Magic at WDW more people should know about! BBB alternatives . . . and other cool stuff!

[MamaJ3Peas]

I am planning another trip to Disney for April and have lurked here for years, finding so much valuable info - but I feel a little selfish not having shared the BEST things about our trips . . . not the obvious things, but the things that REALLY took some digging to find. I'm hoping people will share those things that, after much searching, you stumbled upon and thought - why didn't someone tell me about that before?!?! Please add your's here! Some of mine are in the 13th post . . . below.
Until I remember the others!

 

[LSUfan4444]

-Drinking/eating around the monorail
-Tutto Gusto
-Sanaa at Sunset
-Walkway between Epcot and Hollywood Studios
-Renting DVC points
-Easy WDW
-Body Glide
-Wishes from California Grill
-Jelly Rolls at 1 am
-My daughter bringing gifts/pictures to characters rather than asking for autographs
-Memory Maker shares
-Markets at DVC resorts
-Hess gas station/store (for beer, snacks, etc.) .25 mi from the Boardwalk Resort

 

[DisneyOma]

I'm not getting the BBB alternatives in your title?

 

[disneydude365]

well i like pirates and palls as an alternative thing to do its fun little less crowded so less stress after fireworks are over lol

-My daughter bringing gifts/pictures to characters rather than asking for autographs

what kind of gifts and pictures? does she actually give them to characters or do cast members take them up?

 

[LSUfan4444]

I assumed she meant not paying for the full package (bringing your own dress, etc)

 

[buzznina]

I'm not getting the BBB alternatives in your title?

I will take a guess I am going to guess, either the Barber Shop inside MK or the salon at GF.

 

[DisneyOma]

I assumed she meant not paying for the full package (bringing your own dress, etc)

I will take a guess I am going to guess, either the Barber Shop inside MK or the salon at GF.

But are either of those things mentioned by the OP? Am I just not seeing it? I'm confused! Just not seeing what BBB alternatives has to do with DVC points, Bodyglide, etc?

 

[LSUfan4444]

well i like pirates and palls as an alternative thing to do its fun little less crowded so less stress after fireworks are over lol


what kind of gifts and pictures? does she actually give them to characters or do cast members take them up?

She colors pictures year round and saves them for trips. This was a few years ago but she colored a picture of Buzz to give to Jesse. She'll "collect" little things (treasure chest at school) and bring them with her to give them as gifts. Once she gave an Olaf eraser to Anna. She gave a NASA sticker to Buzz. She gave a plastic hammer to Handy Manny.

 

[LSUfan4444]

But are either of those things mentioned by the OP? Am I just not seeing it? I'm confused! Just not seeing what BBB alternatives has to do with DVC points, Bodyglide, etc?

My interpretation of the OP was that like alternatives at BBB (that alot of people don't know about), what other "secrets" are there.

Maybe I am off, but that is what I thought they were asking.

 

[disneydude365]

She colors pictures year round and saves them for trips. This was a few years ago but she colored a picture of Buzz to give to Jesse. She'll "collect" little things (treasure chest at school) and bring them with her to give them as gifts. Once she gave an Olaf eraser to Anna. She gave a NASA sticker to Buzz. She gave a plastic hammer to Handy Manny.

thats really a cool idea she has got going

 

[tmiller33]

Booked a princess package at the salon at the Grand Floridan for my daughter they did her hair make up and tiara. Then we went to afternoon tea. This was March 2015.

 

[tmiller33]

She was 10 here. "Too old" for BBB but still wants to dress up. Later that night we also did the pirate and pal cruise and everyone had a good time.

 

[MamaJ3Peas]

OK - after exhaustive research over the years - things we were amazed we could do that were awesome! (Not necessarily cheap though ...)

BBB alternatives - even for boys:
1.) The Harmony Barber shop - used to be you would just walk-in but now (unfortunately) they do take appointments. Girls and boys alike can get pretty funky hairdos (chunky glitter - wash and repeat and repeat and repeat to get it OUT, color stripes, even a temp mickey hair tattoo) - cheap! I've heard around 7 dollars?!?! Google for "Disney World Harmony Barber Girls Hairstyles" and you'll get pics. My husband and sons all had their haircut there (no styling - just not their thing) and enjoyed it.
2.) Resort Salons at Grand Floridian, Yacht Club and Coronado Springs offer real salon treatments (as in expert hair-styling, not the one-look-fits-all at BBB) including a princess package to anyone - not just hotel guests. You'll need a reservation so call and ask the Disney resort line I think you are looking at $50 or so.
3.) Want to be really cheap? Do it yourself! There are tons of tutorials on ways to copy Disney princess hair - you might need extensions for some - and whole lines of glitter make-up, glitter hairspray, body glitter you name it- and then revel in all the compliments throughout the day.
4.) Buy a Kimono at Japan. Really. This was truly the most "Magical" but REAL experience we encountered. My daughter was 6 at the time - it was authentic and I am woe to admit ... brought tears to my eyes. As you may or may not know Epcot is staffed with young people from each country - and they are beyond psyched to be there. As soon as I mentioned my daughter would like to pick out a kimono three sweet Japanese girls flitted around her like she was their own princess. They held up beautiful garments for her and spoke directly to her - not me - asking her what she liked and checking her sizes, (I loved that I was merely a spectator and the interaction was really all about her). Once chosen they helped her to choose just the right sash for her bow. Then all three girls surrounded her for what looked like a very ceremonial dressing, including the proper tying of the kimono bow - which was re-tied a few times as each girl critiqued the other - all in Japanese - to get it just right. They fussed over her so much, after being with them nearly an hour, there was much bowing and smiling when they were done - It was worlds above our, still very nice, experience at BBB. No crowds, no lines, no other girls to fuss over - Such a unique opportunity to have close contact with another culture, connecting with people in a genuine way. Pure magic.

For the parents - BEST alternative to babysitting.
The Pirate Cruise - KIDS ONLY!!! Read this as... you parents get a few hours BY YOUR SELF and the kids will NOT care that you are not there!
Only for kids 12 and younger (not sure of the lowest age). My kids loved this thing - and my husband and I had a few hours alone. THAT is magic. I am so sad 2 of my 3 my kids are now too old for this. I WISH they did something like this for teens/tweens. I'll just keep wishing on that star . . .

Alternative way to view Fireworks
Private Pontoon Boat - not cheap BUT CHEAPER than the other fireworks cruises if you have 5 or more people. For $318 6 people can get a privately captained pontoon boat for fireworks viewing! What!?! YES! We are trying this in April . . . I am looking forward to it immensely. Tip not included.

One other note about BBB . . . I really dislike the hairdos. Well, actually, I think they do look cute on little girls - 8 or under. But for girls approaching that tween age, they just don't do it for me, ESPECIALLY if the fake hair does not match her hair color. (Also, my daughter has awesome long blonde curly hair that it pained me to see brushed out, flattened and glued into place. . .though she was only 6 so it was cute when done.) The Fairy Godmothers in Training have NO flexibility here - they cannot customize the hair at all - mainly because they are only trained to do these "do's". To avoid this I made the wonderful discovery - OK, Disney CM told me about it when I questioned her during our BBB booking for April - of the Resort Salons described above. SO . . . I will foolishly shell out the full amount for the BBB Castle Package and schlep my little sweetie from a resort salon, to BBB then off the the theme parks. My teen sons would call this a "Disney Hack" I guess. My husband calls it kinda silly but, well, I guess Goofy would be proud???

 

[MamaJ3Peas]

Booked a princess package at the salon at the Grand Floridan for my daughter they did her hair make up and tiara. Then we went to afternoon tea. This was March 2015.

THIS is true princess hair! I love it! Exactly what we are hoping for in April!!!

 

[tmiller33]

THIS is true princess hair! I love it! Exactly what we are hoping for in April!!!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...with-new-perfectly-prepared-princess-package/

You have to call the spa directly to book.
They are actually stylist and will do a hair style based upon your daughter's hair. I also received a disney visa discount as well.

 

[MamaJ3Peas]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...with-new-perfectly-prepared-princess-package/

You have to call the spa directly to book.
They are actually stylist and will do a hair style based upon your daughter's hair. I also received a disney visa discount as well.

FINALLY! Something I can use my Disney Visa for!

 

[Becki Quoss]

My daughter wants to get a Henna tattoo in the Morocco Pavilion.

 

[MamaJ3Peas]

-Drinking/eating around the monorail
-Tutto Gusto
-Sanaa at Sunset
-Walkway between Epcot and Hollywood Studios
-Renting DVC points
-Easy WDW
-Body Glide
-Wishes from California Grill
-Jelly Rolls at 1 am
-My daughter bringing gifts/pictures to characters rather than asking for autographs
-Memory Maker shares
-Markets at DVC resorts
-Hess gas station/store (for beer, snacks, etc.) .25 mi from the Boardwalk Resort

LOL - Body Glide! GOOD SUGGESTION!!! But elaborate on the Jelly Rolls . . .what!?!? The gifts are sweet too - there is a GREAT youtube video of a girl giving characters silly band charms she made of them. So darling!

 

[MamaJ3Peas]

I'm not getting the BBB alternatives in your title?

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique - due to it's expense and booked-up-idness (Is that a word? Is now!) many people seek out other ways to make their little ones have a special princess day - boys can feel left out too! So we are hoping for other suggestions.

 

[tmiller33]

My daughter wants to get a Henna tattoo in the Morocco Pavilion.

My daughter usually gets her's over at Animal Kingdom since we usually visit it early in our trip.