Will I regret never doing BBB with DD?

[Angeliki19]

I'm feeling kind of guilty because I sort of talked my DD (4) out of BBB. She has seen it on the planning DVD and said she wanted to do it. But its not something I have ever really been interested in (which is surprising because both me and DD are super girly and love princess stuff.)

My reasons are:

1) It would cut out time for rides with DH and DS. This one is kind of selfish on my part but I hate splitting up because then I miss time with my DS. Plus my parents are coming this trip and I hate to miss out on doing rides with them. Disney is our time to do stuff together as a family. I try to keep the splitting up to a minimum.
2) She isn't a fan of the hairstyles. She hates having her hair up. I've showed her pictures online and she says she doesn't like any of them. I am afraid she would want to take it out immediately.
3) I told her that we would do our own BBB in our hotel room before we go to CRT for breakfast. She is super excited because I said I would curl her hair and let her wear a little makeup. I'll probably buy her a new dress too b/c of course, she wants to be Aurora and that's the ONE costume we don't have.

So even though she seems fine with it, I can't shake the feeling that I am cheating her of an experience she would love. We will definitely be back again, probably when she is 6, but I know there is a time limit on this. She might not be interested when she is older and I don't want to regret not doing it!

Anyone been through the same dilemma?

 

[kayteekt]

Not cheating her at all, we had 5 visits before ever doing doing BBB. Your reasons are valid and my DD always loved the in-room makeovers!

 

[Kathryn777]

Not cheating At all! Let her pick out a new trinket to go with her princess outfit from the store, and also she can do the photo shoot in the castle store without doing bbb

 

[Hezzy04]

If you got an 8am pre park appointment you wouldn't miss out on anything with your family.

However, with everything else you said, I think it completely makes sense to skip it. Especially if she doesn't even like any of the hairstyles!

 

[SaintsManiac]

DD5 thought she wanted to do it after seeing the planning DVD. After I explained the time it takes, sitting still, the hairstyle, etc she was happy skipping it. I'm not worried about it anymore.

 

[2Gma]

Don't feel guilty. Your reasons are why we haven't done it either. We have been to WDW 3 times and have NEVER done BBB. My daughters have seen other girls "dolled up" and inquired about it. I told them about the experience but they seemed just as interested in me doing their hair the way they liked and putting on some of "mommy's special makeup." Personally I think its too expensive, a park time waster, and I don't like how the girls look when they are done. Too much like toddlers and tiara's for me. I prefer my girls to look more natural in our Disney photos. We bring our own princess dresses for meet and greets and character meals but then take them off. My DD's just get too hot and uncomfortable in those itchy dresses.

 

[Amanda999]

My brother always said, about raising kids: "It's all in the marketing."

She's happy (regardless if it required you to do some sales type work, or 'marketing.') You're happy (you don't have to split up the family). Done!

 

[John Marecek]

It doesn't take that long when when you consider the park is open for 14 hours a day. Was about 30 minutes, style lasted 2 days.
I thought it was ridiculous until our girls did it, and I saw how the experience plays out, and something about being in the castle added to the whole experience. Also a chance to rest if you get an appointment later in the afternoon.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Our middle DD was the only one of our 3 girls who was interested in BBB, but we couldn't afford it on our first few trips. By the time we had a bit extra and could afford it she didn't want to do it. She's 17 now so I doubt she'll ever do it. It's one of a few regrets that I have.

 

[biondagirl]

My daughter (age 9) didn't go to BBB until her 6th trip. She never expressed an interest until last year. I don't know when/if she'll do it again. It may be a one and done kind of thing. Don't feel guilty. Maybe she'll do it when she's older.

 

[georgina]

Personally, we never did it with our girls and no one has any regrets about it. I was never a princess fan and never offered them the opportunity. They got their hair done for homecoming the first couple of years in HS, but after that didn't bother, even for prom.

 

[vicb]

Don't feel guilty about it at all.

BBB didn't open until my DD was in high school so we never did that and she still loves Disney and is not scarred by missing out.

When my kids were young there were not so many "add ons" to do and make you feel guilty about. One that we did catch the craze for was the Pirate's Cruise. I was a crazy momma who got up early to call (yes there was no online registration back then) on the very first day to book a Pirate Cruise at the GF. DH had mixed feelings about paying extra and sending our kids off alone but boy was it great. The kids really loved that experience and we got a couple of free hours in MK alone. Then afterwards the kids got to ride in the front car with the monorail driver... ahh those were the good old days

Any way your DD is pretty young still but a special experience she might enjoy eventually is the Pick a Pearl in Epcot/Japan. That is a souvenir that lasts a long time. Or just let her get a simple hair wrap, they do that outside of PotC and lots of other places at WDW.

Have a fun trip and don't feel guilty!

 

[mickeygirl78]

Don't feel you are cheating her - you are taking her to Disney World!

I do think the BBB is a neat experience and something that I have noticed is more magical as they are younger. My niece loved it when she was in the 3-7 age range but when we took her at 8 she enjoyed it then wanted out of the dress 5 minutes later. I'm sure your daughter will love you doing her hair and getting dressed up, no need to pay BBB to do it.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

MY daughter who was (and truthfully, still is) princess obsessed, has never expressed any interest in doing it. In fact, she always comments about how hot and uncomfortable it must be to have to walk around the park with that much glitter and hair spray, and in a polyester princess dress.

 

[mrsR123]

I'm feeling kind of guilty because I sort of talked my DD (4) out of BBB. She has seen it on the planning DVD and said she wanted to do it. But its not something I have ever really been interested in (which is surprising because both me and DD are super girly and love princess stuff.)

Anyone been through the same dilemma?

No one should feel guilty for skipping this experience. My DD will be 22 in June. We survived.
There is plenty of fun to be had in street clothes and hair. Or you could take a dress with you, but I hear all the time from parents whose daughters wanted out of their typically hot and scratchy princess dresses after like ten minutes anyway.

 

[Poola]

When we went in 2012, our DD was 5. She loved the princesses, but I didn't want to spend the time or money at BBB. I don't regret that. We did 3 princess character meals during that trip, and she wore her dresses from home. We also let her get her face painted, and she loved it. When we go this May, we're not doing BBB either. We'll do face painting in the parks again. They do a beautiful job, it's cheaper, and it doesn't take long. They'll even touch it up for you later in the day.

 

[sdsatl]

#2 is the reason we'll never do it. I wear my hair in a mom bun every day, but that tight BBB bun is ridiculous. I'm sure my girls would love the experience... and promptly pull out their hair.

 

[Angeliki19]

Thanks everyone! I feel a little better. Sounds like you all have some very practical daughters.

I think the problem is more me than her. I have this mentality that I have to experience everything at WDW at least once. Every time we go, I try to plan new and different things. I would really like to say we did this, but the tradeoff in time is just not something I am willing to sacrifice.

However, maybe we could do it on the morning of our Disney Springs day. I thought it would kind of be a waste since a few hours later, she will be in the hotel pool. But since we aren't looking to keep the hairstyle anyway, its really more about the experience for her (and for me to say we crossed one thing off our bucket list, ha!) But I might ask her one more time, without steering her either way, if she wants to do it or not. I don't really mind splitting up at Disney Springs since DS will just be in the Lego store for hours!

 

[ArwenMarie]

My DD never did it and now she is aged out. I mentioned it a few times and showed her the pictures and she never showed any interest. She always dressed up as a princess at least once every trip and I would do her hair and all that and we would do a princess meal or meet and greets etc.

Not to add more must dos to your list, but we did do the Princess Tea together at the Grand Floridian. That was really special! We did it right when she was just about outgrowing princess stuff and I'm so glad we did it. I think I had more fun than her.

Anyway, I think there is enough princess stuff in the parks that you don't need any add-ons really.

 

[DiannaVM]

Honestly? I think your alternative sounds sooooo much better and sounds like it will be a far more memorable experience.

I think most kids at some point go through the whole materialistic thing were homemade is not good enough, but your daughter is young enough she won't know (or care) any different. She is still getting a new princess dress, but most importantly she will always have the memory of mommy fixing her up to go see the princesses at CRT and the first time (I am assuming) she got to wear some make-up in public. Don't feel guilty, you sound like an awesome (and concious) mom!