Don't buy Halloween costumes at the park...

[spidey_99]

...if you want to save cash, that is

Just a helpful discovery: I took my kids to DL last week and they were very excited to purchase this year's Halloween costumes from the park. And they did. They each got a Tinkerbell outfit for $65.00 each.

That Sunday (2 days later) I saw the exact same Tink costume in one of the Sunday paper flyers for $19.99! I think it was Target but it could have been another similar type store.

I don't begrudge Disney making money (heck, they make cash off both sales) and I understand that within the park you are a captive audience and good business dictates you can/should raise prices when you have a captive audience. But a 45 dollar markup is a bit extreme...at least it was for me.

So for those looking to purchase Disney costumes this year- and who want to get the best deals- those great deals are not found in the parks themselves.

Spidey

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

In Disney's defense: I've had the princess costumes from DLR and Target...DLR's are much nicer quality and hold up much better. They may look similar, but if you put them next to each other you can really tell the difference.

 

[spidey_99]

Good point- I had just assumed they were the same costumes as they look exactly the same in the paper (down to the little diamond shaped head of the princess glued onto the front of the dress).

If the quality is indeed different, I stand corrected and that- to me- justifies the price.

Granted, it then becomes a discussion about kids never wearing the same costume year after year and growing so fast they couldn't do so if they wanted to, but ya know...totally different topic

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

hehe I bought a Sally costume last night at the thrift store for my daughter. Its in great shape, I only paid 99 cents!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Granted, it then becomes a discussion about kids never wearing the same costume year after year and growing so fast they couldn't do so if they wanted to, but ya know...totally different topic

True. They used their xmas $$ to buy the DLR dresses, and are still wearing them 2 yrs later. Of course this doesn't stop them from wanting new ones....

 

[jenniferrose]

I agree.... to a point......

If you want an unusual costume, your best bet could be at the park. 3 years ago we bought my son a Donald Duck costume for $40. VERY well made. He wore it for 2 Halloweens (his choice) and then my cousins kid wore it this last year and it is still in perfect condition. The quality is superb.

Not sure if the prices have jumped because of the TOT party, the year we were there, they hadn't started that yet.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I doubt it was the same costume but I do know where you can get the exact costumes available at the parks for 1/2 the price! Here ya go ~ http://shop.ebay.com/wantsnneeds4u/m.html If she doesn't have what you want/need contact her and she'll get it for you, you just need to make sure you BIN before someone gets to it before you. DD has Tiana, Jasmine, Alice, Tinker Bell and the white princess dress (which has been discontinued I think). I don't know how she does it but I won't complain. Here's DD in her Tink outfit (she wore it for MNSSHP earlier this month) ~ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/mecham/WDW Oct 2009/DSC01723.jpg

 

[dleyel]

I agree that the Disneyland and Disney Store costumes are much better quality than the ones at Target or Walmart. I always sell my daughter's outgrown princess costumes on eBay. At least that way you can recoup some of your money to buy the next costume!

 

[bronko78]

I doubt it was the same costume but I do know where you can get the exact costumes available at the parks for 1/2 the price! Here ya go ~ http://shop.ebay.com/wantsnneeds4u/m.html If she doesn't have what you want/need contact her and she'll get it for you, you just need to make sure you BIN before someone gets to it before you. DD has Tiana, Jasmine, Alice, Tinker Bell and the white princess dress (which has been discontinued I think). I don't know how she does it but I won't complain. Here's DD in her Tink outfit (she wore it for MNSSHP earlier this month) ~ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/mecham/WDW Oct 2009/DSC01723.jpg

Thanks for the link! Your DD looks adorable.

 

[Sally_fan]

Just chiming in to agree that the quality of the Disney costumes is amazing! My DD got a Aurora costume for Halloween when she was 4. She also wore it when she was 5. She is 8 now, has worn it as a dress-up dress throughout the years (on top of wearing it for 2 Halloweens) & athough she can not get herself into that costume any longer it is hanging in her closet & is still in wonderful condition! You won't regret your purchase! Althougn if you could get a Disney princess dress for cheaper it would be even better!! lol!

 

[LuLusApple]

I agree.... to a point......

If you want an unusual costume, your best bet could be at the park. 3 years ago we bought my son a Donald Duck costume for $40. VERY well made. He wore it for 2 Halloweens (his choice) and then my cousins kid wore it this last year and it is still in perfect condition. The quality is superb.

Not sure if the prices have jumped because of the TOT party, the year we were there, they hadn't started that yet.

I bought DGD1 the Donald duck costume at DL 2 weeks ago and paid less than 40$ with tax and my PAP discount she loves Donald!
It is very well made and I imagine she will get another year or 2 out if it. It's quite large right now
but I agree the quality and variety at the park is much better than you can find at Targets and the like.

 

[MomofM&M]

The quality of the costumes are definitely great but when we were at DL a couple weeks ago, the girls Snow White shoes were 35 dollars! I was recently at Target and some of the Disney princess and fairy costumes were really cute. Far better design and quality than previously. My daughter would refuse to wear them cause they were too itchy. I have been making them myself recently but I would buy the ones in the Target stores right now. They are really cute.

 

[Brady's Mom]

I don't have any experience with Princess dresses - but 3 years ago when we first went to DLR as a family we promised our DS 13 (then 10) that he could get a Jack Sparrow costume when we were at DLR.

He found a great one at the Pirate's store and it came with all the bells and whistles - boot covers, torn pirate shirt with undershirt with bones on it, belt, and hat with hair. The only thing it didn't come with was the sword. We paid about $45 for it. He wore it for 2 or 3 years. My DS 7 can't wait until he can wear it - if his brother lets him!

When we got home I started seeing cheaper Jack costumes and was feeling a little put out about paying for one at DL especially when I saw that they were so much cheaper. BUT, then I really looked at what the costumes came with and how they looked. To get all of the stuff that he got with his at DL we would have ended up paying about $60. So we felt like we ended up with a really good deal.