August 2014 Trip - The First Few Days

Life just seems to fly by sometimes and I haven't set aside the time to dig into what I wore and how it all worked out. I had hoped to get some more photos from my sister, who took tons on her phone, but despite 8 reminders (EIGHT!), she doesn't seem motivated to upload them anywhere so about half of the photos I should have are inaccessible to me. *super sad face* I just hope I get to see them someday.

In the meantime, hubby and I took some, and we have PhotoPass photos as well!

What I Wore to Disney - Top Hits!

Hello friends! I haven't written since I got back from my trip to Disney World for my birthday, and I guess I should get to blogging about it, eh? But first, all hail the shoe and wine altar! That was a little shelf in our hotel room, and we couldn't think of what one would use it for. So I made use of it by mounting my favorite things, including the welcome card, happy birthday photo from Mickey and my birthday pin that was waiting on our bed when we arrived. Now isn't that a great use of space?

I hope to blog about each outfit eventually--how I envisioned wearing it, and how I actually wore it, what I thought in practice, etc. But for now, let's hit some highlights of my fashion foray!

Dressing 4 Disney - Night & Day

Disney World has many facets to it. On the surface, to the uninitiated it appears to be "just a theme park".  Be we who have taken the opportunity to fully embrace Disney know it is so much more.

People are always surprised when I tell them that fully half the reason we love to go to Disney is for the food! We have a sit-down meal nearly every night of our trip, some of them quite swanky (and there are entire blogs dedicated to the food at Disney, like my favorite DisneyFoodBlog.com, for instance.) Sure, some people will still walk in with cargo shorts and muscle tees, but that's fine. We're not there to look at everyone else, we're there to enjoy one another's company, soak in the joyful atmosphere, appreciate excellent customer service, and of course eat delicious cuisine from around the world (and World !).

Special Diets at Disney

Seems every other person these days has some dietary restriction, either by choice or for health reasons. Never fear! Disney is really fantastic about not only offering lots of delicious food options, including really healthful stuff, they also offer lots of alternatives and tweaks. So even the most difficult-to-feed park-goer can find a few items to sate their hunger.  Here are some resources which help you navigate the food landscape at Disney.

Gardens Kiosk at Animal Kingdom
Photo from DisneyFoodBlog.com

First up, in 2013 Disney added a kiosk at Animal Kingdom which addresses food allergies and special dietary needs. If you're gluten-free, vegan, or have food allergies, you want to stop by the Gardens Kiosk on Discovery Island (near the entrance to 'It's Tough To be A Bug'). Open from 9am-3pm every day, there is a cast member there to help advise you on possible food choices for your needs throughout the park, and how to communicate your food needs to chefs throughout the World. In addition, they serve up treats free from some of the most common food allergens, including peanuts, dairy, soy, shellfish, corn, eggs and more. Enjoy some Tofutti Ice Cream, or gluten-free cupcakes baked by Babycakes of New York. And get this: as of 2014, they added a few gluten-free beers and cider to the lineup!

Disney also offers this web site, which gives some brief information about Special Dietary Requests, including how to make requests at restaurants, and even a section on kosher meals..

Things I Love at WDW - Disney's Hollywood Studios

My second in a series exploring some of my top faves in each of the Walt Disney World parks. I am not necessarily going to include some of the obvious attractions that everyone tends to ride, but instead try to turn my eye to rides, attractions, and dining that you may not think of. Disney Hollywood Studio has some hidden gems, but there are a few big obvious ones I do feel the need to highlight. So without further ado....

RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS

Tower of Terror
So this is one I would consider an "obvious" choice, BUT I am including it for one big reason: not everyone who has been to Disneyland realizes that the Disney World version is not only different, but staggeringly superior to its West Coast sister. I don't want to give away in what way it is different or better, because if you haven't had that spoiled for you then I would love for you to go and discover it for yourself.

Animation Academy
This spot feels a bit out of the way--it's at the back of the Animation Courtyard in the Art of Animation building, to the right as you face the "Big Sorcerer's Hat", past the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. We stumbled upon this by accident on our first trip to Walt Disney World, and now we make it a point to visit it multiple times every tip--it's just so fun! In short, you are lead through a step-by-step tutorial on how to draw a Disney animated character. Which character is taught changes throughout the day, never the same two in a row. They post a list of the characters they plan to do during the day and an approximate time the lesson will begin, so if there is one you particularly want to get to do, refer to the board and plan ahead. At the end, you have your own self-created souvenir. We often get right back in line for the next lesson when we finish the last one!

Things I Love at WDW - Magic Kingdom

Since there are a smattering of my friends who will be visiting Walt Disney World in the near future who have been asking what I recommend they not miss, I thought I would do a little feature on each of the parks and some of my favorite things--rides, shows, and food. I won't bother ranking them, as there are just too many ties. If I think there is anything I think you should avoid, I will make mention of that too!

RIDES AND SHOWS
Look, Magic Kingdom has most of the must-do rides that everyone knows about--all the Mountains (Splash, Big Thunder, and Space), Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates. Definitely do those, but you didn't need me to tell you that, did you? Instead, here are a few you may not think of, but I would recommend:

Mickey's PhilharMagic
This is a 3D, multi-sensory show in Fantasyland. It features lots of your favorite Disney characters and a particular Sorcerer's hat, back again to wreak havoc. It really is pure Disney magic, so don't miss it!

What I Wore 2 Day - Disney World in Style and Comfort

I am always on the hunt for other blog posts by fashionistas (and wannabe fashionistas, like myself) discussing their clothing choices, tips and tricks, etc for their trips to Disney. Found one today I hadn't seen before. It was an October trip, and she is spot on with suggestions to bring some cold-weather great for evenings in the fall and winter (been there, bought the sweatshirt ;). Check out Kasmira Kit's blog post below!

http://whatiwore2day.blogspot.com/2009/10/disney-world-in-style-and-comfort.html

Dressing 4 Disney - Ikat Cutie

Dressing 4 Disney - Ikat Cutie by tribaldancer featuring bermuda shorts

Dressing 4 Disney - Clue Into Blues

Dressing 4 Disney - Clue Into Blues by tribaldancer featuring a chain necklace

10 Tips for Picking Shoes for Disney

The easiest way to sink your day at the parks? Painful, achey, blistered tootsies. Those parks are big, and there is no short, quick walk ANYPLACE. You don't want to be limping back to your room within a couple of hours; you wanna go all day! Picking the right shoes is important.

This topic is very near and dear to my heart. As someone who suffers from daily foot pain, the prospect of walking for hours and hours, miles and miles, every single day on hard pavement is a terrifying one. But over the years I have figured out some ways to make my days walking in the parks a lot more comfortable. Here are a few tips I can offer:

Dressing 4 Disney - Keep it Casual

My summer wardrobe is coming together beautifully. These comfy orange braided leather sandals came and are in "walking around the house testing" as we speak. I love the simple crochet detail on the Old Navy tank--just enough to punch it up without being overdone. I found the brown leather wrap bracelet I have been seeking (not this one posted, though I love the fishhook closure!), which has a lightweight feel and effortlessness to it I really wanted.

Dressing 4 Disney - Keep it Casual by tribaldancer featuring a canvas crossbody

What's in your bag? Disney Theme Park Edition!

Seriously??

I was never big on purses. I resisted carrying a purse until half way through my 20's, and always kept it very very minimal. As I grew older (and older), I found my tolerance for purses has increased, and so has my expectations of what to carry on my person daily. My wallet and phone of course always need to go with me, but now things like glasses (for dark theaters or driving at night), sunglasses, lip gloss and/or lip stick (did I also mention I eschewed most makeup until my 30's?), the requisite pack of tissues (did we learn nothing from our grandparents? so versatile!), collapsible market bag, business cards, spare pen, headphones/bluetooth headset, my iPod touch, sometimes my tablet. Oh and my battery backup for my phone (hey, you never know when Ingress opportunities will arise). And though I still REFUSE to carry some of those giant bags that look like you're going for an overnight trip when you're at the grocery store, my daily purse is definitely larger as the years go on.

But when I hit the parks. It's time to simplify, pare down, scale back. Coming from Seattle, Orlando's summer heat (heck, spring and fall heat!) is challenging to my physical comfort. My skin gets very hot and sensitive and I would prefer to carry nothing on me at all save for what fits in pockets. On my first trip to the parks, I tried this. I packed only clothes with pockets (save for evenings out-outfits) and tried to tuck things here and there. I brought a shoulder bag just in case...and ended up using it most of the trip after all. Because I learned early on that going into a sweltering theme park for 8-10 hours, even if you split that into 4-5 hour increments with a hotel visit in between, requires some preparation and a few essentials.

Dressing 4 Disney - Gettin the Blues

A quick trip to Lane Bryant to return some online purchases turned into...more shopping. I came home with the most unexpected top--a lightweight envelope-back sweater tee. I thought it would chop m torso up, but it ended up looking really adorable. Paired with a navy blue tank, some gold jewelry, and the now-famous (in my house) white pedal pushers, this outfit would be a great snappy-casual evening look. Drinks around the world, anyone?

Dressing 4 Disney - Gettin the Blues by tribaldancer featuring Lane Bryant

Disney World in Summer - What I Want to Fix

Alright, so the last time we were in Disney World was in winter--the first week of December to be exact. And I will see what I can find clothing wise for photos from that one. But here are some photos from our last summer trip. What was going on in my world of theme park fashion back in 2007? Unabashed Croc wearing on my part, for starters. Hey, they're comfy, and I still don't judge anyone who wears them. But the classic Crocs are not fashionable, full stop. It's a choice to wear them despite that fact...and choice I have made not to do.

Alright, here is one of my more egregious fashion faux pas. Comfortable without question. Great for a dance class (which is what this all is--dancewear!), but for fashion, theme park or otherwise? Oh 2007 Shay *shaking my head*...you so funny. Note ubiquitous Overland Equipment bag. It's a theme.

Me and my baby in "China" (with Pal Mickey! Oh how I miss him.). A-line tank, jean shorts, and probably Crocs or tennis shoes. Note the bag, no accessorizing of any sort.

My "nice night out" for my birthday at Narcoossee. Delicious dinner, views of Wishes fireworks across Bay Lake...and a plain black jersey dress with a very casual necklace. Again, comfortable, but not much of a boosted style profile for evening. I mean, this doesn't look that different from the dance clothes I wore in the first pic, right? I could be wearing cropped palazzo pants and Crocs out of frame for all you know (I wasn't, but now you can't unsee it...). I swear I had a different handbag, no crossbody or ripstop nylon to be seen.

I think my shoes were probably my black braided leather thongs with kitten heels. Similar to the image below, but with a heel. I am pretty sure my brain just went "Heel! That means fancy!" *facepalm*

So there's a little perspective on what I wore in the past. A "where I came from", if you will. Where I hope to end up is what this blog is all about!

Dressing 4 Disney - One Skirt A Dozen Ways

In our family, we TRY to share a single checked bag and bring our carry-ons and call it good. Methinks this upcoming trip will be harder to accomplish this, thanks to...well...Dressing 4 Disney. Ha! BUT this just creates another challenge, right?

Mixing and matching is the only way to get a week's worth of fashion into one checked bag. Here is a simple mid-calf jersey skirt I own from Old Navy, and a bunch of options for snazzy combinations, day and evening. (It's all about OPTIONS!)With my stretched ears I can't usually wear dangly earrings like these, but they were both so lovely I had to include them. The belts? They come as a three-pack! Aren't they adorable? I have found belts do a LOT to pull otherwise drab outfits together for me. One could easily include a shrug, sweater, or lightweight linen shirt in this collection for cooler evenings and yet more options.

Dressing 4 Disney - One Skirt A Dozen Ways by tribaldancer featuring a a line skirt

Dressing for Disney - Beachy Flair

I now own white pedal pushers. White. Pedal pushers. Like...non-ironically. That fact will not seem strange to many, but here in Seattle, the old "Don't wear white after Labor Day" would usually be better summed up by "Don't wear white...ever." We don't wear a lot of white. We are plenty white already without any help, thanks to nine months of grey skies and drizzle. But when putting together looks for balmy Florida, this fantasy of mine came to the surface. You see, white pants are something I have never felt I could pull off. No, not just geographically speaking, but just...me. I am a plus-sized 5'3", so white and light colors are something I shy away from and instead favor either saturated colors (like orange, fuscia, turquoise) or earth tones (deep plum, navy blue, burgundy). And of course black, the universal weight-loss miracle color. There is this world of pastels, neons, and whites that live outside of my vision--I can see it out of the corner of my eye, but I will not look directly at it.

Yeah, like that.

To me, white always looks so carefree and beachy. Like I should be on the deck of my boat with the wind in my hair, sipping champagne. Or strolling down some avenue perusing the shop windows for my next Hermes scarf or Birkin bag. Why I associate white pants with such extravagance, I will never be able to pinpoint, but there it is. So when I was skimming through various fashion blog posts and online catalogs, and invariably all the summery white dresses and shorts and sarongs are on display for the season, I felt the call...and I answered the challenge. I knew I had this green and white swingy A-line tank and thought it would go great with some white shorts or capris. The pedal pushers at Lane Bryant looked cute and were on 50% sale, so I snagged them.

I am happy to say I have since received them, tried them on, and decided yes...I CAN wear white pants. They fit well and look cute (in my opinion of course), and bonus, as a true neutral they go with tons of other items in my summer wardrobe for mixing and matching. Now, to get my skin to contrast just a teensy bit more...

Dressing for Disney - Beachy Flair by tribaldancer featuring yellow glasses

Trashy Diva hits the parks

If you love retro fashion and are not familiar with Trashy Diva, then you need to remedy that immediately.  Here, let me help:
http://www.trashydiva.com/post/what-i-wore-to-disney-world/

She took a trip to Walt Disney World and took photos to share her Disney fashion sense.  Her heels? ACK! I am amazed when people can walk all day in them, but that's not for me. The dresses? Oh yeah, I could rock those.

As far as theme park fashion, in her words:

"If you haven't been to Disney World, don't think you have to hold hands with Mickey while wearing a Disney T-shirt with flip flops & eat fast food burgers everyday. You can if you want - and many people do - but it is what you make it! ~ Candice"

I couldn't have said it better myself!

And while you're at it, also check out:
http://www.trashydiva.com/post/What-I-Wore-Fit-For-A-Disney-Princess/
Way more reasonable shoes. I think my bias is showing. :)

Dressing 4 Disney - For Love of Mickey

Inspired by my Mickey Mouse Crocs I got in Disneyland in 2012, and of course by the Big Cheese himself, an almost nautical theme emerges.

Blousey navy and white jersey tank I bought but am not keeping as it has a built-in shelf bra (stop it!!) which is too small and pulls the front of the shirt down exposing my bra. Sad day.

I have several pairs of classic cuffed denim capris, they go with everything. Added a couple punchy red accents. Don't forget the Mickey silhouette necklace and yellow "button" earrings!

Dressing 4 Disney - For Love of Mickey by tribaldancer featuring liz claiborne jewelry

Dressing 4 Disney - Hipster in the House of Mouse

Anytime there are owls, giant glasses, and fedoras, it makes me think of hipsters. I don't care, I love the look. Pop of orange/coral makes the darker browns and navy blues of this outfit a bit more exciting. How cute is the owl purse, I mean seriously? Super comfy Merrell sandals make walking easy (though I included my fantasy yellow All Star high tops as well, though my feet have been too wide to wear them most of my adult life).

Dressing 4 Disney - A Touch of Hipster by tribaldancer featuring a blue top

Dressing 4 Disney - Beat the Heat

I actually have many of the components in my closet right now: the cargo bermuda shorts (a bit lighter blue), the top, sunglasses and necklace, and a flower much like this one. The shoes, bag, and bracelet are my creative additions, as are the specific makeup and nail looks I added for a little extra somethin'.

Dressing 4 Disney - Beat the Heat by tribaldancer featuring crossbody handbags

Dressing 4 Disney - Classic. Comfort.

A casual look, with a few polished details.The striped tee has little button details on the shoulders, trouser-style bermudas, layered necklace and fun bangles. I love my Haiku bag, though I don't have this color myself, and I have been wearing my Skechers Flex walking shoes almost every day since I got them. Sooo comfy. The earrings I can't own but wish I could--these are traditional post earrings and I have 00 stretched. These would make great plugs!

Dressing 4 Disney - Classic. Comfort. by tribaldancer featuring an enamel bracelet

Dressing 4 Disney - Keepin' it Real

Alright, here we have a typical look for yours truly. Back in Seattle, I wear a lot of different looks, from vintage/retro looks to schlumpy jeans and tees. In Disney, a pair of shorts or cargos, a cotton tee or tank, and some walking shoes or sandals are the fashion of the day. I have a canvas/nylon cross-body bag that I wear every day, and I pretty much don't accessorize save for sunglasses and earrings/plugs of choice unless it is a "night out".  But without the simple necklace and bracelet, this outfit feels a little drab...

Dressing 4 Disney - Keepin' it Real by tribaldancer featuring a merrell footwear

I was noting to myself recently that jewelry/accessorizing is kind of my final fashion frontier, as it were. I got somewhat into hair in my 20's, but hit my stride when I hit 30 and could afford a rocking stylist. I got into fashion still later in life (early 30's), followed by shoes and makeup ( http://www.beautyalong.com !!). But other than in my other life as a tribal bellydancer, where wearing your dowry is simply a must, I don't wear jewelry as a matter of course. I will wear a necklace and bracelet with a dressy outfit...sometimes... but since I am out of practice with wearing such things, they tend to feel heavy, itch, ache, or otherwise annoy pretty quickly. Invariably I take it off before the end of the night and stuff it in my purse out of annoyance.

So I am IN JEWELRY TRAINING as we speak. Laugh if you must, but I am. I went out and bought a bunch of cheap jewelry at Forever 21 and the Macy's weekend sale (got some Lucky Brand jewelry at full price I couldn't resist, though...). I laid it all out on my bed alongside any other pieces I had...and it wasn't much, my friends. I just don't wear jewelry. I have been wearing a necklace and/or bracelet every day lately to try and get used to the sensation.  I know that even if I get used to wearing jewelry here in Seattle, when I hit Florida sauna-like weather, they may just stay in the room. But darnit, I am going to try. Because I recognize that a simple addition of a necklace, bracelet, and/or a coordinating bag can do WONDERS for otherwise simple and forgettable outfits. Since I can't bring my entire shoe collection with me, and most of them would be way too impractical for theme park enjoyment, jewelry will have to be my stand-in for bumping my fashion meter.

Dressing 4 Disney - Meet the Mouse

I am not afraid of full-on whimsy when it comes to Disney. I wear my ears loud and proud. Doesn't the Big Cheese himself deserve a little homage? I think so! I would be proud to shake his hand wearing this look, and I would be comfortable in the heat at the same time.

I bought this Old Navy dress in XL Petite and it fits me like a GLOVE. Bought it in three more colors while they were available. I wear Luvees or Jockey Skimmies under my dresses in summer to prevent rashy thighs and to add a little modesty protection when getting around town (or in the case of the parks, on and off rides).

My Mac Russian Red lipstick would look stellar with this look. And I think I just might get my nails done like this before I fly out on my upcoming trip. Ya know...to get in the spirit!

Dressing 4 Disney - Meet the Mouse by tribaldancer featuring a brown shoulder bag

Dressing 4 Disney - Around The World Showcase

I saw the dress at Dress Barn online and HOPED it would be adorable in person. IT WAS! It fits me like it was made for me--not too long, not too short. It's light and gauzy but without being limp or see-through. I took inspiration from my favorite park/part of a park, World Showcase, and accessorized accordingly. The heels are incredibly comfortable, I walked all over a mall shopping recently to test them out. I could easily wear them a half-day at the parks without pain!

Dressing 4 Disney - Around The World Showcase by tribaldancer featuring a floppy hat

Dressing 4 Disney - Spring is Sprung

Let's be honest, there are shoes I wish I could wear, and shoes I am better off wearing. This outfit has the more practical flat leather sandal I would wear during a long day in the parks, and the cute peep-toe wedge I would wear if I didn't have to walk for miles. The latter might be good for a "hang out at the resort" day, or shopping at Downtown Disney, or a short evening heading to Illuminations and a late night cocktail at World Showcase. Drapey colorful tunic over cotton blend cargos, simple accessorizing, peachy pink lip and cheek with natural eyes. I totally went to Etsy and bought this necklace for my upcoming trip. It made me think of Ellie in Up!

Dressing 4 Disney - Spring is Sprung by tribaldancer featuring engraved jewelry

Welcome to Dressing 4 Disney! Let's Get Disney Fashion Forward!

Hello and welcome to my Dressing 4 Disney Blog!

This has been inspired by my next trip to Disney World coming up this summer, and my desire to dress a little more fashionably than I have in the past. Comfort is king for me, with the incredible heat, and all the stand up sit down walk walk walk! Air conditioning inside, 90+ degrees outside, rain squalls, soaked on one ride, racing through the air on another...it's like dressing for 2-3 seasons while hiking a mountain...and now I want to look FASHIONABLE??

Yes. Yes I do.

And if you're here, maybe you do, too.

There are a lot of fantastic Disney fashion blogs out there, but most of them focus on
a) "fantasy" outfits themed to characters, attractions, parks (think the incredibly popular and oft-copied DisneyBound),
b) still more "fantasy" outfits, piling on layers of jewelry, bulky name brand handbags, and ridiculously high heels, none of which work for a long day in the parks, or
c) teenagers in teensy weensy cutoff jean shorts and shirts with cute cartoons and flirty phrases

I love DisneyBounding, and the creativity using an artful blend of colors, textures, and detailed accessorizing is really inspiring; but it isn't realistic or practical. It's a mish-mash of whatever items Polyvore has in its database, ignoring any actual availability, pricing, sizing...basically, nobody has these things in their closet.  The fantasy outfits depict ensembles worthy of a spread in a magazine, which is equally unrealistic unless you are a stick thin supermodel who actually only lives in the pages of a fashion magazine (hello in there!). And the teenagers? They're the real deal. Probably the closest to real park wear of the three...but good only until you're about 21. After that...you might want to up your game (and lower your hemline?)

You'd have to be madder than a hatter to wear some of the looks these sites and Polyvore accounts proffer (see what I did there??!. So what is a 30-something, 40-something, 50 and beyond avid parkgoer to do when they want find ideas for dressing "their age" while still feeling put together, fashion forward, and still comfortable and practical enough to see us through long hot days on the theme park pavement? Why, make my own freaking Polyvore sets and collections, start a Facebook page to bring together some like-minded folks, and BLOG ABOUT IT!

Would love to hear about your adventures in fashion in Disney. What do you do to make yourself look a little more stylish, while still being theme-park savvy?  Stay tuned for some inspiration boards, based on REAL CLOTHES I would wear to the parks. Sure, there will be a few fantasy elements in there--what's the fun in only living in the real world? But my goal is to create looks that "Everywoman" (and maybe even later "Everyman") would truly wear. Clothes that wear well, wash well, fit well, flatter, pack well. Is that so much to ask? I say NO!

Let's do this thing.