The first time I went to Disney World, I was in my early twenties, and I have been back at least once a year since. Disney is easily one of my top three favorite places to visit solely because of the sheer magic around every corner that encourages you to unleash your inner child. I have experienced Disney World at all different times of the year and each season holds its own special treasures. I’ve found that my favorite times to visit Disney have been the early months of the year and September. This is partially because of the warm weather of the Florida sun, without the extreme hustle and bustle and long lines that usually come with the summer months. From perfectly balmy sunny days, to humid rainy days, dressing for each day has become a strategic assignment. So if any of my tips & tricks could help you plan your upcoming trip to any of the disney theme parks, I’m happy to share.
March is a beautiful time of year to visit Disney because though it is early spring in central Florida, it feels like summer to my Carolina heart. It’s that transition between the winter months where the bugs are still mild, but the sun is out and beaming. Also, the Flower & Garden Festival usually opens around late February or early March, which is an absolutely magical thing to witness so you’ve planned your trip at the perfect time!
To ensure you can focus your energies on having a great time with your family, creating great memories – I’ve put together the perfect guide on dressing for the month so that you don’t have to! Here are a few outfits I’ve put together for your most stylish, comfortable, and memorable trip. Whether it’s magic kingdom, animal kingdom, or any other disney parks – I’ve got you covered!
Somewhere along the way I’ve associated Disney with light colors. After years of incorporating light colors into the majority of my outfits I found that not only are they stylish, but also keeps me cool due to the pinks, and blues of every hue being so reflective of the sun. I absolutely LOVE pastels in general, but especially in Disney wardrobe. I also learned recently that pastel colors are more calming and evoke nostalgia and sentimentality which totally makes sense. March is also the beginning of spring and pastels and spring are a match made in heaven. Also adding these cute ribbon hair bows and a perfect touch if you ever want to opt not to wear the classic Mickey ears.
Tops:
I tend to go vintage with tops and this is honestly my favorite part of my outfit. Etsy is an amazing place to find vintage graphic Disney t-shirts! For some of my favorite characters that might not be as popular in the parks these days it’s sometimes hard to find apparel, but I cannot rave enough about Etsy and their Disney selections. I also like to blend old and new. Now this may be excessive, but a lot of times I’ll plan to wear a basic white tee or tank top on my way to the park for that day so that I can shop for a shirt to wear there. This helps me not to procrastinate on shopping for shirts to take home until I leave the park and forget completely. And instead of one extra bag to carry around I’m able to wear it around.
A recent hack that I found useful for the days of extreme heat, having one of those tank top sports bras is perfect to wear by itself as well. It’s so convenient and easy to transition to if the heat is unbearable without catching any side-eyes.
Jackets:
In March you will most likely still encounter some rainy days. In addition to this, with the month of March coming off of the winter months you can expect to get cooler temperatures in the early morning and could see high temperatures by early afternoon. I always like to carry a light jacket that is light enough to easily tie around my waist if the weather forecast is predicting any chill or rain, but not so heavy that it’ll be a hassle carrying around as the temperatures pick up throughout the day. A cute seemless hack is also having something like this oversized button-up to throw over a tennis dress or shorts and tank top to add in an extra layer that way.
Bottoms:
For almost all of my outfits I keep it simple between two choices – loose fitted jeans and biker short. Loose fitted jeans are easy on the days you really want to be stylish because even the jeans themselves can have rips, patches, or fun trim. Since it is still early spring, long pants are an especially great option. Biker shorts have been my holy grail Disney staple because they are comfortable and so versatile. Unlike denim shorts, you don’t have to worry about them riding up or cutting into your legs throughout the day. You also get a ton of breathability with biker shorts of cotton fabric. The most important reason: no chafing. Being a woman blessed with thicker thighs, I learned very quickly that when you are clocking upwards of 17,000 steps in Florida, sweating – the stretch, length, and coverage of biker shorts is a life saver. Trust me, your inner thighs will thank you for years to come. Plus they have so many great colors that you can add to every outfit so it would be a good idea to consider adding a few pairs to your luggage. These navy biker shorts included in the look are a great pair!
I might be late to this trend, but tennis shorts are also high up on the list for me. They can easily elevate your look to be more fun and flirty while not compromising the benefits of having on shorts. The reason I specify tennis skorts is because you can find a lot of cute ones with funky designs in the tennis section online or at your local sports store. I’ll let you in on a secret: most tennis skorts also have deep pockets to hold tennis balls. So you could skip carrying a bag completely and only carry the essentials. I also love a cute tennis dress because it simply has everything. It has pockets, shorts, and a sports bra like top that is extremely breathable.
Shoes:
You will do a lot of walking. I mean a lot. So looking for the most comfortable shoes for each long day ahead is one of the most crucial items in my Disney packing list. I’ve worn sandals, I’ve worn chucks, and I’ve worn running shoes. My favorite shoes to pair with any outfit are my air max 270s – the range of colors that they have makes them stylish and I also notice that they’re great for both walking and when I’m standing stagnant for long periods of time in line which is to be expected with the spring break crowd. For more stylish outfits and maybe on shorter days I like to wear any kind of white shoe. It’s versatile, but most tend to have flat soles so bear this in mind. As much as I love a cute sandal, the last few years I’ve only packed them solely for dinner at disney springs or evening out outside of the parks. Most sandals have pretty low cushion support, and if I planned on riding any rides I’d be worried about my shoes flying into the abyss, never to be seen again. Of course everyone has a different preference when it comes to the most comfortable walking shoes so this is an area that you will most likely tailor more to your liking and comfort level. Or even so if you plan to visit the water parks during your visit you might want to swap out your tennis shoes for shoes more suitable for water rides.
Bags:
Between airport limitations, park restrictions, and ease of traveling in general, I’ve found that a cute notebook size backpack is the way to go. I’ve made the mistake in the past of going too small and either had to leave a lot of things at the hotel for that day or still had to tote around quite a few bags. A fanny pack is great if you are a minimalist and know you don’t plan to shop as you make your way through the parks. I like a backpack as well because if I’m walking in high-crowded areas, which most of Disney is, I can even flip it around to wear on my front. Also tired of toting your water bottle, but need to stay hydrated? A backpack is typically large enough to fit up to a 40 oz cup or at least two 16 oz water bottles. Disney also has a bunch of park bag options that you can buy online ahead of your trip. My favorite backpack for Disney I also found on Amazon and has plenty of small pockets included.
Essentials:
I will never go to Disney without these three essentials: my fan, a portable charger and my Mickey ears. My favorite mickey ears that I’ve found have been on Etsy and at the park themselves. My favorite portable fan and portable charger I found on Amazon for a great deal, and they are still holding up to this day.
There are endless Disney outfit possibilities, but these hacks I’ve learned along the way and created less stress for me so that I can soak up every minute in such an amazing place! Cheers to making the most magical memories in the most magical place!
