sleepydog25
Been here awhile
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 8,457
How about that? Two instances of alliteration in one title! Secret agents can do that, you know. For those of you not in the know, my spy team and I scouted WDW for MM and Pixie a month ago. Here are the links to the original reports if you want to catch up:
Day 1 - Checking in at VWL & Animal Kingdom
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1149170
Day 2 - Disney-MGM
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1150053
Days 3 & 4 - Magic Kingdom & EPCOT
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1151016
Days 5 & 6 - Magic Kingdom, AK, and Final Thoughts
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1152314
What I failed to mention for Day 4 was our side trip to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the Bib-Bob, the 'Tique, the Iddi-ique, B-Cubed. We decided to completely buy into the whole incognito experience, so I wrote this trip report assuming I had no assumed identity, meaning I am no one. Hmmm. Somehow that didn't come out right. While I go figure it out, read on. . .
Our BBB ressie was for 3:30 that day (we had a 6:10 ADR for 1900 Park Fare), so we had plenty of time. . .we thought. We showed up at 3 and were greeted with a rather long wait in line just to check in. We didn't get to the greeter until nearly time for our appointment, and then we went on the wait list. We waited another half hour before finally getting in. Given the amount of traffic there, that wasn't too bad. Plus, you can shop to your heart's content while you wait since they give you a pager.
For the record, they were accepting NO walk ups since they had NO open reservations and a waitlist with a dozen names already on it.
Once inside, your child is allowed to choose a princess outfit (if you have the Castle pkg). We had already chosen Snow White when we made the ressie, so it was only a matter of getting the size correct. After changing, they bring out the princesses, sit them in a salon chair (booster seats are available), and begin working on their hair. It's all done very professionally, and each stylist with whom we spoke was friendly despite being extremely busy. Following the hair, they do nails (either polish or press on), light make up (nothing beyond what a child does when she "dresses up" like mommy), and then they sprinkle pixie dust in the hair (and some of it is still there nearly a week later!
) P.S. Do you know how hard it is to act like a spy with sprinkles in your hair STILL!?
Meanwhile, there is a photographer busily taking pics of your princess and of the other half dozen or so who are in the other salon chairs. If you have a Photo Pass card you can use it, or they'll give you another. So far, so good. Sure, we're running a bit later than expected, but we did get most of our shopping done, and the actual styling took about 40-45 mins as advertised. However, we hadn't read the fine print which said you get three free portrait poses (five total pics: an 8 x 10 and four 4 x 6). Since it was part of what we had already paid, we were delighted to accept the offer. And that's where the real time crunch began.
As we left, we attempted to tip our stylist, but she politely declined saying they weren't allowed tips. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning since nearly everywhere else in Walt's World tipping is okay and even expected. We even asked the manager who repeated the same statement. She offered to let us put in a comment card for our stylist which we did, extolling her wonderful treatment and friendliness. I'm sure it made our stylist feel SOOOOO much better knowing she might get an "atta girl" instead of a twenty.
So, the portrait, you ask? You take your Photo Pass card and walk to the studio. . .which is all the way to the Rain Forest Cafe. It was hot, the daughter is dressed as Snow White, and we needed to shower and change prior to our dinner ADR. But, we still had time. HA! The evil agents of CHAOS were about to toss in their most vile curse yet. The real wait was just beginning.
Once we arrived at the studio, we waited about 10 minutes before the photographer was finished with two other princesses. The photographer then took about 20 shots of our daughter in various poses. Once finished, they have you go sign their log, which gives them time to get your photos ready. There are two small viewing areas which flash your photos on a computer monitor. The problem is, there were two families ahead of us and they were trying to decide which of about 60 pics they wanted for their portfolio. 60 pics you say? Yes, since they include all the ones taken during the hair styling/makeup session at the Boutique. Talk about time consuming!
Unfortunately, the families ahead of us were intent on getting just the right shots. Now that I've had time to unwind from the trip, I understand their devotion to getting just that right set of pictures. However, we could easily see that we would need to hasten the process since that is far too many pics to decide upon on the spur of the moment. Meanwhile, the clock was beginning to tick--we were in a race to get back to our resort to shower and change (we had been in the parks all day). We declined to view any of the shots taken at the Boutique since I had taken my own, and we quickly narrowed down our choices. However, waiting behind others who were in no hurry was maddening. It was our problem, not theirs, but it was still frustrating. Imagine being in line at an optometrist's office and you have to wait for two different folks trying to respond to "Is this better. . .or this one? This one or that one? Do you see better with this lens or this one?"
Finally, we catapulted ourselves out of the studio with barely over half an hour to our dinner ressie. Fortunately, our resort was VWL, and we pulled into the GF precisely at 6:05. Still, a few words to those contemplating the BBB for their own princesses. Be prepared to wait as the Boutique was very busy and the staff there said it has been that way since opening. Was it worth it? Overall, yes. Is it expensive? Yes, but then again what at Disney isn't? (Plus, we had the supery dupery secret agent expense account going for us!) You do get attentive service, albeit in a bit of a frenzied area. The Castle pkg. includes the photos, the dress, shoes, tiara, make up, nails (what you don't use you take with you), and countless memories of your daughter beaming at being a princess for an evening.
And here's the icing on the cake. When we got to 1900 Park Fare, guess who was waiting outside the door taking pictures on a the chaise lounge? Snow White. . .dressed in the same exact gown as our daughter. . .and what a lovely picture we got. Naturally, after that we got to see Cinderella, the mice, and Prince Charming who was dancing with all the young girls. So, yes, BBB was worth it in our opinion. After the dinner, my young Snow White asked me to dance in the main lobby of the GF. . .and we did. Swirling, twirling, dipping, and bowing. I have to admit, seeing her dancing with me with a huge grin on her face and love in her eyes brought a tear or two to my own eyes. I could see her dancing with me in 20 years at her wedding at that very moment. It was the grandest, most poignant Disney moment I've ever had, and it had nothing to do with a ride, a show, or a character meal: just the two of us dancing to the music oblivious to all but the magic surrounding us. Oops. I'm sorry. My, umm, uhh, secret agent persona got lost for a minute there. Actually, we shook hands, patted each other on the back, and said "let's split this joint." Anyway, should you have any questions, just let me know!
Day 1 - Checking in at VWL & Animal Kingdom
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1149170
Day 2 - Disney-MGM
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1150053
Days 3 & 4 - Magic Kingdom & EPCOT
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1151016
Days 5 & 6 - Magic Kingdom, AK, and Final Thoughts
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1152314
What I failed to mention for Day 4 was our side trip to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the Bib-Bob, the 'Tique, the Iddi-ique, B-Cubed. We decided to completely buy into the whole incognito experience, so I wrote this trip report assuming I had no assumed identity, meaning I am no one. Hmmm. Somehow that didn't come out right. While I go figure it out, read on. . .
Our BBB ressie was for 3:30 that day (we had a 6:10 ADR for 1900 Park Fare), so we had plenty of time. . .we thought. We showed up at 3 and were greeted with a rather long wait in line just to check in. We didn't get to the greeter until nearly time for our appointment, and then we went on the wait list. We waited another half hour before finally getting in. Given the amount of traffic there, that wasn't too bad. Plus, you can shop to your heart's content while you wait since they give you a pager.
Once inside, your child is allowed to choose a princess outfit (if you have the Castle pkg). We had already chosen Snow White when we made the ressie, so it was only a matter of getting the size correct. After changing, they bring out the princesses, sit them in a salon chair (booster seats are available), and begin working on their hair. It's all done very professionally, and each stylist with whom we spoke was friendly despite being extremely busy. Following the hair, they do nails (either polish or press on), light make up (nothing beyond what a child does when she "dresses up" like mommy), and then they sprinkle pixie dust in the hair (and some of it is still there nearly a week later!
Meanwhile, there is a photographer busily taking pics of your princess and of the other half dozen or so who are in the other salon chairs. If you have a Photo Pass card you can use it, or they'll give you another. So far, so good. Sure, we're running a bit later than expected, but we did get most of our shopping done, and the actual styling took about 40-45 mins as advertised. However, we hadn't read the fine print which said you get three free portrait poses (five total pics: an 8 x 10 and four 4 x 6). Since it was part of what we had already paid, we were delighted to accept the offer. And that's where the real time crunch began.
As we left, we attempted to tip our stylist, but she politely declined saying they weren't allowed tips. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning since nearly everywhere else in Walt's World tipping is okay and even expected. We even asked the manager who repeated the same statement. She offered to let us put in a comment card for our stylist which we did, extolling her wonderful treatment and friendliness. I'm sure it made our stylist feel SOOOOO much better knowing she might get an "atta girl" instead of a twenty.
So, the portrait, you ask? You take your Photo Pass card and walk to the studio. . .which is all the way to the Rain Forest Cafe. It was hot, the daughter is dressed as Snow White, and we needed to shower and change prior to our dinner ADR. But, we still had time. HA! The evil agents of CHAOS were about to toss in their most vile curse yet. The real wait was just beginning.
Once we arrived at the studio, we waited about 10 minutes before the photographer was finished with two other princesses. The photographer then took about 20 shots of our daughter in various poses. Once finished, they have you go sign their log, which gives them time to get your photos ready. There are two small viewing areas which flash your photos on a computer monitor. The problem is, there were two families ahead of us and they were trying to decide which of about 60 pics they wanted for their portfolio. 60 pics you say? Yes, since they include all the ones taken during the hair styling/makeup session at the Boutique. Talk about time consuming!
Unfortunately, the families ahead of us were intent on getting just the right shots. Now that I've had time to unwind from the trip, I understand their devotion to getting just that right set of pictures. However, we could easily see that we would need to hasten the process since that is far too many pics to decide upon on the spur of the moment. Meanwhile, the clock was beginning to tick--we were in a race to get back to our resort to shower and change (we had been in the parks all day). We declined to view any of the shots taken at the Boutique since I had taken my own, and we quickly narrowed down our choices. However, waiting behind others who were in no hurry was maddening. It was our problem, not theirs, but it was still frustrating. Imagine being in line at an optometrist's office and you have to wait for two different folks trying to respond to "Is this better. . .or this one? This one or that one? Do you see better with this lens or this one?"
Finally, we catapulted ourselves out of the studio with barely over half an hour to our dinner ressie. Fortunately, our resort was VWL, and we pulled into the GF precisely at 6:05. Still, a few words to those contemplating the BBB for their own princesses. Be prepared to wait as the Boutique was very busy and the staff there said it has been that way since opening. Was it worth it? Overall, yes. Is it expensive? Yes, but then again what at Disney isn't? (Plus, we had the supery dupery secret agent expense account going for us!) You do get attentive service, albeit in a bit of a frenzied area. The Castle pkg. includes the photos, the dress, shoes, tiara, make up, nails (what you don't use you take with you), and countless memories of your daughter beaming at being a princess for an evening.
And here's the icing on the cake. When we got to 1900 Park Fare, guess who was waiting outside the door taking pictures on a the chaise lounge? Snow White. . .dressed in the same exact gown as our daughter. . .and what a lovely picture we got. Naturally, after that we got to see Cinderella, the mice, and Prince Charming who was dancing with all the young girls. So, yes, BBB was worth it in our opinion. After the dinner, my young Snow White asked me to dance in the main lobby of the GF. . .and we did. Swirling, twirling, dipping, and bowing. I have to admit, seeing her dancing with me with a huge grin on her face and love in her eyes brought a tear or two to my own eyes. I could see her dancing with me in 20 years at her wedding at that very moment. It was the grandest, most poignant Disney moment I've ever had, and it had nothing to do with a ride, a show, or a character meal: just the two of us dancing to the music oblivious to all but the magic surrounding us. Oops. I'm sorry. My, umm, uhh, secret agent persona got lost for a minute there. Actually, we shook hands, patted each other on the back, and said "let's split this joint." Anyway, should you have any questions, just let me know!
I can almost hear the music playing in the lobby of the GF, such a beautiful moment, thankyou so much for sharing,
