Help me decide.....tea party or not?

[r4blessings]

I am really trying to decide what to do.....and thought I would put it to the experts!

We are heading back to Disney in Aug (free dining! woo-hoo!) and I have all my ADR's booked. My only question is whether or not to do the Perfectly Princess tea party at the Grand Floridian with my dd. This will be her 3rd trip to Disney (and she just turned 4 in January). She is my only girl (I have ds9, ds6 and ds2) and I did book the castle package for her at BBB in the MK! We have done the Cinderella's breakfast twice at CRT. But now I'm thinking that since that is so much money (and we are dining at 1900 Park Fare after the BBB) I should do something different. I know it is a lot of money. But I am almost positive we will not be doing disney next year so she will be at least 6 by the time we return, and I'm worried it won't be as magical. KWIM?

I keep reading trip reports where the moms are raving about the experience, and I know it is a once in a lifetime thing. Should I go for it? Will it be something I regret not doing later, or bringing her when she is older and regretting not doing it when it was really magical.

I am looking for input from moms who have gone as well as moms who have decided to skip it, and their feelings.

Can you help me spend or save?

 

[lovebugsmom]

I did the tea party for my dd in '05 for her b-day she was turning 5. I say go for it, your dd will love it. I did see older girls there and they seemed to be having fun

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

I would love to do this with my 3 princesses, but the cost is way too prohibitive for mom and her three little princesses (OVER $500.00). We will buy the doll and extra clothes at the shop on mainstreet, and enjoy our time at BBB and CRT. I just can't justify the cost (of a tea party). It would be a wonderful experience, though.

 

[r4blessings]

Thanks for the replies. I know I'm lucky in that I only have one dd, so it is something that I could do for one. I'm just not sure if she is too young for it, or if it is something we want to be away from the parks for.

Although this year would be the easiest year, since we are staying at the Poly and I could just hop the monorail over. That would leave DH with the boys for a while, which is fine, but now I'm just trying to figure out how to fit it all in. I guess I could do it that last day we check out (Sunday) I think it said it was from 10:30-noon. I have to think it over.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Lesley Mahler]

My DD is turning 6 on our first trip this year and I booked this as her surprise birthday present!!! The morning of her birthday, she will open her tickets inviting her and I to have tea with Sleeping Beauty! That is her favorite princess!! While we are at the tea party, DH will be relaxing at the hotel for some much needed down time (it will also be Father's Day) as this will be our last day of the trip. I'll probably order him room service (breakfast) in bed!! When we return from the tea party, we will take DH to Le Cellier's for supper and end with Fireworks!!!

O-kay, enough about us, sorry. But I would book it. I don't think if you wait until she's 6 the magic will be gone, but what if you don't have the money in 2 years when you go back. You have it now, book it. They are only young once. And while you and DD are at the tea party, DH and the boys can spend some male bonding time together. Even if they just hang out at the hotel pool, they'll have Dad all to themselves. They'll love it!!! Or if you want to do something special for the boys, DH can take them to Downtown Disney to the make your own toy store, that way they will all have a special something from the trip. B/C with the tea party, you get the Aurora Doll, a tiara and some other special things!!!

Have a great trip!!!

 

[foltzy]

We are going on our first disney trip next year and I my little princess will be 4. We were going to do the tea party but have decided to do the afternoon tea at the Grand Flordian instead. My husband and I felt that maybe she was a bit to young and really wouldn't rember it and we are going down with my parents and my sister so this way we can have our tea party but my sister and mom and my niece can join us since they don't want to do the tea party. When we go down again (Hopefully when she's around 7) we'll go do the tea party and my husband and son can go do something fun just them two.

If it's something you want to do with her go for it.

 

[Jeanine3kids]

I say go for it I also have one daughter who just turned 4 April 7th. We are going in August and I gave her a choice BBB or Tea party and she picked tea party. We went to disney this past Nov and we did the BBB and it was great we also had dinner at Park fare afterward and it was great because she was all dressed up. I also booked the pirates cruise for my son while we are at the tea party so he doesn't feel left out.

 

[ajh88]

For us personally, we are doing it on our upcoming trip this year (DD will be 7). It *is* expensive - ITA! - we did BBB last year right after she turned 6. We decided that it was now or never - I'm in school and we didn't really think we would even be able to swing a trip this year but my parents took pity on us and are helping us pay for part of it as our birthday/Christmas gifts this year. (Yay Mom and Dad!). They too understand that certain things have a "window" of magical-ness. After this October, we probably won't be back until summer of 2011 (on my Superfabulous Graduation Celebration trip!) and DD will be 10 (and probably a little too old to REALLY enjoy the tea party!).

I would say if your budget and schedule allow, then why not go for it now? Otherwise, I really don't think 6 (or even 7!) is too old - many reviews/opinions I've seen seem to think the 5 to 8 year old crowd are the "prime" age group (though I'm sure girls of all ages enjoy it!).

 

[Tink561]

YES!!!! A friend and I took our daughters last month and it was amazing! My daughter is just 2 so she is young but she loves princesses and really enjoyed it. My friend's daughter was newly 3 and they both had a blast. She didn't get bored or lose interest. After having 3 boys I couldn't wait anymore! LOL I will take her again in a couple of years so she can experience it again. It was WONDERFUL!!

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[Stinkerbell317]

I say go for it. My DD was 4 when we went this past Feb, and I think it is the perfect age for the Tea. Yes, it's a lot of $$ and a one-time thing, but if your DD is a princess freak, this will be a memory to last a lifetime. She will always have the doll and other souvenirs to remember it by as well. We had the best time at our Tea, and I don't regret spending the $$. To be honest the visit with Aurora wasn't even the highlight of the experience. She isn't there for very long. But my DD4 loved Rose Petal, the piano player, the actually little tea set she got to use, the cake the stories. It's all wonderful!

 

[autumnbaby9]

If you can afford it and think DD would enjoy it, go for it!

I would love to do it with my DD7 but the cost is just too much for me. Instead I booked the tea party with Alice and the Mad Hatter for her. You don't get as much but I think she will enjoy it and it is much cheaper.

 

[Harley-Mouse]

If its in your budget now do it now. You don't know what it will cost when you get back there.I sent my DD and wife and thay loved it. DD was 8 I think. But my DD 4 now was # when we saw it going on last trip and wanted to go so bad.

 

[r4blessings]

Thanks for all the replies. I called this morning to see if I could book it for our last morning there, and the CM said yes, but they charge you for the event now. So I told him I just wanted to check with my husband first. I havent' mentioned it to DH yet, b/c I wasn't sure if I was going to do it and also if it fit into our schedule for our last day. But since they have plenty of space he said, I am going to call back tonight and book it. Then its paid for and done, and I can stop debating!

Tink561 I love the pics of your dd! Did you make her that dress? It is gorgeous!!!!! Now I just have to figure out what she can wear! She will be doing BBB and dinner at 1900 Park fare, plus Akershush ealier in the week and will be wearing her princess dress then so she "may" need another outfit! I like the idea of dressing her in something custom for the tea, but will she look out of place?

 

[Tink561]

Tink561 I love the pics of your dd! Did you make her that dress? It is gorgeous!!!!! Now I just have to figure out what she can wear! She will be doing BBB and dinner at 1900 Park fare, plus Akershush ealier in the week and will be wearing her princess dress then so she "may" need another outfit! I like the idea of dressing her in something custom for the tea, but will she look out of place?

I didn't make the dress. I buy a lot off customs on Ebay and this one came from there. She will not look out of place at all. There were a few girls in customs, some in princess dresses, some in nice church-type dresses and even some in jean shorts.

 

[DisneyMomNC]

Another "yes" vote here! I took my daughter when she was 4 and it was totally worth it. She still remembers it!