Just wanted to stop in with info about my dd5's recent BBB appointment. We had an appt for 11:10am at the DTD location. Due to severely ridiculous bus issues we arrived running in at just about 1 hour late. We were still granted our appointment, thankfully!
This BBB visit was a surprise, so I went up to check in first and told the FGMIT that we were surprising her, then we called her over. She told dd (Adison) that she was going to be a princess and what princess would she like. I was surprised that she chose Ariel! She had been saying for weeks that she wanted a Cinderella dress, but when it came down to it, Ariel won out. She chose the gown.
I am not a fan of the glitter shoes that "match" several of the princess gowns. Last year we bought the Sleeping Beauty pink glittered shoes and they were trashed after the first day of wear. We looked all around the Princess shopping area/room for a pair of simple flip flops or sandals that might match, but there was nothing. She wore her crocs, but they were not super noticeable due to the length of the Ariel gown.
Within 10 minutes "Princess Adison" was called in and we were left to wait by the front desk/check in area. Adison was jumping up and down and all smiles at this point, and a woman began talking to her. She was in plain clothes but was a cm, I assume she was some type of manager or supervisor. She was just having general chit chat with Adison about if she was excited, is she having fun, etc.
A few moments later, Adison and I were led to a dressing room with her gown, tiara and wand laid out on the bench. I changed her into her dress and we went out to wait for her FGMIT to appear. We watched some other princesses getting made over and chatted with another mom who was watching her daughter's transformation.
Adison had originally stated she was picking the "princess bun" up-do, which I was pleased with. I like that style the best out of what they offer. When we were watching the other girls, she said she wanted "What those girls have," which was the rainbow hair piece.
After a few minutes, a FGMIT came over and asked us to come with her to the dressing room again. We went in and someone's tutu & shirt were laid out, but we were just in the room so she could comb out Adison's hair. I thought this was a little odd, as last year she was combed out in the chair - but last year we were at the MK location, so I figured they might just have different procedures at each location.
After Adison's hair was combed, we exited the room and the FGMIT started speaking to Adison. She told her she was very special and they has selected her to be their "Window Princess."
We were led to a small closet/armoire that had a few capes hung in it. Adison chose a blue cape to wear and we were paraded across the BBB and out into the Princess room of World of Disney. A PP photographer came with us, snapping all the way. They give a real royal treatment during this process and treat the little girl like a celebrity. It was really very special!
We were led over to the window that faces out of the Princess room and onto the sidewalk at DTD. A PP photographer was with us for a lot of the time. Other guests were outside the window looking as they walked by, some people were inside the store and peeking around the wall watching as the FGMIT worked on Adison's hair.
The FGMIT we were given for the actual appointment was not the same girl that set up our dressing room and combed out Adison's hair. Both girls were equally nice and sweet to Adison though!
Adison ended up choosing pink hair over the bun and over the rainbow hair. She also chose pink shadow, pink nail polish and basically anything that could be pink was pink! She's a fan of the color, I have to say.
There is a little bench for parents to sit on so they have a close view of the child in the salon chair.
After the transformation was complete, we were paraded back to the actual BBB location. We paid our bill and added on the Ariel purse & glove set. We are suckers because we bought the Sleeping Beauty set last year, and it was worn for pictures only and then declared "too hot," and of course the same thing happened with the Ariel set!
We were given a map with the Photopass location shown so we could go get our portrait package done (we had selected the Castle package). The photographer did a nice job and the pictures are ready quite quickly!
We then ate lunch at Earl of Sandwich and just as we were about to leave, we heard an announcement about a Princess Parade that was to start. We made our way back to the BBB/Princess entrance of World of Disney so we could watch. When we walked up toward the parade, the FGMIT leading it called out to Adison and asked if she would like to join, then had her walk right in the front holding the banner with her!
The parade was very cute, they walked a path from WoD to the carousel and all of the little princesses and FGMITs got on and went for a spin. People shopping and eating stopped in their tracks and cleared the path to watch their little march and you could see that the little girls believed they were true Disney Princesses at that moment.
I had been trying and trying to switch our BBB appointment to the MK location with no luck, but to be honest I am glad that we went to the DTD location! I had no idea about the "Window Princess" and no idea about the parade, both of which were highlights of our trip.
I will post some pictures soon!