Disneybounding Tips

 

Have you caught the Disneybounding bug? Whether you're a regular at the Disney theme parks or look forward to that special day a few times a year, Disneybounding is a fun way to show off your love for your favorite Disney characters. If you're new to Disneybounding, follow these tips to plan your first bound, or get some fresh ideas to up your bounding game!

1. Determine your favorite characters

This step is easy and fun! Once you have a list of your favorites, take a look and try to identify any commonalities. For example, is there a color scheme among them? How many colors are involved? Characters with two colors will be easier such as Pooh, Piglet, Belle, Cinderella, and Alice.

This will help with the following steps.

2. Decide your budget

This part is entirely up to you! It can be as simple as raiding your closet or hunting around online to find just the right pieces to go authentic, unique, or glam. If you'd like to keep your budget modest, thrifting will be your friend! If you know how to sew, you can even make some items yourself. For Dapper Day, I got some supplies at Michaels to make a felt Alligator Loki and Miss Minutes that I lightly sewed to my skirt so I could remove it later. It turned out great and I got a ton of compliments!

For more robust budgets, head to sites like Etsy for some unique items that will turn heads.

3. Choose your level of comfort

Don't forget about comfort – after all, you'll probably be walking around all day at the park, which can means upwards of 20,000 steps. Think about ease of movement, breathable or warm, cozy material, and of course, footwear. Since there is so much walking involved, I typically don’t dress with matching shoes, but you can always bring some heels to change into for photos.

Then think about the weather and the season you'll be at the parks – if it's raining, you’ll need a good pair of rainboots, especially if you’re at Disney World, and if it's hot, something breathable and moisture-wicking that you can sweat in.

4. Pick staple pieces that can be matched to create other outfits

Solid colors will be your friend for this step! Going back to step one, if you identified common color schemes among your favorite characters it will be easy to mix and match. For example:

Belle and Snow White

I used my yellow dress for Belle as well as the skirt for Snow White and wore a blue top over it. I like to think of this as a bonus opportunity to do two bounds in one day!

Belle and Alice

Belle and Alice’s colors are both white and blue, so feel free to mix and match without having to match the original outfit perfectly.

Piglet, Rapunzel, and Cheshire Cat

Pink and purple is all you need for Piglet, Rapunzel, and Cheshire Cat. Done, done, and done!

Another important question to ask yourself before making a purchase is “Will I wear this outside of the park?” If the answer is no, it's probably not the best investment unless you just want to take some photos and then return or resell afterwards.

5. Choose a statement piece that sells the look

This could be a variety of things, depending on your budget: ears, bags, jewelry, etc. Etsy is a great place for this! Loungefly always has a wide collection of unique designs and has merch available through their-party sellers. Some influencers may also offer codes for discounts, which will help with your budget, as they are definitely expensive but durable. Or check eBay, Poshmark, etc. for used items or items that are no longer being sold.

This step will help you differentiate between characters in step four that share colors – especially if your hair doesn’t match the character’s.

6. Accessorize with jewelry, ears, hats, belts, etc.

This is an optional step if your budget is tight, but so fun! I love pairing earrings and a small plush that I secure to the strap of my Loungefly bag with a hair tie. FemmedeBloom is my go-to for earrings, and or course Disney jewelry has a full range from affordable through luxury.

Etsy and Amazon have options outside of park merchandise, although they may not always be cheaper. Etsy definitely has more custom and unique items. With shoulder pals and nuiMOs now sold at the parks, a lot of people add them (or cutie cuffs) to their bags or wear them on their shoulder or hat. Just make sure they are secured – the magnet in shoulder pals aren’t that strong and will definitely fall off easily.

I’ve even used tsum tsums, which I secured to my shirt with a safety pin. Stayed put all day even on Space Mountain!

7. Optional: Style your hair

For example, Cinderella, Belle, Leia, and Rey have buns, Alice and Snow White have bows, and Rapunzel has a braid.

When it comes to Disneybounding, you don’t have to be a perfect replica, so don’t worry if you don't have the same hair color. You could use a wig or a temporary dye if you want to go the extra mile.

If you’re attending Dapper Day, you can attempt victory rolls or other vintage hairstyles. Some people get their hair done specially for the event.

8. Take photos and enjoy!

You can always trade out certain pieces if you like something better or are just done bounding as that character. If you're super into bounding you'll probably have to regularly rotate your closet to make space and keep on budget.

Happy bounding everyone!