What to Wear to Disney World: Look Like a Princess While Staying Comfortable
Our Disney kid takes a spin on the Mad Tea Party in Magic Kingdom
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!
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Updated 7/2022 | Written 12/2014
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.
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.
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.
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.
4) Avoid dresses and skirts.
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 or tights.
Skorts are another great option if you want the look of a skirt with the coverage and functionality of shorts.
The Athleta Run with It Skort 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.
5) If you HAVE to dress up, plan for a Dapper Day.
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.
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
6) Prepare for the heat.
Florida is wonderfully warm year-round, but it can quickly become heat-stroke material in the summer.
A hat with a wide brim is a great item to have to keep the sun off of your face. [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.
7) Ham it up.
There aren't too many other places in the world where I would happily wear a shirt covered in cartoon characters while a pair of mouse ears was perched atop my head.
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, pack that crazy t-shirt, put a bow in your hair, and have fun.
Note: 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 here.
Other fun things to wear would be matching graphic tees for the entire family or getting custom Disney shoes from Etsy.
8) Be comfortable.
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.
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!
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.
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 the Athleta Trekkie shorts 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.
You could also rock some capri leggings like the Athleta Ultra High Rise Elation 7/8 Capri tight.
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!
