What is DisneyBounding, and why is it so popular?
You may have heard of the term “DisneyBounding” or gone to the parks and seen someone dressed very similar to one of your favorite characters without wearing a costume. And you may be wondering what is DisneyBounding?
DisneyBounding is dressing in regular clothes to pay homage to your favorite Disney characters. You may get as close to the character as you can without wearing a costume, or you may just share the same color palette as the character.
Now you may ask yourself, why DisneyBound when you can just wear a costume in the park? Isn’t finding clothes similar to a character a lot of work? Well, yes. But in the early 2010s, right around the time DisneyBounding was created, the Disney Theme Parks changed their rules and guidelines so adults, or guests over the age of 14, could no longer wear costumes in the parks, which meant adult guests needed to get really creative with their park attire. This is why you may see adults around the park looking very similar to Elsa or Anna, but are not wearing a full costume or a wig (there is also the whole thing about character integrity within the theme parks, but that is a discussion for another day).
Snow White Bound
So how do you DisneyBound?
It is very simple. You pick your favorite character, movie, or even attraction and then go into your closet and see what you have that works for that “bound” (a shortened version of DisneyBound people in the Disney community use to describe their DisneyBound). Some people go out and buy pieces for a specific bound or even try to thrift pieces to match a bound, but it can be as simple as what you have in your closet that you can use to create this outfit.
Now DisneyBounding has taken on a life of its own. To the point where there are Pinterest pages dedicated to bounds based on specific characters, movies, and attractions. There is a dedicated Instagram page that shares Disneybounds and creates DisneyBound challenges for those who want to participate. There are also Disney content creators who create DisneyBound challenges for other creators to participate in!
DisneyBounding has become a phenomenon in the Disney community, but I hope that does not intimate or overwhelm you. Again, it is supposed to be fun and it can be as simple as red pants and a black shirt to show that you are bounding as Mickey Mouse.
I hope this blog inspires you to try DisneyBounding at the parks or at home! I know this may sound overwhelming, and some people go all out when it comes to DisneyBouding; I may or may not be one of them. But the whole point is to have fun and showcase your love for Disney uniquely.
Have you ever heard of DisneyBounding before reading this blog? If not, will you try it the next time you are at the parks? Let us know what you want to bound next time you are at the parks!
Frances Sherlock
Shoreline Destinations Disney World contributor
Interested in a Walt Disney World Vacation but do not know where to start? Let us help get you there! We will help you find the perfect resort for you and plan a custom itinerary.
Blog by: Frances Sherlock
Frances is an Orlando local who visits the Disney Parks weekly. She is a Disney College Program alum and a former Disney Store Cast Member. Frances is also an avid Disney pin trader and she and her fiancé enjoy trying new restaurants on Disney properties.
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