TOT costume or not?

[abent]

This is a suprise trip for my boys who adore Halloween for their birthdays. We are flying, so I want to keep my luggage to a minimum. I have thought about matching halloween shirts to keep it simple, but I am concerned it might be too "low effort". Yet I want to the boys to be comfortable and mobile without cumbersome costumes! Any suggestions?

 

[specialks]

Couple of ideas...
There is a Target and Walmart very close to DL. You might be able to take the ART or a bus to it to buy a costume once at the resort. Of course, then you have to consider getting it back to your home.
Also, not sure on the ages of your kids but the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (in Fantasyland) does a "Knight" package for boys. The Knight Package (for boys) includes a hairstyle with colored gel and a shield and sword — $12.95. The shop is mainly targeted towards making girls into "princesses" but there is a boy package that includes a sword and shield. One person reviewed her experience on this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2153327&page=5&highlight=bibbidi+bobbidi

 

[mom2pirateNpooh]

As specialks says, you can easily get to Target or Walmart. I don't remember which bus line it is, but one of the ART drivers told me that they run a bus to Target. The costumes don't have to be too cumbersome, either. The first year we did the MToT party, we bought DS a Jedi robe costume on Main Street after we arrived. It was small and easily packed for the trip home, and took up about as much space as a t-shirt. We were happy that it was a minimal costume, and he was happy because he felt like he was dressed for Halloween. You might look for something similarly small, either at home or when you arrive in Anaheim. Of course, DH and I felt left out once we were at the party, so last year we went all out and brought "real" costumes along for the whole family. I just squished as much of them as possible into zip lock bags for the trip down and back.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I have twin boys. We haven't done Halloween at DLR but I'm the Queen of Quick and Easy and Cheap costumes! They never liked to play dress up so I wasn't going to spend a lot of money on something they would never use again.

Pirates might be an easy thing to pack. A beard or mustache from your eyeliner pencil. A striped shirt (white and red or blue and red) from thrift store. Cut off raggedy pants, a bandana around the head. This would be comfy to wear.

Another time my boys were Jedi knights. I just made little brown robes to wear over their clothes (white shirt and black sweat pants). I also made boot tops for over their shoes out of "plether", but you wouldn't need to do that. You could buy light sabers there if that was what they liked.

 

[Eeee-va]

If they like dressing up, then I would definitely get them more than just shirts. For myself, it wouldn't be any fun to do something for Halloween and not wear a costume. But I'm much older than your boys, and also I am a girl.

If they want to dress up, then the Target idea is good. But since they are boys and not princesses, I'm assuming a lot of things they would want to wear is probably small enough to be easily packed anyway. Obviously a Mike Wazowski costume or something would be hard to pack. But anything that's just clothes and no mask (pirate, cowboy, sports star, etc.) wouldn't have to be heavy or bulky to pack (or to wear), IMO. It's just like packing an extra kids' outfit, which could fit into the top of your suitcase in a pinch.

Comfortable shoes are probably the biggest key, but most kids wear their regular shoes with their costume so I don't think it's a problem.

Some hotels accept deliveries on your behalf in advance, so you could also mail the costumes to yourself if need be. That's what I would do if I were flying and my costume wouldn't fit in my suitcase (but I have some biiiig costumes).

If they don't like dressing up, then the shirts are fine. It really doesn't matter whether other Disney guests feel the costumes are "low effort" or not. It only matters that you and your kids are comfortable* and happy.

(*I don't really care if my own costumes are comfortable or not, but again, I'm much older than your boys, and a girl. )