Since the original posting of this article unfortunately this experience has been discontinued in Walt Disney World.  However, our family has many fond memories and we would love to share them with you!

When people think about Disney World the first thoughts that come to mind are usually of characters and princesses.  Many of the families I plan for with little girls are interested in making appointments for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where their kids can get the royal treatment by getting their hair and make-up done, pick out a dress, etc.  But where does that leave the boys in the family on their magical Disney vacation?

If you have only sons like I did for a while, you might be wondering if there is anything like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for boys at Disney World.  It never occurred to me to look, but a few years ago we were walking past Pirates of the Caribbean and there was a little boy strutting around with some awesome face paint.  When I inquired about getting it done I was surprised to hear that we needed to make a reservation, and they were booked solid.

What was this whole place?  Well, my friends, it’s called Pirates League. It is the chance for participants to be given their own pirate name, take the official pirate oath, get their faces painted, and come out with some cool swag.  For the less princess oriented girls out there, Disney has an empress package with lip gloss and nail polish, or a mermaid option as well.

The biggest pro of Pirates League is that your kid is going to feel like a rock star.  Below are pictures of my two sons who participated.  My guy with the full face of make-up turned heads for the entire rest of the day and was super proud of himself  – that made it worth every penny for us.  My other guy was responding to his pirate name, “Edgar Storm Fury” and we called him that for the remainder of the vacation…and occasionally still do just for a laugh.

In addition, if you have an annoying little sister who likes to steal the thunder, she can participate at no extra cost and provide hours of entertainment to the rest of the family.

The biggest con to Pirates League is that you literally pay $50 for face paint that will be ruined a few hours later by going in the pool or washing it off before bed.  For us the experience was worth it, but I could see how other families might pass on it.  My best advice would be to work it into a day where you could get the best bang for your buck such as earlier in the morning or on a day where you’re probably not doing the pool.

As this appears to have become an increasingly popular activity among Disney guests, I recommend treating it like dining and booking 180 days out.

by Ellen Volpe – Co-Owner of ET Family Travel