a heavy itchy dress to go around the parks in. We did the BBB at DTD and I had her dressed in a sundress with the princesses on it. She had a great time but I could never justify to myself spending and getting the "big" package.

With her being 11 this might be an option, she can have the look but not the over the top princess "babyish" look.

 

[gojoe]

Can't put a price on Memories

To me it was worth every penny!

 

[DisPrincessEst96]

I did the BBB from when I was 9 when they first opened in Downtown Disney up till I was 14 and they changed the age limit. I absolutely loved every single moment of it every time. Everyone in the park treats you like a genuine princess, no matter the age.
The best thing is feeling, looking, and having all the aspects put together that make it a truly forgettable experience. So if she really wants to do it then I would go for it. Seeing her smile from the princess treatment will be the best part.

 

[4kids4karen]

Not all of the outfit/dresses are hot and itchy.

 

[lyra2007]

We haven't done it and don't intend to. I am sure DD would love the moment, but I can't wrap my mind around $60 to get her nails painted, her hair put in a bun and her face made up. The thing with Disney is you get in this bubble of a world where exorbitant prices start to sound reasonable. And then you wake up and you're like...what did I just agree to do/spend? ARRRGGGHH!

That being said, I think the end product is disturbingly creepy, so it's a non-issue for us. I'm sure DD will ask about it when she sees other little girls in the park, but she can handle being told no. (Most of the time )

 

[Grace M]

We took our DGD just before she turned 6 so she was into the princess thing, and becoming one was the bomb for her. She will soon be 9 and still has the posters of herself on her bedroom wall. As for dresses, yes the quality is better, but how long will she wear it? I bought DGD's dress, shoes, purse, accesories etc. at a Disney Outlet near us. I also bought a few on sale items as daily treats from her Disney pals that were on her pillow when we returned to the room every day. I packed it all up in a box and mailed it to myself at the Disney resort (make sure to put your arrival date on outside for the resort) and it was there waiting when we arrived.
There is a older girl look that has a rock star theme she may like. Another treat was going to Aukershus (Norway) for a princess dinner afterward. Make ressies in advanced. So there she is all decked out (Tinkerbell) and after a great meal 6 princesses come around to each and every table signing autographs and taking one on one pics with the girls. Just DGD and her peeps all hanging out at a princess party! My husband and I still talk about it and have a pic of her in costume on our dresser.