I visited Disney World years back for a company event, and had little desire to return for the foreseeable future. But I have to admit, something about seeing the magic through your little ones’ eyes changes everything. Even Nick conceded on our flight home that he’s been officially “Disney-fied” and wouldn’t mind returning next year, or even exploring Disney in a different country!
I’m working on a post with our itinerary + tips that came in handy, but first a couple of travel-friendly pieces I packed. The temps ranged from low 50’s in the AM to mid 70s in the PM with rain, so layering was key! I decided to go minimal with just carry-on bags for the family, but Nori had ideas of her own and stuffed in her entire princess wardrobe. With limited space, here are my versatile pieces that made the cut for 4 nights:
Tops:
Short jacket. My Steve Madden crop trench (sold here & here) layered well over every single outfit!
Basic tops in black and white
Cardigan. I haven’t traveled anywhere without an Emilie sweater in tow. It’s on sale now for the best price I’ve seen yet, and goes easily from casual to professional. Nice quality, sturdy 100% cotton.
Striped layer. I didn’t need my Sezane sweater since I already had the cardigan jacket. But when I stripped down to a tank top on warm afternoons, I liked a striped layer over my shoulders as an accent piece. For warm weather, I’d do my slouchy AYR stripe tee instead of a knit.
Sweatshirt. I love the relaxed, slightly cropped fit on my A&F Sunday sweatshirt or Lulu half zip. I went with A&F since it’s a little lighter weight, tho wish I had the newer pocket version!
Bottoms:
Leggings. While I don’t usually go for leggings without a longer top covering the crotch, style rules went out the window here in favor of comfort and ease. A few pairs I like in 7/8 length with pockets:
Zella 7/8 pockets – I take xxs
Abercrombie 7/8 pockets – I take XS short
Lululemon pocket – I take size 2 with a 25″ inseam, sometimes 23″
Jeans. I brought 1 cropped, 1 relaxed pair to wear with sneakers:
Full length relaxed: Levi’s ribcage in 26 inseam for a looser leg & higher rise, or Abercrombie 90’s relaxed in Extra Short length.
Ankle crop jeans: Levi’s wedgie straight in 26″ length (my favorite wash “space to think” has been restocked!), or Abercrombie ankle straight in Short
A few degrees warmer, and I’d add a tailored short with elastic back for comfort.
Shoes & Accessories:
Sneakers. You do miles of walking a day at Disney, so wear only your most supportive and comfortable sneakers. I saw tons of ppl in Hoka or On Cloud sneakers, which I need to try. Out of my limited sneaker collection I went with Adidas Sambas, which are comfy for me but NOT a truly supportive sneaker, so I added & tested out cushier insole inserts in advance. I also wore cotton crew socks with them most of the time as an added layer of foot protection.
Lightweight hands-free bag. The popular lulu bag works well, and I also have this $14 Amazon one.
Rain Gear. Don’t make my mistake by packing rain boots for a wet forecast. They took up valuable suitcase space, and didn’t make sense for on & off rain. Instead of rubber shoes, I spotted these wet weather shoe covers (so smart!) and plenty of ponchos which we bought on Amazon.
A “mom miss” on my part was not bringing swimsuits! I thought 60s would be too cold for outdoor pool time, but the kids felt otherwise. The pool was heated and they enjoyed water time daily in their pajamas.
Best Kids Princess Dresses
My inner child who adored all things dress-up was living vicariously through my kids! Here’s some noteworthy dress up brands:
Little Adventures is at the top of my list and is clearly made by moms who get it. No messy glitter, easy on & off designs with stretch, and soft, non-itchy fabrics that wash well in the machine. This brand is worth spending more on IMO, instead of the random dresses made in cheapie fabrics and fall apart. Sizes for age 1 to 13.
You guys already know my love for the Gap Disney sweater dresses! Amazing value for comfy dresses in a 100% cotton knit and lining. We’ve washed ours dozens of times.
For a fancier option, the Janie & Jack princess dresses are beautifully made in elegant fabrics and still machine washable. Nori loves her Cinderella one so much, she squeezed into it for a 3rd year!
While I wish this Belle dress had stretch to it and an elastic waist (like Little Adventures) instead of a back zipper, it was really quite nice for the price. Definitely more well-made and elegant than a few others I had to return.