Q&A: What to Wear on a Theme Park Vacation
April 10th, 2009
Q: I will be going to Orlando, FL for a week off with my family in April and need some ideas for theme park chic - comfortable, casual, but NOT sloppy. Any ideas?
A: Orlando in April is pretty warm - think temperatures that range from the 60s at night to the low 80s during the day. Light clothing is essential, and as you said, you’ll want pieces that are comfortable and casual to wear to the theme park. Still, you’ll want to look put together, so mix things up with sophisticated patterns (such as the flowers on the sweater and the stripes on the tank) and coordinated colors (notice how the blue and white base makes the yellow in the sweater visually pop). Here’s what you need to pack for your trip to Orlando:
Tops: Think sleeveless and short sleeved tops in breathable fabrics.
Sweaters: Pack one or two layering sweaters that you can put on in any air conditioned areas.
Bottoms: Shorts are going to be your best bet, but you can also try cropped pants or long, lightweight pants in cotton or linen.
Shoes: You’ll be walking a lot, so flat shoes are going to be your friend. Sneakers will get you through the day, but you may want a pair of casual flats for evenings.
Accessories: Bring a zippered bag to carry your essentials and a good hat to shield yourself from the sun.
Last words? As the days are typically sunny, you’ll want to remember to pack sunscreen.
Have a great tip about what to wear to a theme park? Share your style with us in the comments!
7 Comments
1. Gina | April 10th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Thanks for this column. Cute outfit. I could have written this question as we’ll be doing the same. I always sacrifice fashion for comfort – my feet kill me by the end of the day so I wear running sneakers. Any suggestions for bags to carry during the day. That’s always my big dilemna.
2. Stephanie | April 10th, 2009 at 8:59 am
When I went to Disneyland last year, I found that a little casual wristlet was extremely handy for carrying around the things I needed most, like money, SPF lip balm, my camera. It was easy to hold on to in crowds and, more importantly, easy to take on rides without worry.
3. Alyssa | April 12th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I go to school in Orlando and have passes to all the parks.
This outfit is perfect. But be careful not to wear anything too new or expensive… things can get wet/messy on rides or whatever.
I never bring a bag, just my cards and cell phone in my pocket… that way I don’t have to get a locker everytime I want to go on a ride.
4. KingBob | April 12th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Jean shorts are also popular with the girls. Wear a light colored top so you don’t sweat to death in the heat. We’ve already had a few days in the upper 80’s. We thank you for helping our economy by choosing to spend your vacation in O-town.
5. Gina | April 13th, 2009 at 4:21 am
Thanks for the ideas – unfortuntely, my days of my cards & money in my pocket area pretty much long gone…..2 little kids have lots of stuff & needs to carry with us! Any other suggestions? I’m thinking backpack…yuck!
6. Abra Cat | April 13th, 2009 at 6:53 am
I visit Disney at least once a year, and Keen has terrific and stylish shoes to get you through your trip. Remember, you’ll be walking several miles a day at the parks, so comfortable shoes are extremely important. I also like my Baggallini cross-body bag for the parks– my only complaint is that it has *too many* compartments! It’s not something I’d wear in “real life,” but it’s convenient for the parks and relatively stylish.
If you haven’t done much research online, you might check out http://www.disboards.com and http://www.allears.net for specific Disney information and forums. Have fun!
7. rb | April 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Gina, I just returned from a theme park with two kids, and I didn’t want to wear a backpack either. I found that one of the new cross-body handbags was the perfect thing. It didn’t weigh me down on one side, and it didn’t slip down my shoulder and bang my kids in the head (I’m sure you are familiar with that one.) I was quite happy to wear it for a whole week, at the theme park, beach, city, etc.
I bought mine at the Fossil brand store, and my college-aged nieces both complimented me on it!