Epcot-bibbidi bobbidi boutique-akershus dinner

[sparkle3horn]

Hello. I'm new to these boards. We have a trip planned for sept 24-28 with our two girls (4 and 8). On thurs, sept 25, which is my daughter's 5th birthday, we are trying to figure out if this day plan will work, especially trying to figure out the transportation piece. We are staying at GF and will not have a car. So far, we have: Epcot in the day, with FP for Soarin at 10:55am, Character Meet and greet at 1:10 and Nemo at 2:20pm then reservations for both girls at BBB in DD starting at 4:15pm, then ADR at Akershus at 7:55pm. Any feedback on this plan? Are we allowing enough time to get from place to place? Are we waiting too much time with travel?

 

[amberpi]

Totally doable but I'd grab a cab back and forth to dtd.

Have a great time!

 

[laughinplace199]

Time-wise it's doable, but for little ones that's a really long day with no mid-day rest and a late dinner.

Will your kids be able to handle that? Some kids can definitely handle it and if yours are that type of kid, you'll be fine. My older two needed a rest mid-day and to keep close to their regular eating and sleeping schedules or they were a mess. My youngest is more go with the flow, and would be fine with a plan like yours.

 

[sparkle3horn]

Thanks for the replies. Am I allowed to ask a couple of follow ups?
Does it make sense to go back to GF before BBB and is there time? My kids are pretty much troopers so I think they can handle the long day. I was thinkingn about bringing some books and coloring pages for them as a little down time while they wait at BBB. I hear they often run behind schedule. We are bringing their dresses (as opposed to buying them at boutique) so I guess I will be stuck carrying them around if we go straight from Epcot. Are there any lockers?

 

[mom2rtk]

It's a long day, but doable. As the PP said, I wouldn't consider it any other way than with a cab.

It's not the way I would choose to structure a day though. To much time entering and exiting the park and getting where you need to go. I prefer to build our ADRs and BBB appointments into days where it will be a natural part of our touring.

That said, it sounds like it's supposed to be a special day, so do it however the birthday girl wants. Just know you won't get a lot done for the amount of time you are investing that day.

 

[sparkle3horn]

Thanks for the replies. Am I allowed to ask a couple of follow ups?
Does it make sense to go back to GF before BBB and is there time? My kids are pretty much troopers so I think they can handle the long day. I was thinkingn about bringing some books and coloring pages for them as a little down time while they wait at BBB. I hear they often run behind schedule. We are bringing their dresses (as opposed to buying them at boutique) so I guess I will be stuck carrying them around if we go straight from Epcot. Are there any lockers?

 

[laughinplace199]

Thanks for the replies. Am I allowed to ask a couple of follow ups?
Does it make sense to go back to GF before BBB and is there time? My kids are pretty much troopers so I think they can handle the long day. I was thinkingn about bringing some books and coloring pages for them as a little down time while they wait at BBB. I hear they often run behind schedule. We are bringing their dresses (as opposed to buying them at boutique) so I guess I will be stuck carrying them around if we go straight from Epcot. Are there any lockers?

You won't have time to go back to GF before BBB.

All parks have lockers.

 

[sparkle3horn]

It's not the way I would choose to structure a day though. To much time entering and exiting the park and getting where you need to go. I prefer to build our ADRs and BBB appointments into days where it will be a natural part of our touring.

That is what I am kind of afraid of. With only 3 full park days (this trip is a gift from someone else who made the travel plans), I cannot figure out the best way. The whole thing was planned after the 180 day mark, so I could not really "plan" ADRs, just had to take what I could get. I actually felt pretty lucky to get a 6 person reservation for a princess dinner at all. And BBB was only available at DDD, otherwise I would not really plan to go there at all.

I know that Magic Kingdom has a barber where you can get a hairdo and a glitter - is there anything like that at Epcot, or is BBB our only option for the beauty experience?

If anyone has better ideas on how to structure a day like this that ends with a princess dinner and two girls who really want to be princesses, I am totally open for suggestions. I am a little brain dead from trying to piece this all together, and feeling behind the 8 ball because we missed some important timing windows to make the best plan.

 

[sharonabe]

I know it means fewer attractions at EP, but with that later FP+ time, I'd be inclined to sleep in a little in preparation for such a long day.

And, if you can afford it, that cab to/from EP/DTD will make everything go smoother. There are no direct buses from the parks to DTD, so you would have to take a bus to one of the resorts near DTD and walk or bus from there to DTD.
However, for the return trip, you COULD take a bus from DTD to one of the EP resorts (Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club) and then take the boat to the back entrance (International Gateway) to EP. You would be closer to your ADR at Akershus if you do this than entering in FW. Much less walking this way. So even if you decide to cab back, you'll want to cab to one of those resorts instead of the front gate.

 

[sparkle3horn]

You won't have time to go back to GF before BBB.

All parks have lockers.

Does anyone know if the resort has a hair salon? maybe I could just have the girls' get their hair done there? Just trying to think outside the box. I have also realized that my plan does not allow for us "non-princesses" to have the chance to freshen up before dinner and put on our nice clothes. I guess that probably doesn't matter, does it?

 

[arlsdimples]

The biggest time issue you will have is getting to and from DTD. I would opt for a cab to make your life easier if that is within your budget. The money spent will be well worth the time saved. The other option you could do is call and try to reschedule the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique for earlier in the day. If you can get both girl in relatively close in time (if not the same) in the late morning or early afternoon you will save yourself a lot of stress. The fastpasses you have chosen you should be able to reschedule for later in the afternoon without any problems.

I can tell you that the first year BBB was open (not available in the castle yet) I took my oldest DD in for an appointment at DTD. It took us F-O-R-E-V-E-R to get out of there waiting for a bus for a monorail resort so we could hop over to Magic Kingdom. Do not -please- DO NOT try taking a bus to one of the Epcot resorts! I think waiting in a standby line for A&E would take less time. Since there are no busses going directly to the park from DTD your options are limited.

I think you should be fine if you try to reschedule the BBB now. DTD has more openings. We just planned our trip 2 weeks ago for this coming week and I had a choice of days to get an appointment for my 3 year old all around 11:30. Same for the fastpasses. I can still manipulate almost every day of FP+ on my trip except A&E and the 7DMT.

Good luck. Your DD's are going to love it. What a wonderful birthday for a princess.

 

[sharonabe]

Does anyone know if the resort has a hair salon? maybe I could just have the girls' get their hair done there? Just trying to think outside the box. I have also realized that my plan does not allow for us "non-princesses" to have the chance to freshen up before dinner and put on our nice clothes. I guess that probably doesn't matter, does it?

This is a great idea. Someone else had the same one. See this:

http://disneyways.com/2013/06/13/ivytrellis/

 

[dreamit]

Does anyone know if the resort has a hair salon? maybe I could just have the girls' get their hair done there? Just trying to think outside the box. I have also realized that my plan does not allow for us "non-princesses" to have the chance to freshen up before dinner and put on our nice clothes. I guess that probably doesn't matter, does it?

There is a salon at GF--I think the one I'm thinking of has the word "ivy" in the name. Anyhow, I've read on the boards about it as an alternative to BBB. I read to ask for the flower girl/princess package.

 

[sparkle3horn]

This is a great idea. Someone else had the same one.

This is really great information, and I am absolutely going to consider this. I see several "PROs" to this option
- less running around (though we would still need to go back to GF unless we did it in the morning - I just don't think my girls will be happy to be in their dresses all day, which was why I planned for the afternoon time slot in the first place)
- less "I want this, I want this" within the Disney store while waiting for the BBB appointment
- being in the resort ourselves, so we can also dress up for this special dinner

CONs-it is not quite the BBB experience, with the FGIT and the whole charade of it.
-no Birthday Sash for the birthday girl

Have to give this some more thought. thank you Sharonabe for providing this info.

 

[dreamit]

This is really great information, and I am absolutely going to consider this. I see several "PROs" to this option
- less running around (though we would still need to go back to GF unless we did it in the morning - I just don't think my girls will be happy to be in their dresses all day, which was why I planned for the afternoon time slot in the first place)
- less "I want this, I want this" within the Disney store while waiting for the BBB appointment
- being in the resort ourselves, so we can also dress up for this special dinner

CONs-it is not quite the BBB experience, with the FGIT and the whole charade of it.
-no Birthday Sash for the birthday girl

Have to give this some more thought. thank you Sharonabe for providing this info.

Take a look at this article:
http://disneyways.com/2013/06/13/ivytrellis/

It gives some suggestions for both booking the appointment and making it geared toward the "princess experience". Perhaps, you could do this in the morning, let the girls wear their dresses to Epcot and, after a ride or two, store the dresses in a locker until a little before your dinner at Akershus.

 

[Alesia]

- less running around (though we would still need to go back to GF unless we did it in the morning - I just don't think my girls will be happy to be in their dresses all day, which was why I planned for the afternoon time slot in the first place)

There's a salon in the Yacht Club, too. That would be much more convenient.

-no Birthday Sash for the birthday girl

Just buy one online and take it with you.


As far as changing clothes for dinner, you can if you really want to, but it isn't necessary. Nearly everyone will be there in their park clothes.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Edited - Nevermind!

 

[Alesia]

I prefer to do BBB on an MK day... the BBB girls get a LOT of attention (special attention) from the characters.

Is there a way to change plans around? I assume you have park hoppers... so why not do MK morning until BBB and then heat to Epcot for dinner?

Since the BBB appointment is at DTD, that would mean even more moving around.

 

[sparkle3horn]

I am definitely willing to change my day plans if it makes more sense. But I feel kind of locked in by the FP+ selections that I have. I got most of what I wanted (7DMT, parade viewing, etc - everything, of course, except A&E). I find it tricky to try to switch your park day plans around once you have the fast passes selected because it seems like you have to give up your current selections before it lets you choose another park. I don't want to change unless I know I can get other good FP+ times at the other parks, and I cannot seem to see that first.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Since the BBB appointment is at DTD, that would mean even more moving around.

Haha you're right. How did I miss that

I rescind my advice!