Where can you see the worst dressed princesses in the world wearing dresses that are two sizes too big, Crocs and tennis shoes, crooked tiaras on their heads, and with t-shirts hanging out from under their dresses? In a world inside a world – Disneyworld in Orlando, FL.
Individual princesses have been part of the Disney scene since Snow White first was on screen in 1937. The Disneyworld experience has always included opportunities to meet Snow White and Cinderella, but today “becoming a princess” has become standard fair at Disneyworld.
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opened in 2006, which extends the princess experience for young girls. The boutique is a princess hair salon where girls age 3 to 12 can choose from 3 hair styles—Fairytale Princess, Disney Diva and Pop Princess—as well as multiple hair styles, nail color, make-up and a total package including Disney Princess costume and photographs. Prices range from $45 to $280.
Enter as a girl – exit as a young princess. Pixie dust, hair spray, makeup, and nail polish are all used at the salon – in order to transform the girls into their favorite princess character.
The Disney Princess franchise was born in early 1999, when a new executive at Disney attended his first Disney on Ice show. While waiting in line, he found himself surrounded by young girls dressed as princesses – wearing generic princess products. Soon after realizing the demand, the Disney Princess line was formed. Sales at Disney Consumer Products rose from $300 million in 2001 to $3 billion in 2006.
In 2000, Disney Consumer Products brought all of Disney’s heroines — Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White — together into the Disney Princess brand. The princesses have grossed over $4 billion in global retail sales and more than 142 million books, 81 million sticker packs and 16 million Disney Princess magazines have been sold.
The Disney franchise writes about the power of the princess stating on its website, “For a little girl, the desire to feel special is more powerful than a magic wand. She dreams of a place where clothes are spun of silk and gold, where balls are held in her honor and where princes fall in love at first sight. It is a world Disney has created — full of fantasy and romance — where a girl can feel as special as a princess. Disney Princess – where dreams begin.” [1]
On December 24, 2006, Peggy Orenstein published, “What’s Wrong With Cinderella?” in the New York Times. Orenstein discussed her concerns about the effects of princess figures on young girls. Orenstein used the Disney Princesses to present many of her points. Other sources have also voiced concern that the franchise could give young girls the wrong message. However, other parents say that young girls would eventually grow out of this phase.
Is it your turn to become a princess? If so – come on down to Disneyworld – but please leave your Crocs at home and ask your mom to straighten your crown before you head out to the castle to meet the prince.
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Videos of Princess Transformations:
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – A Princess MakeOver
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – Princess Belle Makeover
- Bibbity Bobbity Boutique
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Princess Tiana Makeover
What’s Wrong with Cinderella? NY Times article
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