If you’re trying to find some hardcore Disney fans or Walt Disney Company enthusiasts in a crowd, some surefire ways to locate them involve yelling statements about Splash Mountain, Disney CEO Bob Iger, former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, or “woke” Disney.
Disney’s efforts to promote inclusivity and make content (or Disney vacations) that include everyone have alienated some Disney fans, but caused the company to win the hearts of others.
Now, Disney has just made another inclusivity-focused change to its policies — and this one affects how Cast Members interact with Disney Park Guests on a day-to-day basis!
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a boutique and salon within the Magic Kingdom icon known as Cinderella Castle. This boutique allows Disney Park Guests between the ages of three years old and 12 years old to be pampered by a Fairy Godmother’s Apprentice and given a royal or Disney princess makeover.
The boutique is a real highlight for many Disney Guests — even inspiring one family so much that they now recreate this Disney princess experience at home for expensive photoshoots — and the boutique already became more progressive and inclusive last year when the term “Fairy Godmother-in-Training” was upgraded to “Fairy Godmother’s Apprentice” so that Cast Members who didn’t identify as female could take on the role.
Now, the Disney Parks Blog has just revealed that another big step has been taken towards catering to all Disney Guests! Apparently, Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices are now being trained to care for (and style) “differing hair textures and types”.
One apprentice named Camelia explained that “cosmetology schools don’t spend much time on more texturized hair, so it can be difficult to get that experience. I’ve seen my peers grow through the training Disney provides us and our skills have blossomed.”
The boutique’s makeup range has also expanded with “extra pigmentation” in the palettes “to ensure all skin colors glow and pop”.
There have also been additions to the Disney princess or knight costumes that allow for more flexibility, “discreet flap openings for easy tube access”, “ankle-length bottoms to accommodate those who are seated, and velcro closing to slip the costumes on and off with ease.”
Some Disney fans might take issue with this change, but any Disney fans who have experienced difficulties with their hairstylists themselves — when trying to get haircuts and finding that their hairdresser simply has no idea which techniques, tools, or products to use on their hair type, texture, or coil pattern — will most likely respond to this news with a resounding cheer!
Disney World will also most likely hear some positive feedback from Guests who have struggled to find proper foundation or concealer shades in the past (not to mention powder, contour colors, bronzers, and lipsticks) and Guests who have specific requirements for their clothing.
Are you excited to pay the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique a visit now that you know about these changes in the Magic Kingdom establishment?
