We’re breaking down the tips, tricks, and must-knows to perfect the art of the Disneybound, with tips from those who do it best.

It’s common knowledge that you can’t dress up as your favorite Disney characters when you visit the theme parks – or, at least, you can’t dress in a full costume. However, thanks to Disneybounding, adults can dress up and have some character-inspired fun. 

What is Disneybounding? It’s a worldwide Disney style phenomenon that people use to dress up as beloved Disney characters, all without wearing a costume. A Disneybound is created through color blocking, carefully-chosen accessories, and close attention to detail. The final result is an outfit that’s theme park ready, yet emulates a character with regular clothing. 

What is a Disneybound?

Disneybounding all started with Leslie Kay of Ontario, Canada. Kay booked a trip with her friends to Walt Disney World and was so excited about her trip that she started a blog on Tumblr called DisneyBound… because she was literally bound for Disney!

The original DisneyBound site consisted of Disney fan art, film stills, and other Disney photography. However, Kay then started to create collages of clothes and accessories of outfit inspirations. These outfits and collages were her ideas as to what specific characters might wear in real life. 

The DisneyBound quickly grew and made its way over to Instagram, where the idea of a Disneybound became increasingly more popular.

At the time, there was absolutely nothing like the DisneyBound, and as a fan of Disney and fashion, it was the perfect combo for me. It’s no wonder the account and the idea of dressing up in regular clothes inspired by characters took off the way it did.

I loved reading my copy when it first came out! Photo Courtesy of Leslie Kay

Ultimately, the idea of Disneybounding took off and became a practice of its very own. Disney fans worldwide began to create Disneybounds of their very own, inspired by Kay’s own collages, and a new community developed.

Best of all, there isn’t just one way to Disneybound – it’s a creative process, and one that you can adapt or adjust to suit your preferences! Everyone has their own unique style, and Disneybounding allows you to channel your own fashion sense while also giving it a Disney twist. 

In her book, Kay describes the Disneybound movement as: “It’s not a costume. It’s a lifestyle.” If you search #Disneybound on Instagram, you’re sure to discover just how many people have adopted this fashion trend as a lifestyle.

The best thing about creating a Disneybound is you can express yourself as mildly or as wildly as you’d like. Disney World is the perfect place to show off your looks, without any fear of being judged. 

5 Expert Tips to Create the Perfect Disneybound

1. A Good Disneybound Relies on Color Blocking

The key to Disneybounding is color blocking. Color blocking a character means you’re pulling the prominent colors from a Disney character and coordinate those colors throughout your entire look.

You’ll want to use color blocking to capture a character in your outfit essentials – your top, your pants or skirt, and your shoes. However, you can also utilize color blocking in your accessory choices, too.

2. Gather Disneybound Ideas

Photo by Alessandra Sferlazza

There’s a good chance you already have a Disneybound in your closet ready to come to life without you even realizing it. For example:

• Do you have a red blazer and a brown pair of pants? That can be a Captain Hook Disneybound.
• Do you have a red dress? That’s the start of a Minnie Mouse Disneybound.

Disneybound characters don’t just stop with fairytales. Some of our favorites are inspired by Pixar, Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Muppets… just start brainstorming which characters you’d love to give a nod to in your everyday wardrobe.

Need some help seeing others’ Disneybounds as you start to create your own? On Instagram or Pinterest, type in your favorite character’s name, then the word Disneybound. 

3. Find Disneybound Accessories

Not only do you want to color block through your clothing, but a great Disneybound comes to life with the accessories. 

Of all the Disneybounds I’ve put together, my favorite was my Snow White bound (seen above). I pulled pieces from my wardrobe that matched Snow’s tri-color palette – red, yellow, and blue – but I was also able to wear her most iconic accessory– her red bow.

One of our favorite places to find Disneybounding accessories? The Character Bounding Company, which offers accessories and boxes to help complete your character-inspired look. From Disney princesses to villains, you’ll find touches that perfect your outfit from head to toe.

Oh, and when it comes to accessories: One of the biggest tips Leslie Kay mentions in her book is to add a kitschy bag to your look. Thanks to brands like Loungefly, Danielle Nicole, and Petunia Pickle Bottom, you can add a purse, backpack, or clutch inspired by the character you’re Disneybounding as.

Pro tip: Look for versatile accessories that’ll work for multiple Disneybounds! For example, Leslie notes that having a pair of yellow shoes will prove to be very useful for Disneybounding as Minnie, Mickey, Donald, and Daisy (all of whom have yellow shoes or feet.) 

There are so many Disney characters with even more color palettes to choose from. If you took a look at your wardrobe, you’ll probably be able to pick out a Disneybound right away.

4. Thrift Your Disneybounds

Photo by Alessandra Sferlazza

One of the best ways to participate in the Disneybound challenges and expand your Disneybound wardrobe? Shop at thrift stores!

Thrift shopping is a great way to reduce waste and find unique pieces no one else has. It’s a serious fashion win/win. Secondhand stores are my one-stop-shop for all of my Disneybounds. They can be a little overwhelming since there can be so many things to look through, but it is for sure worth it once you start finding exactly what you’re looking for. 

Here are some key things to always look out for when you visit a thrift shop:

• Always check out the accessories. If you take a quick trip to the accessories aisle, you’ll be surprised how many cute belts, bags, and scarves are just waiting to bring your Disneybounds to life.
• Shoes, shoes, shoes. I absolutely love shoes (I have more pairs of shoes than I care to admit!) The great thing about the shoe aisle at thrift stores is that you can find shoes that have never been worn before.
• “Like new” items can run a little more expensive than the more “pre-loved” items at thrift stores, but if it is a good name and in great condition– buy it! 

Also, keep your eyes peeled for polka dots and solid garments. Polka dots are the easiest way to Disneybound as Minnie Mouse.

Not to mention, every year the Disneybounding community comes together for Rock The Dots Day to pay tribute to Disney fashion icon, Minnie Mouse.

Here’s another tip: The more solid colors you have, the better when it comes to putting together a Disneybound.

If you have one piece of clothing in every shade of the rainbow, you’re basically set to create almost any Disney character! Thrift shops are so key for expanding your Disneybounding wardrobe because you can buy a lot of pieces at really low prices. 

5. Get Creative With Your Disneybounds!

Lastly, it’s always a good idea to think outside the box when perfecting a particular Disneybound. While you can certainly keep your Disney style classic and opt to reflect a character’s primary color scheme or signature accessories, you also have complete freedom to be creative.

Some of the coolest Disneybounds are those that incorporate multiple Disney passions – like your favorite characters and special park events like Dapper Day. You can mix old-school clothing styles with your favorite modern (or classic!) Disney characters for a truly one-of-a-kind spin on Disneybounding.