No adult costumes Halloween party

[Joannelet]

Disneyland has it written in their Halloween party description about no costumes over age 14. I am sure Disney World will soon be following.

[faline]

I figured it would apply to that when they announced the security changes recently.

[SurferStitch]

I though WDW was already included in that.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

Me too! I thought it was part of the new security measures ... no costumes, even for the Halloween party.

I wonder how many people will try to get around it, and how strict they are going to be, it could get interesting.

[PirateLover]

I find this to be a real bummer. I have only attended on MNSSHP but I loved seeing the group costumes! I can understand no masks, but to ban all costumes for 14+ during the parties seems a bit over the top. I also wonder where the line will be drawn as to what constitutes an actual costume and how many people really get turned away.

[baldburke]

Do they provide a definition of a costume? Is an adult woman in a pseudo princess dress considered a costume? How is a snow white themed dress different fro any other dress a woman might wear? I was at the Star Wars premiere last week and saw plenty of Han Solos. Although again, what could Disney do if an adult male shows up at the gate in a Solo themed outfit? The shirt, jacket and pants aren't indistinguishable from other standard clothing. Is it when they say costume they just mean nothing that covers the face (mask or makeup) and no props? I think that's fair, right?

[Speedy1998]

Is it when they say costume they just mean nothing that covers the face (mask or makeup) and no props? I think that's fair, right?

I would guess it will be like any other day in the park. Trying to dress up just like a princess or other character is a no no. However, dressing in an outfit inspired by the character is perfectly fine. This is why Disney Bounding has become so popular.

[Main Street Jim]

So, I'm getting differing *opinions* from some of my GR/GSM friends. Some are saying "absolutely no costumes for guests age 14 and up", while others are saying "This will be 'relaxed' for the Halloween parties". No one has a definitive answer yet. I'm still working on it.

[Tekneek]

Time will tell how this gets enforced. They will have some crowd problems if it seems they are allowing some costumes and not others (I was already under the impression that masks were not allowed anyway). Someone in pirate-like clothing being denied while someone in a Belle dress is not is potentially going to generate a lot of heat for the CMs. If there is a real security/safety reason for the rule, they are going to have to work hard to enforce that as tightly and uniformly as they possibly can. For what it is worth, the "fun" of the party was already on the decline and sanitizing it like this (no matter how necessary) is another nail in the coffin for me.

[DonaldDuck1117]

Trying to understand what the safety issue is here. That a guest could potentially hide something under a costume? How about forcing everyone to go through the detectors then.

My wife and I went to the Halloween party this year and dressed as Donald and Daisy. I wore white pants rolled up to my knees with tall yellow socks, a blue shirt with buttons sewed on and a big red bow, plus a blue sailor hat. My wife wore yellow tights, a white skirt, purple top, and a giant pink hair bow on a head band. Would those be considered costumes? Could t we just say these are our clothes?

I am ALL for safety and I think the addition of the metal detectors was long over due. But let's not go overboard. If you make all guests go through the detectors then it should matter what a guest is wearing. If you want to ban masks and props I'm ok with that. No lightsabers or plastic swords for pirate costumes, things like that.

[1DisneyNut]

It is pretty simple and I have to agree with Disney on this one. Adults wearing home made feeble attempts at costumes confuses small children. Disney wants to control the character experience so it is magical for the children.

I personally don't get why adults want to dress as characters and go to the theme parks but I have always tried to ignore it but my problem with it is when kids are seeing poorly done costumes or a 350 pound cinderella. We have to explain to the kids, "No that isn't really (insert character here), that is just somebody that thought it would be funny if they dressed like them."

[SurferStitch]

I posted this in another thread...

I foresee a lot of inconsistent enforcement of the rules in the future, especially since there already has been in the past.

I remember reading over the years past that adults couldn't wear full masks/head coverings at MNSSHP, yet I have an adult friend who has done this 3 times now without incident (or so I've been told).

Also, with all of the "Disney bounding" that goes on, especially for girls/women, it's going to be quite difficult to differentiate between a true full costume, and regular clothes. Go with me here....

I want to go to MNSSHP as Tinkerbell (have done so twice now, and my costume isn't feeble, nor am I overweight). Now, I've worn this "costume" in the past, which was nothing more than a quality dress I got at a bridal shop that I modified, shoes that I bought online and dyed and added poofs to, a wig (that is meant for normal adult wear, not cheap costume quality) and wings (custom wings identical to Tink's made by a woman who does them for Victoria's Secret runway shows). Now, the wings could be tamed down a lot, but it's still just a dress, shoes and wig. I could even skip the wig, which I did the first time I wore the outfit years ago.

Now, what if I always wore wigs? What if I had chemo, lost my hair and wanted to wear fun wigs to WDW to try to boost my spirits (I know someone who has done this)? What if I Disney bounded by getting a simpler strapless green dress at a department store, wore my shoes and still looked Tinkerbell-ish, but was just wearing normal clothes? What if I went blond with my hair color? You could have CM's that consider it a costume, and others who don't. All depends on the CM and their attitude.

What if I just want to wear Minnie ears, a black top and a red/white polka dot skirt or a red/white polka dot dress? That's something I've seen plenty of women wear at MNSSHP and on regular park days... is that considered a costume?

This could get quite messy unless Disney comes right out and says that anyone over 14 can't wear anything that resembles any character other than clothing that you can purchase in WDW or other Disney retailers (like tees, sweats, jackets, etc.).

[TheDuckRocks]

I think a lot of over 14 and character rules have been in place for a while now. 2 years ago I saw and was within eavesdropping distance from a young "gothish" woman dressed as Snow White approaching children and introducing herself as "Snow in a bad mood". A CM also saw this, called security and they escorted her from the park.
I for one will greatly miss everyone coming in costume. Loved the local neighborhood who all come every year as 101 Dalmations, the family as Wizard of Oz, the couple dressed as Lois Lane and Kent Clark (Superman tee shirt peeking out under his business shirt) and oh, so many more. We also noticed at this years Christmas party not only are families coming in matching tee shirts but also a number them wearing Christmas pajamas. Loved it.

[Tekneek]

How it is enforced will be the important part. At the prices they are charging, I don't see people easily accepting that they don't get to do something other people are doing just because they lost at CM roulette. If they do not have an objective standard that is understood, communicated, and enforced the same way across the board, there will be trouble. I don't want to jump to any conclusions. We will find out what happens next September/October when MNSSHP regulars come out and what happens next. I certainly remember some lavish costumes worn by many adults at the parties we attended and CMs giving compliments, rather than calling security.

[DonaldDuck1117]

It is pretty simple and I have to agree with Disney on this one. Adults wearing home made feeble attempts at costumes confuses small children. Disney wants to control the character experience so it is magical for the children.

I personally don't get why adults want to dress as characters and go to the theme parks but I have always tried to ignore it but my problem with it is when kids are seeing poorly done costumes or a 350 pound cinderella. We have to explain to the kids, "No that isn't really (insert character here), that is just somebody that thought it would be funny if they dressed like them."

If it is just a day in August then I agree with you. But if it is for a Halloween Party-where the main aspect of the holiday is to dress up-why can't adults wear costumes? My wife and I don't dress up to go to the theme parks any day except the Party...because that's the point of s Halloween party!

[1DisneyNut]

If it is just a day in August then I agree with you. But if it is for a Halloween Party-where the main aspect of the holiday is to dress up-why can't adults wear costumes? My wife and I don't dress up to go to the theme parks any day except the Party...because that's the point of s Halloween party!

I would say the same reasoning still applies. Although it is a special event with separate ticketing, they have special character spots for the party and it is geared toward children. They don't want adults running around dressed in costumes confusing the children. It degrades the quality of the experience.

[SurferStitch]

I would say the same reasoning still applies. Although it is a special event with separate ticketing, they have special character spots for the party and it is geared toward children. They don't want adults running around dressed in costumes confusing the children. It degrades the quality of the experience.

Hmmmm... I didn't see any confused children. In fact, I had plenty of children compliment me on my Tink and Zarina costumes, and never once even asked if I was the "real" Tink or Zarina (and my Zarina costume was spot-on cosplay worthy). I wasn't asked for autographs (although a lot of adults and kids wanted to get pics with me, which I was sternly tongue-lashed by a CM about as not being allowed, so I didn't).

Plus that garish MNSSHP wristband kind of gives it away, too.

[DonaldDuck1117]

I would say the same reasoning still applies. Although it is a special event with separate ticketing, they have special character spots for the party and it is geared toward children. They don't want adults running around dressed in costumes confusing the children. It degrades the quality of the experience.

So the kids just started getting confused this past year? What about on actual Halloween? Disney better pull all of those costumes they sell because we don't want little Johnny thinking Goofy is actually on his street trick or treating.

Another thing to consider is that Disney actually promotes dressing up at their Marathons. We are getting ready to run the marathon on January 10 and we have received many emails telling us that costumes are not only allowed but encouraged.

There is no way Disney is saying no adult costumes to protect the children. It has to be in response to the stepped up security measures and I am almost positive that by the time MNSSHP rolls around they will allow adult costumes for the party only.

[1DisneyNut]

Okay, I was trying to be politically correct which is out of character for me. I will just be blunt since a few keep pressing.

I feel it is rather immature and just plain silly that grown adults want to dress up as characters and go out in public. I don't have any friends that do such, I can't even think of anyone in my social circles at all that would. I do however know of a few people that probably would. It is one of those deals when grown adults are walking around the park dressed as tinker bell or goofy or whatever everyone is looking at them side eyed and whispering "can you believe they dressed up like that and came to the parks." I completely 100% feel it detracts from the real disney characters, is a complete distraction and should not be allowed at all in any form or fashion. Not just for the kids but for me.....it takes away from the experience for me. It would suit me just fine if every adult that shows up with anything that even can be construed as costume or imitation of a character was turned away and not allowed in until they removed such articles. If it takes using security measures as an excuse, that is fine with me.

So there you have it, that is how i really feel about it. It is just my opinion. I hate that I will probably ruffle some feathers (pun totally intended on that one) but you kept pressing and got my true feelings on the subject.

[DonaldDuck1117]

Okay, I was trying to be politically correct which is out of character for me. I will just be blunt since a few keep pressing.

I feel it is rather immature and just plain silly that grown adults want to dress up as characters and go out in public. I don't have any friends that do such, I can't even think of anyone in my social circles at all that would. I do however know of a few people that probably would. It is one of those deals when grown adults are walking around the park dressed as tinker bell or goofy or whatever everyone is looking at them side eyed and whispering "can you believe they dressed up like that and came to the parks." I completely 100% feel it detracts from the real disney characters, is a complete distraction and should not be allowed at all in any form or fashion. Not just for the kids but for me.....it takes away from the experience for me. It would suit me just fine if every adult that shows up with anything that even can be construed as costume or imitation of a character was turned away and not allowed in until they removed such articles. If it takes using security measures as an excuse, that is fine with me.

So there you have it, that is how i really feel about it. It is just my opinion. I hate that I will probably ruffle some feathers (pun totally intended on that one) but you kept pressing and got my true feelings on the subject.

And I agree with you, except on Halloween :-)