Simple DIY Ariel Costume Tutorial for Halloween

Today, I’m going to share with you how to make an Ariel Costume and ideas for what to wear to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you like this post, you may also like this tutorial showing you how to make Harry Potter Quidditch Robes.

Girl dressed as Ariel in Disney World for Halloween party

Our favorite time to visit Disney World is during October. My kids love dreaming up their costumes for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

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We had several lively dinner conversations about what we were going to do as far as DIY Disney costumes are concerned. Usually, the more “lively” conversations occurred in years when we were all trying to match our costumes. There always seemed to be one dissenter among the group.

So far, Peter Pan, Star Wars, Grecian, and Superhero-themed costumes have been considered. Each has always been nixed by someone who didn’t want to participate.

For many years, my kids would beg me to buy them a costume at the store for Halloween. I, not wanting to let go of the fun of sewing the costumes, would always say, “No, you get a handmade costume!”

How to Make an Ariel Costume

Costume Elements

White Blouse
Blue Satin Skirt (circle skirt tutorial linked below)
Red Wig (linked below)
DIY Vest (simple directions below)
Flouder Toy

For this particular Halloween, my teenage daughter was determined that I should make her an Ariel Costume.

Learn how to DIY your own Ariel Mermaid Halloween Costume - also great for cosplay !

Two days before Fall break, we headed to Joann to pick up fabric for an Ariel in a Dress on the Land Halloween Costume.

Costume ideas for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney World

I did not make my son’s costume. It was easy enough. He wore my husband’s jacket from his Ichabod Crane costume a few years ago, then added the foam hat and beard. Easy peasy (except he got overheated, ended up sick, and almost left Disney World on a stretcher; he’s fine, by the way).

How to DIY the Skirt

The Ariel costume is actually quite simple to make. It consists of two sewn items and three purchased items. None of the sewn items require any special skills, and an advanced beginner should be able to make both.

This Ariel costume is designed for a teen, but you could also use this tutorial to make an Ariel Costume for an adult.

Purchase blue satin fabric that does not fray (so that you don’t need to hem it). Then make a circle skirt. Here is a free tutorial for a Circle Skirt. It’s SO EASY, trust me.

The Ariel Shirt & Vest

We purchased a peasant shirt, and then I made her vest.

How To Make the Vest:

Measure around the widest part of your model’s torso, then add 1″. Measure the height of their torso. Note both measurements and cut a piece of faux black suede those sizes.

Add a separating zipper to the back seam (essentially making a fabric tube held together by a zipper), then zip the vest onto the model inside out.

Pin the excess fabric under the arms until it is the same shape as the model. You are essentially creating side seams and darts at the same time. Sew up these seams.

Other Ariel Costume Additions

Once we got to Disney World, she had the idea to pin Flounder to her skirt, which I thought added a fun and clever touch to the costume.

The wig is from Amazon; I made a big blue bow and pinned it to the wig with my extra fabric. Make a bow, cut out a long rectangle of fabric, fold it in half, and “cinch” it with another fabric. Safety pin the bow on the wig (since it’s not real hair, you can sew it on).

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Our Review

(hubby and I went as Mousketeers, an easy costume to throw together at the last-minute)

The last time we were at Disney, we attended the Halloween Party and were not 100% sure we would go again. It was so crowded compared to years past. We could barely walk down the street; there were so many people.

To top it off, my husband and I got food poisoning from a drinking fountain that night. We decided to give it “one more try.” I’m happy to say that the crowds were perfect. They were crowded, yes, but not overwhelming, and we could walk onto most of the rides.

Disney also added many fun activities to the party, and I was thrilled we decided to go again.

Remember that “Funny Story” I mentioned earlier?

Everything was fine the night of the party until my son went on a ride, got off, and said he didn’t “feel so good.” To summarize, he got sick and dizzy and wouldn’t stand up or walk.

Disney noticed. Ten minutes later, there were three paramedics, a cop, a fireman, and about a dozen Disney employees around us. I must say that Disney is über prepared for sick kids; they were very friendly and helpful. Yes, they can drive an ambulance into the Magic Kingdom.

After checking him out, they decided he didn’t need to go to the hospital. He ended up leaving the Magic Kingdom in a wheelchair that night. It was memorable for sure. My daughter made sure I knew she was mad she missed the Halloween parade and most of the party (oh, the perils of being a twin).

I think we still need to go to the Halloween party again, though, to try to “break” our streak of bad luck.