Your Disney World trip is fast approaching so now it is time to start packing your bags! But what do you need to pack for a Disney World vacation? How many outfits will you need? What type of clothing should you bring?
Find out all about what outfits to pack in your suitcase when visiting Disney World and how to create Disney themed outfits for your trip!
What You Need To Pack
The first thing to consider is the length of your trip. You will need at least one outfit a day (unless you are travelling for longer than a few days, we'll get to that soon!).
It is also good to think about what you plan to do. If you are in the Disney World Parks you will want clothes that are comfortable and light to help keep you cool. If you are visiting a water park you will want clothes that are easy to take on and off and are quick to dry.
You may also want to pack different outfits if you are planning to visit signature dining restaurants, having an evening out or are celebrating a special occasion.
If you are visiting in the colder winter months you may want to pack a sweatshirt or light jacket for the evenings when the temperature drops a little.
The main items of clothing to pack are:
At least one outfit per day of your trip
Swimwear
Nightwear
Underwear and socks
Additional items you might want to consider:
Poncho
Sweatshirt or light jacket (if visiting in the colder months)
Clothing for signature dining meals (if you are planning any)
Disney costumes for your children
Disney ears
If you are visiting Disney World for more than a few days you can easily end up with a bulging suitcase filled with lots of clothes! But there are ways to prevent this. Many hotels will have laundry facilities available; either a paid service where the hotel does it for you or washing machines that you can use yourself, just like a laundrette. This is super helpful if you are visiting Disney World for more than a week you can pack less in your case and wash your clothes! That leaves more room in your suitcase for souvenirs!
A good way to keep track of how many outfits you will need is by writing an itinerary. With an itinerary you can easily see what you are doing each day of your trip and can then work out how many outfits you will need in total.
Dress Up For Signature Dining
For signature dining restaurants Disney World has a suggested dress code.
The official website states:
“Guests are asked to adhere to the minimum dress code requirements at this Signature Dining experience. Dressier attire is also welcome. Please explore the minimum dress code requirements: Men must wear khakis, slacks or dress shorts and collared shirts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition. Sport coats are optional. Women must wear Capri pants, skirts, dresses or dress shorts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition. Not permitted are tank tops, flip-flops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cut-offs, torn clothing and t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics.”
If you would like to eat at some of these excellent restaurants be sure to pack some additional outfits for this. The dress code is not super strictly enforced but to feel most comfortable in the surroundings it is a good idea to try to stick to the dress code if possible.
Signature dining restaurants in the parks are more accommodating as they realise you will have been visiting the parks.
In the picture above I was visiting Magic Kingdom. There are two signature dining locations here: Be Our Guest Restaurant and Cinderella's Royal Table. Wearing a shirt or blouse with a skirt, trousers or smart shorts or a dress is the perfect way to still be cool and comfortable in the park but also fit the dress code. For men a shirt with smart shorts or trousers would be a great option.
The only Disney World restaurant where the dress code is a strict requirement is Victoria & Albert's. This restaurant was voted one of the best in the United States and is a AAA Five Diamond restaurant. This wonderful dining location has a formal attire dress code.
The Disney World website states the dress code for Victoria & Albert's is as follows:
“Guests must wear proper attire. Men must wear dinner jackets with dress pants or slacks and shoes. Ties are optional. Women may wear a cocktail dress, nice dress, dressy pant suit or a skirt with a blouse. Jeans, shorts, capri pants, sandals, flip-flops or tennis shoes are not permitted.”
Men without a dinner jacket will be provided with one at the restaurant as this is a requirement to dine.
Coordinate Your Outfit With The Disney Parks!
I love planning my outfits for Disney World as it means I can Disney Bound or match my outfits to the parks!
You can have a lot of fun playing about with what Disney outfit you can create as the possibilities are endless! For example when visiting Animal Kingdom I might wear an animal print dress, a safari themed outfit or a Lion King t-shirt, as above, for when meeting characters! You can create outfits based on the theme of the park, the rides and attractions or the characters you will be meeting.
Disney Bounding is also a big thing! This is a great way to show off your love of Disney characters. Adults aren't allowed to wear costumes in the parks so to get around this people started to Disney Bound. They would create outfits inspired by characters, but not an example replica or costume.
For example Snow White wears a yellow skirt, a blue top and a red headband which is super easy to recreate yourself!
To show off your love of the Disney World Parks and attractions be sure to check out the Most Magical Apparel Teemill store!
Tips On What To Pack!
Here are some handy tip on what to pack for your Disney World trip!
Choose lightweight clothes. This will help you stay cool, will dry off quickly after water rides and weigh less in your suitcase!
Choose clothes that dry quickly. Moisture wicking clothes are great for the Orlando weather, which can go from very hot to rainy quickly! They are also perfect for water rides and water parks.
Light colours reflect light so help to keep you cool. Be sure to try and wear as many light colours as you can.
Don't forget your swimwear! Most hotels in Orlando will have a swimming pool and many people also love to visit the Disney Water Parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. A quick dip is the perfect way to cool down in the hot Florida sun!
Pack a poncho! These can be great to keep dry on water rides or if there is some rain. In the parks these can be expensive so buy them before your trip, or in a local supermarket like Walmart, to get a much cheaper version.
I love to wear skirts and dresses are they are so comfortable and cool. One essential I always pack for these outfits is chub rub shorts. These help to prevent chafing that can occur after lots of walking around in heat. Snag Tights have some fantastic, lightweight chub rubs shorts that are my favourite to wear!
Pack comfortable shoes! You will be doing a lot of walking (check out my How Far I'll Go blog post to find out just how much) so comfort is key! Choose shoes that have comfortable soles, such as memory foam, and be sure to break your shoes in well ahead of your trip to avoid painful blisters and rubbing.
Are you an over packer or an under packer? Do you like to match your outfits to your Disney days? Let me know in the comments below or on social media, using the links at the top of the page!
If you are now ready to start packing for your next Disney trip be sure to purchase my Packing Planner for Disney World! It includes a 2 page list of everything you need to pack, plus space to add your own extra items. Also included in an outfit planner, where you can use all the tips from the blog to plan your own Disney outfits, plus an individual packing planner so everyone you are travelling with can know what they need to pack!
Check out the full range of Disney World Guides and Disney World Planning Templates over in my shop!