Pinkies Up!

I hadn't planned on repeating this. But I also hadn't planned on canceled cruises and never knowing what was going on. So once it was our window to be able to sign up for port excursions and onboard activities, well, I went a little crazy!

And back to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique we went! I'd like to have a mini rant here. It drives me absolutely insane when people say BiPPiTi BoPPiTi. Especially Disney know-it-alls. Is it THAT hard to say it the right way? I mean they say it over and over in the song, so just get the right letters, okay?!? Yes, back to the Boutique....

This round of the Boutique was far from the same as November 2019. Obviously new protocols are changing this, and this experience was one that had an obvious change. Last time we did this Katura not only had her hair and nails done, but also her make-up. This time we DID get make-up, but it was just given to us in her little backpack. We went back to our stateroom to put it on for the tea party. But obviously it is harder to do make-up when you have on a mask. 

I think another thing that possibly caused a difference was the fact that the ships haven't had guests since March 2020. This was the very first cruise and Katura got her make-over on the sea day - which was the first full day of the cruise. So the Fairy-Godmothers-In-Training really felt like they were in training. They didn't have the team rapport that the last crew had. I remember Virginia from Italy was the awesome stylist that did Katura in 2019. This time Katura had 2 and I don't remember either one's name. And they were much quieter, so it was hard to interact. With masks on I think they needed to perhaps speak louder so Katura could hear them better to really have the full experience. So no fault of these ladies at all, they just haven't gotten into a fun group groove yet.

Katura loved her time there and left feeling like a beautiful princess, so I absolutely cannot complain at all!

The next repeat item for us was the Royal Court Royal Tea. This had many changes, and I loved all of them! This is, from what I hear, a hard to get into event. It happened only one time on our sailing, and the spots are VERY limited. If you want to do it you pretty much have to make that reservation ASAP when your window opens. Katura was so excited to be able to do this again, and so was I actually!

Katura and I were there early to take some photos of her in her new gown at the entrance. We were pleasantly surprised when it was time to be seated and Katura was the first little girl taken inside. They announce each Princess as they come inside and are escorted to their own table where they are greeted with a variety of gifts.

In the past multiple Princesses shared larger tables, as well as sharing the trays of food. We had our own food last time because we marked that we are vegetarians, so that was a plus. Now we had our very own table which I think helped us feel a little more relaxed and free to interact with each other and dig into the food!

Also different was the array of gifts. The tiara this time, sorry Disney, was disappointing. In 2019 it was legit!! It was solid and had lots of blind. This time it was something plastic you could get from Oriental Trading Company or the Dollar Store. For real. She got the same Cinderella doll that is exclusive to this tea party. She let me have this one since she already has one. That was so darn sweet of her, but I'm not taking it. It is for her! Instead of a Disney Cruise Line princess jewelry box she was given a DCL princess purse, with her bracelet, necklace and charms inside. Last time the princesses came through and presented each girl with their charms. **We will get back to this! Instead of an autograph book and pen the girls received a different princess pen and a princess journal. Makes sense since they can't get autographs right now. Lastly we were given a large DCL princess lithograph. In the past instead each girl got photos taken with all of the princess and then a large print of one was left in a leather holder in our stateroom that evening. Since photos can't be done the same we got this lithograph.

Okay I'll hurry this up! The food was all the same and quite enjoyable! The "show" was different, and I think better. Last time the princesses would come out and then visit each table and do the whole charm thing. Now they came out and each told a little story. Then during dessert they came back one at a time and they had conversations with every single girl there. You could really see these little princesses feeling so special when their favorite princess talked specifically to them and asked them questions. It really made it feel a lot more intimate even though everyone was socially distanced!

So much princess. So many pinkies. So many little sandwiches. So much dessert!

Come have a taste with us!