Search “Disney Halloween costume” right now and you’ll get the same five names in every result: Elsa, Moana, Belle, and a villain in a black-and-white wig. Nothing wrong with any of them, but if your kid has worn the Elsa dress three years running or is finally over princess costumes altogether, the well-known picks stop being useful.
Disney’s catalog is bigger than the front page of a costume shop. Somewhere past the main characters are sidekicks, side plots, and entire movies that almost nobody costumes from anymore, and most of them take less effort to pull off than a store-bought gown.
These 17 ideas cover solo looks, sibling duos, and full group costumes, with an eye toward things you can actually build from a closet or a thrift store run rather than a costume warehouse.
Background Characters Who Deserve Their Own Costume
Each of these had maybe ten minutes of screen time, but as a costume, that’s exactly what makes them stand out.
1. Rafiki
Rafiki spends most of “The Lion King” off to the side, painting on trees and talking in riddles, which is exactly why almost nobody dresses as him. An orange or rust-colored wrap, a walking stick, and some white face paint markings get you most of the way there.
He works as a solo costume for an adult who wants something recognizable without wearing a dress or a superhero suit, and he pairs naturally with a family doing a Pride Rock theme without everyone needing to be Simba or Nala.
A thrifted sarong or patterned scarf covers the wrap, and a real walking stick or a painted dowel rod finishes the look for under $25.
2. Kida
“Atlantis: The Lost Empire” barely comes up in costume searches, which means Kida’s blue crop top, wrap skirt, and glowing pendant necklace still reads as fresh instead of the fortieth Ariel of the night.
It’s a strong option for a tween or teen who wants a Disney costume without looking like she’s dressed for a toddler’s birthday party — the color palette photographs well, and nobody will assume it’s a generic mermaid costume.
A plain blue tank top over a long skirt, plus a foam or painted pendant on a cord, keeps the whole thing under $30.
3. Madam Mim
Madam Mim from “The Sword in the Stone” is a witch, but a cartoonish, theatrical one — purple robes, wild gray hair, and an exaggerated scowl instead of anything actually scary.
She gives a mom, aunt, or grandma a villain costume with real personality that doesn’t require competing with every Maleficent at the party.
A thrifted purple robe or dress, green face paint, and a teased wig do most of the work here.
4. Bruno Madrigal
Everyone in “Encanto” goes as Mirabel or Isabela. Bruno gets skipped even though he’s arguably the most comfortable costume in the whole movie — a forest-green sweater, brown pants, and a poncho-style hood, no wig or heels involved.
It’s a good fit for a dad, uncle, or older sibling who wants to participate in the family theme without wearing anything fitted or fussy.
Add a small rat plush pinned to a shoulder and most Encanto fans will get it immediately.
Villain Sidekicks That Steal the Show
The villains get all the attention every October. Their bumbling helpers are funnier to wear and usually cheaper to build.
5. Pain and Panic
Hades’ inept minions from “Hercules” are built for two people who’d rather be silly than scary — think red thermal sets, small craft-foam horns, and enough exaggerated panic in the performance to sell it.
It’s one of the better sibling or best-friend costumes because the “characters” are basically comic relief, so there’s no pressure to look polished.
A red long-sleeve top and pants combo from any closet, plus foam horns from a craft store, works for kids six and up.
6. Honest John and Gideon
“Pinocchio” is one of Disney’s oldest films, and its two con-artist sidekicks almost never show up on a costume list anymore. Honest John gets a top hat, tailcoat, and cane; Gideon gets an oversized coat and a battered hat and doesn’t say a word all night.
Two friends who enjoy a theatrical bit — tipping hats, exaggerated bowing — get more mileage out of this than most modern character pairs.
Thrifted formalwear covers almost the entire costume for both characters.
7. Yzma and Kronk
“The Emperor’s New Groove” is one of Disney’s funniest movies and one of its least costumed. Yzma calls for a purple gown and dramatically arched eyebrows; Kronk needs a simple henley, a vest, and an easy, good-natured expression.
It works well for a parent and teen or two friends who want a duo costume that isn’t a couple’s costume, since the pair reads as comedic rather than romantic.
A purple thrifted dress and bold eye makeup handle Yzma; a plain shirt and vest handle Kronk.
Duo Costumes for Two
These work for couples, but none of them require a prince and princess gown.
8. Roger and Anita Radcliffe
The human leads of “101 Dalmatians” get overshadowed by their own dog, but their vintage 1960s wardrobe — a tailored coat and hat for Roger, a fitted dress and headscarf for Anita — makes for an easy, photogenic couple’s look that skips the animal costume altogether.
It’s a solid pick for a couple who wants something recognizably Disney without buying a single new piece of clothing.
Thrift stores are full of era-appropriate coats and dresses that need almost no alteration.
9. Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl (before the kids)
Instead of the familiar family-of-five Incredibles costume, dress just as the couple did in their earlier superhero days — leaner, more athletic suits, no baby carrier or toddler sidekick required.
It reads as a deliberate choice rather than a default, and it works even for a couple attending a party without their kids in tow.
A solid red or black bodysuit with a felt emblem sewn or fabric-glued on covers both looks.
10. Anastasia and Drizella
Cinderella’s stepsisters let two friends wear full ball gowns without doing the expected princess costume — think clashing colors, over-applied blush, and a tiara sitting slightly crooked on purpose.
The built-in rivalry between the two characters gives the costume some personality beyond just looking pretty for photos.
Two mismatched prom or bridesmaid dresses from a thrift store, styled a little too try-hard, get the tone exactly right.
Full-Group Costumes for Three or More
These need more people, which makes them a good fit for a family with a few kids or a group of friends.
11. The Nightmare Before Christmas crew
Jack Skellington, Sally, Zero, and the Mayor split naturally across four people — a black pinstripe suit for Jack, a patchwork dress for Sally, a white sheet-ghost look for Zero, and a two-faced mask idea for the Mayor.
It’s one of the few group costumes that leans into the spooky side of Halloween instead of the cute side, which makes it a good option for a family that wants some actual atmosphere in their group photo.
Thrifted suit pieces cover Jack, and the Mayor’s two-faced gimmick can be built from a single mask split and repainted down the middle.
12. The Three Good Fairies
Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from “Sleeping Beauty” split cleanly into pink, green, and blue — hooded robes and a wand each, with no argument over who gets to be the “main” character since none of them is.
It’s a strong pick for three sisters, three coworkers, or three moms doing a group costume together, since the color-coding does most of the coordinating for you.
Solid-colored hooded robes in the three shades, plus foam wands, complete the set.
13. The Wreck-It Ralph arcade crew
Ralph, Vanellope, Sergeant Calhoun, and Fix-It Felix Jr. give a family of four a group costume that skips both princesses and superheroes — overalls for Ralph, a candy-patterned hoodie for Vanellope, a military-style outfit for Calhoun, and overalls with a cap for Felix.
It’s a rare four-person option built around video-game characters rather than a movie’s main cast, which makes it stand out at a school event where every other kid is a Disney princess.
Most of it comes together with basic closet pieces plus one or two character-specific props like Ralph’s fists or Felix’s hammer.
Budget and Last-Minute DIY Ideas
Both of these can come together same-day with almost no shopping.
14. Alice in Wonderland’s White Rabbit
When there’s no time left to plan, the White Rabbit is one of the easiest Disney costumes to throw together — a red blazer, a white button-up, bunny ears, and a pocket watch prop clutched in one hand while running “late.”
Most of the pieces are already sitting in a closet, which makes this a good fallback for the person who forgot Halloween was this week.
A cotton-ball tail pinned to the back and a dollar-store pocket watch finish it off in under ten minutes.
15. Toy Story alien squad
The three-eyed aliens from the claw machine work as a matching costume for any number of siblings or cousins — a green sweatsuit, a felt or foam antenna headband, and a simple painted “third eye” logo on the chest.
Because it doesn’t require dressing as a single named character, it scales easily to however many kids are in the group without anyone fighting over who gets to be the “real” one.
A green sweatsuit costs less than $20 per kid, and the felt details take about fifteen minutes to glue on.
Fresh Picks from Newer Disney Movies
Both of these come from recent releases, so they haven’t been done to death yet.
16. Valentino the Goat
“Wish” came out in 2023, and everyone who costumes from it defaults to Asha. Valentino, her talking baby goat sidekick, is a much less obvious pick and works especially well as a toddler costume — a white fuzzy onesie, small horns, and a tufted tail.
It’s instantly recognizable to anyone who’s seen the movie, and unlike most character costumes, it doesn’t need a wig, makeup, or a dress to read correctly.
A plush white hoodie or sherpa onesie with felt horns glued to a headband keeps it comfortable for a toddler trick-or-treating for hours.
17. Ember and Wade
“Elemental” gives a couple or sibling pair a color-blocked costume built entirely around fire and water instead of a prince-and-princess pairing — flowing orange-red fabric with battery-powered fairy lights tucked inside for Ember, and flowing blue fabric with a droplet-shaped headpiece for Wade.
It photographs well in low light thanks to the built-in glow, and it’s different enough from anything else at a Halloween party that people will ask who thought of it.
Ombre orange tulle or fabric plus a strand of battery fairy lights covers Ember; blue chiffon and a foam droplet shape covers Wade.
Final Thoughts
A costume photographs better when it isn’t the fourth identical one in the same trick-or-treat group. Pick two or three of these that actually fit the people wearing them, check what’s already in the closet before buying anything new, and build out from there.