We love making the most of every minute at the Disney parks. That is probably no surprise if you have read any of the articles on this site. Making the most of our visit does not necessarily mean doing the most attractions (though we have been known to focus on that too.) Rather, it means making smart choices with great value and letting go of things that cause more stress than fun. This also extends to our philosophy about what to wear to the Disney parks. We like to wear clothing that looks good, but more than that, we like functional clothing that will not get in the way of a great day at Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort.
Here are some things we look for when choosing clothing for a day at the Disney parks:
We Wear Disney Parks Clothing That Breathes
First, we like to make sure we have clothing that “breathes:” We want clothing that allows air to pass through it. This keeps us from getting too sweaty or at least allows sweat to do what it is supposed to do and evaporate to help the body cool.
Even in the winter in either California or Florida, we want clothing that breathes. It just feels better.
Why We Skip the Princess Dresses
This is also the reason why our kids do not do the big princess dresses. I suppose there are probably some princess dresses out there made with high quality fabric. But frankly, most of them seem to be made out of something akin to colorful plastic bags. To make things worse, they usually have layers of stuffy scratchy netting or tulle.
If you have little ones who simply must wear a full ballgown, we are not telling you to fight them on it, but we would advise a back-up plan (i.e. a change of clothes in a locker or backpack). We also have what we think are some good alternatives which can help a person feel royal without feeling uncomfortable. This is what our kids do: How To (Comfortably) Dress Like a Princess in Disneyland.
For princesses and common-folk alike, we have recommendations for breathable layers here: What to Wear to Disneyland: Part I, Base Layers. Those suggestions also apply to the next tip.
We Opt for Moisture Wicking and Quick Drying Clothing (No Cotton)
As much as we look for breathable fabric, we do stay away from cotton at the Disney parks. While it usually feels nice and breathes well, it is also really good at absorbing and holding moisture. That is great for a towel, but we do not want to be wearing soggy towels at Disneyland or Disney World.
If we are sweaty, we want that sweat to be pulled away from our skin and towards the outer layers of our clothes. On the flip-side, if we get doused in a rainstorm or on a water ride, we do not want to be squelching and dripping for the rest of the day! We want wicking clothing that draws moisture away from our bodies and is also quick drying enough to let that moisture evaporate quickly.
In that base layer post we have suggestions for moisture wicking clothing. And for our tips on dressing for water rides, see this article: What to Wear for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disneyland
We Wear Shoes That Can Handle the Miles
Good shoes can make or break a day at the Disney Parks. We opt for comfortable shoes we would use for hiking or walking many miles, because that is exactly what we do at Disneyland!
We like to be in the Disney parks from open to close. Plus, we know that we will be criss-crossing the parks to find short attraction waits and use our Lightning Lanes. On top of all of this, we like to stay at hotels within walking distance of Disneyland, so we can add those extra steps to the tally.
We want to avoid blisters and otherwise sore feet whenever possible, so we always go for functional shoes over the cutest kicks. We have suggestions for picking the right shoes here: What to Wear to Disneyland: Part 3, Shoes.
In short, we choose shoes that we use for other active endeavors in our lives (like hiking), and we bring those for the Disney Parks. More specifically, we bring two (or rather four) of those, because we like to (1) fend-off blisters by switching between shoes and (2) have a back-up pair just in case. If there is one thing we do not want to try to find in the middle of a Disney vacation, it is a pair of reliable shoes.
Though Disneyland Resort has a significantly smaller footprint than Walt Disney World, we walk just as much at either park, which is to say, many miles.
We Always Wear a Hat to the Disney Parks
From the toes to the top… we always wear hats to the Disney Parks. As parents and grandparents have been telling kids for years, and we are telling you now, a good hat can make a big difference to your health and comfort.
A nice brim can shield your face from the sun, and a winter hat can be remarkably helpful in retaining body heat. From baseball caps to straw fedoras to knit beanies, we always wear hats of one kind or another. This is an area where fun and function can happily coexist.
In that princess article we linked earlier, we wrote about adding soft tiaras to hats. We also have other fun ideas here: Disneyland Costume Inspiration From Our Home to Yours. For us, a hat is a fun and comfortable way to add some Disney flair to a functional outfit. (Just do not forget to get your hat out of the storage pocket when you exit Indiana Jones or Soarin’.)
We Wear Bright Colors to Disney
No, we are not the family in the matching shirts (though those families look great!), but we do dress in bright colors when we go to Disneyland. We think wearing something distinctive makes it easier for us to spot one another in the parks. We make a special point of this with our children and select vibrant shirts and hats when we are packing together.
Actually, we try to dress our stroller in bright colors as well, and for other tips for bring young children to Disneyland, see this one: 5 Tremendous Tips for Visiting Disneyland Resort with Young Kids.
Thanks for reading this post on functional clothing for the Disney Parks.
So basically, we wear comfortable, breathable, quick-drying and bright colored clothing to the Disney Parks. Then we pair it with good hats and shoes. In practice, this clothing is from our favorite outdoors or athletic stores, and we select things we might also wear hiking. That might seem a little extreme for a theme park, but we do not want our clothing to distract from a wonderful experience.
For more tips on what to wear in particular weather conditions, check-out: Hot Tips for Staying Cool in Disneyland and What to Wear to Disneyland: Part 2, Cold or Wet Weather. Thanks again for reading, and please consider subscribing to our free newsletter below.
