I have always been so much better at having opinions about Halloween costumes than I am at actually committing to one, which, admittedly, is a funny thing to confess as the person who is supposed to show up with the ideas. I love a group costume in theory (the matching, the inside-joke of it all, the one really good photo at the end of the night), but in practice I’m usually the one texting “did we DECIDE??” into a group chat that’s gone suspiciously quiet, three days out, at midnight. And the stakes are low, I know that, but there’s something about a really good costume – the kind where people actually clock the reference – that’s so satisfying it feels worth the small spiral.
Disney is where I always land, honestly, because there’s genuinely something in it for everyone: big chaotic groups, couples, families with little kids, or going fully solo and making a statement (no notes, love that for you). So here are 32 ideas across all of it – some easy, some a little more involved, and a few here purely because they make me happy. ANYWAY, let’s get into it.
1. The Toy Story Gang
This is my number one for a big group because there are SO many characters to go around – Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Rex, the little green aliens (perfect for whoever shows up last and didn’t plan, which is always someone). The whole “Andy’s room” energy is just fun and nostalgic and everyone instantly gets it, which honestly is half the battle with a group costume. Bonus points if one brave soul commits to being the Pizza Planet truck, which I have seen in real life and will simply never forget.
2. Inside Out Emotions
If you’ve got five friends and five very distinct personalities, this one kind of writes itself – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, just assigned based on who’s who (lovingly, of course). It’s mostly a color situation – yellow, blue, red, purple, green – so it’s actually pretty low-effort to pull together, which I always appreciate. And there’s something so satisfying about a costume that’s basically an inside joke about your own friend group.
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3. Encanto / The Madrigals
We don’t talk about how good this one is for a family with a few kids – every Madrigal has such a specific, colorful look, so everybody gets to be someone. Mirabel is the easy anchor (the glasses, the embroidered skirt), and then you fan out from there depending on how many people you’ve got. It photographs beautifully too, if that matters to you (it matters to me, I’m not going to pretend it doesn’t).
4. Winnie the Pooh and Friends
This is the coziest group costume on the entire list and I will not be taking arguments – Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, the whole Hundred Acre Wood crew. It’s especially sweet for a family with little ones, because honestly a toddler dressed as Piglet might be one of the better things the human eye can witness. Plus the costumes are soft and warm, which, if you’re trick-or-treating somewhere cold, is a genuinely practical win.
5. The Lion King
Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, and someone HAS to be Scar (the drama of it all, I love it). What works here is the range – you can go full elaborate with the makeup and headpieces, or keep it really simple with earth-tone clothes and a few painted details, depending entirely on how much energy you have that week. Both versions totally land, which is the kind of flexibility I need from a costume, frankly.
6. Alice in Wonderland
There’s just so much to play with – Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit – and the whole thing has that slightly chaotic, mismatched energy that genuinely looks better the more random it gets. The Queen of Hearts is the role for whoever in your group loves a little villain drama (again, you know who you are). It’s a good one because nobody has to match perfectly, which takes a lot of the pressure off.
7. Monsters, Inc.
Mike and Sulley are the obvious pairing, but if you’ve got more people you can pull in Boo, Randall, even Roz (someone will fight you for Roz, trust me on this). Sulley is a bit of a commitment costume-wise, admittedly, but a big fuzzy blue situation is so worth it for the payoff. And a tiny Boo in the purple onesie? Done. Perfect. No further questions.
8. The Incredibles
This is THE family costume, in my opinion – the red suits are instantly recognizable, they work on every age and body, and there’s a role for everyone including the baby (Jack-Jack basically just gets to wear a onesie and be held all night, living the dream honestly). It’s one of those rare costumes that looks coordinated and effortless at the same time, which is the whole goal. If you only do one family costume in your life, I think it’s a strong contender.
9. 101 Dalmatians
Parents as Cruella and Roger (or honestly two Cruellas, no rules here), kids as the little spotted puppies – black and white, some ear headbands, a painted nose, and you’re basically there. It’s such a sweet one for families because the puppy costumes are genuinely easy and the kids end up looking unbelievably cute, which, let’s be honest, is the actual point of dressing up small children. Cruella also lets one parent go fully theatrical, which is a real gift.
10. Finding Nemo
Marlin and Nemo for a parent-and-kid duo, or add Dory and you’ve got yourself a little trio – orange and white stripes, blue for Dory, done. I love this one for families with a smaller kid because a tiny Nemo is just… a lot to handle (in the best, most heart-melting way possible). It reads instantly, too, which I always appreciate – nobody’s standing there going “wait, what are you supposed to be?”
11. Up
Carl, Russell, Dug the dog, and if you’ve got a baby, Kevin the bird is RIGHT there waiting to be the breakout star of the night. This one is so charming and a little under-done, which I like – you don’t see it as much, so it feels special when you do. Carl’s whole look (the round glasses, the cardigan, the little bunch of balloons) is honestly such an easy assignment for a dad or grandpa who “doesn’t do costumes.”
12. Beauty and the Beast, full cast
Belle and the Beast anchor it, and then the kids get to be the fun enchanted-object characters – Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and obviously a tiny Chip, which might be the single cutest assignment in this entire article. It’s a big-feeling costume without being all that hard, since most of it is built on a few strong colors and a couple of key props. The yellow Belle gown is also just a moment, every single time.
13. Mickey and Minnie
I know, I know – it’s the most classic couples costume there is, and that is exactly why it works. Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent anything; red, black, white, the ears, done, and you look pulled-together with basically zero stress (which on Halloween, three margaritas deep, is a genuine gift). It’s the little black dress of Disney costumes, honestly – never wrong, never trying too hard.
14. Jack and Sally
For the couple that leans a little spooky and a little romantic, The Nightmare Before Christmas is the move – the pinstripe suit, the patchwork dress, that whole gothic-but-sweet thing. I love that it’s recognizable but still feels a bit elevated and unexpected, not the same five costumes everyone’s wearing. It does take some effort on the makeup front, admittedly, but the payoff is so good it’s worth the extra twenty minutes.
15. Wall-E and Eve
This is for the couple that wants to be a little clever – Wall-E in the worn, boxy, earth-toned look and Eve as the sleek white egg-shaped one, and the contrast between them is the entire charm. It’s not the easiest to DIY, I’ll be honest with you, but even a loose, suggestive version reads, and it’s the kind of costume that makes people go “oh, that’s SO cute” instead of just “oh, nice.” Which is a whole tier up, if you ask me.
16. Aladdin and Jasmine
A genuinely beautiful couples costume – the teal of Jasmine’s look against Aladdin’s simpler vest-and-pants situation, it just photographs really well (yes I keep mentioning photos, I’m a blogger, it’s a condition). It can lean as elaborate or as easy as you want, which is nice. And if you happen to have a willing third person, the Genie is an absolute scene-stealer, no question about it.
17. Ariel and Eric
Ariel’s whole look – the red hair, the green, the shell-y details – is so iconic that even a hint of it lands, and Eric is about as low-effort as a costume gets (white shirt, blue sash, done), which makes this a very fair-and-balanced couple situation. I always think it’s a little funny when one person’s costume is a whole production and the other one is basically just “a man in a nice shirt,” but here it genuinely works in your favor. Balance!
18. Carl and Ellie
Okay this one will absolutely make someone at the party tear up, in a good way – young Carl and Ellie from Up, with the matching balloons and the adventure-book energy. It’s quieter and more sentimental than a lot of costumes, which I find really lovely, especially for a couple that’s been together a long time. Not flashy, but it MEANS something, and sometimes that’s the better choice.
19. Lilo and Stitch
Perfect for two friends or two sisters – one in Lilo’s red Hawaiian dress, one going full Stitch in blue, and the contrast of sweet-little-girl and chaotic-blue-alien is just delightful. Stitch is having such a moment right now that people light up the second they see it, which is always fun. And honestly the Lilo half is one of the comfiest costumes on this whole list, which on a long night matters more than you’d think.
20. Anna and Elsa
The obvious one for two sisters (or two friends who bicker like sisters, lovingly) – Elsa’s icy blue against Anna’s warmer green and teal, and the two looks side by side just work. It’s wildly popular for a reason, and yes, you’ll see fourteen other Elsas that night, but there’s a reason it endures – it’s pretty, it’s recognizable, and it photographs beautifully (last time I’ll say it, I promise). If you’ve got a little one, a tiny Olaf rounds the whole thing out perfectly.
21. Mary Poppins and Bert
Such a charming duo for two friends – Mary Poppins in her tidy coat, hat, and red bow with the carpet bag and umbrella, and Bert in his striped chimney-sweep look with the flat cap. It’s a little old-fashioned in the best way, and honestly almost nobody does it anymore, which is exactly why it stands out in a sea of the same five costumes. Bonus: the umbrella doubles as a prop AND an actual umbrella, which, if it rains, you’ll thank me for.
22. Mulan and Mushu
For two friends where one wants to be the hero and one is happy to be the comic relief – Mulan in her armor (or the gorgeous pink-and-green gown, your call entirely) and a little red dragon Mushu right alongside her. I love that you can take the Mulan half as elaborate or as simple as you want, and Mushu is just a fun, scrappy little sidekick costume that always gets a laugh. A sweet, slightly under-the-radar pick, which you know I have a soft spot for.
23. The Sanderson Sisters / Hocus Pocus
If you’ve got three friends, this is THE trio costume and I will defend it to anyone – Winifred, Sarah, and Mary, each with such a distinct, theatrical look that you genuinely cannot get it wrong. It’s the kind of costume that gives everyone a character to fully commit to, which is the most fun way to do Halloween in my opinion. And it’s seasonal in the best way – nobody does Hocus Pocus in June, so it feels like a proper event.
24. The Three Good Fairies
Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty – red, green, and blue, sweet little matching dresses, and a slightly under-the-radar reference that the people who DO get it will really love. I have such a soft spot for the costumes that aren’t the obvious choice, and this is a good example – recognizable enough, but not the exact same thing everyone else is wearing. Cozy, charming, low-drama.
25. Hercules, Megara, and Phil
A fun trio for three friends with three very different energies – Hercules in the Greek-hero look, Megara in that draped purple gown with the high ponytail, and a little goat-legged Phil to round it out (someone will VOLUNTEER for Phil, weirdly, every time). It leans a bit more creative since you genuinely don’t see it much, which I always appreciate in a costume. And Meg’s purple dress is honestly really flattering, too, which never hurts.
26. Cruella de Vil
For the solo girl who wants to make an ENTRANCE – the black-and-white hair, the dramatic coat, that whole “I am the most interesting person at this party” energy. Villains are honestly the best solo costumes because they let you be a little extra in a way real life doesn’t usually allow (and I think we all secretly need that sometimes). It’s high-impact for relatively low effort, which is genuinely the dream combination.
27. Maleficent
The horns, the cheekbones, the sweeping black – Maleficent is such a powerful solo costume, the kind that makes you stand up a little straighter the second you put it on. It does take some commitment on the makeup and the headpiece, I won’t lie to you about that, but very few costumes deliver this much pure drama for the effort. If you want to feel like the most formidable person in the room, this is the one.
28. Ursula
Big, bold, purple, theatrical – Ursula is SO fun for a solo girl who isn’t interested in being the cute one this year (respect, honestly). The silver hair and the dramatic makeup do a lot of the heavy lifting, and the whole vibe is just gloriously over-the-top in the best possible way. It’s a confident pick, and I will always love a confident pick.
29. The Evil Queen
Snow White’s nemesis – the high collar, the crown, that regal-but-menacing thing – it’s such an elegant villain costume, a little more refined than some of the others. I love that it reads as fancy and a little scary at the same time, which is a genuinely hard balance to strike. Carry one single red apple and you’ve told the entire story in one prop, which is the kind of efficiency I deeply respect.
30. Tinker Bell
A classic solo costume for a reason – the green dress, the wings, that little pop of sparkle, and it’s comfortable enough to actually move around in all night, which I value more and more every year. It’s sweet without being boring, and there’s a lot of room to make it your own (subtle and pretty, or full glitter-explosion, both completely valid). An easy yes, frankly.
31. Moana
Such a great solo costume – warm, strong, joyful, and the look is simple enough to pull together but still completely recognizable. I love that it’s a heroine costume that isn’t a traditional princess gown; it feels a little more active and adventurous, which is a nice change of pace. Add a Heihei prop if you want to fully commit to the bit (I always want to fully commit to the bit).
32. Belle (single)
Ending on my sentimental favorite – the yellow gown is just SO beautiful, full stop, and there’s a reason it’s one of the most enduring solo Disney costumes there is. If you want one night of feeling like you’re in the middle of a ballroom scene, this is it, and honestly, we could all use a little of that right now. Worth every single minute of getting the dress right.
And that’s 32 – groups, families, couples, trios, and the solo statement-makers. My real advice? Pick the one that makes you laugh, or makes you feel a little something when you picture yourself in it, because THAT’S the one you’ll actually commit to (the rest just quietly become the costume you ordered and never wore, which I would personally know nothing about, ahem). Happy planning, and may your group chat actually respond this year.
