Written by Amanda Lindsey
You may have seen them wearing frilly colorful dresses at Disneyland. Or have seen the myriad of character look-alike photos popping up your Instagram feed. Whatever way you’ve seen them, you may be a bit confused. What are they doing exactly? Welcome to the wonderful world of DisneyBounding!
DisneyBounding is essentially using a Disney character as an inspiration for an outfit. A person picks out pieces from their wardrobe that have similar colors, styles, etc. to the character, and wears it to a Disney park or venue. They can spend as little or as much money on it as desired, and can modify the outfit to best fit their body type. For example, if someone wanted to do Minnie Mouse, they could use a red shirt and yellow sneakers they already had. For the bottom, they could go out and buy a polka dot skirt. If they didn’t like skirts, they could buy pants instead. While ordinary people may not know it is Minnie, dedicated Disney fans will surely recognize it! Some people are more casual, whereas others are more ornate about their DisneyBounds. Some people sew all of theirs and others buy all of theirs. That’s all ok, and it’s about what makes you feel comfortable. What makes DisneyBounding so fun is having diversity, and seeing everyone’s different interpretation of a character.
Let me get this straight: DisneyBounding is NOT cosplay. Disney parks have a strict age limit about wearing costumes to the park. You can get denied entry or asked to leave and change. DisneyBounding is supposed to be a way to still dress as a favorite character, but not be in costume. Many people—including myself—have crossed the lines somewhat, but the overall outfit should not look like you’re attending a convention or a Halloween party.
DisneyBounding is essentially using a Disney character as an inspiration for an outfit. A person picks out pieces from their wardrobe that have similar colors, styles, etc. to the character, and wears it to a Disney park or venue. They can spend as little or as much money on it as desired, and can modify the outfit to best fit their body type. For example, if someone wanted to do Minnie Mouse, they could use a red shirt and yellow sneakers they already had. For the bottom, they could go out and buy a polka dot skirt. If they didn’t like skirts, they could buy pants instead. While ordinary people may not know it is Minnie, dedicated Disney fans will surely recognize it! Some people are more casual, whereas others are more ornate about their DisneyBounds. Some people sew all of theirs and others buy all of theirs. That’s all ok, and it’s about what makes you feel comfortable. What makes DisneyBounding so fun is having diversity, and seeing everyone’s different interpretation of a character.
Let me get this straight: DisneyBounding is NOT cosplay. Disney parks have a strict age limit about wearing costumes to the park. You can get denied entry or asked to leave and change. DisneyBounding is supposed to be a way to still dress as a favorite character, but not be in costume. Many people—including myself—have crossed the lines somewhat, but the overall outfit should not look like you’re attending a convention or a Halloween party.
My DisneyBounding Story
My First DisneyBound at 16! I’ve always been into arts and crafts since I was a little girl. I took a learn to sew class at age 12, but was never into making clothes. In fact, I wasn’t even that interested in Disney at that age anyways (compared to now). Then when I was 16, I got really, really sick. I had an upcoming college tour trip in which we were going to visit Disneyland after touring Chapman. My parents thought I wasn’t going to be able to make the trip I was so sick, let alone have a day at Disneyland. To try help me get better ASAP, my doctors prescribed sewing as a form of therapy. One day, while researching a DIY pillow project, I stumbled across a DisneyBounding Tumblr page. I spent the next 2 days on the internet and social media, soaking in all of the new information about this secret magical world and community. That’s when I decided my next sewing project would be a DisneyBound, specifically Elsa. I didn’t have anything blue on hand, so I went to Aeropostale and bought a simple blue sundress. Then I sewed some blue ribbon trim on the edges, and attached a silky snowflake-print material on the back for a cape. For shoes, I had some blue Croc flats that were comfy enough to walk all day around in. Lastly, I bought Elsa’s crown from Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. Looking back, the outfit was super simple, but I felt so proud of myself. Meeting Elsa and Anna was worth the 2 hour wait; they loved my outfit and kept complimenting me! In fact, guests were complimenting me all day on it! It was the highlight of the trip, and one of my most special memories to this day. DisneyBounding brought me Disney magic, which in turn made me feel better a lot faster.
Fall Dapper Day ‘16: Pink Cinderella meeting with friends! That was only the start of a crazy but wonderful lifestyle that I currently live now. Once I got into Chapman, I knew I was going to have many more Disneyland adventures. I created Rapunzel, Snow White, and Aurora DisneyBounds. As freshman year progressed, I expanded to most of the princesses and even branched out to other female characters such as Tinkerbell, Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas, Wendy from Peter Pan, and more. Sophomore year I was fully immersed into the DisneyBounding life. I started venturing into the more unknown outfits, such as Cinderella’s pink dress.
Summer 2017: Moana meeting Moana at Aulani Resort! This past summer, I’ve probably made around 30 new DisneyBounds! To name a few, I’ve done Judy Hopps, Meg, young Anna and Elsa, Moana, Bo Peep, Boo from Monsters Inc, Pocahontas, and Honey Lemon from Big Hero Six. My poor sewing machine actually broke down in the middle of summer, and had to get it fixed. All of my DisneyBounds took up half of a suitcase, to give you a frame of reference. #NoRegrets. Now, every time I go to the park, I’m DisneyBounding! I go as a different character every time, and love meeting the character I’m dressed up as. Don’t worry if you don’t see me in person, I always post pictures of me Bounding!
Making a DisneyBound
So, how do I get started on a DisneyBound? Well, firstly I get an idea. I never have dedicated “thinking” sessions in which I debate about which character to be next. They just randomly appear in my head. I’ll be at an ESI session or grocery shopping and suddenly, I’m like, hey do I have a XYZ DisneyBound yet? I’m gonna go make one! Other times I get inspired after watching a movie, such as the 2017 Beauty and the Beast.
Formal Aurora DisneyBound with an old prom dress Next, I take a quick walk through of my closet. Are there any colors or patterns that resemble a character? If so, I take it out and examine the difference between the character’s outfit and my outfit. It may need a sash, a bead necklace, or a shawl—something I can buy. Or, I can alter it all together with my sewing skills. While the ones that need minimal alterations are easier, the ones that I completely change are the most creative. An example of this is my Aurora Bound. I had the pink prom dress from before, but added many layers of sparkly tulle, pink silk, and other trim.
I sewed the green bodice onto the top part and made a Tiana dress! If it’s too different, I then go do some online or in store research. I look at all sorts of clothing websites and stores to see if I find anything I like. I’ll purchase the outfit and then go through the same steps as above: what else do I need to look like the character? Do I need to buy an accessory, do I need to sew, etc.? An example of this is my Tiana Bound. I found the green prom dress at Ross’s, and then I sewed a bodice onto it.
Original Disney Princess two-piece that functions as a dress! If I can’t find anything to buy or in my closet, then I resort to making it from scratch. This is usually for characters with intricate and unique outfits, such as the Soundsational Parade court dancer. I’ve also made a few “original” designs with Disney print, such as the princess dress pictured. Making a dress from scratch takes anywhere from 3 days to 3 months. I make all of my own patterns. While it is the most work and sometimes the most expensive, it’s the most rewarding. I spend about an entire day in the fabric store picking out the right colors, textures, and trimmings. Occasionally, I get lazy and want to treat myself, so I just buy the outfit outright from either Hot Topic, a Disney venue, or somewhere else
I get a lot of frequently asked questions about my DisneyBounding life from guests at the park, so I’ll share them!
FAQ:
1. How many Disneybounds do you have total?
I honestly haven’t counted, but I know I have all of the princesses and Frozen. Then I have some of the classical characters like Minnie and Daisy. And then I have other characters like Pinocchio and Giselle. I estimate around a hundred! With my newest additions from the summer, they take up around 4 large plastic storage boxes—and that’s with stuffing the boxes as much as possible!
2. How can you afford to keep making/buying DisneyBounds?
A lot of people have the misconception that you have to be super rich in order to keep buying clothes. But it’s all about being resourceful. For my DisneyBounds, I get my clothes mostly from Amazon, Ross’s, TJ Maxx, and hand-me-downs. I also use inexpensive but durable fabric, or fabric around my household, for sewing. It isn’t a convention cosplay contest or a job interview, so as long as it holds up for Disneyland, it’s all good. Also, I don’t splurge on shoes…I have one pair of shiny silver sneakers that I call my “princess shoes”. I wear them with mostly all of my princess Bounds. Lastly, I try to reuse the same “base” outfit for multiple characters and just change up accessories. For example, my yellow dress works as Jane from Tarzan and Honey Lemon from Big Hero Six! Never feel like you have to spend a ton of money on DisneyBounding, just use what you have or make do with whatever you can afford!
3. How do you not die of heatstroke/frostbite/discomfort at Disneyland when wearing DisneyBounds?
I try to keep my DisneyBounds, especially the dresses, knee length. Firstly, it looks less like a full Disney costume (which is banned for adults). Secondly, it’s also to keep me cool for a hot day! I know I tend to wear leggings/stockings/tights under my costumes, but for me, it’s a personal preference. I can tolerate it, but others may not be able to. I always remember to keep hydrated, stay in the shade, and wear sunscreen when I am DisneyBounding. For winter time, I tend to choose characters that have longer sleeves such as Elsa’s coronation dress, or I wear fleece-lined leggings underneath. To me, all of my DisneyBounds are comfortable, but you know your body best. If you can’t stand to wear something, don’t wear it! I always know my limits in terms of body temperature and how my body feels. Sometimes I’ll bring a change of clothes if the weather is really not suitable.
4. Where do you buy your material and accessories from?
There aren’t many fabric stores in Hawaii near my house, so I mainly get my fabric and ribbons from the Walmart 10 minutes away. When I’m at Chapman, I go to Joann’s for more specialty material. In terms of accessories, I just shop at every day accessory places such as Hot Topic, Target, Forever 21, American Eagle, etc. Amazon also has a great assortment as well. As for my plush props, I get them at Disney Parks or Disney store.
5. Have you ever been made fun of for DisneyBounding?
Occasionally I do see people snickering and pointing fingers at me, and I know that not everyone thinks DisneyBounding is an art. People have ridiculed me for it. But people are going to mean to you for lots of other things anyways in life. This is how I express my creativity and love for Disney, and if they don’t like it, they don’t have to look at me. I’m not bothering them. There are much worse things in the world I could be doing. Sometimes it gets me down, but then I think about how many people truly love my hard work and enjoy seeing my outfits. I also think about how much joy this brings me.
6. Are you ever too old to DisneyBound?
Nope! DisneyBounding is for all ages! People think that it’s for kids because they see all the little ones at the park wearing the kiddie costumes. But there are so many ways you can show your love for a character besides an expensive kiddie costume! Also, you’re never too old for Disney! I’ve seen babies to the elderly with canes DisneyBounding. You pick whatever you usually wear, and match it up to a character. For example, a white sundress and a pink waist belt would be very age appropriate for a college student wanting to be Marie. Wear whatever you want!
7. What is your favorite homemade DisneyBound?
My favorite would definitely have to be my Soundsational Parade court dancer. That took around three months, and I wore it for Spring Dapper Day 2017. The looks on the parade dancers’ faces were priceless, and one of my favorite Disney moments to date.
8. What is your favorite store bought DisneyBound?
Definitely my Cinderella dress from Hot Topic! I love the embroidery, and the way the skirt flares out every time I spin! It’s also extremely comfortable as well.
9. Are you going to pursue a fashion degree?
It’s something that I’ve considered, but I’m going to stick with my bachelors in marketing right now. I’ve looked into the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and it’s something I may do after graduating from Chapman, or later on in life. I do know that I definitely want to continue in fashion, whether it be a hobby or a career!
10. Can you ever have too many Disneybounds?
Nope! I have around a hundred and still have plans to make more! Have as many DisneyBounds as your wallet and closet can afford!
I honestly haven’t counted, but I know I have all of the princesses and Frozen. Then I have some of the classical characters like Minnie and Daisy. And then I have other characters like Pinocchio and Giselle. I estimate around a hundred! With my newest additions from the summer, they take up around 4 large plastic storage boxes—and that’s with stuffing the boxes as much as possible!
2. How can you afford to keep making/buying DisneyBounds?
A lot of people have the misconception that you have to be super rich in order to keep buying clothes. But it’s all about being resourceful. For my DisneyBounds, I get my clothes mostly from Amazon, Ross’s, TJ Maxx, and hand-me-downs. I also use inexpensive but durable fabric, or fabric around my household, for sewing. It isn’t a convention cosplay contest or a job interview, so as long as it holds up for Disneyland, it’s all good. Also, I don’t splurge on shoes…I have one pair of shiny silver sneakers that I call my “princess shoes”. I wear them with mostly all of my princess Bounds. Lastly, I try to reuse the same “base” outfit for multiple characters and just change up accessories. For example, my yellow dress works as Jane from Tarzan and Honey Lemon from Big Hero Six! Never feel like you have to spend a ton of money on DisneyBounding, just use what you have or make do with whatever you can afford!
3. How do you not die of heatstroke/frostbite/discomfort at Disneyland when wearing DisneyBounds?
I try to keep my DisneyBounds, especially the dresses, knee length. Firstly, it looks less like a full Disney costume (which is banned for adults). Secondly, it’s also to keep me cool for a hot day! I know I tend to wear leggings/stockings/tights under my costumes, but for me, it’s a personal preference. I can tolerate it, but others may not be able to. I always remember to keep hydrated, stay in the shade, and wear sunscreen when I am DisneyBounding. For winter time, I tend to choose characters that have longer sleeves such as Elsa’s coronation dress, or I wear fleece-lined leggings underneath. To me, all of my DisneyBounds are comfortable, but you know your body best. If you can’t stand to wear something, don’t wear it! I always know my limits in terms of body temperature and how my body feels. Sometimes I’ll bring a change of clothes if the weather is really not suitable.
4. Where do you buy your material and accessories from?
There aren’t many fabric stores in Hawaii near my house, so I mainly get my fabric and ribbons from the Walmart 10 minutes away. When I’m at Chapman, I go to Joann’s for more specialty material. In terms of accessories, I just shop at every day accessory places such as Hot Topic, Target, Forever 21, American Eagle, etc. Amazon also has a great assortment as well. As for my plush props, I get them at Disney Parks or Disney store.
5. Have you ever been made fun of for DisneyBounding?
Occasionally I do see people snickering and pointing fingers at me, and I know that not everyone thinks DisneyBounding is an art. People have ridiculed me for it. But people are going to mean to you for lots of other things anyways in life. This is how I express my creativity and love for Disney, and if they don’t like it, they don’t have to look at me. I’m not bothering them. There are much worse things in the world I could be doing. Sometimes it gets me down, but then I think about how many people truly love my hard work and enjoy seeing my outfits. I also think about how much joy this brings me.
6. Are you ever too old to DisneyBound?
Nope! DisneyBounding is for all ages! People think that it’s for kids because they see all the little ones at the park wearing the kiddie costumes. But there are so many ways you can show your love for a character besides an expensive kiddie costume! Also, you’re never too old for Disney! I’ve seen babies to the elderly with canes DisneyBounding. You pick whatever you usually wear, and match it up to a character. For example, a white sundress and a pink waist belt would be very age appropriate for a college student wanting to be Marie. Wear whatever you want!
7. What is your favorite homemade DisneyBound?
My favorite would definitely have to be my Soundsational Parade court dancer. That took around three months, and I wore it for Spring Dapper Day 2017. The looks on the parade dancers’ faces were priceless, and one of my favorite Disney moments to date.
8. What is your favorite store bought DisneyBound?
Definitely my Cinderella dress from Hot Topic! I love the embroidery, and the way the skirt flares out every time I spin! It’s also extremely comfortable as well.
9. Are you going to pursue a fashion degree?
It’s something that I’ve considered, but I’m going to stick with my bachelors in marketing right now. I’ve looked into the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and it’s something I may do after graduating from Chapman, or later on in life. I do know that I definitely want to continue in fashion, whether it be a hobby or a career!
10. Can you ever have too many Disneybounds?
Nope! I have around a hundred and still have plans to make more! Have as many DisneyBounds as your wallet and closet can afford!
To follow me on my DisneyBounding life and adventures, check out my Instagram account: Princess_Amanda_Mei. Or come join me on a trip to Disneyland! (I have the nice pass with free parking and free pics so incentive right there!)
