Princess costume: bring or buy?

[Barbers2005]

My dd4 wants to get a princess costume to wear to the Princess Storybook breakfast in akershus, but I can't decide if I should buy one ahead of time (post halloween sale) or if I should get one for her in the parks. It would be cheaper to get one now, but I'm worried that she'll change her mind about who she wants to be. What does everyone else do about costumes?

 

[Vijoge]

We bought ours this weekend. The Disney Store had some pretty nice ones in sale for $19.99. We got "glass" slippers, too.

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

We have bought all of ours @ either Target or WalMart. Only $19.99 in the toy section and my swears they are prettier than most you see @ the stores @ WDW. Last year a couple from Japan actually stopped us and asked to take a picture of Katy in her TinkerBelle dress and then asked to take a picture WITH our daughter. If I remember correctly the dresses are quite a bit more $$$ in the parks.

 

[missymagic]

My thoughts would be to buy one here pack it secretly. When you leave the room the first day. Tell DH you forgot something in room. Lay it out on the bed with a note pre-printed from your computer from Cinderella asking her to wear this beautiful gown to dinner. She won't change her mind thinking Cindy sent it to her.

makes for a special memory!!!

 

[ainmama2001]

EVERYTHING is more expensive in the parks. Besides, if you wanted your dd to be either Belle or Cinderella, you'd be hard pressed to find their traditional dresses. Belle's dress is now red (special edition thing I guess) and Cinderella's dresses in the parks are all the Cinderellabration style.

 

[MickeyFlirt]

My DD has the whole collection of dresses, shoes, and tiaras from walmart and I think all combined where probly cheaper than one set from WDW. I bought a dress from there about a year ago and it was like 70.00 than the crown and shoes were high also, never again. Some my DD has from Walmart are prettier than the ones from WDW. She even has a Cinderella dress that lights up that I paid 19.99 for. ALthough she is on a mission to get the red Belle dress for MVMCP. I'm going to try to find it elsewhere.

 

[shellybaxter]

It is certainly cheaper to buy the costumes at home. but we always wait and buy them at WDW. Dniece and I have a "shopping" tradition. We have to go shopping the day before the big event and buy a new dress and all the accessories. Then the next morning we dress the "princess" for her big breakfast with the other royalty. We then have a photo shoot before boarding the royal carriage (WDW bus) to the event. We have so much fun. Its expensive, but to me its worth it. We both get to "play" in the magic for a little while that way

 

[Mom2Ashli]

My thoughts would be to buy one here pack it secretly. When you leave the room the first day. Tell DH you forgot something in room. Lay it out on the bed with a note pre-printed from your computer from Cinderella asking her to wear this beautiful gown to dinner. She won't change her mind thinking Cindy sent it to her.

makes for a special memory!!!

This is what I did for my DD. She didn't have a clue and thought the Princess' wanted her to wear it.

It worked like a charm.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Some of the dresses are $100 each! They might have some a bit cheaper, but I am guessing at least $60 to $100 at least.

So yes, by all means bring from home. If you find one you can't live with out and can part with the money, then get one there too.

If my DD changed her mind that is something she would just have to deal with, I mean after all she is in WDW, it can't be that bad.

My DD has so many after Halloween princesses dresses that she never knows what she is going to be for Halloween. She has too many choices. (and I will be hitting the Disney store ealy on Nov 1st again this year )

 

[puffkin]

You could probably buy 3 dresses and accessories for the cost of one of the dresses in WDW. Then your daughter would have the choice of 3 outfits to wear

 

[Barbers2005]

Wow...I knew the costumes would be expensive at WDW, but that is a huge difference. I'll get her costume here for sure. Thanks so much for the suggestions, everyone.

 

[thebestrose]

VMK ROX!

 

[egoldber]

Just FYI, my Disney Store only has a handful of costumes left, mainly in size 2 or size 10! For better selection (and free shipping for orders over $50) try disneyshopping.com .

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Definitly go for the post-halloween sale! Maybe you could set it out one night while she's asleep with a note from the princesses inviting her to breakfast!

 

[caribear]

Dresses at Disney start at around $54 for Jasmine....I think Cinderella is $65. The more elaborate Cinderella dress is $95! I would definitely try to buy one before you go to the parks. I think some of the costumes at The Disney Store are actually prettier than the dresses at the parks.

 

[goofie4goofy]

I just bought my neice Belle in WDW..that's what she wants to be for halloween. I have to say it is absolutely beautiful and is a "real" gown. I got her all the stuff that goes with it and to tell you the truth I was afraid to look at the $$. I know the dress alone was $60. The princess dresses you get in WDW are not the same as the ones you get in Wal Mart, just so you don't expect the same kind of dress. For kids though who cares?? I really don't mind spending the $$, that's what Aunts are for right???

Oh yeah they also sell these beautiful princess picture frames with a little snow globe on it. I got her the Belle frame so she can have a pic of herself as Belle in the Belle frame.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

We bought the dresses online at Disney for 17 per girl...then went to WDW and bought shoes from Tinks treasures...these shoes were 30 dollars for a pair...90 bucks for shoes ONLY!! I should have bought them online but the girls did have fun finding the matching shoes for the outfits while we were there so that was fun and exciting and now they can say they got special princess shoes at WDW...the dresses online were gorgous!! Really they were...we saw a lot of pretty ones there but with three kids and the Poly bill, something had to give!!! I would say buy the dress somewhere and then have fun shopping in the World for accessories, that is what we did!!!

Fun!!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I just bought my neice Belle in WDW..that's what she wants to be for halloween. I have to say it is absolutely beautiful and is a "real" gown. I got her all the stuff that goes with it and to tell you the truth I was afraid to look at the $$. I know the dress alone was $60. The princess dresses you get in WDW are not the same as the ones you get in Wal Mart, just so you don't expect the same kind of dress. For kids though who cares?? I really don't mind spending the $$, that's what Aunts are for right???

Oh yeah they also sell these beautiful princess picture frames with a little snow globe on it. I got her the Belle frame so she can have a pic of herself as Belle in the Belle frame.

what a nice aunt!!

how wonderful!!

 

[goofie4goofy]

what a nice aunt!!

how wonderful!!

Thanks! I honestly don't know how parents make it all happen with everything everywhere being sooooo expensive. Kudos to all the hard working parents who love their kids and family and give them the best they can. We don't have kids so my husband and I love getting our neice and nephew the "luxuries"...

 

[shellybaxter]

I just bought my neice Belle in WDW..that's what she wants to be for halloween. I have to say it is absolutely beautiful and is a "real" gown. I got her all the stuff that goes with it and to tell you the truth I was afraid to look at the $$. I know the dress alone was $60. The princess dresses you get in WDW are not the same as the ones you get in Wal Mart, just so you don't expect the same kind of dress. For kids though who cares?? I really don't mind spending the $$, that's what Aunts are for right???

Oh yeah they also sell these beautiful princess picture frames with a little snow globe on it. I got her the Belle frame so she can have a pic of herself as Belle in the Belle frame.

You are an aunt after my own heart. Those are exactly the kinds of things I do for my niece. I guess if I were the mom I probably would be able to find better use for that $150, but as the aunt its fun and something special

Shelly