What is Disneybounding? How adults get away with dressing up as characters at Disney World

Disney fans, have you ever wanted to embrace your inner child and dress up as your favorite character … without breaking any dress codes and remaining comfortable? While it might seem magical, it's possible!

Disneybounding allows adult guests to dress in ways that resemble their favorite Disney characters while not wearing an elaborate costume.

Here's what to know about the phenomena that has taken the Disney fandom by storm over the last few years and how you can easily achieve these magical looks.

What is 'DisneyBounding'?

According to the official DisneyBound website , "Disneybounding" means to use everyday clothing pieces in different colors and patterns to resemble characters, such as Mickey Mouse, Disney princesses and Marvel superheroes. Instead of using props and heavy makeup, you can use accessories you already own.

Got a big yellow dress hanging in your closet? You have the perfect outfit for Princess Belle. Or maybe you have a blue shirt and sailor hat combo that would make Donald Duck jealous. Does your character carry a sword? Wear a necklace that has a sword pendant.

Most fans who Disneybound typically do so for trips to Disney World or Disneyland, but many have shared photos of themselves wearing more subtle outfits out in public.

How was Disneybounding started?

The term "Disneybounding" was first coined in 2011 by Leslie Kay with her Tumblr blog called Disneybound, according to Reviewed.com , which is part of the same company as USA TODAY. Kay used to share visual boards of outfits that she wore when she was, well, bound for Disney.

The blog, as well as the term, took off and formed a following online, according to Kay.

“For me, it was definitely just a way to express myself,” Kay told HuffPost . “I needed a creative outlet. I started to create Polyvore sets based off of my favorite Disney characters and within days, my following grew from a couple hundred to a couple thousand. Three weeks later I was on national television talking about Disneybounding and the rest was history.”

Is Disneybounding allowed?

Disney parks have strict rules about guests over the age of 13 wearing costumes at theme parks. If you show up to the front gate in one, you’ll be turned away unless it's for a special event where they're allowed, such as Disney World's Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Disneyland's Oogie Boogie Bash .

Disneybounding is a way to work around the rules and show love for characters while still following Disney's guidelines. This type of dress is allowed, as long as your outfit isn't a full costume and doesn't confuse other parkgoers.

When is the official 'DisneyBound Challenge' Month?

For those who want to dive right into Disneybounding and meet others who enjoy the activity, you might want to head to the Disney parks during March.

According to the Undercover Tourist , the "DisneyBound Challenge" takes place in March, when the official DisneyBound account posts prompts for every day of the month. Participants can interpret the themes however they want and dress up.

How much are tickets to Disney World?

So you have your Disneybounding outfit ready but how much are tickets to the parks?

Disney World ticket prices vary by park and date. Standard ticket prices currently start at $109 per day for guests over age 9.

However, through Sept. 24, Disney World is offering a special 3-day, 3-park ticket for an average of $89 per day. That includes one day at each theme park except Magic Kingdom. A 4-day, 4-park ticket including Magic Kingdom costs an average of $99 per day through Sept. 22.

Next year's starting price jumps to $119, according to the resort's online calendar.

You can find details and deals on Disney World's website under " Tickets & Passes ."

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What is Disneybounding? How adults get away with dressing up as characters at Disney World