The first time I took Reese to Disneyland I promised a Disneyland style post and failed. This time around I had a few more people ask about it and finally decided to deliver! I am a firm, FIRM believer in dressing for occasions and dressing for a theme. Working in the junior high was great because there were events almost monthly for which I could design and plan specific outfits. Spirit Week was basically my Superbowl. Disneyland is, of course, no exception! So here’s all of the outfits I’ve worn to Disneyland this year, and some of my tips for fun Disneyland style:
I loved dressing up Reese in the most ridiculous things possible, but I didn’t want to look too ridiculous. Most of my outfits I felt were pretty tame – NORMAL clothes with a Disney theme. And I kept it pretty cheap for the most part! Especially Reese’s because I was on vacation and if she had a blowout I was just planning on throwing them away. LOLZ sry not sry.
Old Navy Onesie on clearance – $8
This headband is a little ridiculous – I know. But I saw it on Groopdealz a couple of months before we were going to Disneyland and I just couldn’t help myself! It’s overboard everywhere but Disneyland and I loved it! The onesie was literally $4 at Walmart. No brainer.
Onesie – Walmart for like $6, Sweatpants – H&M baby boy’s clearance $5, headband – Etsy ~$4
Baby Shower gift from a friend – Disney Store – She was able to wear it both times and I can’t tell you how many people stopped us to remark on how cute she was!
Mickey Baseball Jersey – Forever 21 $12, Leggings – Forever 21 $5, My headband – H&M $2
The best thing about vacations is the vacation. But the SECOND best thing is planning and getting excited for literally months leading up to the vacation. We decided in January that we’d be going to Disneyland with the Holdaways in June, and I started planning pretty much that same day. Reading pinterest posts, Disney blogs, and creating list after list after list. This is weirdly Step One.
- Plan ahead. Know how many days you are going and if you’re doing anything else while you’re on vacation. (Baseball games, swimming, shopping) This will help you know how many outfits you will need and what types of clothing you’ll be packing. If you’re going to a baseball game start looking online at Forever 21, Old Navy, Dick’s, Sports Authority, etc. to find a tee or hat to sport while you’re there. Even if you’re not a huge fan it’s fun to dress up and then that item of clothing becomes a memory of a great day!
- Shop! This part is the most fun. Basically starting in about February I kept an eye out for Disney stuff that I liked. Forever 21, Walmart and Hot Topic had the best stuff for me – and was usually pretty cheap. For Reese I found Disney stuff at H&M, Walmart, Old Navy and Gap. Don’t settle for the first Mickey tee you see. Try to buy things that you like and would potentially wear again. All of mine were basic black/white/red/yellow classic Mickey or Star Wars. Having a color or character theme makes packing easy because things match. I just kept an eye out and bought a random shirt here and there. It’s way better than buying overpriced items in the park or at The Disney Store the week before you leave. (I still like to buy stuff in the park! It’s just nice to find cute & cheap options at home before you go!)
- Lay everything out to pack. It really does help to see it laid out visually. Try to pick one or two pairs of shoes that can be worn with all of your outfits. I liked to keep my bottoms neutral and interchangeable – black leggings, stretchy pencil skirts and jeans could all work with my shirts and I could choose what I felt like depending on my mood/the weather.
Ryan’s Shirt – Old Navy, My Shirt – Walmart, My hat – Disneyland, Reese’s R2D2 outfit – Disneyland - Coordinate as a family where possible. I’m not saying get lime green custom shirts made, although that’ll make you an easy target for “Spot the Mormon.” Getting The Beard to “dress up” isn’t easy, so I got him to wear his Star Wars shirt the day me and Reese wore our Star Wars gear so we could get a good picture as a family. It’s cheesy and cute!
- Bring a light jacket – even in the summertime. It cools off, and if you get wet at all you might be feeling a little chill! I brought a thin black bomber jacket that matched all of my outfits and, while I only used it one night it was definitely worth bringing.
My outfits were basically as pictured above: Mickey/Star Wars tee, black leggings, comfortable Nike sneakers and a hat or headband accessory. I’ve been pretty vocal in the past about preferring skirts to shorts, so I’ll wear a stretchy pencil skirt or a flowy midi skirt like the one below (duh bc it’s polka dotty just like Minnie’s) and it’s way more comfortable for me. I have worn flats in the park too, just make sure they are your comfiest pair and prepare for your feet to hurt the next day.
Extra Tips
+ I discovered at the end of the first day that my Fitbit wasn’t recording anything while I was pushing the stroller because my arms weren’t moving. I snapped it onto the laces of my sneakers (see above) and then it worked great!
+ Embrace the fanny pack. Get a cute one like mine.
+ I like to curl my hair well the first day at the park and then I usually don’t have to do it any of the other days. I can touch up the curls if I want, slap on a hat, throw in a headband or twist it up into a topknot if it’s hot or gets a little too wet on Splash Mountain.
+ Wearing the Mickey ears really does enhance your experience. Trust me.
