From more costume options to extra training, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Walt Disney World Resort has been striving to be more inclusive of all guests and Cast Members. Before the experience reopened at Magic Kingdom last year, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Cast Members received a new, more gender-neutral title: Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices. In a recent Disney Parks Blog post, Walt Disney World Resort Communications Manager Danielle Levien wrote about other ways Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is being more inclusive.
“One of my favorite things about being a Black woman at Disney is how our parks and experiences are in a constant state of becoming more inclusive and truly celebrate the diversity of our cast and guests,” Levien wrote. “Sometimes this means honoring a cultural holiday through unique and special offerings, and sometimes it means exploring how we can make each guest feel even more welcome when they visit our parks.”
Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices are receiving extra training on how to style a wide variety of hair textures and types, including hair more common for people of color, which is often left out of cosmetology school programs.
“I’ve seen my peers grow through the training Disney provides us,” apprentice Camelia said of the training. “Their skills have blossomed and they’ve become more confident.”
Extra pigmentation has also been added to the makeup palettes used at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to ensure all skin colors “glow and pop.”
Adaptive costumes for young guests with various needs and disabilities are also available. These costumes can have stretchier fabric, discreet flap openings for tube access, ankle-length bottoms for those seated in wheelchairs, and velcro closings that are easier to take off.
“Seeing the delight on guests’ faces when they turn around and see themselves in the mirror is the best experience,” Shalise, another apprentice, said. “We all have such unique memories and relationships with guests that come back year after year to visit us. Now, we are opening the doors for children to build those magical connections with even more cast members because when they walk through our doors parents know they can trust any one of us to deliver an unforgettable experience.”
“What we do here isn’t just a makeover,” Shalise continues. “We give our guests the ability to believe in make believe. No matter who they are, where they come from, or what they’ve gone through, they have the chance to be a knight or princess.”
Guests between ages 3 and 12 can be transformed into a princess, knight, or other Disney character through the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience. Prices range from $99.95 to $229.95, depending on the package. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique recently added an “Encanto” package, which is $179.95.
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