Niece says she doesn't like princesses!

[Jhondy210]

I'm taking my 6 year old niece on her first trip to WDW in one week. I have so many surprises planned for her that I almost can't contain my excitement. Disney has always been a place that I have wanted to take her too. Every year her and I have gone to Disney on Ice and she always wears her princess dress and we always talk about going to WDW together one day…I can't believe the one day is next week! Anyways, the other day we were at my parents house and we were talking about Disney and she said she doesn't really like princesses. Her mom took her inside to get some food and when she came out my niece told me she was just kidding about not liking princesses. I think her mom may have told her to say that. I am okay if she doesn't like princesses but one of the surprises I have for her is an appointment at BBB at the castle followed by MNSSHP. I think she will like to get her hair done regardless but I don't know if she will want the princess dress. The problem is I figured she would like the princess dress so I was planning on that being her costume for the party.

I honestly think when she gets there she will see the princesses and all the other little girls in their princess dress and she will want to do it but I'm not sure. So, what would you do? Would you tell her about BBB ahead of time and let her make a decision if she wants to do it? Idk if I could get a pirates league reservation this close to the trip and she does have a reservation for there two days after her BBB reservation. I also don't know what the cancellation policy is for BBB. I mean I guess she could always get the minnie mouse halloween dress if she doesn't want princess. Anyone dealt with a 6 year old who all of sudden doesn't like princesses?

 

[happymommy]

If it were me, I'd drop BBB. That being said, my DD would not have enjoyed it at 6! She loved our Disney trips, and still does, but those buns are done up tight! Not all girls like to get their hair done up, and it isn't cheap.

My daughter was never really "into" princesses though! Not all girls are!

 

[roseaster]

My girls loved BBB. They have all aged out of it by now, so I don't remember the costumes to choose from, but is there something that isn't overly princess-y? Like a Minnie Mouse or something?

My girls all have incredibly thick hair, and even my most tender headed one that cried every time I combed her hair had no problem at BBB.

I would keep the reservation. She can choose her hair style and if she doesn't want a princess costume, if they don't have something else there, maybe she can choose something else at another store.

 

[shoney]

I would just ask her if she wants to.
I know my niece was really into princesses at 3,4, and 5....by 6 she just wasn't into them... She just turned 7 and I asked her about princesses and she said "yuck no way!"

 

[3Gsandme]

I'd talk to Mom and ask her honestly if your niece would enjoy the appointment. She doesn't have to go full princess at all. I'd love to do the BBB, but dd 1 is too old, dd 2 would love it and dd3 would hate it. There is no way for me to be equitable. But, seriously, ask. Tell her your feelings won't be hurt, but it's a chunk of time (and money) that you can skip in favor of doing things DN would be happier doing.

 

[jevs]

I would drop BBB and do something else. My daughter has never liked dolls or princesses from an early age. She's now 10 and still has no interest in meeting princess characters. And she's very firm about it lol.

Do you know who her favourite character is? Maybe you could do an extra character meal in place of the BBB?

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip

 

[Kingdome8]

My nine year old still wants to bbb. Not sure if it's because her little sister is 4 or what. My oldest is 12. She said no more. Even though she may be biggest Disney fan and knows all about parks and stats. But she does still like pics and autographs.

I bet when ur niece gets there she will want to do bbb. Energy of Disney world is amazing. We have had buns and kinda punk. Cool

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would ask her if she wants to do it. Especially if you were planning on the dress being her Halloween costume. It's very possible, she would want to dress up as something completely different. No sense in going through all of that time and expense if she doesn't want to do it.

 

[Jhondy210]

Thanks everyone. I think I will talk to her about it. She is most excited to meet Mickey and we have our first meal being breakfast at GG so that is covered. I just have our second day being CRT, BBB, and MNSSHP. I just never expected to hear her say she didn't like princesses anymore since it has only been a few months since we went to Disney on ice and she kept talking about how she wanted to meet the princesses and she was wearing a princess dress. She is the kind of person that wants to make everyone happy so I have to make sure she understands the choice is hers and I will be happy with whatever she chooses since the trip is about her. I'm just worried she will say she doesn't want to do it and then see all the girls in the dresses and will want to do it. I have a pirate costume for her for when we do pirates league so maybe I can just let her wear it for MNSSHP and then two days later too. I won't lie though, I will be sad if she chooses not to do BBB cause I think she will look adorable but alas this trip is about her and not me.

 

[Jhondy210]

I would ask her if she wants to do it. Especially if you were planning on the dress being her Halloween costume. It's very possible, she would want to dress up as something completely different. No sense in going through all of that time and expense if she doesn't want to do it.

Only Halloween costume for MNSSHP. She will be able to get a different costume for actual Halloween and trick or treating

 

[roseaster]

She's 6. 1st grade? It could be that the "I don't like princesses" stuff may be in response to stuff she hears in school. At that age they are very critical of what is "babyish" and what is not and someone in school may have told her "princesses are for babies" and she is now making those statements based on that.

I had a kid who loved Barbies. At about 6 or 7 (she was in school can't remember 1st or 2nd grade) she was told "Barbies are for babies." So she came home spouting that. I told her she could like what she wanted she didn't have to tell the kids in school she lied playing with her Barbies if she didn't want to.

She played with those Barbies for years.

My kids really didn't move out of the princess thing in WDW until they were 9 or 10. Things that kids refuse to do at home for fear their peers will call them babies, they will still totally do on vacation in WDW.

My teens still dress up for MNSSHP and trick or treat. They won't do it at home.

 

[Camshell]

My daughter was the same way at that age. She was not into princess stuff too much. She did do BBB and she enjoyed it, but she would have also been okay without it as well. One thing she really liked that you might consider is the face painting. My daughter was more into animals. Her favourite character during that trip was Simba. In Hollywood Studios she got her face painted as Simba and she was super happy with that. The face painting was very realistic too and looked great. If you want to get her a special experience, I would definitely let her know what options there are and let her choose the one she likes best.

 

[Jhondy210]

She's 6. 1st grade? It could be that the "I don't like princesses" stuff may be in response to stuff she hears in school. At that age they are very critical of what is "babyish" and what is not and someone in school may have told her "princesses are for babies" and she is now making those statements based on that.

I had a kid who loved Barbies. At about 6 or 7 (she was in school can't remember 1st or 2nd grade) she was told "Barbies are for babies." So she came home spouting that. I told her she could like what she wanted she didn't have to tell the kids in school she lied playing with her Barbies if she didn't want to.

She played with those Barbies for years.

My kids really didn't move out of the princess thing in WDW until they were 9 or 10. Things that kids refuse to do at home for fear their peers will call them babies, they will still totally do on vacation in WDW.

My teens still dress up for MNSSHP and trick or treat. They won't do it at home.

Yep she just started first grade. I don't know what is going on with her in the past couple months to a year but she has been becoming very introverted/shy and just not her self. I know some kids have been mean to her at school (even to the point of calling her a liar when she said she was going to Disney World) so I don't know if that is why she may be saying she doesn't like princesses. I'm really hoping this is a trip where she can just let go and be a kid without worrying about what others think. It should help her that I will be wearing mickey ears with her and I have a costume for MNSSHP too. I worry about her but I don't get to see her too often so I don't know what is all going on. I hear things from other family members and it makes me sad. She already doesn't like going to school. I'm really just trying to make this a trip she will remember forever. My thought is to keep BBB and she can at least get her makeup/hair/nails done if she doesn't want the dress then that is okay. We will figure something out for her for a costume.

 

[Jewel3k]

My daughter has never been into having her hair, nails, make up done and it has nothing to do with being into or not into princesses. She has enjoyed putting on her Rapunzel dress to meet Rapunzel. I'd ask your niece to see if she'd actually like BBB. There are more hair styles than the princess bun she might be into.

 

[karly05]

She's 6. 1st grade? It could be that the "I don't like princesses" stuff may be in response to stuff she hears in school. At that age they are very critical of what is "babyish" and what is not and someone in school may have told her "princesses are for babies" and she is now making those statements based on that.

I had a kid who loved Barbies. At about 6 or 7 (she was in school can't remember 1st or 2nd grade) she was told "Barbies are for babies." So she came home spouting that. I told her she could like what she wanted she didn't have to tell the kids in school she lied playing with her Barbies if she didn't want to.

She played with those Barbies for years.

My kids really didn't move out of the princess thing in WDW until they were 9 or 10. Things that kids refuse to do at home for fear their peers will call them babies, they will still totally do on vacation in WDW.

My teens still dress up for MNSSHP and trick or treat. They won't do it at home.

I'm so glad you posted this! I don't have kids, but I was one, and my instant reaction in these situations is always to suspect that the Mean Girls are telling her "Only babies like princesses." Niece may really not want to do BBB or princess dresses, but if she's just afraid of being picked on, she's not going to see anyone she knows at WDW and she does not have to tell the Meanies about it.

I'm in the camp that says have a talk with Niece and find out how she really feels.

OP, I just read your most recent post. I don't have any advice, but I feel for your niece. I hope she can relax and be herself and have fun for a few days on this trip.

 

[alicat8]

I agree with others. Show her pics from BBB and ask her if it's something she'd like to do. I bet once you're there, she'd still like meeting the princesses (because who doesn't? Even the boys love them ) and going on their rides. But BBB could be different. My daughter still loves the princesses, but I think she'd hate the discomfort post-BBB. Unless you know a kid LOVES dress up, i don't think that's always a safe surprise thing.

 

[Terapin]

What about Pirate's League instead?

 

[lennyd]

I would take her she will love it ,the magic is real

 

[Jhondy210]

What about Pirate's League instead?

I have that booked for two days after BBB….I'm really packing in the experiences for her this trip as it might be her only trip as a child.

 

[Jhondy210]

Thanks everyone. I think I will print out some pictures and information on BBB and put it in her backpack full of surprises so we can talk about it on the plane. That way it is still a "surprise" but she will know about it once we get on the plane and then she can decide what she wants to do. It looks like there is a minnie mouse halloween dress so maybe BBB will have that and she would like to dress up as minnie mouse. I think you are all right about letting her make the decision.