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Credit: @disney.princess.hannah on InstagramWondering what DisneyBounding is all about? Do you love expressing yourself through fashion, but aren’t sure where to start? Not sure how DisneyBounding is different from cosplay? Don’t worry- we’ve got you covered!
The term “DisneyBound” was created by Disney fan Leslie Kay (the blogger behind disneybound.co) as a response to the Disney park rule that guests over the age of 14 are not permitted to wear costumes. Without wearing a complete costume, DisneyBounding allows guests (or simply fans if you’re Bounding outside the theme parks) to channel a favorite character using their own clothes.
Fans create DisneyBound looks all the time inspired by all kinds of characters. On an average day in a Disney theme park, it would not be at all strange to come across DisneyBounds of everyone from the Evil Queen from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to a variety of Star Wars characters. The best part about every DisneyBound look is that it can be easy, and extremely inexpensive to get started.
The best place to start when creating your own DisneyBound outfit is your own closet. Once you have a movie or a character in mind that you’re hoping to pay homage to, start checking the clothes you already have to see what works with that color palette. For instance, if you’re planning a look based on Winnie the Pooh, you may opt for yellow pants and a red jacket. Minnie Mouse, particularly during Disney’s annual “Rock the Dots” campaign is easily channeled through polka dot clothing. BayMax from “Big Hero 6” is another easy character to draw inspiration from as the outfit can be almost entirely white.
In addition to founder Leslie Kay’s site, which is full of inspiration for a wide range of character looks, social media is a great place to turn to for some ideas as many regular DisneyBounders post photos of their completed outfits regularly. Whether you’re hoping to channel heroes, villains, or maybe your favorite Disney princess, there is so much room for creativity within the realm of DisneyBounding that the options are truly endless.
If you’ve ever wanted to try creating a Disney DIY costume but cost is one favor that’s kept you from it, you may be pleased to learn that DisneyBounding really isn’t about wearing a costume at all. The way adults who DisneyBound get around that pesky “no costume” rule is by wearing their own clothing- no expensive costume shopping required. If you are looking for a ‘one-stop shop’ of sorts to create your next DisneyBound though, you may want to look into some Disney-inspired merchandise like the clothing found at the Dress Shop in Disney Springs.
If a DIY costume is something you find yourself more drawn to, you may prefer cosplay over DisneyBounding. If dressing in your own inspired clothing isn’t quite what you’re going for, cosplay takes this concept to the opposite extreme. Where DisneyBounders’ look are simply inspired by the characters, cosplayers extremely detailed looks that channel characters to the point where they could easily be misinterpreted as the real deal (which means cosplaying is NOT allowed in Disney theme parks but DisneyBounding is!). While cosplay is typically much closer to the actual characters, there’s still plenty of room for creativity, and some of our favorite cosplay looks have added their own unique spins on classic characters.
Cosplay is typically more of a hobby, and while the community of Disney obsessed cosplayers certainly rivals that of DisneyBounders, it’s a little less practical. With most meet ups taking place at conventions and other places outside the parks where it’s allowed, cosplayers tend to have less opportunity to show off their looks. And cosplaying does not always come cheap- You may be able to shop your own closet to create a DisneyBound, the level of detail that goes into cosplaying typically requires more high-quality pieces to get the looks just right. (If you’re DisneyBounding OR cosplaying on a budget, thrift stores can be some of the best places to start shopping!)
Both DisneyBounding and cosplaying are fun ways to add some creativity to your fandoms, but they are totally different concepts. Either way, if you’re looking to change up your style, get the perfect costume for a special event, or join in the latest DisneyBound challenge, they are both great ways to interact with classic Disney stories and make friends while you do it!
If you’re looking for the best way to start DisneyBounding, the #BoundtoParkHop challenge (created by Erynn of @thegirlwiththedolewhiptattoo on Instagram) is sure to be a memorable way to get involved! The challenge takes place November 4-10, 2019, and each day of the week DisneyBounders will be sharing looks based on different elements of Disney theme parks by using the tag #BoundtoParkHop.
To capture the best photos of your DisneyBound, be sure to pack some character inspired outfits for your next Disney vacation! Our preferred Disney travel specialists at Academy Travel can help you book and plan the rest of your trip so you can spend more time working on your DisneyBounds! Prefer cosplay? Academy Travel can also help you plan your trip during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, when adults ARE allowed to wear a costume! Click here for a free, no obligation quote and start planning your most fashionable Disney vacation today.
Have you DisneyBound before? New to all of this but getting some cosplay inspo? Let us know in the comments or share your looks in next month’s #BoundtoParkHop challenge!
