Have you ever seen someone while you’re at Disneyland or Disney World and thought they looked familiar or reminded you of someone you know? In some cases, they might remind you of someone you went to high school with, or maybe someone close to you. But in other cases, they may remind you of a Disney character, especially because their outfit somewhat resembles that of a specific character.
This style of dress is known as Disneybounding, a popular trend found in Disney parks.
Introducing Disneybounding
Disneybounding is when you wear Disney character-inspired clothing using everyday clothes and accessories found in your wardrobe. Now you might be thinking, “Isn’t that just cosplay? But the answer is no – there is a difference between Disneybounding and cosplay.
Cosplay involves dressing in an actual, more elaborate costume, which is against Disney’s dress code policy except for Halloween (more on that later). Additionally, cosplay is more expensive and may involve a lot of DIY activities, which can be time consuming and drain your bank account.
Related: Disneybounding Inventor Gives His Top Disney Dressing Tips
What doesn’t take that long, however, is Disneybounding, which is the opposite of cosplay. Disneybounding is inspired by the particular character, such as color scheme and type of look, but it ultimately reflects the style of the wearer of the outfit. Plus, Disneybounding isn’t as expensive, as you can usually create awesome character-inspired outfits using clothes and accessories you might already have (especially if you’re a die-hard Disney fan).
But how did this trend start? Well, influencer and author Leslie Kay is the one who started this trend with her blog. DisneyBound, which has blown into a huge web presence. Leslie is also the author of the book DisneyBound: Dress up Disney and make it fashionable. The site and the book are major inspirations for anyone who wants to go to Disneybounding.
Related: Disney Dress Code Continues To Be Violated, Fan Outfit Planning Service Can Help
Disneybounding is a great way to express your love for a Disney movie, character, or franchise while being comfortable in your own clothes at the parks. However, this is not just a park activity. You can always be in your happy place and dressed as your favorite character, whether you are at home, in your neighborhood or even with friends!
Disneybounding Outfit Ideas
You might be wondering, “Where can I look for Disneybounding outfit ideas?” The good news is that there’s no shortage of Disneybounding content on the internet. A great way to start looking for Disneybounding ideas is through Pinterest and even Instagram, using the hashtag #Disneybound or #Disneybounding.
For example, if you wanted to dress like Ariel from The little Mermaid, you can use the two main colors of her mermaid outfit, purple and green, to create an outfit such as a purple top and green shorts or skirt, and shell earrings or necklace.
Another example is Marie du Aristocats. You can wear an all-white dress with pink accents, whether it’s a necklace, earrings, or a hair bow.
You could even go as Goofy, with an orange shirt, blue pants or jeans and a green hat.
These are just a few of the many inspirations found on the Disneybound website, but they’re great starting points to give you insight into how to develop an outfit idea and create something truly special. and meaningful to you.
Basically, you think of a character you’d like to dress up and use the colors, patterns, or shapes found in their outfits to inspire your own. You can go as a solo character, team up with friends to play as a famous Disney duo or group of friends, dress up as a family, or make a cute Disney-inspired couples outfit! The possibilities are truly endless.
But now that you have the outfit and are in the park, you might want to capture the “aesthetic” of your outfit with photos for your social media accounts or just to remember the trip. If you’re dressed up as a character that can be found in the Park, check the Disneyland or My Disney Experience app to see if they’re available that day for photos, and take a photo with them! Who doesn’t love a twin moment?
You can also try going to where that character’s story is told. For example, if you are dressed as Alice from Alice in Wonderland, you can take photos near the Mad Hatter Teacups or the Alice in Wonderland attraction at Disneyland. Or if you’re Disneybounding like BB-8 and R2-D2’s star warsyou can take pictures near Galaxy’s Edge.
Another route you could take is to find the paths less traveled in the Disney parks and take photos away from the crowds. Some of the less traveled areas of Disneyland might be the fountain in New Orleans Square near the Haunted Mansion, Snow White’s wishing well near Sleeping Beauty’s castle, the patterned wall near ” it’s a small world” and even some of the accessories or cars. outside some attractions.
In Disney World, especially Magic Kingdom, you can also find beautiful photo spots, including Cinderella’s Wishing Well, Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast Mosaics, Gaston’s Fountain, and the Purple Wall in Tomorrowland.
Disney dress code
Although we have just listed some inspirations for these outfits, there are a few parameters to keep in mind when putting together your outfit, as the Disney dress code is very strict when it comes to costumes or anything resembling a character costume. This helps to avoid confusion between characters and keep the magic of the parks and characters intact, especially for children.
The Disneyland Resort warns against inappropriate clothing, which could end up being removed from the park or not allowed at all. By Disney,
- Costumes cannot be worn by guests 14 years of age or older
- Masks cannot be worn by guests 14 or older (unless for medical purposes)
- Clothing with objectionable material, including obscene language or graphics
- Excessively torn or loose clothing that can drag on the floor and create a potential tripping hazard
- Clothing which by its nature exposes excessive parts of the skin which may be considered inappropriate for a home environment
- Multi-layered garments are searched upon entry
- Visible tattoos that could be considered inappropriate, such as those containing objectionable language or designs
- Barefoot
However, it’s important to know that these rules are different for various special events, such as Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure or Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom.
For example, here is a list of costume guidelines for special events at Disney World:
For visitors 13 and under:
- Costumes and some costume masks may be worn; masks should provide unobstructed peripheral vision at all times with openings to allow full view of the eyes.
For customers 14 years or older:
- All guests may dress as their favorite character, but may not pose for photos or sign autographs for other guests.
- Costumes should be family-friendly and should not be embarrassing, offensive, objectionable or violent.
- Costumes must not contain props or accessories that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
- Costumes must not contain sharp objects, pointed objects, or materials that could accidentally strike another guest.
- Layered costumes or costume accessories that enclose the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening.
- Costumes cannot reach or drag on the floor. (eg full length princess dresses)
- Cloaks can be worn if the length does not fall below the waist.
- Themed t-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts and hats are acceptable.
- Acceptable props include: translucent wings, plastic lightsabers, toy swords, and tutus. Costume headgear can be worn as long as it does not cover the face.
- Costume masks of any kind may not be worn.
When selecting your Disneybound outfit, simply run it through the Disney dress code checklist to make sure it passes the test. Good judgment is essential. Some Guests, however, have recently chosen to neglect these rules or test the system, such as a Guest who delineated Disney too well as Dolores de Encanto, or another guest who wanted to sneak into EPCOT as Marvel’s Valkyrie.
Disneybounding is a fantastic way to get creative with your outfit choices while showing your love for Disney and celebrating with friends and family in a way that’s uniquely and special to you. Next time you’re at the Disney parks, try Disneybounding and see how much more meaningful the journey is to you!
Have you ever Disneybounded before? Which character did you use as inspiration? Share your experience in the comments!
