The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will re-open on Aug. 25 after being closed for more than two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic, offering visitors yet another piece of normalcy this summer at Walt Disney World.
A fan favorite and staple across Disney’s properties, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opened in Downtown Disney — which is now known as Disney Springs — in April 2006 to rave reviews. That site was followed by the opening of a Fantasyland location inside the Magic Kingdom a year later, and the boutique’s franchise now features multiple locations in parks as well as cruise ships.
The boutique offers princess makeovers for children, ages 3-12, and some locations even offer different theme options like pirates, knights, and princes. These makeovers come in a variety of packages that offer everything from hair and makeup to their own princess dress and sash.
But just as momentum continued to build throughout the boutique properties, Disney shut most of its park operations in March 2020. The closures lasted until the summer months that year, but reopening was calculated and spaced out. Disney kept several experiences and events closed for health and safety reasons, in fact, and the boutiques were among them.
In June — more than two years after the closure — fans found out Disney had set its target reopening date, but as with so many WDW properties, this announcement also signaled a major change. The company chose to alter the title of its boutique employees, known in Disney parlance as cast members.
Indeed, “fairy godmothers in training,” the name cast members went by since 2006 in the boutiques, will now be called “fairy godmother’s apprentices.” The alteration was made to make the role more gender neutral for cast members working at the boutique who don’t identify as female.
The reopening plans include the Magic Kingdom location only this month, and the reservation system was opened to guests on Aug. 1. The Disney Springs and Grand Floridian locations are still awaiting an official reopening date.
The boutique is one of several reopenings Disney is implementing this year as the nation continues to break out of the pandemic. The Minnie Van transportation service, for instance, was activated at Walt Disney World in June. The service uses the Lyft App and allows guests to order a Minnie-themed car for travel around the resort.
Several character dining experiences are also in line to reopen in the fall. “Winnie the Pooh and Friends” at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom opens its doors Sept 20; “Stitch at Ohana,” in the Polynesian resort, will begin Sept. 27; and “Minnie and Friends” at the Beach Club Resort will return Oct. 4.
