Costumes for Princess Meals?

[karmom27]

This will be my and my DD(4) first trip to WDW. We are thinking about booking a couple of character meals. She likes the princesses, but is definitely not a girly girl.

Anyway, I was reading Fodor's traveling with children book and they state that every girl wears a costume to the princess character meals. Is this really the case? I am not necessarily thrilled about having to pack and then carry around a costume (I know, bad mom) . There is no way she would wear for very long.

Any experience or helpful hints would be appreciated!

DH; Me; DD(4)

 

[liamandcaili]

We went to the Princess Storybook Dinner our last trip, and DD didn't want to wear any of her princess clothes (she does have several and she is really a girly girl). She went in her Tom Brady football jersey and no one looked twice. I say, have DD wear whatever she is comfortable in. There are many girls who dress up, but your DD won't stand out if she chooses to wear something different.

 

[jetprincess]

If she doesn't want to do it, I wouldn't worry about it. I would just make sure to tell her that many of the other girls will be dressed up so she won't be surprised when she gets there. She'll go knowing what to expect. There were lots of girls not dressed up.

 

[makinorlando]

I have seen many many little girls at the Princess breakfasts not wearing dresses.

Let you little princess be comfy in what she wears, the dress will not make the experience any better or worse, and for sure, it will not matter to any one else there what she is wearing!

 

[snickerboo]

Some don't. Some are in tees and shorts, some in regular dresses. One thing I've heard from moms on these boards is whent hey didn't pack the princess dress and the Dds saw the other girls in theirs, they got quite upset and the moms ended up buying the ones available in WDW which are quite pricey ($60, $85 and up). You might find it worth it to pack it.

 

[karmom27]

Thanks snickerboo. I can just see that happening. While I may not think she would want it now, I could see her wanting it once we get there and she sees the other girls. I would rather pack one we have then break her heart, or my wallet!

 

[3mousehouse]

When we went, I brought my girls princess costumes in a 1 gallon zip lock bag. Just fold the costume up, slip in the bag and squeeze all the air out. The costumes are so easy to pack like that and they don't get shreaded during travel. Then just pop them into your back pack and you're ready to go. Sometimes they just slipped the costumes on over their clothes and other times they changed in the restroom. I put their play clothes in the baggy and they changed back after their meal. Worked great!

Have to confess though, not my idea - borrowed it from another DISer!

 

[crjack]

For our first princess breakfast with our daughter we did a slight twist on the costume/dress. It was a warm day and I knew she would have to change if she wore one of her costumes to Cinderellas Castle. We were headed to MK for the rest of the day.

For her birthday I bought her a pretty, yet comfortable, polo sundress at the Disney Store before our trip that had three princesses on the front. I also got her some small jewelry items to go with it so she felt dressed up but it was still practical to wear later on. The jewelry fit in my bag easily after breakfast and we were able to head right out and hit the park.

We have seen quite a mix over the years at the meals so no matter what she decides to wear she will not stand out. I think the plastic shoes are the toughest things for the girls to wear.....they are not easy to walk in! Fortunately my daughter didn't want those so new pretty sneakers worked just fine.

Have fun!

 

[budbeerlady]

It is up to you and your dD. My DD wanted her picture taken with Cindy. She also wore her Aurora to the princess tea party and then into MK for the day. Some do, Some dont. Either way is up to you. DD wore hers with her tennis shoes. We did take a backpack with her normal clothes as I figured she would want to change. For dinner at 1900 park fare she put on her costume once we got to the GF in the bathroom.

 

[KristiKelly]

I would say about 1/2 wear their costumes. I would leave it up to your DD, if she thinks she might want to dress up, find an inexpensive dress on e-bay. If there is the slightest chance, I would definetly take a dress - trust me, DD didn't have one the 1st time and she was upset. You can also rent lockers at the parks. We just stuck DD's in the bottom of the stroller when she got through wearing it. One year she was Jasmine, that costume fit into our backpack.

 

[PaulaSue]

I would say 90% of the kids were dressed up, boys too.

I packed the their stuff in ziplocks (took out all the air and no wrinkles) and changed them once we got there. I didn't pack the shoes though.

 

[ThunderMTexpert]

Honey, if you don't want to bring along the extra baggage, literally, then don't your DD will have so much funthat she won't even notice that she isn't dressed like the princesses- My mum has brought us along to EVERY character/princess dinner imaginable- LOL- it's not that bad- and my little sister has not dressed up once. She was not out of place, AND I saw no little girls dressed as though they were princesses. There was this one little girl, stamping her foot, demnading to see one of them right away- and she was dressed up.. SPOILED? Rotten. LOL- DD will have a wonderful time WITHOUT the hot, sticky, bound-to-get-stained princess outfit.

 

[tictoc]

You will not be out of place if she wears it or if she does not wear it. I also put mine in ziplocks and let her decide. Sometimes it is hot and they can get itchy! I make a t-shirt for the princess meals and get it autogrphed and we usually change into that after the meal.

 

[angelsmom920]

We were there two weeks and it was about 50-50. Our girls dressed up and we heard alot of other little girls making comments to their parents. I would definately tell your dd ahead of time what to expect.

I also "borrowed" the idea of packing her costume in the ziploc and pulling it out to change her.

 

[Tam1067]

This will be my and my DD(4) first trip to WDW. We are thinking about booking a couple of character meals. She likes the princesses, but is definitely not a girly girl.

Anyway, I was reading Fodor's traveling with children book and they state that every girl wears a costume to the princess character meals. Is this really the case? I am not necessarily thrilled about having to pack and then carry around a costume (I know, bad mom) . There is no way she would wear for very long.

Any experience or helpful hints would be appreciated!

DH; Me; DD(4)

I'm so glad you asked this--I was wondering myself and feeling like an awful parent because I do not want to pack the Snow White costume for our PSB meal, but I'm also afraid that if I don't pack it, DD also 4 will be really upset when she sees all the other girls dressed up.

 

[mom2isaac&ella]

I planned our princess character meal at 1900 Park Fare the evening or our rest day. My DS2 loves to dress up & she will be able to without us having to lug it around the park all day. I thought this is also something fun to do after a day of hanging around the hotel all day.

 

[rainy~daze]

when we wnt my dd2 wore her dresses like 3 different times. even my ds4 wanted to wear his peter pan and prince eric costumes. i thought it odd when they wanted to wear them to AK, but they were right up front at the parade and everyone in the parade that could came over and shook their hands or blew them kisses.

 

[momlvsdsny]

We did the Princess lunch in Norway at Epcot last year, and my daughter didnt wear a costume. I think it is pretty even as far as whether or not they do or dont. I think the experience of just having the Princesses come to the table for one on one time was worth the expression on my daughters face, regardless of costume or not.

 

[emma'smom]

I think you should ask your daughter what she wants to do (and take it anyway). My dd loved dressing up as a princess and she refused to take the costume off all day. She looked very cute and the pictures are precious. I didn't force her the wear it, she asked to wear it. I brought play clothes along to change into...but they stayed in the backpack. The dress really wasn't very bulky to carry (in a bag) and she never took it off! Is it required, no? These folks are right....it's about 50/50! But why not? When else can she wear her princess costumes in a public place where she fits in doing so?

 

[Leah and Emily's mom]

Our DD3 wore a princess costume each day of our trip becasue she loved the extra attention she got from the CM's, guests and characters.