Controversial but Important Topic...

[PetePanMan]

I am not judging but at the risk of being divisive (politics, religion, matching t-shirts), I am looking for views.

We have a multi-generation family trip coming up (grand parents, aunts / uncles, kids etc.). Some want to wear matching, especially designed T-Shirts while at parks, including my wife. I am horrified at the prospects of this.

Life will go either way (barely) but I am interested in thoughts of others. Fun and cute or tacky and embarrassing?

 

[Letterhead]

They can be tacky and embarrassing, but that's generally down to poorly designed t-shirts. If it's just a simple, one-colour t-shirt with a "Whatever Family Disney Trip 2015" logo on the front, then they are no worse than a regular t-shirt.

Just don't go for horrible t-shirts, or slogans plastered all over them and they will look fine.

 

[OasterP]

Matching shirts aren't my thing but I definitely don't think they are tacky, and they might make it easier to find family members - no questioning what your family is wearing!

 

[ktlm]

I've never worn one, but when I see families wearing them in the parks, I often think they are cute, or that they must be a fun family!

 

[Disneylover99]

I've seen some tacky shirts and I've seen some tasteful shirts. It's not something I would take the initiative to organize, but if someone else went to the trouble to organize this and order shirts, I would wear it and I wouldn't feel embarrassed. Just go with the flow.

I find those Thing 1, Thing 2 shirts annoying though. I've seen quite a few families wearing those shirts the last few trips.

 

[Crl1817]

I like them and try to persuade dh to wear them. I just do coordinating shirts (all some shade of blue or everyone in red and/or black). I think they look really nice in pictures.

I think they are not tacky at all (as long as the shirt itself isn't tacky) but they do veer a little dorky. But I still like them.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I think the shirts are fun & cute... anywhere but Disney they would be tacky and nerdy, but at Disney they just seem to "work".

I'm making my boyfriend wear one matching shirt (mickey heads) and the rest of the trip I just plan for us to color coordinate. Although, Im not really "making" him wear it, he doesnt really care and will wear whatever I ask .

Oh, and I really like when we choose shirts with matching characters, or like something from the same movie family (ie: pan & tink, Mickey & Minnie, etc) I think this is a cute way to do "matching shirts" without it being over the top.

I do think it makes the pictures look really nice!

 

[babydoll65]

I made matching t-shirts on our last trip but only at the mk dessert party for my mother's 70th birthday. Mainly for family pictures and was probably the only time we had them on during the whole trip.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Not my thing either (plus, do you get new shirts for each day???), but trust me nobody will look at you sideways.

You can expect to see WAY more embarrassing fashion faux pas on your trip. Socks & sandals, size 16 women poured into size 4 string bikinis, men in 20-year-old speedos, and way worse. Matching t-shirts? Hah, strictly small time in the embarrassing dressed category

 

[palmtreelover08]

Not a fan-of matching them 100 percent the same. I think it a little "better" when everyone has on a similar shirt (same slogan or writing on it)- but then all have different colored shirts. Ie someone wears blue, someone else white, someone green- and they all say "XYZ" vacation. If people enjoy it- it's all good.. Just not my type of thing.
Maybe you could all wear a "character" baseball hat or a character shirt- by different characters?

 

[ZephyrHawk]

OP, no one will be looking at your family's shirts. No one cares. You'll be lucky if you're noticed enough to not have people accidentally walk into you while they're looking at something more interesting.

 

[LexisAuntieLala]

I like to make them for our family as I think they are really fun and love to see other families doing it as well...Is it a bit dorky? Yes, but in Disney you can totally get away with it (think of some of the other things worn at Disney!!)... we have worn coordinating ones in the past or all the same...This year there will be more of us when we go in October... I am already out there ordering designs and stocking up on t-shirts!

 

[iheartbklyn]

Matching shirts aren't my thing but I definitely don't think they are tacky, and they might make it easier to find family members - no questioning what your family is wearing!

I agree with all of this!!!

 

[HopperFan]

I have no problem with it as long as they are not tacky. I'm gonna guess that maybe this is your wife's family and not yours.....but to try and help I will say:

- LOTS Of people do it so you won't be that lone strange family getting funny looks. I like the brighter colors (and often cooler heat wise)!
- Grandparents seem to love it as they have great pride is showing off their families, so maybe throw them a bone.
- They are GREAT for kids to look up at a glance and see where their family is and maybe keep them from grabbing the wrong hand (usually more upsetting to the child than the stranger.)
- If you lose one all you have to do is a quick sweep for a color or to say to CM as to their clothes is "look at me."
- Your group pictures will be fantastic to look at for years to come.
- No arguing each day with the kids about what they are wearing.
- Easy to pack.

Now since I tend to be a family rebel not wanting to "go along" may I suggest - If you are having shirts printed say like "Smith Family to Disney World 2014" (having screen printed and been involved in orders) I would request that your shirts be printed on the back and not the front. Allows you to be your own person and part of group at the same time. Of course plenty of CM's will tell you your shirt is backwards, but hey why not?

 

[johde]

I agree with most everyone else. It depends on the shirt. I've seen some that are cute, and some that scream "what were you thinking?" In the "what were you thinking?" until you think about it for a minute, my sister used to take 8th graders to Washington D.C. They only wore matching shirts one day, but they were normally the brightest florescent yellow, green or orange shirt she could find to get screen printed. They really stood out. But, that was the point, they were required to wear those shirts the evening they did the night tour of the monuments. She wanted to be able to spot her students from a mile away.

If you've got a group that wants to wear matching shirts. I'd consider compromising and picking out one shirt that everyone would wear for one day and the rest of the vacation wearing what you like.

 

[robinb]

I think matching t-shirts are both tacky and fun. I made t-shirts for a number of trips, including our big family reunion a few years ago. Everyone picked their favorite character and I put that character on the shirt along with our names and dates. That was the last trip with my step-father and he has since passed away. I use that t-shirt for painting and it still brings a smile to my face.

 

[sewmess]

On our Multi-generational trip my BIL surprised us with "matching" Shirts. All the guys had classic Mickeys on different colors while the ladies all had classic Minnie - each on a different color.

So, we were obviously together, but not outstandingly tacky.

And it was only one day...so maybe you'll be able to negotiate.

 

[dingleberry]

Do it.

As has mentioned, it certainly won't stand out as odd at WDW. But even if it did, who cares?

The memories, the family bonding, the pride and joy your grandparents will feel........

Nothing more important than that.

 

[bababear_50]

Matching T-shirts can be a source of many great family memories.
Hugs Mel

My favorite

"I don't do matching t-shirts"

 

[freckles04]

I think they're fun.