Disneybounding Rules and Fun Outfit Ideas for Your Next Disney Visit

What is Disneybounding?

Started by diehard Disney fan Leslie Kay in 2011, Disneybounding is a fashion-forward way to wink at your favorite characters through your outfit. While kids 14 and under are allowed to wear full costumes and masks to all Disney theme and water parks, adults looking to join in on franchise fun will have to get creative in order to comply with Disney rules and restrictions on attire. To protect official park character actors, adult guests can’t dress identically to beloved Disney stars, but can wear attire inspired by them. This type of styling is called Disneybounding and it’s really fun for men, women, and couples of all ages and shapes.

Want to get in on the Disney outfit action? Choose the Disney character you’d like to emulate, pick outfit staple items in that character’s color scheme, and accessorize with jewelry, bags, and enamel pins inspired by the character’s most famous props. This trend is not the same as cosplaying, and steers clear of campy costume wear. Many Disneybound outfits are understated enough to wear to work, running errands, or out on a date. They serve as a subtle, fashionable way for fans to show their character allegiance through nearly hidden wardrobe clues. To kickstart your own Disneybounding brainstorm, check out the outfit ideas below for men, women, and couples. Go ahead and honor all of your favorite Disney characters.

MINNIE MOUSE 

While Amazon and Etsy shops galore offer mouse ear options for nearly every occasion, the Disneybounding way to approach a Minnie outfit is to accessorize with character references instead of opting only for the costume headband look. To add versatility to your outfit, break it into patterned and solid separates instead of wearing a full-polkadot dress identical to Minnie’s.

MICKEY MOUSE 

Though there are plenty of men’s Mickey T-shirts to choose from for your park trip, to Disneybound a Mickey look, stick to this dark gray top with a vintage homage to the main mouse himself. Instead of mouse ears, try a baseball cap or sunglasses that reference Mickey without turning you into him.

GOOFY

Bright colors, like lime green, are everywhere in summer, so why not use them for Disneybounding inspiration and go as none other than this classic character who’s always had a bold sense of style. Bright green, purple, and blue stand out when worn together, so you can keep the accessories light to avoid looking truly goofy.

BELLE FROM BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

For park goers who are both Disney fans and book lovers, there’s no character quite as relatable as Beauty and the Beast’s Belle. Channel her iconic looks on vacation, at work, or in school with this jumpsuit-based outfit, which can be dressed up or down. This modern denim overall look with a basket bag has us singing “bonjour,” while we swoon over Gaston this book-inspired necklace.

CINDERELLA FROM CINDERELLA

Looking to get that iconic photo in front of Cinderella’s castle? Then you gotta Disneybound as a modern-day Cinderella. Go for a light-blue ribbed tank tucked into a pair of light-wash cropped jeans that will show off your lucite heels. We wouldn’t recommend glass shoes in Disney parks—but we definitely think a tiara-inspired hairpiece and black velvet choker are even better than finding Prince Charming.

ARIEL FROM THE LITTLE MERMAID

To be part of that world at any Disney park, dress in anticipation of the live-action The Little Mermaid in this shimmering Ariel outfit that’s completely free of fish tails and scales. Unicorn hues, metallic materials, and body glitter complete an ensemble that doubles as festival wear. Pro Disneybounding tip: For movie-inspired accessories, always check Hot Topic. Their extensive line of Disney gear includes this Ursula shell necklace.

ELSA FROM FROZEN

To pull off a chilly Frozen look in Florida or California’s summer heat, look for sky blue items that shimmer like falling snow. To accessorize, opt for ice—in the form of diamonds and crystals!—like the below snowflake collection from Zales. To top it all off, throw on a lace duster and let it go!

SNOW WHITE FROM SNOW WHITE

While Snow White’s bold, primary color signature outfit stands out in most forms, you can make your look less obvious by moving her red hair tie into other accessories—like your shoelaces or a ribbon necklace. For your top, stick with blue balloon sleeves, paired with apple jewelry to make your ensemble the fairest of them all.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND FROM ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Mix and match white and light blue items to create a base Alice outfit. Then accessorize to make your outfit unique to Alice by incorporating other elements from the classic Disney movie, like this denim patchwork jacket that channels the Mad Hatter’s namesake topper and a pair of stylish black Mary Janes.

PRINCESS LEIA FROM STAR WARS

An understated Princess Leia look is as fun to wear on your first trip to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge as it is to any event where you need to feel truly badass. We love this ivory romper and boots combo for an outfit that reminds us a woman’s place is definitely in the resistance.

HAN SOLO FROM STAR WARS

Channel Han’s ruggedness in your Disneybound outfit by sticking to rich brown and tan hues—which all look luxurious when paired together. To play down the look even further, experiment with swapping out his vest for a simple scarf, or wearing a dark brown calf hair belt to allude to Chewbacca.

PLUS-SIZE TINKERBELL FROM PETER PAN

The simple Disneybounding rules apply to all body shapes and sizes, ranging from petite to curvy. For this plus-size look, we used Tinkerbell as inspiration, and gave the outfit a little extra edge by starting with Hot Topic’s Peter Pan Tinkerbell Combat Boots and styling accordingly. Don’t worry, we didn’t forget fairy dust.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY MARY POPPINS FROM MARY POPPINS AND MARY POPPINS RETURNS

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a Disneybound look. This Mary Poppins look was created by starting with a basic navy wrap dress—which most reminded us of Mary’s classic navy trench coat—and accessorizing with budget items, like a straw boater hat, to bring out the beloved, singing character. A spoonful of sugar, and all that.

COUPLES DISNEYBOUND OUTFIT: ALADDIN AND JASMINE FROM ALADDIN

Disneybounding as a couple opens up a whole new world of outfit possibilities! Whether you’re dressing up with your significant other, in a group, or with a kid in full costume, coordinating looks is sure to make your Disneybounding experience all the more magical. Try on Aladdin and Jasmine for size, magic carpet not included.

COUPLES DISNEYBOUND OUTFIT: NALA AND SIMBA FROM THE LION KING

We love this sophisticated Lion King inspired look for a romantic night out on the town full of adorable selfies and Elton John soundtracks. You’ll definitely feel the love tonight in these Lion King looks.

Three Items to Add Disney Magic to Any Outfit

Just dipping a toe into Disneybounding? Go for these simple and cute accessories that will dress up any Disney park look.

Related Stories

• 10 Must-Pack Items for a Girls’ Getaway to Disney
• The 10 Key Items to Pack for California