A warning about princess costumes in the parks

[ducklite]

One common thread throughout our recent WDW trip was little girls crying because they were hot, sweaty, and itchy in the princess gowns they were wearing through the parks. Not to mention the blisters on the feet of some trying to also walk around in the matching shoes all day.

PLEASE! If you are going to dress up your children, bring along a change of clothes, and leave the princess shoes at home--they are NOT meant for walking long distances in.

So many little girls would have been so happy to change out of those sweaty gowns into shorts, t's and sneaks, but their parents hadn't bothered to pack them for the day, and we even heard a few telling the girls that no, they wouldn't go back to the hotel to get them

It was really, really sad thinking how uncomfortable they must have been, and how they will have bad memories of that day due to their discomfort. It would have been so simple to just pack along a change of clothes and the problem would have been fixed.

Anne

 

[Magic2000]

Funny you should mention this...

We will be visiting WDW in October and attending the MNSSHP. Just this past weekend, we were at the Disney store and my little girl was trying to decide on her costume. She had picked a lot of the princess costumes, but when I looked at the shoes that came with the outfit, I knew that wouldn't be comfortable to walk around in all night. I was trying to get her to look at the Mulan costume or Tinkerbell - since they have ballet type shoes! She couldn't make up her mind, so I told her we'd go back soon.

I hadn't even thought about the "itchy" dress!

I want her to be as comfortable as possible - happy child makes a happy parent!!

Thanks for the heads up!!!

 

[callaghan]

I was very concerned about the shoes in TDS. They just look so uncomfortable! So...
I went to Target where they have two great options. Well it tis the same "dress" shoe in two colors. they are the typical "mary jane" shoe, but covered in glitter. One is red (think Dorothy, Wizard of Oz) that would probably look good for Snow White. Teh other is clear, irridescent and white glitter, the rest of the princesses. I told DD4 that they look jsut like Cinderella's glass slipper.

callie

 

[undertheradar]

Imagine the fun you could have decorating a plain white pair of tennis shoes for the evening. These would be comfortable and very special.

 

[peg2001]

Yikes. My DD3 and DD6 do not wear their princess costumes at home for more than 30 minutes and the shoes are usually on for less than 5 minutes. I couldn't imagine expecting them to keep them on all day. Not that I'd have any luck if I tried, DD3 especially would just take off the offending garment and prance around MK in her underwear.

Peggy

 

[eeyore0062]

My Daughter has worn both her Jasmine Costume (shoes were pretty good for this one) and her Christmas Belle costume (wore flat black ballet style slippers that looked great with the costume) into the parks. She really enjoyed wearing them, and the attention she got, but once the excitement wore off, and she started to get hot, she changed into t-shirt, shorts and tennis shoes--- that never took more than about an hour, and the changing process was painless and only took about 5 minutes out of our day.

For MNSSHP last year, she dressed as Minnie Mouse, which was much more comfortable, a good length dress, so she wasn't tripping over the bottom of the gown, and she wore the flat yellow slippers with the red bows that were shown with it a couple of years ago. We took her tennis shoes along for later when she was tired of walking in the costume shoes.

I definitely agree with Ducklite. Please think how you, as an adult, would feel in that costume, and take a change of clothing for your child.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Originally posted by ducklite

PLEASE! If you are going to dress up your children, bring along a change of clothes, and leave the princess shoes at home--they are NOT meant for walking long distances in.

I couldn't agree more. We were there a few weeks ago, and I was amazed at the amount of costumes I saw in 90+ degrees with soaring humidity. It has never occurred to me to dress my kids up at theme parks. Its just one less thing to worry about

We saw one little girl who was litterally melting, she had one of the long sleeve, more elaborate dresses on along with the plastic high heels. To me, this was bordering on child abuse. But of course, thats just my opinion.

 

[ceecee]

Reminds me of the screaming "Minnie" we saw last year. She was miserable and HOT!

 

[JesseTravels]

Thank you for posting this! It makes so much sense, and I have wanted to say something kind of like this before but I was afraid people would take offense.

It is my opinion that most of these girls are wearing their dresses to please their parents and it is not their choice--(I know there are exceptions!)

 

[HeyMickey]

Originally posted by JesseTravels
...

It is my opinion that most of these girls are wearing their dresses to please their parents and it is not their choice--(I know there are exceptions!)

When I was little my mom made me a red dress with white polka dots just like Minnie's, and I wore it with my mouse ears constantly. I just liked being Minnie. I think my mom would have preferred that I wear something else, actually.

 

[LKS]

Yes, I think many parents have had the experience of their child begging to wear something somewhere we KNOW is inappropriate. Thanks goodness none of mine ever got hooked on a princess costume - Ick!

 

[jel0511]

My DD LOVES her cosutmes and if she insists on wearing them, I'll let her, but she MUST wear sneakers or sandals. I explain that she'll be hot, but she doesn't care!!! I do bring a change of clothes with me, but rarely does she change. When we were just going to dinner at Chef Mickey's, she HAD TO wear her complete Sleeping Beauty ensamble that we had just bought. She did wear everything, even the shoes, but we took the monorail from the Poly and went straight back to the Poly after dinner, so it didn't bother me too much.

 

[FFerret]

Originally posted by callaghan

I went to Target where they have two great options. Well it tis the same "dress" shoe in two colors. they are the typical "mary jane" shoe, but covered in glitter. One is red (think Dorothy, Wizard of Oz) that would probably look good for Snow White. Teh other is clear, irridescent and white glitter, the rest of the princesses. I told DD4 that they look jsut like Cinderella's glass slipper.

callie

That's an awesome idea!!! Don't you just love Target? I saw those ruby ones last year, too

 

[trustknoone]

The Target shoes work great, my DD5 is on her 4th pair of them (they are her date with Daddy, family/school picture and anytime she wants to be special shoes) She lasts about 2 hours in them before she decides they aren't comfortable anymore. We usually watch for them to go half price at the end of the season to buy next years.

Angela

 

[rjjr]

My dd is going as Jasmine to the MNSSHP and was lobbying for the shoes that go with it at the DS. I already told her that I was going to spray paint her summer sandles ($10 @ Payless) gold for her to wear to the party.

She's VERY comfortable in these all day, they are already broken in (no worries there), and there isn't much need for them after the summer up here in Massachusetts!

She was thrilled with the idea!

 

[kilee]

Those cheap white tennis shoes work great. You can add glitter, lace, bows, anything you want. They are inexpensive and give more support than ballett slippers. My sister did this at her wedding ($2000.00 dress--- $5.00 shoes). She didn't want sore feet.

 

[Strings]

My DD3 is going to wear her cindy costume for our breakfast at CRT and MNSSHP. We're going to rent a locker after breakfast so she can be comfortable. She is the one who askes to wear her costume. I never suggested it. I will not buy those shoes either. She can wear her sandals.

 

[erinch]

we just ate at the Cindy/Prince Charming Feast at the Grand Floridian last week. My daughter -- who's 7 -- decided not to use her money for the $50 cinderella costume and wore her blue Easter dress instead (yes, i hauled along shorts/top in the bag we used to schlep the ponchos.)

We counted a total of 21 Cinderellas and 16 "other" princesses during our meal and she decided she was glad she was in a "different" dress, so Cinderella would "remember" her.

If you have a littler one than she is, would strongly advise preparing her that she won't be the only princess of her kind and while she's special, she won't be unique.

We saw many little girls settle for a princess hat to wear for the duration, which seemed like a reasonal compromise.

 

[Kewz1]

When we did MNSSHP last year dd dressed as Sleeping Beauty. She wore a lightweight t-shirt underneath which helped with the itchiness and the cooler temps. She also wore pink ballet slipper type shoes (They were actual bedtime slippers) that worked well. The only thing that bothered her by the end of the evening was the SB wig -- she wouldn't take it off though!

Kristen

 

[mom-2greatkids]

We had exactly the opposite problem last January. DD wanted to wear her Snow White dress all day--except it was only about 55 degrees. We were able to layer tights leggins, t-shirts and turtlenecks under it, but by the time Fantasmic rolled around we made her put a sweatshirt and jacket over it. She cried for about 10 minutes saying no one would see the costume.

I bought white tennis shoes for her to wear with the dress--looked OK and her feet were comfortable all day. DD can't handle wearing the princess shoes for more than about 15 minutes at home.