Dressing up for Princess Meals

[Dash7]

You'll be fine either way. I asked my DD if she wanted to dress up & she said no. I brought a dress with me just in case she got upset that others were dressed up, but she didn't want to put it on even after she saw other girls with their dresses on. There will be plenty of kids in dresses & plenty of kids not in dresses. And as someone else said, the princesses do a good job of fussing over them no matter what they wear. I remember Ariel complimented my DD on the "bubbles" (polka dots) on her sweatshirt.

 

[mkleinbe]

We don't dress our girls up in princess costumes. I'm just not willing to deal with them in the Florida heat. Now, they do "dress up" as in a nice dress (usually a custom piece), but that's just us. I dress my girls up all the time. They're 6 and almost 3 and really don't argue with wardrobe.

 

[Andrea73]

I went ahead and ordered dresses. I made up the "Princess in the Park" event and asked if DD8 was interested in something like that. DD8 said she would like to go and dress up as Tiana. I think Tiana really appeals to tweens. Maybe it's because she is more "modern", the smart woman who wants to own her own business and all.

I got DD4 a Cinderella dress.

We will see how it goes. At least they will have the option.

 

[itsreally4mommy]

DO IT!!! They are only little and want to be princesses for such a very short time. It will make the BEST photos and memories that you will cherish forever. I can't tell you how badly I wish I still had a little princess to dress up.

P.S. Take a look at my av pic, and tell me that moment would have been the same in regular clothes.

 

[Andrea73]

DO IT!!! They are only little and want to be princesses for such a very short time. It will make the BEST photos and memories that you will cherish forever. I can't tell you how badly I wish I still had a little princess to dress up.

P.S. Take a look at my av pic, and tell me that moment would have been the same in regular clothes.

That pic is precious!

 

[galligan4]

Hi there - we have been to Disney twice with the girls and my girls love to dress up. We have been to 1900 park fare, Akershus (Norway) and of course, Cindy's Table. Each day they would dress up to see the Princesses and they loved it. They looked to cute and they so loved taking prictures with all the princesses. I can't tell you how many pictures they have in their rooms of them with the princesses. Disney is a magically place where little girls become princesses in a blink of an one!

We have borrowed dresses and bought some at targt, walmart, kmart, etc. I even did their hair and brought little crowns from home. They looked fabulous!

First find out if your girls want to do it and then do it. They are only at this age once!

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I think either way will be fine. I like the pp's suggestion of letting your daughters decide. Costumes can fit easily in a bag and dressing up can be fun, especially when pictures are involved.

I will say that I felt so sorry for one little girl and her family on our trip to Akershus last August. She looked to be about nine years old, and all these little girls were waiting in our line with costumes, including my daughter.

She was fine at first, but then she started crying. Her mother kept saying to her, "We had a costume for you. You are the one that didn't want to wear it today." And she responded, "But I didn't know everyone would be dressed up." It was about time for pictures, and her mother and father were pleading with her to cheer up for the picture. I told her how beautiful her hair looked, and others chimed in and told her how pretty her little outfit looked. She was so sad, though. She tried her best to put on a happy face for the photographer, but you could see that she was crushed.

One hint if you are there during a heat wave! We brought my daughters dress in a bag and let it hang on the stroller. She changed in the restroom at Akershus. When we went in December, she wanted to wear her princess dress in the park. In August, not so much!

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Oh, I want to add one other thought.

When we were there during our December trip, the CMs really treated my daughter special, especially when she wore her princess gown. At the time, she was four years old and riding in a stroller. She had on a blue Sleeping Beauty gown. As we strolled up Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, shop keepers would step out of their shops and bow to her and call her princess.

When we rode on the bus, the bus driver made an announcement that a princess was on board, and everyone ooh'd and ahh'd.

When we returned to the AKL, we went to the gift shop before going up to our room, and a CM walked up to my daughter, called her princess, and asked for her autograph. My daughter scribbled something in her autograph book and just beamed with excitement.

So they really went out of their way to make her feel like a princess. I was amazed.

 

[liz827]

I'll be dressing up DD in a Cinderella dress for CRT and at Akershus with these:

She doesn't know about these (or the trip) so we'll see if she wants to dress up!

 

[GatorLady]

My DD7 really enjoys wearing her costumes, as you can see from the pic in my signature!

We are doing BBB again this year and she will be Cinderella. We go in June and the first time we did this I was sure she would complain about being hot and that the dress scratched her. Not a peep. Every year she lasts until we take our mid-day break.

Since she is already in costume, we make sure we see the princesses in Toontown for another great photo opportunity.

This year we are also doing 1900 Park Fare breakfast, and I caved and bought her a super cute Alice outfit as a surprise. She will turn 8 on this trip and it might be the last year she is really excited about doing this.

I carry a Vera Bradley backpack to the parks, so if she tires of being dressed up I can fit it easily in my bag.

 

[DISNEY1975]

You dont have to, but you can....

I didnt even notice the girl behind us until I got my pictures back!! Nobody is looking to see who is dressed and who isnt. You barely have time to look at your own kids with everything going on!!!

 

[goldielocksraj]

Another thought (though take this with a grain of salt: I myself do not have any children or nieces/nephews, though my baby sister is 11 years younger than me so I kinda "helped" raise her): since it seems iffy that your older daughter would want to dress up, what about buying a dress just in case, and then if she doesn't wear it, resell it on ebay or craigs list? Of course that means that upfront you would've spent money unnecessarily, and you will almost certainly get less on resell, but if those aren't big problems then it might work.

Also speaking from an adult with no young children in the immediate family: it is SOOO CUTE to see little girls with princess costumes at WDW! I do often give them special attention. So again, if that's something your girls might like, another consideration.

 

[itsreally4mommy]

FYI, you can rent little lockers at the park if you think she'll tire of wearing it. I just packed a change of clothes in my backpack just in case. We only did it once, but it was handy.

 

[silvermst3k]

i didn't read all of the replies, but we love the dresses from littledressupshop.com. they aren't itchy AT ALL! no need to put a t shirt underneath. they don't have all of the itchy tulle underneath so they roll up rather small as well. we have several style and love them all. my dd loves them and wore one every day in wdw last december.

 

[Neverland98]

Since you are bringing the dresses, maybe you can also do the "dress-up" meal during the evening one. That is what we are planning. Going to 1900 Park Fare for the dinner with Cinderella, Prince Charming, and all the others. We'll be at the hotel prior to then, and we were going to head to MK after for Wishes (but I think it is a MVMCP night), so we may do the Chip N' Dale sing-a-long afterwards. Then, my DD isn't wearing a dress all day at the parks (and complaining of being uncomfortable), but she still gets her moment.

I love all the princess pics from other posters! Your little princesses are truly elegant!

Looking forward to my little princess's first visit this November! Enjoy the trip with yours!

Me (34) , DH (34) , DS (7) , DS (6) , and DD (4)

 

[noahdove]

Last August I took my little 8 year old great niece and she just had a sundress on, and she received just as much attention as did the little girls that were dressed in those hot and itchy dresses...She looked like a princess I might add...good luck and have a magical time

 

[DW2010]

DD will be, but not in an actual Disney costume. Those don't seem very comfortable, IMO. We have a cotton Cinderella dress and bloomers my Grandma made DD . We also have an etsy Belle custom that she'll wear to the Beauty and the Beast show at DHS most likely.

 

[rhondag508]

I went ahead and ordered dresses. I made up the "Princess in the Park" event and asked if DD8 was interested in something like that. DD8 said she would like to go and dress up as Tiana. I think Tiana really appeals to tweens. Maybe it's because she is more "modern", the smart woman who wants to own her own business and all.

I got DD4 a Cinderella dress.

We will see how it goes. At least they will have the option.

Great idea!! Princess in the Park....not even a fib! Go mom!