What is Disneybounding?

Have you heard of Disneybounding before?  This is a fad that has taken over Disney Parks lately, with fans displaying their “Disney-side” to the world.

But what is Disneybounding?  Unlike Cosplay, “Bounding” is basically defined as wearing regular street clothes that give subtle hints to a Disney character.  Sometimes this is overt with props and accessories. Other times it is simply following a color scheme the character wears. Each Bounder has their own style and brings something magical to the Parks.  

I reached out to former Disney Parks Moms Panelist Lindsey Paris about her passion for Disneybounding.  This was the conversation we had:

When was your first Disneybound?

What was it? I’ve been a “DisNerd” ever since I can remember, with my first impactful memory when I was six years old. MGM Studios has just opened, and the moment the lasers and bubbles took me Under the Sea at Voyage of the Little Mermaid, that was it. A few decades later and multiple costumes afterwards, I made my first purposeful DisneyBound for the 2014 runDisney Princess Half Marathon. I ran as Vanellope Von Schweetz, and my husband ran as Ralph! 

What got you into it?

After that race, I was REALLY interested in turning a character look into something else. While I wasn’t into everyday wear yet, the idea of a running costume was pretty cool to me. Translating color blocks, accessories, and more to a different USE. A few years later, I started making Disneybounds for movie releases and my personal favorite, Dapper Day! Being a professional Costume Designer, I get an extra thrill being able to heighten the bound into more than just everyday wear.

Which outfit has been your favorite?

To date, I think my Briar Rose Disneybound was my favorite. I dressed up with a few friends for International Day of the Girl and celebrated being powerful female characters in the Parks. We ended up on the cover of the Disney Parks Blog!  

Image from: Disney Parks Blog

What projects do you have in the works?

Right now, I’m working on a Pink Cinderella Disneybound for Dapper Day, as well as a birthday dress for MY birthday. Let’s hope I can meet up with Minnie to compare silhouettes!  For Cindy, accessories have come first as I create the references to the character. 

What is your dream bound that you’d love to make?

All of them??  I’ve tackled Alice, Cheshire Cat, Orange Bird, George Sanderson, Vanellope, Cinderella, Briar Rose, Ariel, Madame Mim and more, but I’m always thinking of new characters (especially the lesser known ones!) or references to portray.  One time I even dressed as the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival itself!

What advice do you have to give for aspiring bounders?

Don’t go broke. Check out what you already have in your closet and start from there. Use a color palette and maybe splurge on an accessory that really packs a punch. Going as Tiana? Use multiple greens, and pastels, but add a Ray bag to really heighten the look!  I find SO many great pieces on Etsy, Amazon and Poshmark that I alter, edit and add to in order to create a bound. Check them out regularly and shop around!

Thank you to Lindsey for her expertise and advice!  

Amanda Derrick gave this awesome piece of advice:

“I often have my kids Bound instead of wearing costumes in the park, just for the sake of comfort. Some small shops have great solid color clothes that work for bounding and keep us comfy in the parks!”  GREAT IDEA!

Disneybounding often overlaps another Disney favorite — and that is Dapper Day.  Dapper Day is a specified day at a Disney Park when people are encouraged to dress “dapper”, as in Sunday best type clothes, especially 50s attire.  Like Lindsey mentioned above, she Bounds for Dapper Day, as does Sarah Gilliland at her blog Sarah in the Suburbs .

Here are some other amazing people and their Disney Bounds! Thank you to Andy Smith, Camille and Jonathan Cotton, Sarah Gilliland, Diane Stangle, and Patty Holiday (from No Guilt Life) for your ideas and photos!  

I have not personally done a Disneybound yet, but I hope to one day.  The coolest part for me is choosing those lesser-known characters and bringing them to life.  I would love to do Bounds of characters like:

• French Chef from The Little Mermaid

• Chicha from The Emperor’s New Groove

• Zazu from The Lion King

• Shank from Ralph Breaks the Internet

• The Kids in Mary Poppins Returns

Those are just some ideas! Have you ever done a Disneybound before?  Are you interested in it? Let me know!

Are you planning a trip to The Disneyland Resort or The Walt Disney World Resort and have no idea where to begin?  Read my posts here!