Will my 8 year old want to wear a Disney costume at the parks?

[Leajess99]

My 8 year old wore Tink at 6 but this year she plans on just being a soccer player for MNSSHP. She has never worn a princess dress to the parks. She has worn Disney Tshirts

 

[dragonfly08]

My kids dress up at home all the time, but DD #1 has been to Disney four times (at 17 mos, 5 yrs, and twice at 7 yrs) and DD #2 has been there twice (she was 4 on both trips), and neither has ever asked to do so in the parks.

If your DD wants to wear one I see no problem with it, but I'd leave it up to her.

 

[okeydokey]

Simple-ask her.

Seems like an easy solution.

 

[YO's Mom]

I knew my 6 year old would want to dress up as a princess, but my 8.5 year old surprised me when she said she wanted to do it, too. I’m secretly thrilled that she wants to! But, just to keep me on my toes, she decided that she wants to wear Belle’s winter dress (going the week before Thanksgiving). Now it is hard enough to find a regular Belle dress in a larger size (really, Disney? Do you not see you’re missing an opportunity to make $$$$??). Our local Disney store says the only place to get XL dresses is in the park. They get a few L in each shipment, but they go fast (see, obviously girls want them). So, now she presented me with the challenge of coming up with a Belle winter dress that will fit her. Ack! I’m waiting now for a shipment from the UK of what is supposed to be an XL Belle’s winter dress. We’ll know soon enough if it really is going to be extra L enough (really, she’s not that big for 8! She only wears a 10 in other clothes.)

 

[MomToPirate&Princess]

My almost 8 year old loves dressing up in costumes. We have been to Disney 4 times now - at age 4, 5, 6 and 7, she dressed up all day each day we were there. I make her wear clothes under her costume, so most days it has been too hot for her to wear a full costume all day. She has many princess fluffy tulle with sparkles skirts. She wears them over her shorts and they are easy to remove temporarily if she is doing something messy like riding a water ride or eating spaghetti or chocolate ice cream. She feels special and beautiful wearing them and the princesses / fairies always make a big deal out of her pretty skirts. We are leaving in a few weeks and she has already planned which skirts/costumes she is bringing.

 

[tinkrebell]

I knew my 6 year old would want to dress up as a princess, but my 8.5 year old surprised me when she said she wanted to do it, too. I’m secretly thrilled that she wants to! But, just to keep me on my toes, she decided that she wants to wear Belle’s winter dress (going the week before Thanksgiving). Now it is hard enough to find a regular Belle dress in a larger size (really, Disney? Do you not see you’re missing an opportunity to make $$$$??). Our local Disney store says the only place to get XL dresses is in the park. They get a few L in each shipment, but they go fast (see, obviously girls want them). So, now she presented me with the challenge of coming up with a Belle winter dress that will fit her. Ack! I’m waiting now for a shipment from the UK of what is supposed to be an XL Belle’s winter dress. We’ll know soon enough if it really is going to be extra L enough (really, she’s not that big for 8! She only wears a 10 in other clothes.)

Have you tried any of the custom costumes on etsy.com? I've seen several variations of Belle's winter dress there - not too expensive either for some of the kid versions! I naturally was looking for myself, but those were a bit pricier

 

[dhardawa]

At 8, my daughter would have died a thousand deaths before she would have been caught in a princess dress at Disney World. She stopped wearing them around 6.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

My just-turned-nine niece (who is DS's trip buddy), told me before her July birthday that she really didn't want to do costumes or customs on our trip next month. I (crying on the inside ) told her that was fine but that DS still wanted "Disney clothes." At our local kids' sale, I found a Belle dress and tiara for $6.50. I bought it just in case. Well, she stayed with us over the long weekend, and I asked her to try it on just for giggles. Once she had it on, she was twirling and bowing. She'll be taking it to Disney. Luckily she still fits most of her customs and costumes from last year! So, OP, if you have a dress she still fits or find one cheaper at home, I'd throw it in a suitcase. Maybe it will get worn, maybe not, but you'll be ready in case she still wants to twirl. :

 

[lovehoney]

In 2007 we had a family trip and we took 7 children to the castle for lunch. They were ages 3 to 9. Everyone wore a costume except my DS6 (at the time). My 9 year old niece wore a Jasmine costume and my other nieces were various princesses. My youngest DS3 wore a pirate vest and lent his Prince cape to my nephew 5.

DS9 did wear a shirt under her costume as she didn't feel comfortable having her stomach show.

 

[bjscheel]

My DD just turned 10 and for her birthday I got her a generic pink princess dress because I found one on Amazon in size 12/14. She wears size 12. It runs small and *just* fits, but it was the best I could do. They just don't make them past size 10. She would LOVE to have a Rapunzel dress, but the only XL I could find was on eBay for $85. Later when I looked, the XL was gone!

She didn't dress up at Disney this summer, but that was more of a practical matter of not wanting to pack a costume and wear it in the June heat, not a matter of her refusing to be seen in one.

Not all girls grow out of princess dress-up before 8! Okay, my DD10 probably would not wear one to the grocery store anymore, but at Disney World it is different.

 

[lovehoney]

I purchased a cape for my son here 4 years ago and it still looks great. It's been through the wash tons of times.

I found out about the site here on the DIS. it might be a good place to find princess dresses. You could probably ask them about how their sizes run.

Edit: I just looked at their sizing chart and it is just for little bitty girls. The XL is for 7-9 year olds. Sorry

 

[twooley2]

You know your child best. My girls each 8 at different times one wanted to and the other did not.

 

[jcano]

Our 9 year old is looking forward to dressing up...as is our 16 year old who found a "new" Alice dress for our trip. It's part of the fun and magic.

 

[twooley2]

Our 9 year old is looking forward to dressing up...as is our 16 year old who found a "new" Alice dress for our trip. It's part of the fun and magic.

I do not recall exactly what it is but someplace I read there is an age limit to dressing up unless it is for Halloween or Mickeys not so Scary Halloween party. Maybe someone can verify this??