Don't fight the Dining Dress codes!

[CampbellzSoup]

I know this doesn't apply to everyone, like most things when it comes to EVERYTHING. However, I see a trend in some of the threads where people don't want to dress up or wear a suit jacket or just be comfortable wearing whatever. The Disney Dining Dress code now seems optional rather than enforced heavily.

YOU GUYS LOOK AWESOME. I always love peeking in restaurants or looking at people getting dressed up to go to diner at Disney - it makes me super jealous, and want to attend this exclusive looking restaurant.

Just saying I know everyone has their thing, but when I see you guys going out to diner in your evening wear some people look out of this world awesome - while I know it's a pain in the booty to change and get into things your not comfortable with on vacation, you look great, trust me.

signed a jealous diner.

(P.S. Not really I LOVE wearing my tuxedo out too! However, others look amazing too)

 

[georgina]

How many restaurants at WDW have a dress code that requires getting dressed up or a suit jacket? We looked nice when we went to Artist's Point, but DH did not have a jacket and I wore nice pants and a sweater, which was certainly not required by any dress code. We only take carry-ons when we go to WDW, not much room for fancy things (and we are casual people by nature).

Edit - here is the signature dress code -
“Men: Khakis, slacks, jeans, dress shorts, collared shirts. Sport coats are optional.
Ladies: Capris, skirts, dresses, jeans, dress shorts.
Not permitted in dining room: Tank tops, swimwear, hats for gentleman, cut offs, or torn clothing. While T-shirts are now allowed, the policy remains that T-shirts with offensive language or graphics are not acceptable.”

So, we are well within it, not fighting it AT ALL. If you love wearing a tuxedo, go for it. Not our thing.

 

[hopeful4fl]

V&A has a dress code and (I believe) strictly enforce it.

 

[georgina]

V&A has a dress code and (I believe) strictly enforce it.

That may be the only one. And it is certainly somewhere I would never go.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

V&A requires jackets for men but doesn't even require ties. No jeans or shorts.

There's no other signature restaurant that will turn away guests wearing jeans or shorts. I don't think there are many who go in evening wear.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I usually wear a nice sundress or just a nicer dress, Dh wears khakis and a button down. We just don't/won't wear shorts and tees for sigs. I know you technically can, and a lot of people do, but IMO it's nicer to see people in non park clothes. Cali grill seems to be the most relaxed with how everyone dresses, tons of park clothes. I've noticed at narcoosees and jiko people are a little more dressed up. We prefer that.

 

[Dean Marino]

V&A has a dress code and (I believe) strictly enforce it.

They do . Suit & tie for me, every time .

Every other SIG (the only exception being the BD within HS) - I always wear a dress shirt, no tie - and those coal black Levi's that don't look like Levi's unless someone trains a searchlight on me . On the November trips - I add a corduroy sport coat. In Spring? this is just too hot.

For us, the BD has to be an exception, only because we're going to the park all day. STILL polo's & Khaki shorts... no t shirts, cutoffs. Everywhere else? We go back to the room to change for dinner.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

One of the things that I really LOVE about Disney restaurants is that you can dress up if you'd like, but it's not mandatory. You can be in a dress and be seated next to a table in "park" attire. I actually like that freedom. I do think that at a signature restaurants, you should be at least in business casual attire. I have been at both Narcosees and Cali Grill where diners have been in messy t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops. That being said, I think we assume that travelers to Disney know in advance, via the Disboards, or other venues, about these things. Also, I have to believe that with people coming from all over the world, there is much,very innocent lack of knowledge of policies and best practices, etc. I enjoy getting a little dressed up for dinners in Disney. It makes the experience feel special to me. It doesn't take anything away from my experience how other diners are dressed. That's what makes it Disney... There's room for all of us!

 

[Hopefully]

For Signatures (only) we prefer to freshen up before dinner. We don't get "dressed up' per se. But I wear linen capris, a nice blouse and fancy sandals. DH and DS wear dress shorts and collared sport shirts. It is a special night out and we feel better not in park attire.

 

[Hollymom1229]

DH and I enjoy dressing up a bit for the signature restaurants. I will generally bring a nice dress or dressy capris and a nice top, which I pair up with a pair of nicer sandals. DH will either wear a polo or a button up shirt, with khakis or nice khaki shorts. When we we've been to V&A's DH has worn a full suit and I wear a very nice dress.

 

[RogueKnits]

I know this doesn't apply to everyone, like most things when it comes to EVERYTHING. However, I see a trend in some of the threads where people don't want to dress up or wear a suit jacket or just be comfortable wearing whatever. The Disney Dining Dress code now seems optional rather than enforced heavily.

YOU GUYS LOOK AWESOME. I always love peeking in restaurants or looking at people getting dressed up to go to diner at Disney - it makes me super jealous, and want to attend this exclusive looking restaurant.

Just saying I know everyone has their thing, but when I see you guys going out to diner in your evening wear some people look out of this world awesome - while I know it's a pain in the booty to change and get into things your not comfortable with on vacation, you look great, trust me.

signed a jealous diner.

(P.S. Not really I LOVE wearing my tuxedo out too! However, others look amazing too)

I agree. Other than Victoria & Albert's, the dress codes aren't all that crazy anyway. Shorts are even acceptable for men. We went to Citricos last summer straight from MK without changing our clothes. I simply wore a comfortable dress and nice-looking (but super comfortable to walk in) sandals that day, and my husband wore khaki shorts and a polo shirt with boat shoes. We were fine all day in the park in those clothes.

 

[DisneyHardin]

At home DH and I dress up some to go out to dinner, but at Disney where suitcase space is already at a premium, I'm not going to pack extra clothes just for dinner.

 

[Lisaloo]

meh. I really don't notice what other people are wearing. Especially at Disney, I'm in the zone. lol. I wear dresses to dinner because DH still compliments me like crazy after 20 years, not for anyone else's benefit.

 

[maxiesmom]

OP I think you need to go back and re-read what the dress codes are. The only place you have to wear actual dress clothes is V&As.

 

[Nancyg56]

Honestly, I think a nice shirt and nice pants are fine! I love to dress up, and do take dressy sundresses or capris for dinner, but I get that others don't want to. If Disney does not ask for a suit jacket, I don't think anyone else should.

 

[saskdw]

The thing or us is our WDW vacations are always a full 2 weeks. This past December it was 16 nights there. There simply isn't room to pack a suit, sports jacket, dress shoes etc.

I "dress up" all year for work and have no desire to do so during our yearly WDW vacation. We ate Christmas dinner at Artiste Pointe and I did wear dress pants and a nice long sleave shirt. However when we ate at Le Cellier and Yachtsman Steakhouse we were in park attire.

 

[mgentry210]

When we did the chef's table at V&A last week they told hubby he could remove his jacket while in the kitchen but had to put it back on to enter the dining room. That's the most strict I've seen. I normally change into a sundress and him a Tommy Bahama shirt before a nice dinner.

 

[jrmasm]

We're headed to CG from MK in August. Dress up? Not a chance.

 

[aVASTGrl]

OP, I definitely agree to a certain degree for Disney dining! I'm glad that the signature restaurants have a dress code, and we always dress nicely when dining at them. It doesn't necessarily bother me at Disney when people dress down for dinner though, since I understand a lot of people have spent all day at the Parks and don't or can't easily, get back to their rooms to change, or pack extra clothes, etc.

I DO definitely wish that nice restaurants in the real world would enforce their dress codes more forcefully, and it's a huge pet peeve of ours when we're at a nicer restaurant and see a bunch of slobs (calling it like it is) walk in. I'm sorry, but if you show up to an establishment wearing yoga pants or torn jeans where the waitstaff is in near-formal attire, to me, that shows a lack of respect to the employees and chefs who work really hard to create a special dining experience. I see it all the time, and it makes me sad.

 

[CinderElsa]

I cannot imagine traipsing around Disney World in an evening gown & heels. I have eaten at V&A multiple times. The number of evening gowns & tuxes I have seen there is exactly 0 - from what I can recall, anyway. Unless someone was naked or wearing a flashing sweater, I doubt I would have even noticed/cared what they were wearing.

I'm pretty sure that outside of V&A, the only "dress code" that exists is for the Sigs, and the only stipulations are that you may not wear swimsuits, ripped clothing, or anything with offensive pictures/slogans. It expressly states that T-shirts are acceptable. So... the actual dress code probably IS being enforced, but the one you personally would prefer is not.

To be honest, these are Disney World restaurants. I don't really consider anything outside of V&A to be "fine dining."