For those of you contemplating the princess dresses...

[crazymomof4]

I have no sewing capabilities (I would probably permanently attach myself to the fabric), and my wife is too busy -- where would you all recommend getting nice princess dresses? I have a DD3 and a DD nearly 1, so I think we could get a few years out of them!

My personal preference would be to splurge a little bit and get something that might be a little higher quality, maybe lined so it wouldn't be scratchy, and maybe a little more detailed in the pattern.

This site was posted on the DIS a while back w/ recommendations. If I run out of time to sew, I may be ordering from here myself!!
http://www.mydressuptrunk.com/Catalog.aspx?categoryid=2324

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Where did you find an Alice and Wonderland dress? When DD was little she had on an Alice and Wonderland short set and the Queen of hearts put a sticker over Alice's Face and then made the "off with your head" motion and poor DD screamed adn ran!!! I now have a new little DD who loves ALice and was wondering where you got the dress. I will let her wear it but we will stay away from the teacup ride! Thanks

 

[Lives4Disney]

D L and K's Mom - Hi! I haven't been keeping up with this thread - but I know they sell Alice dresses at the Grand Floridian in the gift ship off the lobby. They are very authentic looking. Not a lot of fluff and frills and sparkles. My daughter loves Alice and had to have one a couple of years ago. I saw them there a few months ago, though.

Have a fun trip!! Stay healthy!

Lives4Disney

 

[eeyore45]

I copied these websites>

http://www.mydressuptrunk.com/ (cheaper fun costumes)

http://www.costumecity.com/disney-costumes.html (these are the Prestige costumes that have the Disney logo on them)

Also, I bought a few white Tshirts from the Disney Store that had the princesses on them, dd would wear these with her crown and wand! Definately wear regular walking shoes!!

Also have this site saved ( I know it has an Alice for $19.99) and boys costumes
http://www.buycostumes.com/productgridview.aspx?pCatID=ChildCostumes&cCatID=ChildDisney

 

[Reyasmom]

Also have this site saved ( I know it has an Alice for $19.99) and boys costumes
http://www.buycostumes.com/productgridview.aspx?pCatID=ChildCostumes&cCatID=ChildDisney

Thank you so much for posting that! Hopefully they'll get an Alice in size 7-10 soon. I've looked everywhere for one of those!
Amanda

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Thank you all so much for the info. DD will be so happy!! Love the dresses! DD is already a Princess but will be so happy that everyone is Disney will be able to see her dressed as one!

 

[madge]

I copied these websites>

http://www.mydressuptrunk.com/ (cheaper fun costumes)

http://www.costumecity.com/disney-costumes.html (these are the Prestige costumes that have the Disney logo on them)

Also, I bought a few white Tshirts from the Disney Store that had the princesses on them, dd would wear these with her crown and wand! Definately wear regular walking shoes!!

Also have this site saved ( I know it has an Alice for $19.99) and boys costumes
http://www.buycostumes.com/productgridview.aspx?pCatID=ChildCostumes&cCatID=ChildDisney

anyone have coupon codes/free shipping for any of these sites? I love the ballerina style costumes...they look easier to wear, expecially for MNSSHP

 

[ktink]

My mom bought my DD4 a carrying case w/ Cinderella, Snow White, & Belle and inside of it were all of their dresses. I want to say she bought it from Lillian Vernon or JC Penney. It was a catalog of some sort. But I plan on letting DD wear them especially when we go to CRT for lunch on Labor Day. I can't wait.

 

[newtowdw1]

I spent the money and got DD8 a Sleeping Beauty from Lilian Vernon. We got the deluxe, theater quality. No, I am not thrilled with the quality. Started fraying out under both arms after one afternoon of wear (Haloween parties). Imagine my surprise when DD pointed it out to me the morning before packing it to go to school for the parade!!! We leave the house at 7:10 am, and there I am at 6:55, fixing DD's dress. Argh!!

Since then, however, it has held up very well. It is not scratchy. DD8 puts it on and floats around the house in it. I'm a little apprehensive about her wearing it to CRT lunch in August. I hope people won't make her self-concious about being an older princess.

OH! and DS is going as Peter Pan. Can't wait!

 

[MrIncreadable]

Our DD is 3 1/2 and when we gave her the Cinderella dress before our breakfast meal she was excited. Then when we were at the castle and she actually got to meet Cinderella she was nothing but smiles. It was such a great sight to see her that happy. I don't think we could have done anything different to make her day more enjoyable.

Two days later she wanted to wear the dress again and insisted on keeping it on all day dispite the heat. She just waved to everyone with her princess wave.

I am not sure who had the memerable moment, Her our Me.

For anyone thinking of letting the children dress up remember, go for it. The moment may never happen again.

 

[The Sorrentino's]

This gets me so excited! I ordered my girls' dresses, shoes, tiaras and wands. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces. This will be, indeed, a wonderful picture day.

Getting the CRT ressies, now that's a tough one!

Cadence

 

[AB&Me]

We took a dress (folded in a gallon-size ziplock bag -great idea! ) to each of our Princess breakfasts. My dd3 was Belle at CRT and Snow White at PSB. When she met Belle dressed as Belle, I told her "I hope you don't mind that we borrowed your dress!" Belle said, "I looked everywhere for that dress this morning! I looked in my closet and it was gone, so I had to wear this one. (blue dress with apron) Now I know why - its because Ansley had it!" She had flipped to the front of her autograph book and read her name, without asking her what her name was! (like she "knew" her) I thought Ansley was going to faint. It was precious. She made a really big deal over her and got down in the floor to talk. She went on and on with her, telling her that in a few years she really hoped Ansley would love to read as much as she does. She said that in her library at Epcot in Hong Kong that Goofy broke in and glued all her books together! Ansley laughed at that. She kissed the autograph page, and that's Ansley's favorite page. Before we left the castle, I took her to the bathroom to take the dress off, which surpisingly she didn't argue with, but she wanted to wear her Belle shoes for a while. I let her, and when she was ready for her tennies, we traded back. I hoped nobody thought I was a terrible mom, making my kid walk around Disney in dress-up shoes. It was her choice!

The next day at PSB, Ansley wore her Snow White dress. When SW came to the table she look so shocked and squeeled, "MY TWIN!!" She got her up out of her chair and they danced together (the "princess twirl"). She also kissed the page, so that must be the thing - if you're dressed alike, they kiss the page?

CRT was magical. PSB was "ehhhh". More on that in a Restraunts post later.

Do the dress-up thing. It's precious, worth it, and priceless. Just think, these years aren't going to last long. Soon they'll want to be wearing low cut pants with a thong showing! (JMHO)

Have fun!
AB&Me

 

[eeyore45]

Love the stories! BTW I reccommend the 2.5 Gallon Ziplock bags, well then again I have an 8yr DD...

oh, and I carried a tote bag that I put the dress, crown, and wand in, along with our water, and some snacks. It was a black Disney one we got in the park, and dh would take a turn or two carrying it also...

I am also guilty of putting the crown on myself!! Much to DD delight!! Truly it was a magical vacation, our first to the World, and my expectations werent high, I've read so many different reports, I just gathered the info, and dd and dh were always appreciative at the surprises that came our way!!

I also suggest having something to say to the Princesses, esp if your Princess is shy, I think that helps the time they are there be more magical! DD is (and was) very shy, so I would prod her every now and then, and I even shyly requested a picture with Snow White, I was just so amazed at how perfect she seemed!!

Also, for anyone reading the thread, or something happens, dd did not have a dress for that breakfast in July, but she did have her crown, and she did have a white Princess Tshirt on, and it is a very magical memory!!

 

[redmomof4]

Thanks for all of these sites and ideas. My dd will be 3.5 on our trip. I can't wait to dress her up. She loves todress up!

Now, are any of you getting Pirate costumes for the Disney Cruise or for MNSSHP, if so where are you getting them??

 

[PaulaSue]

Thanks Kanga1 and desamnik. I would love the phone number if you get a chance. What kind of prices should I expect?

 

[batraylover]

Wow! This thread really surprises me, on our recent trip to Disneyland in May, I saw a lot of little girls wearing the long sleeve princess dresses (Aurora and such) and they were not at all happy in the heat. What was worse was parents yelling at the kids to walk faster in those dumb princess heels that I do not think most adults could walk in. I have seen parents put their kids in some crazy get ups at Disney in the past (the felt masks that you can't breathe in), the heavy plush costumes like the blue guy (can't remember if he's Mike or Sulley) from Monster's Inc, etc. What gets me is that the parents yell at the kids when they spill on the costumes, get them dirty, etc. I have seen kids have allergic reactions to netting on the princess dresses that causes severe itching and rashes, kids who get over heated in the plush character costumes, etc. I really don't think it's worth dressing the kid up just for some cute photo moments, I think it should be saved for Halloween.

That being said, keep an eye on the Lillian Vernon website for Disney costumes. They go on sale at rather random times, and are dirt cheap. Even regular prices aren't bad compared to everything else on the market. Sizes are always limited though. Here's what they currently have, just use their search box to find them on the Lillian Vernon site:

Tinkerbell (4-6 or 7-10) $29.98

Native American Princess Costume (looks just like Pocahontas) (4-6; 8-10; or 12-14) $8.98

Minnie Mouse (2-4 or 4-6) $19.98

Cowgirl Costume (great for the Jessie fan, but pink!) (2-4; 4-6; or 8-10) $10.98

Helen of Troy (might be able to pass it off as a Hercules character from the movie, Meg or someone else) (4-6; 8-10; 12-14) $22.98

and for the adults (up to size 16) Cruella De Vil $26.98

 

[The Sorrentino's]

How many parents did you actually see doing that to their children? I'm sure that parent was crazy and I really doubt, hopefully, none of the parents here do that to their children. That is too sad, especially at the most magical place in the World.

This is why I am going to try very hard to get the first PS in the morning so my girls can ride happy in their costumes to the park and then right after that we can find a ladies room to change. The dresses I ordered were from Costume City and they are all short sleeved and the shoes are real shoes like Jellies so I don't think they will have a hard time walking in their shoes.

If you want your children to walk around in these costumes, spend the extra money on a nice one so that they can feel comfortable.

Cadence

 

[redmomof4]

Cadence, did you order your jellies through Costume City also, I think those have some heel and also wont be very comfy, but should be good just for bkfst. When are you going??

 

[Kanga1]

How many parents did you actually see doing that to their children? I'm sure that parent was crazy and I really doubt, hopefully, none of the parents here do that to their children. That is too sad, especially at the most magical place in the World.

This is why I am going to try very hard to get the first PS in the morning so my girls can ride happy in their costumes to the park and then right after that we can find a ladies room to change. The dresses I ordered were from Costume City and they are all short sleeved and the shoes are real shoes like Jellies so I don't think they will have a hard time walking in their shoes.

If you want your children to walk around in these costumes, spend the extra money on a nice one so that they can feel comfortable.

Cadence

I'm sure that there are some parents who do this...how sad. But I want to assure everyone here that my princess wore her long-sleeved Ariel dress all by her own choosing...and never complained once! And I must have asked her a dozen times, "Are you sure you don't want to take off your dress? Are you getting too hot or uncomfortable?" I did insist that she remove her dress when it rained or when the concrete was wet...didn't want her splashing her gown. She DID have on tennis shoes though...we don't even own the princess shoes...and even if we did I would INSIST that she not wear them in the parks.

BTW, PaulaSue, the Ariel dress was $65 at the World of Disney Store. Expensive, yes, but to me worth every penny. She's in the living room as I type this in complete Cinderella garb!

 

[The Sorrentino's]

I'm hoping to get the earliest CRT reservation on Halloween Day. The costume will be worn to breakfast and then they can change after that. When we tour anywhere we go in tennis shoes so getting them to take off their costumes won't be a problem. I ordered everything from Costume City because I want them to match for the pictures I'll be taking.

Cadence