Disney Bounding: Tasteful or Tacky?

If you still like to indulge in a bit of childhood nostalgia, I’m sure Disney is still a prevalent brand in your adult life. And why shouldn’t it be? The childlike wonder of Disney is just too magical to let go of, especially with the dreariness of work and bills taking the sparkle out of everyday life. A little bit of pixie dust cannot go amiss, can it?

Well, for some the idea of this is absurd. Plenty of media outlets and TikTok accounts seem to scoff at the so-called “Disney adults,” and their love for Disney. Some even go as far as to claim that these adults should leave the parks for children as they don’t quite belong. I do not agree. I think this is ridiculous. There are bigger issues in this world than someone over the age of 18 proudly eating their Mickey beignet and posing in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle. Come on people! It shouldn’t matter.

Yet, regardless of whether or not it matters, there still seems to be hate. A lot of this hate seems to center around the idea of Disney bounding and whether it it is even appropriate.

For those who are unaware, Disney bounding is the act of dressing as a character in subtle ways. It often involves clothing choices that reflect the colour palette and popular patterns of your favourite character. It is not supposed to be explicit as making reference to a character in more obvious ways can make it hard for some to distinguish between you and those who work at the parks. After all, an integral part of a Disney trip often involves meeting your favourite characters. This means that explicitly referencing your favourite character can confuse some as they mistake you for their favourite character. That’s why Disney bounding is supposed to be a less noticeable fan alternative for those who still want to appreciate their favourites without affecting the experience of other fans and Disney workers.

I’ve always quite liked the idea of Disney bounding, even if it is frowned upon by some. I’ve never done it myself but that doesn’t mean that I don’t support it. Afterall, there’s something endearing about leaning into your childhood. I don’t see how this is harmful. Perhaps, someone can enlighten me as to why it might be? 

Ok, but the question is…is it tasteful? I think so. If you’re going to dress up as a Disney character anywhere, surely the Disney parks are the best places to do so? I’ve already established that Disney bounding seems like a nice idea in general so why not? Just let people have their moment. As long as it’s not impacting you directly, I’m not sure what the issue is. 

Above photo taken by Craig Adderley via Pexels.com

The header image was uploaded by Johannes Plenio to Pexels.com for free use. The background was removed so it was edited.