What to wear to Walt Disney World or Disneyland is a common question among first-timers. In this post we cover tips for stylish and practical outfits to wear during an active day on a Disney vacation. (I say “we,” but most of these tips are relayed to me from my wife, Sarah Bricker. I’m pretty clueless.)
This includes where Sarah buys her Disney and non-Disney outfits, how to handle the heat and humidity, and how to look great for family portraits. This last one is a big deal for many people who want to look nice for their vacation photos, which will be framed and hung in the house or put online for all of the world to see…so workout attire or sweats aren’t exactly ideal.
Along with our Unique Disney Packing List guide–which covers practical items that will help improve your vacation–this post covers the other half of what you should put in your suitcase for your trip: clothing. We receive a lot of questions about where Sarah buys her “cute clothing” that she wears to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and just how functional some of those outfits are for the parks.
In this post, Sarah answers some of those questions as to general types of outfits work best. We also share some of the places where she buys her clothes, and how you can put together outfits for the Disney Parks that have a fun Disney motif.
Ready? Let’s take a look at some ways to dress for the parks that anyone can apply to their wardrobe. These ideas are practical, first and foremost, and for the everyday Disney vacationer!
What to Wear?
Sarah prefers to wear dresses, comfortable sandals, and hats to the Disney theme parks. This is because the parks are typically hot and involve a lot of activity in the sun. Dresses can make getting into and out of low-sitting attractions a little more difficult, but they are so much cooler, especially when you have long hair. These dresses are typically sundresses that are better suited to wearing to the parks, rather than thicker or fancier ones.
These work well with Sarah’s general philosophy of finding a good balance between clothing that will look nice and is “utilitarian” for the purpose of visiting the parks (that means no heels or other clothing likely to slow her down or make her uncomfortable!) The dresses Sarah purchases are typically inexpensive (relative to dresses), which is mainly due to her knowing where to shop.
Sarah also likes to infuse little “touches of Disney” in her park attire. Rather than wearing Disney t-shirts or other over-the-top tourist wear, she likes to keep it low-key in some outfits, and go for cute character driven-stuff in other cases.
When it comes to the normal, low-key outfits, the best strategy is to accessorize with Disney items. You can read more on this in her Tips for Accessorizing at the Disney Parks post.
She has a Mickey Mouse watch, necklaces, and baseball hats from the parks that she wears when she’s not wearing her large brim SPF sun hats. She likes to wear hats from one coast on the other coast for “street cred” (her words). For outfits that are strongly inspired by Disney, but don’t scream Disney, check out the incredibly awesome Disneybound Tumblr.
Sarah carries a variety of Disney LeSportsac bags, most of which subtly use Disney designs (such as Mary Blair art) rather than over the top stuff. The upside to these bags, unlike the popular Dooney & Bourke bags, is that they are durable and suited for the wear and tear of park activity, rather than a night out. They’re also significantly cheaper!
Comfortable footwear is also a must, and Sarah’s go-to choice for that is the OluKai Ohana sandal. She has a few different colors, and coordinates with her outfit. Mickey Crocs and tennis shoes are other options, but both look a bit clunky with dresses.
Where to Shop for Disney?
In the last few years, Disney has expanded its lines of trendy theme park merchandise, most of which can be found at the Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World. This is a concept store with niche products and retail concepts being tested.
Specifically, Twenty Eight & Main features “classic Disney elements of yesteryear in this exclusive collection for discerning gentlemen” and Cherry Tree Lane is a “must-stop, must-shop experience for sophisticated women who know how to accessorize.”
The highlight of Cherry Tree Lane is its dress shop, which features flattering designs inspired by the Walt Disney World attractions and characters.
Popular designs have featured Orange Bird, Spaceship Earth, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, the Haunted Mansion, and more.
Due to the ‘testing grounds’ nature of these concept stores, a lot of the products at the Marketplace Co-Op never see a wider release, which is unfortunate.
The upside is that a lot of items end up deeply discounted at the two outlet locations near Walt Disney World. We cover where these are (they’re not normal “Disney Store” outlets), how to score deals in our How to Save Money at the Walt Disney World Outlets post.
In addition to selling more trendy items at the theme parks, Disney has started doing more collaborations with third party clothing companies, with stylish results.
Some good options include Hot Topic’s Disney Department, UNIQLO’s Disney Collection, Urban Outfitters, and Neff. For a more comprehensive look at Disney’s collaborations with designers and fashion labels, check out this post on High Snobiety.
In addition to officially licensed stuff, there are approximately 35,282 small businesses on Etsy and elsewhere specializing in styles that evoke Disney without featuring the characters. Many of these are fan-run, and some feature incredible and creative designs. These clever designs (usually) stop short of copyright and trademark infringement–Racked did a fascinating piece about them a few years ago.
If you’re apprehensive about this merchandise being a bunch of poorly-designed “knock-offs” don’t be (although those do exist, too). The best independently operated fan shops are selling merchandise that’s arguably better, more unique, and innovative than what Disney is releasing. In fact, some of these small shops have done their own collaborations with Disney, and many more are deserving.
If you’re looking for non-Disney clothing, obviously your options aren’t going to be nearly as limited. Presumably you don’t need as much advice in this regard, either. One thing to note is that everyday outfits can be accessorized to evoke a Disney ‘look’ or to resemble a favorite character.
We love our Amazon Prime account, which makes Amazon Fashion: Casual Dress Shop a spot Sarah regularly checks for new styles and deals. There are a ton of different looks on here and some are cheaper than stores like Forever 21, with even lower prices! (Tip: some of the dresses here can be pricey, so sort by “Price: Low to High” for great styles at bargain prices.)
Another options is the discounted invite-only sites that sell trendy clothing in limited inventory sales that last a few days. The best of these is Gilt followed by Rue La La. The best deals here are most typically occur during their Sunday night sales any liquidation events. You need to make sure you check inventory right away when these sales start, as things sell out quickly.
In terms of regular, mainstream stores, Sarah also regularly frequents Express and Forever 21. Both stores have a lot of cheap (both in terms of how the clothes look and the prices) outfits, but the key is finding clothing that is low-priced but relatively high quality.
Other, more obvious choices are TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. Some people overlook these stores because they look down their noses at them, but these stores have some great, overstock styles at really low prices. Likewise, Sak’s Off 5th and Nordstrom’s Rack can be great when they get past-season items in from their mall-store counterparts, but you should be careful with both of these as they also receive a lot of lower quality items made specifically for the lower tier stores.
This is the same thing that happens with outlet malls, which has led us to almost entirely stop going to outlets. The “deals” offered at outlets are mostly illusions–nowadays almost everything at outlet stores is lower quality goods made specifically for the outlet store, and never sold at all at the “real” version of the store. Read more about the controversy here.
At the end of the day, you can find great outfits for Disney at a variety of different stores–not just the ones listed here. The key things to look for are lightweight, breathable fabrics that will be practical for a day in the parks. It gets hot, you’re moving around a lot, and need something that is fairly versatile, not just cute. It’s not too difficult to find stylish outfits that have both form and function!
Hopefully this helps you assemble a gorgeous and comfortable wardrobe for traveling to Disneyland or Walt Disney World at affordable prices! As for the rest of your packing for your trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland, refer to our What to Pack for Disney Trips post. For additional planning resources, the best places to start are our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide and Disneyland Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!
Your Thoughts
Have your own tips on places to shop while not breaking the bank? What to wear or what to wear? Favorite fan-run small shops selling ‘Disney Style’ items? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
OK, Tom and Sarah, you guys are cute, Tom great advice on viewing spots for attractions…best eatery’s, etc…. but this advice on what to wear is ALL wrong! Being a lady, I wouldn’t recommend wearing a dress or a skirt to Disneyland or any other park. And as far as wearing sandals or thongs that’s a bad idea also. If you like to run around and walk as much as most people do at Disneyland you need to wear a nice comfy pair of skechers walking shoes or sneakers with a good arch for support!
Thank you! I was thinking the same thing. How absolutely impractical.
How is she getting out of a splash mountain log in those dresses without giving a show?
I might have agreed with the shoes, but I have read numerous reviews on the sandals Sarah wears and people swear by them. I believe switching your shoes out throughout the trip will help with fatigue, blisters, etc.
However, I think I will definitely be packing sundresses to wear at the park. I have been there numerous times and have always worn shorts. But my dresses keep me 10x cooler than shorts and a tank top. It might not be functional for everyone, but I will definitely be doing this on a few of the days. It’s so humid that it will be nice to have some movement in my clothing.
Grew up in Hawaii where (what you call flip flops and we call) slippers are the thing to wear and where hot and humid are norm (granted not as hot or humid as FL) and while dresses might not be my personal go to choice I wouldn’t say that they are way off the mark either. Here at home I wear a lot of casual skirts because they can be much cooler than anything else and I would consider them for the park. Also I can go for miles in my slippers, Olukai’s are very supportive and comfortable, where as my running shoes can get hot and from time to time give me blisters. I’ve worn both to trips to Disneyland and would probably reach first for my slippers but I’ve already purchased a pair of casual Skechers to break-in in advance of a DWD trip this fall. Without a doubt wear what works best but you’d be surprised at what works.
I disagree. We live next to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and with season passes we frequent the park. Even with all of the rollercoasters and their restrictive seats, I wear dresses to the park all the time. Virginia is hot and humid much the same way that Florida is.. dresses are just so much more comfortable than a pair of denim shorts or tacky mom khaki shorts that are ill fitted and balloon out. Pair a cute dress with ergo minded flip flops and a comfortable pair of yoga shorts and you’re set for a comfy, cool day at the park. Disney ride seats are nowhere near as .. compromising.. to get into than a rollercoaster seat.. I think with an appropriate length dress and some mindfulness and it really wouldn’t be a problem.
For what it’s worth, my wife only wears dresses and/or skirts in the parks. She wears flats, but finds skirts/dresses to be breezy/super cool, which is basically always necessary in Orlando.
I’ve been to Disney World and Disneyland over 100 times and always wear dresses or skirts. I never understand how or why people wear shorts or capris that bunch up. Ugh they look so sweaty and disgusting. You can get very comfy sandals with good arch support too and then you not only feel cool and comfortable – you look great. Shorts and sneakers are for your first visit to Disney before you know any better. Btw pssssst wicking shorts are available to wear under dresses if you think you might expose anything – also more comfortable than any of those wedgie inducing, never dry, sloppy looking shorts most people wear at Disney. Trust me. My days are spent in the parks from morning to night. I go for a week to 10 days about 6 times a year or more. You’ll never catch me without a skirt or dress.
I disagree completely with you. Having lived in both S. Cal and Florida I’ve hit both parks more than I can count. Dresses are THE way to go. They are SOOOO much cooler and they’re my go-to for any amusement park in the warm weather. On my last visit in April/May I wore several skorts – skirts with light shorts attached. Knee length denim skirts were also a favorite paired with a Disney T. And my sandals and thongs were the MOST comfortable. No blisters, quick dry after rain storms, super supportive and comfy. Mind you, these weren’t cheap discount store shoes… Boc, Merrell, Earth Origins and also my TIeks ballet flats. I was cute and comfy! And never got a blister or prune toes from having wet feet.
Try Etsy… support small businesses and independant artists! They have great quality items and are often customizable!
Going in the Winter for the 1st time during Christmas, I know more less what to expect in Spring and Summer, but not exactly sure how to pack for winter for me and my daughter. Tom or Sarah your advice would be great.
I’m not Tom or Sarah but I can shed some light on this subject! I have gone to Disney twice at Christmas time and have found the weather to be quite moderate, I would recommend pants, but shorts work as well on some days. Make sure you check the weather before you go, but I would recommend wearing layers – tshirt and jeans and bring a light sweater to throw over or a jacket by itself or in addition. Making sure you pack a variety of clothes that you can wear in different combinations and layer is probably your best bet! Hope this helps a little bit!
Sarah, your outfits and dresses are simply amazing! I really love them all, but my favourite is the one with Ursula, simply wonderful!! 🙂
I do not use dresses so often even in “real life” occasions, so I don’t think these outfits will work for me, but… who knows? 😉
Thank you for your advice, btw.
Kisses and Hugs from Italy
Omg – I had no idea this was your wife – I am in love with her closet – this is the exact way I want to dress for Disney- except at torrid because I am a 1 X for your readers who might love this but need a slightly larger size check out torrid for some great dresses (torrid and hot topic-same company) so cute!
I was pleasently surprised that Hot Topic has plus sizes in most of the dresses Sarah had.
Going the end of July (HOT) and my go to in the summer is casual dresses with flip flops. Does she have any problems on any roller coasters ect? Its been a few years since we have been, but I am thinking you sit down in everything with a bottom so no one can look up ect. Or does she just stay away from those rides. Trying to decide but don’t go very often so don’t want to give up any rides, but would much rather wear a sundress than shorts. Thanks for the info!!!!!
I also wear a lot of skirts and dresses in the parks and don’t typically have any issue with them blowing up on roller coasters. You can always tuck it around your legs when you sit down. The only concern I have is getting in and out of low attraction vehicles like the Pirates of the Caribbean boats. You just need to be aware in that case. But wear what you want and ride what you want! Don’t let it stop you from having fun!
Just a recommendation, but I have just gone in the summer and also enjoy wearing dresses – before I left I bought a pair of shorts in lightweight sporty material – spanks of a sort in a nude color from my local dance store and wore them under my dresses – they were lightweight and made me feel no worries in case of a gust of wind or low ride exit!
What is Sarah’s hair care routine? How does she keep her hair so tame even in Florida’s humidity?
Have you ever used a little blob of John Frieda’s Frizz-Eaze? A little goes a long way as you don’t want to look greasy
Hi! We’re going in late fall…any fashion tips?
I love all of Sarah’s cute dresses. My question is how does she gracefully and modestly get in and out of the rides?
Just a recommendation, but I have just gone in the summer and also enjoy wearing dresses – before I left I bought a pair of shorts in lightweight sporty material – spanks of a sort in a nude color from my local dance store and wore them under my dresses – they were lightweight and made me feel no worries in case of a gust of wind or low ride exit!
Sorry this is in the wrong place, but…
Sarah, what camera do you use? I see your Instagram page with lots of pics… We know what Tom carries 🙂
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I cannot believe that not one person asked where you got that CUTE Ursula dress! Well… where’d you get it? 😉
I dress similarly – I got a bunch of Hot Topic pieces for our last trip and cast members didn’t know what to do – the best was the “Queen Elsa” dress. I’ve added the Buzz Lightyear dress to my shopping list for our August visit! Thanks for that.
she got it at Black Milk Clothing. It is a museum piece that is sadly, no loner sold 🙁 You can try to find it at second-hand online stores.
Hey – awesome post! I noticed one of the dresses is a “costume dress”.I know WDW doesn’t allow adults to dress up as characters. Do these dresses go against those rules? I don’t want to get to the park and find out I am not allowed in the park.
Actually they do allow adults to dress up ….and as Disney characters – just nothing with weapons. You also don’t need to look too close to a character. They released guidelines on their website. But it’s pretty easy to follow 🙂
I love Sarah’s dresses and definitely love all the tips and tricks from your website!! I stumbled upon your website about 2 years ago when looking up tips for Tokyo Disneyland. The pocket wifi was the absolute best decision. I’ve used it every year since and have recommended your website and the pocket wifi to many of my friends.
Thank you so much for sharing your awesome finds and experiences!
Sarah always looks so stylish. It was fun to read about her fashions. At my age and size, I’m long past wearing short sun-dresses and flip-flops in public, but I do love my lightweight LeSportsac Small World crossbody that I found out about on your blog. Thanks for that!
For me, it’s all about dressing for comfort and to beat the heat at WDW. I found some very lightweight capris made of crisp cotton sheeting that roll up to pedal pusher length (with tabs and buttons on the sides) and come in a dozen fun colors from http://www.freshproduceclothes.com. They are the foundation of every outfit I wear to the parks. They’re not cheap, but Fresh Produce has incredible sales. I also have terrible feet, so can’t wear flat (in other words, cute) shoes, but I love Fit Flop sandals. They’re cool and cushy and come in lots of colors, too. Again, they’re not cheap, but I’ve found them at Marshall’s for 50-70% off.
Thanks for your interesting and inspiring posts!
One more store has a really nice Disney line for ladies Kohl’s. This fall they had a Bambi line out last spring a Cinderella line and Minnie Mouse. I bought my daughter the bambi t shirt and leggings. DARLING! http://www.fashiongonerogue.com/bambi-disney-lauren-conrad-lc-clothes/
TORRID for plus size girls! They are a sister store of Hot Topic and have the best styles for every Disney lover. Sizes 12 to 30! http://www.torrid.com/pop-culture/disney/ I have gotten nearly all their dresses.
I love all these suggestions!
Thank you so much for all the awesome info! I am from Australia and have booked my first trip to Walt Disney world for august this year!!!! I’ve practically built our itinerary around the information on your website and if I hadn’t found your site I know there would be amazing things I would have missed as I had no idea about half of this stuff and I love Disney so honestly thank you so much for the time and effort you have put into doing this it’s helped me have such a better understanding of how we can make the most of our limited time!
I did just want to ask Sarah where she got two of her dresses specifically? I’ve been trying to google them and check the sites listed here but haven’t had any luck – the Minnie Mouse polka dot looking dress seen on this blog with the awesome baseball looking hat with the ears? And the black and purple kind of spotty dress where she’s with Minnie Mouse in a restaurant on the tips for accessorising page? I looooove these dressed would really like to know where you got them if you don’t mind sharing with me 🙂
Thank you so much again this is quite possibly my most favourite website in existence!!!!
Love your site!!! I too am a Disney fanatic and love dressing the part. Please check out my Disney inspired shoes that I wear to the parks 🙂
KOOAK Kustoms on Etsy