While I was enjoying the exhilarating ride on Space Mountain, my partner, Sarah, took our middle child, Lily, to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique near Cinderella’s Castle at Disneyland. I was alone on the ride, and when I returned to the park, I discovered that Lily was indulging in a makeover that I initially thought would be incredibly pricey. At that moment, I felt a bit deceived, as if I had unknowingly fallen for a clever distraction while my wife treated our daughter to a special experience.
At the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, young girls select a princess to embody for the day (Lily chose Belle), and they receive a head-to-toe transformation complete with a fancy hairstyle, glitter, and a tiara. The package also includes a photo shoot, a meet-and-greet with a Disney princess, and parents are addressed as king and queen (which is a nice little perk). I won’t delve into the cost, and please don’t inquire about it. I say “we” because it was a joint gift from my in-laws and my wife and me.
My initial hesitation about Lily’s princess makeover stemmed from concerns beyond just the expense. Years ago, I wrote an article titled “My Daughter Is Not a Princess,” reflecting my desire for her to grow up valuing character over appearances. I wanted her to appreciate people for their intrinsic qualities, rather than material possessions. It made me uneasy to think about how such a makeover might shape her self-image.
However, I never anticipated how profoundly this experience would affect me as a father. Sitting beside Sarah in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, I watched our 7-year-old sitting in a stylist’s chair, surrounded by women dressed as fairy-tale characters.
Lily wore a beautiful gown, her face lit up with joy, her tiny sneakers bouncing with excitement. The moment they placed a crown on her head and turned her to face the mirror, I felt overwhelmed with emotion. It was as if, for that fleeting second, I witnessed the pinnacle of her happiness.
A wave of pride and love washed over me, and I realized that I was experiencing something deeply moving, something I had never fully embraced until that moment. My eyes misted, not quite tears but close enough to feel a shift within me.
In that instant, I understood my daughter felt incredibly special. In a world where self-worth can be hard to grasp, especially for young girls, I realized how vital it is for them to feel cherished. As a father, I know that Lily is unique—kind, strong-willed, and intelligent. Yet, I sometimes worry that she might not fully recognize her own worth.
But at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, I witnessed her shine like never before. While I won’t claim that this experience completely altered her self-perception, it certainly momentarily bridged the gap between how I see her and how she sees herself. For that reason alone, spending money on her princess makeover was worth it.
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In summary, while I had my reservations about the princess makeover, the joy it brought to Lily and the emotional bonding experience it created for us as a family made it all worthwhile.