Princess Etiquette

[llqool]

I know this is subjective, but when is it OK for little girls to dress up as princesses? We are going to PSB and planned on giving our 4 yr old a very special, very elaborate Belle ball gown (w/crinoline, gauntlets and everything) that my sister made for her. But when else, aside from CRT or PSB or 1900 Park Fare, is it appropriate for a little girl to dress up? I ask b/c I have made reservations for her at BB Boutique one afternoon. It's on a non-park day for us and we have ADRs for AP that night. I won't make her take her hair down if she doesn't want to, but that doesn't seem like the right kind of place for her to dress up. Maybe just wear her tiara and a sundress or something?

And do most of you let your little princesses wear their gowns throughout the day? I really don't want this elaborate dress to get ruined (plus I would think it would be hot, even in Sept/Oct when we're going). Do you bring "second string" princess stuff (like the kind you get at Walmart and Target) for them to wear?

Thanks for any insights....

 

[mommy*RN]

Just a question...are you doing MNSSHP??? If not and if there is a day you could do it (and get tickets)...it would be a GREAT opportunity for your DD to get some serious wear-time in with her beautiful dress.

Anyway - sorry I can't help you out with your question...my dd is almost 1 so no princess costumes yet!

Hope you post pics of your DD in this dress - it sounds BEAUTIFUL!

 

[ChrisKsAngel]

Personally, I say let her wear it whenever and where she wants. I know it can be hard trying to tell a child that they can not wear what they want. Especially, when you are giving this brand new special dress. Plus, you are in Disney and Disney is all about the child within all of us.

I say let her wear it as long as it does not get in the way. For example, should it really be wore if you are walking around in heat all day or eatting a really messy meal? That said, I would always have a change of clothes on you, just in case she gets tired of wearing it.

Hope that helps some.

 

[disnutt]

Any time is the right time for dressing like a princess!! My 6 yo is wandering around the house now in her Belle gown.

Just take comfy shoes and a change of clothes in case the Princess needs to go incognito!

 

[twoprincesses]

Last year we bought DD4 and 5 the Belle dresses with accessories, which cost us an arm and a leg from the World of Disney Store in DTD... they used it for their My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party. Then we bought 2 cinderella dresses at the regular disney store in the mall for only $30 and let them wear that in the parks. Since your DD's has all the bells and whistles on her dress, it may get uncomfortable for her in the parks. I think a "second string" dress is perfect plus some shorts and a t-shirt just in case...

 

[3DisneyGals&1Grumpy]

I pretty much let my 6 year old wear her costume any place she wants to while at Disney. I usually have a change of clothes with us. She loves all the attention from the CMs. When she was four she wore her Minnie Mouse costume almost the entire trip! However, now that she "thinks" she is so much older she just wears her favorite princess costume to the character meals.
My eight year old never liked to dress up. She did only once at the My Disney Princess Tea Party (can't remember the exact name) because she knew almost all the other girls would be dressed up.

I would definitely bring a change of clothes to the park. Depending on the weather it could be too cold or too hot with the costume on. My daughters also complain that they become "itchy" after awhile.

 

[greeneyedchic75]

I say let her dress as a princess whereever she goes if she wants too I know my daughter would not change out of her princess outfits while we were there. I had a change of clothes with me but she did not want to change at all. There were tons of lil girls dressed up as their favorite princesses everywhere we went. Have a wonderful Magical trip

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

I'm bringing them all. My dd, 4.5, plays dress up all day long, and I don't even know which one is her favorite! So I'll be packing Cinderella, Tink, Snow White, Jasmine, and Sleeping Beauty. Oh, and I just got the girls some dresses from the new Gymboree line that can pass for Minnie.

 

[pookybean]

My DD turned 6 when we were there in may (1st time!) and she wore snow white in Epcot for her b-day, sleeping beauty (in MGM)on another, and we did BBB on a day when no parks were scheduled but when all was said and done and she was a gorgeous belle (i WISH i knew how to post a pic) we had to go to the MK, cuz what better place to be a princess? She wouldnt take off any of those dresses for money. she loved it and the only thing she siad was her feet hurt and she wanted a band-aid, we put one on and off we went.

they wear them all the time, everywhere. the best pics we took are the ones that she looks like the specific princess.

I echo what everyone else said, bring a sundress that wont take up much room in a ziploc just in case and let her go to town.


Have fun!

megan

 

[Dusted]

I agree, let them be Princesses whenever and where ever they would like. I have booked a BBBoutique session for my daughter who will be 3 1/2. I'm hoping she'll love it as much as I think she will. Then off to Epcot to have dinner with them...

 

[Dizneydaz]

I let my DD6 wear her princess dresses when she wants. She's worn a princess dress both times she's done PSB and also for Princess lunch. Depending on the time of year, sometimes she wears extra clothing under it. In Jan. 05, she wore pants and a white turtleneck under her Aurora costume. And she was still cold while waiting for breakfast. For her 6th birthday we had lunch in Norway and she wore her Aurora costume again but took it off shortly thereafter since it was hot that day. She changed out of it into her bathing suit to play in the water at Epcot.

As long as she wants to keep it on she can wear it. I do bring additional clothes for her to change into (including a bathing suit)

She's also worn a princess outfit (we've gotten ours at Target or Walmart for about $20 each) to Park Faire for dinner once. Last time (Jan. 06) she didn't only because I didn't bring it with us to change into.

IMHO they'll only be young once and if they want to dress like a princess, let them. Of course, if I had paid alot of money for the dress, or someone had made it special, then I would change her out of it before it got dirty.

 

[llqool]

so it seems like it will definitely be appropriate at the parks and at DTD. But what about Artist's Point...that's a little bit "snootier" and has a dress code. i'm afraid if i give her this great dress, she'll want to wear it *everywhere* and the whole reason we scheduled AP on a non-park day was so that she (and her little sister) wouldn't be tired and have a meltdown. she's a very strong-willed little girl (i try and tell myself it's good that she knows what she wants!) and if i give her a dress to wear and then try and take it away a few hours later, well, who knows what might happen ? if the restaurant isn't a good place to wear it, then i may have to rethink giving her the dress at that point (or find a heck of a fancy sun dress to appease the princess in her!)

 

[nlugo]

My daughter went to BBB before we went to CRT. I would not been able to remover her dress from her if her life depended on it. So we made the most of it and went and found as many characters as we could. We took a lot of pictures. This was in June and it was hot, but luckily the evening had a cool breeze and she was comfortable. She did ride in a stroller for part of it which made it easy on her feet because there was no way I was going to get her in her tennis shoes. Take an extra set of clothes and let her enjoy the extra attention.

As for AP, I would have her dress up in a pretty dinner dress and then take her to BBB. You might even show her what you are wearing so she can see that everyone has to look extra nice.......

 

[belle&beast]

When we took our little 4.5 yo princess in January, she wore a different princess dress almost every day! She received all kinds of compliments and was called princess all week long. We were there when a lot of European vacationers were and we were on the monorail with a Brazilian tourist about 19-20 years old. She was so sweet and asked if I could take her picture with Aurora. DD was delighted and told me later, "Mommy, she thinks I's a real princess!"

When I was packing I told her she could take 2 dresses- one for lunch at Akershus and one for the Perfectly Princess Tea Party. Well, she couldn't decide because she loves them all and so I gave in. I am so glad I did! The only hitch we had wre the shoes and we settled that before we left. She got some white leather sneakers with charms that she felt were "ok" to wear with dresses.

I am not sure about AP- we went to more casual restaurants, but I'm sure you could call if you feel like you need more information. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I think that ANYWHERE at WDW is fine for her to be the true princess that she is!! Of course you need to have a change of clothes in case she gets hot and insist on shoes that are comfortable but other than that let her enjoy the spot light. With a strong will child you really have to pick those battles and I don't see this being one. I can relate to the cost of the dress BUT she will still outgrow it in a matter of months and just think of all the memories and pictures you will have of her wearing it all over WDW, even if it gets messed up in the end. Wearing a camisole under it may help with the scratchy issue.

Take lots of film and have a blast!

Jordans mom

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

We took our 4 children in November of last year and they begged every day to be able to wear their costumes. We let them wear them to the castle for breakfast and had a great time. The 2 boys were Buzz Lightyear (Yeas, they insisted on dressing up too.-- My oldest son age 7 says that being a boy stinks some times cause girls get to have all of the fun!) and one of my daughter's was Jasmine and the other was Tink. The boys took their costumes off around 2 pm because they were gettin sweaty but those girls had their costumes on from 8 am til 11:30 pm. I thought that they were going to insist on sleeping in them! They didn't complain once and they were wearing the character shoes. If I can figure out how I will down load some pictures.

 

[UtahMama]

Maybe take her to Bibbity Bobbity Boo at Downtown Disney for the royal princess pampering treatment. She'll enjoy getting her hair done just like Belle's and she'll always remember this! What a lucky little pricess you have!

 

[ducklite]

Just an FYI, it's still pretty hot (low to mid-80's) around here in September and October, and my guess is that a dress like you describe would be uncomfortable in the heat all day.

I'd suggest that you start talking to her NOW about when and where she will wear the dress. Don't really give her the choice, just let her know for "this event" you can wear your beautiful gown.

I've seen so many little girls all dressed up and looking miserable in their dresses in the heat, it makes me sad.

Maybe you could buy her some princes t-shirts from the Disney Store to wear with her tiara for the normal day-to-day stuff and make a big deal about saving the dress for the really special times.

Anne

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

 

[jeepgirl30]

I had a talk with my DD6 this morning about packing all her princess dresses. I told her think about which ones she wants to take and we would bring them all! I plan on taking a backpack with a spare change of clothes for her though (including shoes) so when it becomes uncomfortable she can change and then rechange when she wants as well.

I remember a really sad exchange a few years ago walking to the monorail. A little girl was all decked out in princess attire but walking slow and biting her lip not to cry. Her mom was yelling saying "i told you not to wear those stupid shoes but you just had to do it". I felt so sad for the little girl and wanted to deck the mom.