This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Seen above: travel day snap from our trip to Colorado last summer.
What do you wear to a theme park?! We aren’t going for a few months but I’m already wondering. I know everyone talks about comfortable footwear (I’m guessing it should be waterproof-ish?) so I’ll definitely be reaching for sneakers or maybe just my favorite broken-in sandals. I’m thinking loose and easy for outfits — boxer shorts with a favorite tee; a featherweight, breathable Doen top with jean shorts; etc. See below for my current vibe.
DOEN TOP // AGOLDE SHORTS // CELINE SUNGLASSES // MINI MISTING FAN // LESET TEE // AMAZON SHORTS // TEVA SANDALS // CHLOE NAMA SNEAKERS // CELINE PHONE SLING // FRANK AND EILEEN LINEN SET // MICKEY MOUSE EARS HAIR CLIP
And a few items I’ve come across for little ones — note that Emory has already requested this t-shirt among the Disney options I presented her with! And I thought she’d flip over the sherpa mouse ears but she’s asked for something simpler, so I’m still hunting…
Not seen below, but another cute option for little boys: these polos! The Mickey tee seen below was sold out in Hill’s size but I got him the Donald Duck and this one with Pluto, too.
MINNIE TEE // RIBBED SHORTS // NATIVE SNEAKERS // SHERPA MOUSE EARS // MOUSE EARS HAIR CLIP // LETTERFOLK OUTINGS JOURNAL // MICKEY TEE // CADETS SHORTS // CROCS // DISNEY HAT // POUCH
Will share all things Disney after we get back – don’t want to advertise plans/strategies that don’t end up working.
P.S. On the magic and mayhem of traveling with young kids.
P.P.S. The osprey and the heron.
P.P.P.S. Some of my favorite travel gear and thoughts on making travel days easier.
I swear by Disney Tourist Blog! The writer is really well informed not only on how to make great park plans, best restaurants for various occasions, and logistical advice (like using all of the various apps and platforms). In the same way that your excitement about your work comes across in how you write, his does, too! I’ve taken trips with a 12 month old, a 3 year old, a 7 month old + 4 year old, and a 2 year old + 6 year old (my kids at various ages), for various lengths of times and he’s never let me down.
Oooh thank you! xx
We are headed to WDW in JULY—-I know, but it’s when we can. When we went last March, I brought cute shorts from J Crew in basics and brought cute, light tops to go with. I wore both Birkies and a pair of Cole Hahn Mary-Jane sneakers, switching off each day. This year, I’ve discovered THE BEST walking shoes: Nike Motiva: cute colors and a slight rocker sole…so. comfy!! I will def alternate these with the Birkies, so no blisters. I’ll be packing shorts and light, pretty tops, as well as sundresses—when it’s hotter than blue blazes, I don’t want anything sticking to me!! My hubby wears shorts and Disney tees. Our 6yo wears knit shorts from Cat&Jack with Disney or dinosaur tees. He has his own little drawstring bag, and he has a mister-fan with a strap. No stroller this year—woo hoo!!I love to wear ears, but also suffer from migraines and occipital neuralgia, so I bring a bag big enough to hold my ears when I’m “over it,” lol! One last thing, I never overpack—there are always laundry facilities, and I know we will buy a few cute things that I’ll want to wear immediately! I pack one outfit for each day, ONE. Most of all, embrace the chaos and magic!!! Have a truly wonderful-full trip!!
Thank you, Chrissy! I love this note – “embrace the chaos and magic.” Thanks for that reminder! Going to remind myself of that each morning, and of focusing on making the experience as special as possible for my kids. They are the entire point of the trip!
I’m intrigued by Birks. I have a great pair that are broken in but I feel like a few Magpies have said they’re a mess to wear when wet?? Did you find this?
xx
I love birks for WDW. You rarely get really wet on any rides so it’s more weather related I guess since Fl is prone to afternoon thunderstorms?? If the skies are clear I’d 110% wear them if they’re comfy.
Thank you! Helpful!! xx
I have the Birkies: the cute colors that are a material similar to crocs. I like the thongs instead of the two-strap, because…less rubbing! I found mine at DSW. These served me well, especially if it rained or if there’s splash-pad action going on (there’s usually one in every park).
Thank you!! xx
I know this is a clothing post but I think you have the clothing under control (plus good suggestions in the comments) so I have a good tip if you are going to Epcot. When I took my nieces, we stopped at the Kidcot station in each country and they enjoyed getting their “passport” stamped plus there were often crafts they could do which made it slightly educational. Epcot also has an interactive game where you find clues and then when you guess the answers, something animatronic will happen, like Donald Duck popping out of a chimney or the like. It was really fun! Have a great time!
Thank you, Amy!! I love all these tips we’re collecting here! Wondering if there’s an easy way to collate them into like a long list of Magpie Disney recs. Stay tuned… xx
We are going in April at my 10-year-old son’s request, per a new family tradition we’ve started: the year you turn 10, you get to pick our family’s spring break trip. (I have to admit, I’m a little more excited for my daughter’s turn to choose as she will no doubt send us to Paris!) This is our second time taking all 3 of ours; last time, I did a mix of athleisure (Tuckernuck and Beyond Yoga tennis dresses) and denim shorts with a lightweight floral top (Xirena and Doen are my faves). I will be repeating this time around for sure! For shoes, I like Nike Air Max 90s with the athleisure looks and Sambas with denim shorts (p.s. no white shorts!!). I don’t wear Disney gear myself but I love etsy finds like the ones you linked for my 7-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. My husband would highly recommend wearing athletic (sweat-wicking!!) polos from VV or similar.
For a bag, I do a lululemon belt bag with the basics and then a large tote under our stroller for corraling snacks, wipes, etc.
So helpful!! So it sounds like white is a big no – ha! Glad I checked with the team. But I’m intrigued by how divisive denim shorts have been in these comments! I’ll probably wear mine (not white ones) with that Doen top and model myself on you 🙂
xx
PS – SUCH an epic tradition to let the 10 year old pick spring break!! WOW!
Just want to give a giant thank you to Jen for the starter ideas and then the wealth of tips from this *magical* community! Would love to hear what you end up with and then your trip tips. And happy Valentine’s Day!
Yes! The comments are a complete gold mine. I’ve already learned so much. Will share all my thoughts/findings as we approach and then make the trip — happy valentine’s day!
Jen, my mom always dressed the 3 of us in matching bright colors for Disney! Red, orange, yellow, neon. Easy to spot in a crowd. I do think explaining “disneybounding” (wearing a Disney character-esque outfit via color blocking ie red and yellow for Winnie the Pooh) could be a fun challenge for the kids to make their own outfit before packing. And whatever they wear, I always take a picture of my kids before we go somewhere crowded in case we get separated.
So smart! Hadn’t thought of the photo idea. Thanks!
I’ve been to Disney multiple times with my kiddos since they were 3 years old and 5 months old (now 12 and 9) over spring breaks visiting my inlaws in Florida (March) as well as in the fall with similar temps when I go to an annual conference. Disney is SO casual, I think all your choices are adorable but I’ll add I LOVE a linen pant. So breezy, so easy to style, and dries fast if I get splashed. I have worn sneaks or flops or birks, really any shoe you can walk in will be perfect. The one thing that saved my bacon time and time again was a sling bag with a water bottle holder. I ALWAYS grab a few quick snacks to put in my purse and keep an insulated water bottle with me. I refill it all over the park and the kids stay hydrated and happy. We used to toss snacks/sunscreen/waterbottles in our stroller but we’re beyond that now, so a sling style cross body (or probably a small MZ backpack) is a lifesaver.
We also found that if we schedule one sit down meal a day, either late lunch or early dinner it’s the perfect amount of down time. The kids will be electric with energy and stopping for too many sit down meals had my kids crawling all over us to get back to the action. But one sit down meal in a park was a life saver for kids and adults alike.
I hope it’s magical. XOXO.
Thank you for these notes! I appreciated the insight about one sit-down meal per day. Factoring into my planning! And now fretting over the bag situation…will need to think through that one since we also won’t have a stroller!
xx
You might want to think about renting a stroller! I wasn’t planning to rent one either when we went but it is a lot of walking and those little feet. My 8, 6 and 4 year old rotated in and even my 9 year old son took a breather a couple of times. My SIL is the one who pushed me and we even changed it to double stroller last minute and so glad so did – especially if you are doing multiple parks! A ton of walking!!
Thank you! I’ve heard this from a few people!! Weighing into my plans – thanks!
xx
Adding on the stroller comment – it is not expensive and SO useful! It is a lot of walking combined with the heat and overall exertion/excitement, you will be glad to have a spot where you can rest and move quickly to the next spot. Plus you do end up collecting so many things that it is helpful to not have to carry any of it. Definitely recommend a stroller no matter the age!!
Thank you!! xx
Moisture wicking! It’s both hot and you may get wet on rides!
Pockets! Preferably pockets that zip! The last thing you want is to miss out on the joy of a ride because you’re worried that your phone is going to fall out of your pocket. Even with a purse, I preferred zip pockets for the most important items.
We gave each of my boys the Birnbaum kid guidebook for Disney before our trip, and it was a HUGE hit. It really helped build the excitement for them. They would read the books before bed before our trip, and now two years later it’s still fun for them to flip through and remember the rides. Buy one for each kid!
Ooh thank you! Just ordered two of the Birnbaum guidebooks – they are going to love this!
Noted on zippers!!
xx
The following comments about apparel I’ll echo but to shift, have you considered a Disney VIP guide? We’ve used them every time and it allows us to really take in the moments of magic.
Florida resident and annual ticket holder weighing in!! LOVE the looks!! My advice is against denim of any kind because even in March it gets hot and denim can be uncomfy for a long day of walking/on and off water rides etc. Similarly advising against Sherpa/fuzzy ears because there is basically no shade and the darker colored ears, fuzzy ears, or “thicker” band ears get really hot! I find the mom vibes are usually cute athleisure with a pop of Disney (tennis dress, tennis skirt with Disney tee or tank, Lulu anything with a high sock/chunky sneak, sunnies paired with Minnie ears/clip/some Disney detail and the Lulu belt bag is the absolute must have). Amazon has some really cute Disney high socks that look more fashion forward than what they sell on the Disney online store. Also recommend Bauble Bar’s Disney earrings for a matching moment or just something cute for Emory! She also might like a Nuimo (the little stuffed animal versions of the characters). A lot of the girls hair tie them to the strap of their belt bags for an added Disney accessory! Ok that was a lot, but as you can tell I am passionate Re Disney looks – ha! Have the best time!!
Wait these are such great ideas!!! I already added a few items you mentioned to my cart! TY!!
xx
I was once a ‘never Disney’ person, but when we realized we could stay at a Disney resort (Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve) using Marriott points, we booked a week last April and had the BEST time with our 4 and 6 yo boys. Raided Etsy before we left!
Wore this with black Lululemon bike shorts and NB sneakers at Magic Kingdom – https://www.etsy.com/listing/1616092320/vintage-mickey-long-sleeve-shirt-vintage
This with Agolde denim shorts and Flower Mountain sneakers at Animal Kingdom – https://www.etsy.com/listing/1778035973/comfort-colors-disney-hakuna-matata-tee
Vuori jogger set at Hollywood Studios (perfect, so light and breathable), and a Lululemon softstreme set at Epcot. Sweated my tail off!
And used this sweet little fanny pack (black with a white Mickey head) and black Mouse ears all week! https://www.etsy.com/listing/1263158215/custom-fanny-packs-park-fanny-pack-nylon
Have the best time!
So cute! I especially like those long-sleeved tees you linked first! Added to my cart! TY!!
xx
I literally resorted to athleisure/On running shoes when we went to Disneyland (West Coasters here!) and was so glad I did. You’re juggling so much with gear, rides, reservations, kids, etc. I definitely wasn’t concerned about what I was wearing and was so glad I opted for comfort and clothes that didn’t constantly feel like they needed to be adjusted.
Thank you for this intel!!
xx
Fun! I agree with Stephanie on the white, don’t wear white bottoms – the Frozen ride, nope just learn from me and don’t do it 🙂 I often wear white tops and layers as it can be cool in the morning and then warm up in the afternoon. For bottoms we go in December so I usually wear vuori joggers or something similar, hubs wears similar or lulu joggers/short. Sneakers are a must for the whole family, even the littles as when the natives get wet they can rub, again live and learn 🙂 I also throw plenty of band aids, chaffing stick, all of the things in a backpack or bag under the stroller. I also lost my favorite sunnies on space mountain and had to hit the sunglass hut in MK, if you are going to wear them make sure to tuck them into your shirt or be ready to put them away on each ride. I still wear my ray bands but now they go inside my shirt or in the lockers (ala the Tron ride). We pack 2 pairs of sneakers/trainers per person in case there is a rain day and also yes to the ponchos, throw them in your backpack! ENJOY!!
So helpful – thank you! xx
So exciting!! Yes, comfortable footwear for sure. I wore white leather Keds or NB. We were lucky to avoid rain so wet shoes weren’t an issue. It was a bit chilly two of our park days so layers were key…especially if you get to the park early in the day. I wore jeans or jean shorts with a tee and a lightweight French terry crew neck when it was chilly. And I wore a tshirt dress to magic kingdom. I’d be nervous about wearing that white set to an amusement park! Especially if you get caught in the rain…speaking of which, we got cheap ponchos from Amazon before we left – otherwise you’re a captive audience for the overpriced ponchos at the parks.
We just booked an Orlando trip for the end of the month, but we’re not going to the parks this time. Probably will hit Disney springs or something to give the girls a little Disney magic 🙂 As alumni of Give Kids the World (Make-a-wish resort) we can visit for the day twice a year. Excited to go back! Excited for your trip, too! Hopefully Hill will be tall enough for just about all the rides.
These are such great notes! Just added ponchos to my cart so we have them ready — thank you!
xx
Have you seen the large Mila toiletry organizers by Dagne Dover? Genius for travel when checking a bag! Love the moonbeam color way.
I have seen those and love the shape/design. You’re making me want to buy one! Thanks!
xx