What to Wear to Disney World: Look Like a Princess While Staying Comfortable
In order to have the most magical experience ever, it’s important to know what to wear to Disney World!
As someone who has visited Walt Disney World an embarrassing number of times in my life, I’ve learned the hard way what works in the parks and what doesn’t
You're probably thinking, "It's a theme park. I shouldn't have to dress a certain way."
And I would agree with you wholeheartedly. As long as you're more or less covered, I say rock your vacation wear as you see fit.
However, in my many years of visiting Walt Disney World, I've come to find that certain wardrobe choices will grant you wildly different experiences.
Here are my tried-and-true tips for making sure that your clothing doesn't keep you from loving every minute of the magic!
Our Disney kid takes a spin on the Mad Tea Party in Magic Kingdom
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The Best Tips on What to Wear to Disney World
1) Don't bring brand new shoes.
The breaking in process for shoes can range from mildly annoying to hideously painful. You don’t want either of these experiences bothering you on vacation!.
As you can easily walk five or more miles in one day at Disney, you don't want your footwear to be anything but perfect.
Leave those fancy new shoes at home, and pack the worn favorites.
If you can’t help but bring new shoes, and they’re bothering you to the point of causing blisters, stop by the First Aid stations in each park for free band-aids.
Plan more of your Walt Disney World vacation with these helpful posts:
2) The comfier the shoes the better.
Cute and comfy Minnie shoes for mom and daughter!
This should go without saying, but a theme park is not the place to show off your newest wedges or heels.
Yet, every time I visit, I see some poor woman tottering around the parks in something that I could barely walk three feet in before I developed blisters.
It's Disney World, not a runway, so leave the heels at home in favor of your comfortable flats, tennis shoes, or sandals.
I swear by my Keen Newport H2s, which are originally designed to be hiking sandals. I’ve worn them hiking for many, many miles in 26 national parks, and all over Disney World, and I’ve never had a single blister or sore.
They also have essentially no break-in time, so you can slide them on and go.
They’re not the most delicate of shoes, but they do come in a bunch of fun colors and patterns. You can also get them in men’s and kids’ sizes, too.
Ultimately, they are super comfortable and will allow you to walk for days on end in the parks.
If you're wearing sandals into one of the 4 parks, I’d caution against flip flops or Birkenstocks or any shoe without a back or ankle strap.
When I was in high school, I made the mistake of wearing backless Sketchers (it was the early 2000s, so don’t side eye me).
Even though I loved those shoes, constantly working to hold the backless shoes on made my leg muscles incredibly sore.
So, don’t do that. This is a time that you want straps and comfort above all.
Get more suggestions on the best footwear for Disney World below.
3) If your child is dressing up, pack an extra set of clothes.
While that princess dress or pirate costume may appeal at the beginning of the day, that same outfit may become itchy or uncomfortable as the day wears on.
If your child is particularly sensitive to itchy clothing, have them wear a base layer (shorts/ jeans and a t-shirt) and then slip the costume on when it's time to meet their favorite characters or pause for a photo op.
Or, you can forego the actual costume and get a sundress that just looks like the princess or character in question, like this adorable Ariel dress that’s made from soft, flexible material.
Try out other characters with this style of dress to keep your kid happy but also comfortable:
4) Avoid dresses and skirts without shorts underneath.
PIN ME!
Oh, the hilarity that is someone trying to get into the tiny seats at Space Mountain with a dress or skirt on.
Space Mountain, like many of the rides at Disney, requires you to clamber into a seat quickly.
You'd better be prepared to share your underwear preferences with the Cast Members and the rest of the people in line if you choose to wear something flowing and breezy.
Avoid flashing everyone by adding leggings, athletic shorts, or tights.
Skorts are another great option if you want the look of a skirt with the coverage and functionality of shorts.
Theis 16” skort with shorts is one of my favorite hot weather items as the skirt overlay is super thin and breathable, and the shorts underneath don’t move as I get sweaty.
Plus, I love that it still looks slightly dressier than a flowier athletic skirt, so I don’t feel weird if we end up at a nice dining experience during or after our theme park trekking.
If you want a longer version that still has shorts underneath, this knee-length athletic skirt is a great option for your days at the Disney parks!
5) Try out Disney bounding.
Officially, anyone over 12 can't wear a full-length costume since Disney takes their face characters very seriously.
In other words, if you're 24 and you show up in a full-on Cinderella costume, other park goers will think you're the actual Cinderella, even though you're not.
The Disney staff will actually ask you to leave the park if you arrive in a serious costume like that.
That being said, if you really want to channel your favorite character and you've made it out of middle school, try Disneybounding your vacation costumes.
See an example of Disneybounding from Disney in your Day here.
6) Get super classy on Dapper Days.
If you go to Walt Disney World on one of the Dapper Days, you’ll see many parkgoers come together in their nicest Disney inspired dresses, skirts, and three-piece suits.
These, of course, are much fancier clothes than you'd expect at a theme park.
These days aren't officially sponsored by Disney, but aren't discouraged by the company either.
The Dapper Days would be a great time to wear your fancy shoes and full skirts for a fashion shoot. I just wouldn't plan on walking around for 10+ hours in that because your feet are going to hurt so much.
Again, a change of clothing will be your BEST friend.
Beating the June heat with J. Crew shorts, a monogrammed tank, and a bottle of water
7) Prepare for the heat.
Florida is wonderfully warm year-round, but it can quickly become heat-stroke material in the summer.
A baseball hat or a sun hat with a wide brim is a great item to have to keep the sun off of your face.
I like this sun hat a lot because it has a ponytail holder area and it can easily fold down into your backpack when you’re not using it.
If you’d rather go with a baseball hat, this adorable pink one has the castle and Minnie bow embroidered on the front! I also love that it has multiple ways to wear with a ponytail.
Just remember to take it off before the thrill rides, or you'll be buying a new one in the gift shop.
Whether you're wearing a tank top, tube top, or short sleeved tee, sunscreen is a must: no one likes looking like a lobster on vacation.
Not to mention, it's quite painful to throw your hands up on the rollercoaster once you've gotten a bad burn!
I've gotten a sunburn while there in December, so pack sunscreen no matter what time of year you visit.
If you’re looking for a way to protect your neck from the sun without having to constantly reapply sunscreen, I highly recommend getting a neck gaiter.
I prefer the half gaiter from Buff CoolNet, which provides excellent sun protection and wicking without a lot of bulk. I’ve worn it everywhere from hiking trails in the Utah Mighty 5 national parks to long summer days at Walt Disney World!
8) Ham it up with fun hats and headbands.
There aren't too many other places in the world where I would happily wear a pair of sparkly mouse ears perched atop my head all day in 90 degree heat.
One of the greatest parts of Walt Disney World is that you can embrace your inner child, and no one will care because they're doing the same thing!
A Minnie Santa hat adds extra magic!
Get yourself a fun hat, buy a pair of Minnie ears, put a bow in your hair, and have fun.
Here are a couple of fun items to get the Disney spirit going in your vacation wardrobe!
The ears that are made by Disney tend to be of higher quality construction, but they’re also very expensive for what they are.
We’ve bought official ones from Disney, handmade ones from Etsy, and more generically made ones from Amazon, and they all have their pros and cons.
If you’re just going to Disney once with no plans to return, go ahead and purchase the cheap ones from Amazon.
They look nearly identical to the ones you will see for sale at Disney stores, though they tend to be slightly less comfortable and well made.
The official Disney ones are a must-have if you plan to go to Disney more than once and aren’t opposed to re-wearing your ears. The official ones hold up better long term, and are very cute if you want to display them in your house between trips.
9) Be comfortable.
Leggings are always a good choice!
While at Walt Disney World (or any theme park), you'll be in nearly constant motion as you get on and off rides, wait in line, meet the characters, and walk from one ride to the next.
I highly recommend a theme park wardrobe that's heavy in tennis shoes, loose shirts, and stretchy pants.
I’ve seen people dress in clothing that looked more appropriate for a school dance rather than a long day walking around a theme park.
You’ll want a wardrobe that’s up for anything from water rides to sprinting after your kids when they see their favorite character halfway across the park.
This isn’t the time to try out a new look. Go with what makes you feel confident and comfortable, whether that’s leggings, shorts, lightweight dresses, or athletic skirts.
It’s also important to layer during the winter, spring, and fall as the temperatures can fluctuate more than you’d expect in central Florida.
Pack an extra set of socks in case your original ones get soaked on Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids!
10) Wear the matching t-shirts.
Yes, I know it is kind of dorky, but, honestly, when else will you proudly be able to get matching Mickey shirts with everyone from your grandma to your toddler cousin?
And, even if you do feel a little too matchy-matchy once you’re there, I promise that one no at Disney World will bat an eye because so many other families will be dressed alike!
If you’re ready to buy matching t-shirts, you can get there one of three ways: buy them on Amazon, buy them through Etsy, or make your own.
Amazon pricing is the least expensive of these options, but they tend to have less variety overall. You can even get personalized shirts on Amazon, which might be the most cost effective way to go about this.
These cute shirts with Cinderella’s castle and Mickey/Minnie ears design come in 6 designs and colors. You can add first or last names on the shirts, depending on the design.
I love the retro colors and design on this Disney t-shirt, which can be customized with your name.
These fun but minimalistic family shirts in multiple colors appeal to just about anyone.
11) Get the matching bag.
Buy a cute mini backpack to put your essentials in, like this silver sequined Loungefly with Minnie ears.
I used to haul a larger bag, like a North Face backpack, around the parks, until I wised up and realized that everything I needed could be shoved into one of these mini bags.
Plus, the Loungefly backpacks are so much cuter than a regular purse or backpack on park days!
If you have little ones and still need access to diapers, formula, bottles, and multiple changes of clothes, you can put all of that in an extra bag in your stroller, and keep the essentials like your phone, wallet, chapstick, hydration packets, gum, extra snacks, and the like in your mini backpack to its easier to grab.
Need help picking out a hotel for your Disney trip?
What Shoes are Best to Wear to Disney World?
As noted above, the best shoes to wear to Disney World are what’s comfortable!
However, if you’re looking for a new pair of shoes to break in for your upcoming park visit, I cannot recommend the Keen Newport H2 Water Sandals enough.
My kids and I sporting our favorite Keen Newport H2s
I’ve had my pair for 4 years now, and, despite wearing them constantly, they look brand new.
Plus, they’re adjustable across the width of your foot to ensure the best fit.
The thick rubber soles are great for long days of walking at the parks, and the holes along the sides mean they dry quickly after water rides.
So far, I’ve taken these shoes to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Dollywood, wearing them for 10+ hours at a time. They’ve also been my go-to shoe for hiking at over 25 national parks, including the Utah Mighty Five, Glacier National Park, and Acadia National Park.
And my feet never hurt!
Keen also makes Newport H2 Water Sandals for kids, too. Our kids love all of the colors!
What to Wear to Disney: Season by Season
You might think that a comfy pair of shorts and a t-shirt will suffice year round since Orlando is known for its sunny, warm weather.
However, there’s a bit more nuance to packing for Walt Disney World than that.
Let’s break down each season and the related clothing needs.
What to wear at Disney in the summer: June, July, and August
It’s hot. REALLY hot.
Bring on the tank tops and hats for summer at Disney!
The best thing you can do at Walt Disney World in the summer is to wear sweat wicking clothing and a hat.
I am obsessed with these breezy athletic shorts from Amazon since they’re incredibly lightweight and dry fast.
The wide waistband is easy for any needed costume changes!
These have been my go-to shorts for the summer since I can sweat a ton, but still stay cool.
Water sandals (like the pair of Keen Newport H2s I recommended above) are essential as you’ll be getting on water rides to cool off.
Those water sandals are fantastic for weathering the summer evening rain storms you’re sure to have as well.
What to wear at Disney in the fall: September, October, and November
(above) 2 consecutive days at Disney World in November: sweatshirts on day 1, tank tops on day 2!
While September in Disney World can be nearly as hot as the summertime, the temperatures do start to drop (a little) by the end of the month.
Bring those shorts, t-shirts, and tanks, but throw in a light tank for a breezy evening.
October and November are my favorite months to visit Disney World because the weather is perfection.
You’ll definitely need a light sweater or thin sweatshirt for the mornings and evenings, but you’ll still be able to get away with shorts and a t-shirt for the most part.
A good balance between being too hot mid-day and too cold at night is a cropped pant, like these capri leggings with pockets.
I wore these on our most recent theme park trip, and I was comfortable the entire time.
What to wear to Disney in the winter: December, January, and February
A scarf and fleece jacket are necessary for a chilly day at Magic Kingdom!
The weather is so weird this time of year! I’ve been to Disney World in December multiple times, and I never know what the weather is going to do.
Some years, it’s been so cold at night that I needed a fleece, jeans, and gloves.
Other years, I can wear shorts or capri leggings with a sweatshirt.
To be safe, make sure you’re bringing a good mixture of long pants and shorts, t-shirts and sweatshirts.
My mom, sister, and daughter rocking some jeans in March
What to wear to Disney in the spring: March, April, and May
The key to planning your wardrobe at Disney in the spring is to layer.
Start with a tank or tee, then add a long sleeve shirt over it for the mornings and late night fireworks.
Especially in March, it doesn’t hurt to have a light sweater or sweatshirt to throw over everything on a particularly cool day.
The last few times we’ve been in the spring, we’ve needed to wear jeans or full length leggings for maximum comfort as the days were still a bit on the chilly side.
How do you choose what to wear to Disney World? Share your favorite theme park outfit in the comments!
