Who can dress up and when?
It all comes down to how old you are and what day it is. Children younger than 12 may come in costume any day of the year. Halloween season is just the time when dressing up suits the atmosphere best.
Once you turn 12 (teens and grown-ups alike), dressing up is limited to a handful of special dates. At Halloween, the date to remember is October 31, when guests of every age are welcome in costume. Disney also holds other costume days during the year, such as Star Wars Day on May 4.
To get ready for this rather special day, you can read my guide to October 31. And for the bigger picture, check out my Halloween season guide.
Good to know about October 31
The costume rules to follow
Disney has an official costume policy. The goal is simple: keep things family-friendly and festive, never scary, so the youngest kids can enjoy the fun without being frightened.
These rules also help with safety on the rides and avoid any mix-up with the park’s real characters. Keep in mind that the park can turn you away at the gate or ask you to change if a costume is considered offensive or frightening.
Once you’re familiar with them, they’re easy. The table below lays them out: permitted items in one column, forbidden ones in the other.
Allowed or banned: the table
| Allowed | Banned |
|---|---|
| Costumes for kids under 12 all year round (and for everyone on October 31) | Dressing up at 12 or older outside the scheduled costume days (October 31, Star Wars Day on May 4...) |
| Face uncovered and clearly visible | Outfits hiding the whole face and head (medical reasons excepted) |
| Short, lightweight props that are easy to carry on rides | Fake weapons (any gun, toy or water pistols included), anything pointed or sharp, sticks, spears |
| Short capes that don’t drag on the ground | Long capes, long or cumbersome props, any clothing trailing on the floor |
| Costumes suited to families and young kids | Offensive, violent, frightening, or inappropriate costumes, or ones meant to shock (the park can turn you away or ask you to change) |
| Fictional characters and mainstream costumes | Posing as a staff member, police officer and firefighter costumes |
What the Disneyland Paris Halloween dress code permits and forbids, side by side.
The rule that surprises people most
Costume ideas
Kids have lots of options: Disney characters, princesses, heroes, and Villains for the older ones. Ideally, go with a comfortable costume that stays within the rules (face visible, no fake weapons, no bulky cape).
Into group or family costumes? These are a few of my favorite ideas:
- Captain Hook’s crew: everyone in the family plays a pirate, whether skipper or ship’s hand. Simple to pull off, and it never fails to look good in pictures.
- The card soldiers of the Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland): an easy-to-spot crew, perfect for a group.
- The bad guy’s helpers instead of the big villain himself, a less obvious pick: Ursula’s eels Flotsam and Jetsam (The Little Mermaid), the hyenas that follow Scar (The Lion King), or Hades’s minions Pain and Panic (Hercules).
Other themes work too, like a pack of Villains or a whole family dressed as characters from one movie.
On October 31, it’s the adults’ and teens’ turn. The Disney Villains are a perfect nod to the season. I’ll let you discover who the Halloween Villains are so you can pick yours.
Julie’s tip for choosing a costume
What about face painting?
Getting your face painted as a character is a separate service, and the costume rules don’t apply to it. If that sounds fun, I cover everything in my guide to the face painting stands.
My tips for a great costume
To wrap up, a few practical tips that make all the difference once you’re there:
- Comfort first
- a day at the park adds up to hours of walking. A light costume and comfy shoes beat a perfect but uncomfortable outfit.
- Fall weather
- the season is cool and often rainy. Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket to throw on over your costume or keep in your bag. Your costume will thank you.
- Photos
- for great shots, look for the Halloween decorations on Main Street and in Frontierland, perfect backdrops for your costumes.
Affiliate link · Disney’s official prices
Frequently asked questions
01 Are adults allowed to wear costumes for Halloween at Disneyland Paris?
For Halloween, yes: on October 31. That’s the one day of the season when adults and teens can come in costume. Disney also holds other costume days during the year, like Star Wars Day on May 4. The rest of the time, costumes are only for kids under 12.
02 Up to what age can a child wear a costume?
Children younger than 12 may wear a costume any day of the year. Once they turn 12, dressing up is limited to special days, such as October 31 for Halloween.
03 Are masks allowed?
No. Costumes that fully cover the face and head aren’t allowed (except for medical reasons). Your face has to stay uncovered and clearly visible.
04 Is it OK to wear an official Disney character costume?
Yes, that’s allowed. However, you must not pose for photos or sign autographs for other guests, so nobody mistakes you for one of the park’s real characters.
05 Where can you get your face painted like a character?
Getting your face painted like a character is its own separate service. Everything you need to know is in my face painting stands.
06 Does a season like Halloween or Christmas require a special ticket or an extra fee?
No. The seasons and their entertainment (decorations, parades, shows, meet and greets) are included in a regular park ticket, with no extra paid evening. Two dates are the exception: October 31 and December 31. On those days, you need a dated ticket for that day, among the priciest of the year. The only add-ons left are the usual services, like Premier Access (paid skip-the-line access) or the premium viewing area for the parade. That said, tickets often cost more during high-demand periods like Halloween, Christmas, and French school vacation.
