Disney in a Minute: What is Silhouette Art?

As you walk around Disney World, you may see carts selling silhouettes in black frames. This custom souvenir is a Disney tradition that goes back to the early days of Disneyland itself, and it’s one of the most affordable personalized mementos at Disney World. Hand-cut by Disney artists on black cardstock, they can be purchased with or without a frame.

Sitting for a silhouette portrait takes only a minute or two. You sit still while the artist cuts the black paper to match the profile of your face. It’s pretty incredible to watch them work! They’re very skilled, and you’ll find the same Cast Members cutting the portraits over many years. We’ve seen stories of people who had their first silhouette cut in childhood, and their child’s first silhouette cut by the same artist decades later.

The artists actually use two sheets at once, so you’ll get two mirror-image silhouettes. You can display your portrait facing in either direction – or keep one and give the other to another family member. The artists can cut profiles of sleeping children (which is sometimes easier if you have a squirmer). They can do profiles of multiple people at once. They can also use a photograph as their model, so you can have them made for family members who aren’t with you. Or even your pet! If using a photograph, make sure it’s a clear profile picture with the entire head and hair.

Several cutouts can be framed together to make a single portrait of a couple or family. The artist can also add characters like Mickey, Minnie, or even Tinker Bell! Think of it as the silhouette version of a Magic Shot.

Prices can change, but at this writing a single portrait costs just $14. Portraits of your pet cost $18. The oval black plastic frames cost $13.95 each. You can use any frame you like or none at all, but the oval is a traditional presentation. If you choose not to get a frame, your silhouettes will be given to you protected by sturdy cardboard for protection in transit. And if you only want a frame, you can purchase those without buying the art.

At Disneyland, the Silhouette Studio is a storefront operation on Main Street that opened shortly after the park in 1955. Most of the international parks also have carts or studios where you can get your silhouette cut.

Where can you get a silhouette at Disney World? You’ll find silhouette carts at several locations. In the Magic Kingdom, you’ll find them located on Main Street and in Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom. There’s one in the France Pavilion at EPCOT. Outside the parks, you’ll find a silhouette cart in the Marketplace area of Disney Springs. Hours vary but are typically shorter than overall park hours. Look for them to open mid-morning as the parks become busier.

If you’d like to get a silhouette but aren’t in the parks or planning a trip soon, you can order them online from Arribas Brothers. You’ll need to upload photos at their website, and they have instructions about how to take the best image to submit.

Disney in a Minute is a series of short posts designed to help you better understand a Disney term or planning topic. Do you have a Disney term that you think needs a bit more explanation? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks to Erin Foster for an earlier version of this post.