Character meal attire for 3yo

[acenet]

My three year old wants to wear her Cinderella dress (from halloween) to the Cinderella Gala Dinner. Although it is awfully big to pack, I don't want to say no to her only to have a lot of other little girls dressed up in princess dresses. So, my question is, do kids "dress up" for these dinners or is regular attire more the norm?
Thanks

 

[uksaint]

Personally, I have not done the GALA dinner, but at other character meals and in the parks in general there are always some kids dressed up although they are by no means the majority.

If you can, I would pack it. If there is only one other girl there wearing an outfit then your daughter is likely to be upset if she isn't and it could ruin the whole experience.

 

[tjmw2727]

She won't be the only one without a princess dress, there are usually 2or3 at the cinderella breakfast dressed as princesses. I often see lil minnies and cinderella in the parks as well. If you can fit it and she will enjoy wearing it why not?

We haven't been to the dinner but if you have time to hit your resort and freshen up and change before dinner your dd could change.

Have fun
TJ

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

We have eaten at the Gala Feast and both my girls wear their Cinderella costumes. We will be dining there again in April and I am sure they will want to dress up again. But there are plenty of children not wearing costumes as well. My girls wear their costumes a lot... they wear them at home and at WDW. As far as the costumes taking up a lot of room in your suitcase, try rolling the dress like a sleeping bag and putting it in a big ziplock bag. I am able to put three dresses in a gallon size bag. The dresses come out looking great and that way my daughters can bring as many of their costumes as they like (we have Minnie Mouse as well as all the princesses).

 

[Barb D]

My 4yo and I went to dinner at 1900 Park Faire a few weeks ago. MANY of the little girls were dressed up in princess costumes. There was an absolutely adorable toddler in a Tink outfit. My DD was wearing jeans and a Tshirt, but didn't seem upset that so many were dressed up and she wasn't. In retrospect, I kind of wished I had at least gotten her a princess hat or something.

BTW, she did have Cinderella on her Tshirt (along with lots of other characters) and Cinderella made a point of commenting on it.

 

[Prince Eric1]

Many children dress up for these meals and often get a bit extra attention from the princess who's dress they wear. I wanted to do this for my daughters last time but didn't. I think it adds extra magic for the kids.

 

[BrerMama]

My girls just wear Princess t-shirts. They'd get too itchy and jumpy wearing a costume for an entire meal.

 

[Mom of 6]

BARB D- please tell me what princesses/characters were at 1900 Park Fare for dinner. My family has reservations there for 2/17. What was your experience like? How was the food? Thanks for any info you can share with me!

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

We were there Jan 2. The Fairy Godmother was in the entry way greeting everyone. Cinderella and Prince Charming as well as Suzi and Pearla (her mice friends) were inside the dining area. The food was very good. My children ate very well off the children's buffet. We are doing The Gala Dinner again in April. I thought the atmosphere was much more relaxed than the character breakfast.

 

[Barb D]

Momof6, Wannabe pretty much covered it. DD and I had such a good time that night. And it's funny, because as much as she had been looking forward to it, she got the jitters at the last minute and wasn't sure she wanted to go. I told her we'd just go and look in, and then she could decide. Of course then she really wanted to. She had some specific questions she wanted to ask Cinderella, but she was too nervous to ask them, so I did it for her. You'll be happy to know that yes, Cinderella does have a potty in the castle. (DD wasn't sure because she'd never seen a potty in the movie.) And yes, Cinderella is friends with the other princesses. In fact, Belle sometimes comes over to read stories to Cinderella and Prince Charming.

BTW, this was her one activity with just Mommy, nobody else. Her 10yo sister got to swim with the dolphins at Discovery Cove, and her 12yo brother got a day at the park of his choice (Islands of Adventure.)

 

[MinnieGi]

I just wanted to comment that the princess dresses pack quite easily. Although it is puffy on a hanger, it folds up very flat in a suitcase and looks great as soon as it is taken out of the suitcase.

At any of the princess meals, I see quite a few girls dressed up. At our CRT breakfast last Tuesday I'd say the majority of girls were dressed in costume. It was adorable to see so many princesses. In the parks too you'll see the costumes on. My DD wore her Belle dress to CRT and then again on Saturday at Epcot. I brought a change of clothes for her but she loved wearing it and wore it the whole time we were there. Of course she also loved all the glowing comments she received too!

 

[acenet]

Thank you so much for all the great replies. I think she is going to love being a princess there, so we'll make room for the dress!
Thanks