My LO does nearly the exact same thing for every bath.

She has a little spray bottle that she fills with water and then sprays herself. Then once the hair washing and body washing are done, she has to sit down in the water and then pretends to "swim" in the tub. She always does her ABCs when she's "swimming". Then she has to empty her spray bottle and put all her toys away. Be lifted out of the tub, wrapped up, and absolutely MUST be carried like a baby from the bathroom to her nursery, with stops at every light switch on the way to turn off every light.

Then, once you dry her off, you have to wrap the towel around her body and make a "strapless gown" with the towel and call her Princess.

If you try to eliminate any of these steps, it is absolutely meltdown city.