Like many five-year old girls, my daughter dreams of being a princess. She dresses up and play-acts in elaborate make-believe land filled with castles, beautiful gowns and horses.
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” my friends with older daughters advise: “It won’t be long till all she wants to wear is black.” So I really wanted to take her to Disney while she was enjoying this ‘princess stage,’ when Cinderella’s castle would be magical and seeing Cinderella, Snow White, and Belle would still give her a thrill.
We even went a step further and transformed her into a princess at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a truly magical experience.
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
“Where you’re sitting now is where Cinderella sat this morning to get her hair and make up done,” my daughter’s fairy godmother tells her and she is, for once, speechless. We’re in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World (disneyworld.disney.go.com), where a dozen or so girls are in the process of being transformed into princesses.
Of course, they are already princesses in their parents’ eyes, but here, dress-up is on a whole different scale.
My daughter is already in her Snow White dress (you can buy them here, but the prices are higher), and has chosen her princess style – a pop princess. Her hair is twisted and tied while another fairy godmother puts on make-up. Snow White herself walks through to check on her princesses and girls gush and point. Forty-five minutes later we’re done, but not until the magic words are uttered: “Bibbidy, bobbidy, boo!”
My daughter repeats it, her fairy godmother waves her wand, and sparkly magic dust completes the transformation. Her eyes are bright as she looks in the mirror and she’s in complete awe at her reflected image. For a moment at least, she’s become a princess in her own eyes.
It’s been a few months since our trip, and both still recount in great detail these special moments. I’m hoping they’ll hang on to them (and forget the squabbles in the car).
Planning a trip to Orlando? Use the tripatlas.com/new Trip Builder to connect with travel professionals & tour companies from Canada and the U.S. for tips and pricing on your upcoming trip – it’s free and easy to use!
Jennifer Merrick is a freelance writer specializing in family travel. She feels blessed to be able to experience new places through the eyes of her two curious and energetic children.