If you've been following along on Instagram, you know I flew down to Disney last week to attend my friend's Disney wedding in Epcot. I was so excited not only for the wedding festivities but to be at the parks for a few days with friends - how often will we be able to do that? For our time there, there was obviously a wide range of outfits I needed to pack.
If you've been to Disney or any other similar park, you know that comfort is key along with a great pair of sneakers! Sometimes it can be difficult to find the right balance of making sure you can walk for 8+ hours in the heat as well as look cute for photos with Mickey. You know I like to plan and pack light, and this trip was no exception. When I fly for a short trip, I try to do a carry-on if possible, so packing efficiently is especially important to me. Read on for a recap and what I planned to pack below!
(Pro-tip: I always try to go with slip-on sneakers, sandals, or mules for the airport to make security a breeze! Who wants to get through and then have to sit down to tie and zip?)
Outfit #1: Wheels Up
Honestly, Norma Kamali makes the most perfect travel set and I decked myself out for our flight. The set also comes with an easy tee dress, so I could quickly change into that if it was too hot when we landed in Florida. (The "Go Bag" set is $258 and it's worth every penny. If you travel often, it's a great investment. Keep an eye out for special sales... I was lucky to grab it for a steal at $150! Worth every penny either way.) Since I only wore this from airport to airport (about 5 hours of my day) I planned to wear it again going home Sunday. I wore the pants with a super light long-sleeved henley from Kate's Upstate.
Outfit #2: Wedding Day Lounge
We walked around Disney Springs for a little while to see what kind of shopping we could do, then met up with some buddies who were staying in the same hotel and chilled by hotel pool until we need to get ready. All I needed was a bikini, a fun Lilly Pulitzer t-shirt dress, and a pair of Miller sandals.
Outfit #3: The Wedding
My gown proved the hardest to pack, but even our budget-level Disney hotel had an iron to revive it after traveling. Since the wedding attire was formal (black tie optional), I had spent months searching for a gown that was appropriate for both fall (in terms of color) and 88º weather (in terms of style and material). I opted for a deep purple micro-pleated velvet gown by Adrianna Papell. Even though it was long, the velvety-fabric was quite thin and breathable for potentially humid FL weather and the color was perfect for autumn. If you saw my IG story while I was packing, I rolled that sucker up like a sushi roll and it looked perfect after being stuffed in my luggage for 7 hours. I also wore nude Valentino heels (which are worth every dime by the way, if you're looking to invest in a pair of designer shoes that won't kill your feet).
The ceremony was on a special wedding pavilion, and after the bride and groom were carried off in a literal Cinderella carriage, we were bussed to the Grand Floridian for cocktail hour. After we enjoyed some drinks and bites, we were whisked off to a secret entrance to Epcot and made our way to a building in "America". It was definitely a strange but smile-inducing experience to just pop in a side entrance and roll into the park in tuxedos and gowns amid all the normal park hustle and bustle. We got a lot of stares, woo-hoo's, and really felt like VIPs! We started our dinner in the reception building with JALAPENO MARGARITAS as the signature drink, no less - and yes we ran them out of tequila almost immediately. We walked to a private pavilion for desserts and fireworks, then went back in to finally hit the dance floor. Of course, Mickey and Minnie showed up to dance with us later in the night! It was such a unique experience and the Disney backdrop suited the bride, looking like a real-life princess. I am so happy Nicole and Chuck got to plan the wedding of their dreams and was honored to be part of it. (If you want to see more, check out the Instagram account she made especially for the wedding.)
Outfit #4: Islands of Adventure
We were out late, so we slept in a little Friday morning, but by the afternoon the husband and I broke away from the group to head to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure for the day. We were just in Disney in May (the same time Nicole and Chuck got engaged!) so we opted for a different adventure. I wore my super breathable Fabletics leggings, a cropped Nike t-shirt, and my trusty Air Max 90s to scoot around the park. Nothing knocks a hangover out of you like the Hulk rollercoaster, BTW.
Outfit #5: Out on the Boardwalk
Friday night we skipped dinner with the group, but headed to the "boardwalk" for our own dinner out. This is one of my favorite places within the Disney properties. Even if you're not staying at the Boardwalk Hotel or any of the other surrounding resorts, you can visit the boardwalk for lots of fun. We kept it super casual at the ESPN Zone restaurant, mostly because I wanted to go somewhere we could watch the Devil's game. I wore a black Norma Kamali Boxy Tee Dress, brown Miller sandals, and carried a crossbody bag. After dinner we headed to Jellyrolls, a fun bar with dueling pianists. They played everything from Bon Jovi to the Backstreet Boys. If you haven't been, GO. NOW.
Outfit #6: Epcot with Everyone
The entire group - all stoked for more jalapeño margaritas - headed to Epcot on Saturday and met up together in the afternoon. By the time we drank around the whole world, I don't think anyone cared what I wore, but I wore my favorite Fabletics 7/8 Powerhold Leggings in black with a red Sadie & Sage twist-front cropped tee. A crossbody is heaven sent for walking around a park all day, so I brought my trusty Odeon PM (which I bought back in 2013 - it most recently retailed from Louis Vuitton for $1,120 but now I'm not sure they make it anymore). Today called for super-breathable Under Armor sneaks.
We had dinner in "Germany" together at the German Biergarten and laughed our butts off with friends, old and new. I have been friends with some of these guys since elementary school, others since high school, some only for the last couple years - and now here we are with our finances, boyfriends, girlfriends, and husbands, and wives. Time flies.
Outfit #7: Travel Day
Our flight was late and checkout was early, so I put on another Lilly Pulitzer t-shirt dress to kill some time in Disney Springs. We grabbed our bags from the concierge right before we had to go, and I switched into my NK lounge and a hoodie, as soon as we got through security, to head back to chilly Jersey.
Overall I had 5 days and at least 7 different outfits to cover. I wore and re-wore the same outfit to fly, and really only packed 9 items of clothing, so I still had plenty of room for two clutches, crossbody bag, two pair of flip flops (color options, you know), two pairs of sneakers, and a pair of heels. All in my carry-on! I will link everything I can below:
2 pairs of Fabletics 7/8 Leggings, (2 for $24 if you join!)
Nike Crop Logo T-Shirt, $40
Sadie & Sage Twist-Front T-Shirt, $48, on sale for $21.60
Norma Kamali Go Bag, $285, on sale for $150
2 Pairs of Tory Burch Miller Sandals, $198
Adrianna Papell Pleated Velvet Column Dress, $179
(^ Also selling mine, worn once, size 12 on my Poshmark @ dressedtochill)
Valentino Nude Patent Rockstud Pumps, $995