Accessorizing for Disney
I recently got back from a trip to Walt Disney World, and had the idea for this post after I posted a couple of Instagram “selfies” (the pictures are in this post) and received a few comments and messages as a result. Since we already have a post that answers common questions regarding the dresses and other outfits I wear to Walt Disney World, etc., I’m just covering accessorizing for Disney in this post.
Disney’s big promotion this year is “Disney Side” and one of the ways people are supposed to show their Disney Side is through the outfits they wear to the Disney Parks. A lot of people like to go all out, dressed head to toe with Disney hats, shirts, pants, painted fingernails, hair bows, bags, and even painted shoes! Some people also like to put together outfits that are all individually non-Disney articles of clothing, but come together as a fashionable ensembles that evoke a certain character. The Disneybound blog and trend are a prime example of this.
My preference is to do something in between. I like putting together regular outfits that are park friendly, but fashionable. Comfortable footwear is obviously a must, my current go-to choice is the OluKai Ohana sandal. They perfectly combine comfort and cuteness. In the past, I’ve done Mickey Crocs and tennis shoes, but I think both look too clunky with the light summer dresses I normally wear.
Speaking of dresses, the dresses I wear come from a variety of places, from Target to Nordstrom to J.Crew, but all have one thing in common: lightweight comfort. However, I’ve already covered dresses, and this post is about accessorizing.
What I really like to do is pair my normal style of clothing with a flair of Disney. An example of this would be a pair of Minnie Mouse ears with a dress. I think this creates a good contrast, especially if you are dressed nicely. If you look back at old family photos or vintage photos, you see a lot of guests dressed nicely, but wearing mouse ears. This look is incongruous, but not in a bad way, and it makes the outfit fun. This style of dressed up guests with playful Disney hats is still common in Tokyo Disneyland, where guests actually take the idea to the extreme. Take a look below.
Maybe Tom is a bad example! This hat was very popular in Tokyo Disneyland this Christmas, with many guests pairing it with suits, dresses, or school uniforms. Simple and cute Minnie or Mickey Mouse ears work a lot better for this look.
Other accessories that I think work really well to give an outfit a dash of Disney are handbags, watches, necklaces, and bracelets. I generally don’t wear jewelry but do prefer jewelry that’s on the subtle side instead of the colorful stuff. This makes it more wearable in everyday settings when you might not want to broadcast that you’re a Disney fan.
I typically carry an It’s A Small World LeSportsac bag at the parks, and what I really like about this bag is that the pattern looks Disney-related to anyone familiar with Disney, but for normal people, it just looks like a stylized pattern. The bags I’ve carried have all been durable and I don’t mind if they get wet. If you’re not a fan of the LeSportsac bags, recent bags from Dooney & Bourke and Vera Bradley are popular and have interesting designs of their own.
These are just a few of the ways that I accessorize to give me outfit a fun Disney feel when we’re in the parks. I’d love to hear other ideas you have in the comments!
If you are planning a Walt Disney World trip, check out our planning resources! If you’re interested in learning more about other hotels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page is a good place to start. For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides”are great for determining what to do and when to do it.
For overviews of all of these topics and so much more, the best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!
For more dining news, discounts and special offers, and tips, subscribe to our newsletter!
Your Thoughts
How do you like to accessorize for Disney? Have any questions about how I’ve accessorized here? Let me know if you have any questions!
I’m new to this whole thing, so I am just planning to wear a shirt and some earrings that have Mickey and Minnie. First trip to WDW coming up. Last time I was at DL was over 13 years ago! Definitely will need some ears!
When we started going to DisneyWorld I would go all out. Disney themed shirts, shoes, bags, hats! (I was just little excited!)As the years have gone on I usually like to dress a bit more subtle but, still themed. For example: In Animal Kingdom maybe a cute pair of khaki shorts, skirt, or capris with a orange top or tank. Then I just add a little disney with my bag, jewelry, or head gear. Next time we my go the route of dressing in the color scheme of our fav characters. The sky is the limit!
I like to wear something that is in the color scheme of a favorite character.
Sarah, you always look so fantastic. Honestly, you look more put together at the parks than I do in my day to day life! I am a pretty casual dresser, especially at the parks. I usually go with shorts, tanks or tee shirts (usually Disney ones, often from Target or Hot Topic) and sneakers. As far as accessorizing goes, I don’t do much of that at the parks. However, I do have a collection of ears that I like to break out every now and then!
I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to accessories, but I love my subtle, cute Mickey earrings!
Minnie Ears or character jewelry!
Whenever I’m in Disney at the parks I try to keep my accessories to a minimum; only carrying a bag large enough for my camera and other essentials. Sometimes I enjoy Disney jewelry (subtle necklaces or earrings) as well. 🙂
I just bought a cute Mickey tank at Kohl’s to wear to WDW in June!!
I usually use my Dooney & Burke Disney doodles wristlet or backpack just because carrying a purse it out of the question. I have plenty of minnie ears but I wear my Minnie Mouse baseball cap to shield that Florida sunshine out of my face 🙂
I ALWAYS wear Mickey or Minnie ears when I’m at the parks!
I have been looking to you for advise on what to wear since I found this site! I am going to DL for my Disneymoon in 15 days and this time I am having to dress myself being 4 months pregnant too! This will be a challenge I am looking forward to!
Before I went to WDW a couple months ago, I checked out your post on what to wear at Disney. Definitely followed your advice and tried to incorporate little touches of Disney in my outfits, such as a Mickey watch and earrings!
On our honeymoon trip last year we accessorized with the bride and groom ears as well as the honeymoon buttons. I like to wear dresses too so I wear my favorite merrel shoes that are so thin and cute that they barely feel like wearing shoes, yet they have great support for all the walking. This year I’m thinking more about our outfits and considering the Disneybound trend. A small bag or purse is always a great idea so I’d love to include a LeSportsac accessory as well!
I love to wear chubby bunny bows because they are so cartoon like and cute paired with an outfit that is as comfy and practical as it is stylish!
I love sparkly Minnie ears. Such a great accessory!
Great post as always! Thanks for all that you do!
My favorite Disney “accessory” is carrying around my Duffy the Disney Bear dressed in park-complimentary outfits!
Sara I love the way you dress at the parks!
I have fallen arches in my feet and have to wear tennis shoes for extra support so I stick to graphic tees and shorts for a full park day. Target, Old Navy and Hot Topic have cute graphic tees, but threadless.com is my new favorite. Their Disney collection is one of a kind.
Even though I need comfort, I love fashion and plan out my outfits a month in advance. I put together whole outfits and take pictures of each then plan according to what park or restaurants we’ll be at. I also collect Disney Couture jewelry so those pieces make their way into the outfits as well as a cute eart hat because its the only time I can go all out with my Disney side
Cool ideas! I like wearing Disney+other fandom mashup t-shirts. I’m a big Doctor Who fan, and Karen Hallion has a whole line of Disney Princess/Doctor mashups. Also, my favorite accessory is the Minnie Mouse watch my aunt gave me a couple of years ago. It looks like a normal, nice watch until you look at the face and see Minnie.
I love this!! I have been trying to think of ideas to do an easy, comfortable costume for the show your Disney side 24 hour party and this helps so much!!! Thanks for all the great ideas and a wonderful blog!