Shorts at Dinner?

[WebmasterAlex]

Aside from the tech stuff I started on these boards as one of the first moderators of the new cruise board 15 years ago! This was a huge debate then I don't think it will ever stop until there just is no dress code!

 

[KashasMom]

We just got off the Fantasy - 2nd seating - and saw people wearing shorts. Some had flip-flops. Doesn't bother me what people wear. Main stream cruising has gotten a lot more casual. If I was concerned about how everyone else around me dressed, I'd cruise a different line. Although none of my family wore shorts, if Disney allows it then you can't really complain when people do.

 

[tvguy]

On my WBTA cruise in October 2014 during second seating a guy sitting at my table wore shorts, tshirt and crocs for dinner every night. Someone else at this table made a comment about his attire and the person said he was on vacation, never dresses up and what he was comfortable wearing. I didn't know any of these people prior to the cruise and I admire the guy standing firm on his beliefs.

I really don't think wearing shorts in the MDR rises to the level of requiring a comment.....and certainly doesn't rise to the lever of standing firm. I might shake my head, but come on, if you want to to wear casual clothing, eat in the casual dining options, not the MDR. Our cruise we had a couple a table over who wore nothing but matching sweat suits. At least they wore the black ones on formal night. But he gave his server fits sending food back. The night he ordered Beef Wellington he commented loudly that "only an idiot would but breading on a steak".

 

[TimeAndTide]

We were on the Magic recently and had early seating. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of people who dressed for formal night, including tuxedos. We were disappointed in how few made any attempt on the semi-formal night. There were a lot of polo shirts. On Cruise Casual evenings, there were some khaki style shorts but not that many.

While I agree that it's everyone's cruise and they can do as they like, how people are dressed does impact the atmosphere and tone - just like the decor and the table settings. So while a person may be allowed to wear whatever they like, and they may be a perfectly pleasant person, I think it makes sense to at least give a nod to the suggested attire. It's a courtesy thing. No, I don't think the "croc police" should come escort a person out. But, a pair of khaki pants never hurt anyone. It's part of the fun and a social kindness to other passengers.

 

[Dave2425]

Why is this even debated? The official DCL dress code allows shorts. Enough said.

 

[over50visits]

It doesn't matter to me what people wear as much as their behavior. If someone is in shorts but respectful and mannerly, I'm good. If people are loud, obnoxious and rude, I don't care what they are wearing, I don't want to be near them.

Yeah!!

 

[TimeAndTide]

Why is this even debated? The official DCL dress code allows shorts. Enough said.

There is a difference between " allowed" and "suggested". That's why it's debated. There are many things that are allowed or legal, but that doesn't make them the best choice in a given situation.

 

[lisamarie12]

Okay. I will tell you what I observed on our recent Fantasy cruise. We had the main 5:45 dining time and our rotation put us in Enchanted Garden on formal night and Royal Court on semi formal night.

On formal night 80% of the men were wearing either suits or dress pants with a sports jacket/blazer. 10% of men were in slacks and dress shirt, without jacket. 2% of men were wearing a tux. 5-10% were in shorts or casual clothes.

On semi-formal night 65% of men were in some combination of dress pants, dress shirt, sports coat/blazer, but often without ties. I would estimate another 30% were in khakis with nice shirts. 10% were in more casual clothes or shorts.

On cruise casual nights, I saw about 70% of men in khakis and polos. About 25% were in nice Bermuda shorts and polo/golf shirts. About 5% looked more casual.

Pirate night is a category unto itself and you really can't go wrong.

I hope that helps. I was paying attention too, because there was a huge long thread just before our cruise with people arguing over attire. My husband wore shorts one evening and khakis/dress pants/suit for the remainder. He enjoyed his meal in shorts and I thought he looked good every single night.

Very helpful. I will probably pack a pair of khakis or dress pants based upon this. He usually does wear khakis and polos. On our last cruise, however, it was so casual that he looked out of place in long pants. Of course that was a 5 day cruise on an older carnival ship so that could have impacted it.

 

[cashe]

This is totally off topic, but every time I see the topic of this thread, my blind eyes always read "SHOTS at dinner" and I'm like "I need to be sitting with those folk" lol jk.... But seriously, maybe my subconscious is trying to tell me I've been locked in this house in a wheelchair too long lol.

Ok. Carry on.

 

[MunFam]

There is a difference between " allowed" and "suggested". That's why it's debated. There are many things that are allowed or legal, but that doesn't make them the best choice in a given situation.

I agree with this. And I think DCL made a mistake by not defining "shorts" a little better. Shorts can be anything from see through lace bootie cover ups to basketball shorts, daisy dukes, cargo shorts to very nice, elegant linen shorts or golf style shorts. I think part of the problem is that some people read that shorts are no longer forbidden in the MDR and see that as an open door to dress like they would to go through the drive through at McDonalds on a Sunday night. I like to think that was not Disney's intention. I think they are trying to allow their passengers to feel comfortable in warmer sailing destinations. Unfortunately, there are always guests who will push those boundaries to the extreme and until Disney makes it more clear, these debates over "shorts" will continue.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I might shake my head, but come on, if you want to to wear casual clothing, eat in the casual dining options, not the MDR.

DCL says it's ok to wear shorts in the MDR and they don't turn people away if you have a problem what other people are wearing maybe DCL isn't for you.

 

[cgolf]

I am curious, on where people are from and if that impacts their answer. Talking to my boss on an unrelated topic she mentioned out east was different from the midwest, where I am from, and out west. Essentially out west would generally be more relaxed and out east more formal. The Midwest falls kind of in the middle.

Kind of makes sense for me. While I don't care what others wear, I always wear khaki pants and a button down shirt for all nights. So some nights I am overdressed and others slightly under.

Wish the new forum listed everyones reported location like the old site, because then I wouldn't have to ask.

 

[MunFam]

I am curious, on where people are from and if that impacts their answer. Talking to my boss on an unrelated topic she mentioned out east was different from the midwest, where I am from, and out west. Essentially out west would generally be more relaxed and out east more formal. The Midwest falls kind of in the middle.

Kind of makes sense for me. While I don't care what others wear, I always wear khaki pants and a button down shirt for all nights. So some nights I am overdressed and others slightly under.

Wish the new forum listed everyones reported location like the old site, because then I wouldn't have to ask.

Ya know, that makes a lot of sense. I am from SoCal, but I work all over the world in the corporate travel and meeting industry, so I consider myself very formal and traditional despite living in casual San Diego.

 

[memory3130]

Following, as I too am interested in dining dress codes!

 

[lds0191]

Maybe they should have a separate dining room for the fancy pants people and the rest of us pigs could dine in peace

 

[Dug720]

Given what I see (and try to ignore) on the subway every day, shorts at dinner is such a minor issue.

I did have to laugh when I asked about formal nights on RCCL over on another forum and got the response "If you were ok on HAL, you will probably feel OVERdressed on RCCL." Pretty much sums up how I felt with DCL as well. I didn't mind dressing up (other than having to wriggle into the hose!), but I didn't let what others wore bug me at all. (The girls dressed in prom-wear on Pirate night did make some of us in line for Captain Jack wonder if they looked at the wrong Navigator, but they were having fun, so NABD.)

 

[purfectlyweird]

Given what I see (and try to ignore) on the subway every day, shorts at dinner is such a minor issue.

A see through lacy punk runk onesie .......gawd I miss the subway! If you have a problem with what other people are wearing then stepping out into the real world just isn't for you.

 

[tinkerone]

i'm still amazed that people even recognize what others are wearing. i'm way to busy enjoying my quiet time with dh or having nice conversations with the dinning staff to notice what the person next to me is wearing. further more, i just don't care. if your polite and not rowdy i will never pay attention to what you are wearing. i don't see you. if you have on your huge diamond rings and tiaras, well, its a waste on me cause i just don't see it. getting excited by what others are wearing is wasted energy.
dress for yourself and don't worry what others are wearing. then maybe, just maybe, what others are wearing won't ruin your dinner.
JMO. flaming…..GO

 

[purfectlyweird]

i'm still amazed that people even recognize what others are wearing. i'm way to busy enjoying my quiet time with dh or having nice conversations with the dinning staff to notice what the person next to me is wearing. further more, i just don't care. if your polite and not rowdy i will never pay attention to what you are wearing. i don't see you. if you have on your huge diamond rings and tiaras, well, its a waste on me cause i just don't see it. getting excited by what others are wearing is wasted energy.
dress for yourself and don't worry what others are wearing. then maybe, just maybe, what others are wearing won't ruin your dinner.
JMO. flaming…..GO

You can hang with us! Me and my friends have been apart for years so when we get together my only focus is them. In the MDR we're only focused on catching up and enjoying good food/service. Unless some falls or something crashes or crush is on screen we would never notice as well.

 

[Poohcandi]

Oh man. This just makes me wonder what people thought of us yesterday when we were visiting a friend at Animal Kingdom Lodge. My son forgot his shoes (!) and the only shoes the shop had were $40 crocs. Um, no. So we quickly booked it through the lobby. We had to eat outside by the pool because he couldn't go in the restaurants (I wouldn't let him, of course). Stuff happens! We might all benefit from being a little less judgmental (me included).



This made me laugh. As a mother of 5, I could not believe a child could " forget" his shoes until I had them. They can forget anything, and sometimes I am too busy to notice.