Halloween costumes - WDW vs. Disney Store?

[Ithastobe]

Question; Family is travelling to WDW on 10/19. Have tickets for MNSSHP and know kids will want to dress up. Is it a good idea to get costumes here and bring them, or wait until WDW.

My girls are 4 and 3. One now says she wants to be a witch, but I know once at WDW she'll want to be Minnie or Princess. I'm thinking on just buying a costume at WDW for there, and they can wear them here for Halloween.

Are prices at WDW same as Disney Store? Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[cinderella_belle]

The costumes are a bit different between the two, but they cost less at the Disney Store than at WDW at least $20 less the last time I checked. The Disney Store in my area is also running some great promotions with a purchase.

 

[Magickndm]

I am so glad that my "little" girl isn't so litle anymore! Just got the Disney Store Catalog yesterday and the costumes...for kids mind you...were $78!!! Too much $$$ for me.

 

[jadyson]

I planned on waiting to buy my DS (4 months old) his costume until we got to the parks because it will take up so much room. Coming home I will have an extra bag.
Are the costumes really priced considerably higher than at TDS?
I planned on using my AP or AMEx discount at DD, is this a bad idea?
I wanted the Pooh, Mickey, Tigger, Thumper or Dumbo costume(I think they were around $30.00 at TDS).
Please let me know if these exist on WDW property.

 

[Ithastobe]

jadyson, too bad I didn't connect with you, I took up a Disney Store Pooh and Tigger costume to our consignment shope, and they only gave me $4.50 a piece (9.00 measly bucks!). I bought the Tigger costume at Disney and the Pooh one from the disney store originally and they were worn by one child a piece for like 4 hours total!!

I ended up buying a Cinderella and Snow White costume from the Disney store. Each costume was $34.00. They gave us two fold up pumpkin sacks for trick or treat (love that these fold up) these had price tag of $10.00. Also gave us one pooh flashlight, and one princess flashlight (tag said $16.00).

We have tickets to the Not so Scarey Halloween party and I was afraid that some how they'd not have our size or someting, so went ahead and bought them.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I did notice that there is a least a $20 difference! We are getting our daughters costume at TDS - thank goodness I waited to check the prices!

Examples: Sleeping Beauty Disneyland $55 TDS $34
Minnie Mouse shoes - Disnylnd $24 TDS $12.50


Plus at TDS they give you free things when you buy the costumes -

 

[sweetp267]

Well, I thought that the purchases I made at TDS was pretty good. I haven't seen the prices or available sizes at WDW but I was very happy at TDS. My Daughter wanted to be The Little Mermaid. I was already armed with a $10 gift card from pre ordering Monsters inc. and an additional $10 coupon just for any halloween purchases from Sept 17 - 24 which I also received when I ordered the movie. With a $40 or more total purchase (I think if was $40) you also got for free: a collapsable soft pumpkin with different characters on the outside that holds the candy and a choice of a Princess, Buzz Lightyear or Mickey (once again I'm not sure about the last one) flashlight that looks like a torch with the batteries included!

Now I don't know what the lady did who rang me up but after the gift card, coupon and then I hit her with my Disney Club card, my total after discounts was $30.30! The costume alone was $34.50! She had to ring up the freebies and then deduct them. Each free item rang up for $10.

I don't know if anyone else took advantage of this but I was pleasantly surprised and very happy and so was my daughter.

Happy shopping!

 

[sweetp267]

Sorry folks forgot to mention a very important item. That $30.30 total I spoke of also included a Mermaid crown ($8.50) and some kind of scepter or wand ($10.50). So now if you were scratching your head as to my great purchase, I think now it is a bit clearer.

Sorry about that!

 

[cinderella_belle]

Jadyson - the Disney store by me was running a promotion on infant costumes for $5 off the purchase this weekend....not sure for how long....if you were purchasing a childs costume and spend $40 on halloween merchandise you get a free candy tote ($10 value) and a free flashlight (also $10 value) in the choice of Princess, Buzz or Pooh. Also, they stated if you spend $50 including prepurchasing Beauty & the Beast which is being re-released on Oct. 8th you would recieve a $10 gift card and free lithographs. I've learned the hard way...purchase soon Disney sells out of sizes early, they start selling Halloween costumes in July.

 

[Firedog]

There are a lot of Disney Store costumes on ebay right now.

 

[Belle2002]

I would get a costume at TDS. I just came back from WDW, and although the costumes were stunning ( I thought they were a little nicer at the park except for Minnie, she's nicer at TDS) I didn't look at the prices. However, selection was limited. I really only saw princesses and minnie for girls and I can't remember for boys, but I think there was at least a peter pan. Anyway, I suggest getting your costume at TDS because they might not have anything left by the time you get to WDW. I really didn't see costumes for sale in very many places and I know when I went down 2 years ago just before Halloween, I don't remember seeing very many costumes at all. Also, there is a promo this week at TDS where you can get a free accessory with every costume purchased.

 

[jadyson]

I took everyone's advice and ventured to TDS tonight. We bought the Mickey costume (size 6-12 month) and it is a little big on our baby, does anyone know if these costumes shrink when washed in hot water?
BTW, we got the $5.00 off as Cinderella_Belle mentioned (thanks for the info), our DC discount and a free Pooh flashlight.
Thanks for everyone's input!!

Don't forget to let me know about the shrink possibility!!

 

[cinderella_belle]

Jadyson --- glad to hear you got the costume!!! Don't shrink it too much remember it could be a cooler evening and you might want to layer some warmer clothes under the costume and he needs to be a to move and not look like a robot. lol Plus with him being in the stroller it can be a little big and not be a problem, since there's elastic on the sleeves and legs. Enjoy your trip!!!!!!!