Attire at Cali Grill

[DCHSswimmer10]

We're eating at California Grill after a day in MK to watch the fireworks. Can someone tell me what I should be wearing there? and if my park clothes would be appropriate? I'll probably be wearing shorts and a T-shirt in the park

 

[kerrynic78]

We went there about 2 weeks ago and they have a sign when you check in that asks for guests to dress in "business casual" clothes. They also mention it when you call to make a PS.

I usually wear a skirt, sundress, or black pants and my DH will wear khakis.

We LOVE the CA Grill!!!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

CA is one of my favorite restaurants.

I personally would not wear shorts to CA Grill. DH wears a polo shirt of some sort and pants. My DS9 wears the same and I wear a dressier pants outfit.

I would call and ask. The place is just too good to not be able to go because of a t-shirt.

 

[LadyLuc361]

Good Question...I am thinking of booking a PS (or whatever they are called now )

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Much as they would prefer "business casual", they are at a resort where people will come to eat directly from a Park. Especially as it is getting warmer (it was 87 today) they will not turn you away with neat (not cutoff) shorts and a neat (preferably Disney) T-Shirt.

 

[Uncleromulus]

So they have a sign now, eh?? Pretty fancy!!
But as I understand it, it's as Cheshire says--that "code" is still a preference.
If (or when) they begin to turn away families in shorts and Disney T"s, then it will be time to seek other spots for dinner. NO reason on earth to make folks like Swimmer10 have to leave early from a fun (and busy) day the MK just to get dressed for the "privilege" of eating at CG. At that point, CG will have declared itself a spot catering more to locals than to families on vacation.

 

[Leota]

They note when you make your PS that the attire is "Smart Casual" or "Business Casual" and also had a sign at check in.....

That said, they do not enforce it as we saw many folks there dressed in Park clothes. While I would not personally go in shorts & tee, nor would my DH & DS, you will most likely not be turned away either.

My feeling is they should not even note it if they aren't going to enforce it. I,myself, enjoy dressing for dinner once in awhile & think that dinner at California Grill warrents some effort in that department. To me, dinner at CG, like dinner at CG,V&A, Artist Point etc..., is an event, not just sustenance.

 

[kerrynic78]

My thoughts exactly, Leota

 

[Bob P]

Much as they would prefer "business casual", they are at a resort where people will come to eat directly from a Park. Especially as it is getting warmer (it was 87 today) they will not turn you away with neat (not cutoff) shorts and a neat (preferably Disney) T-Shirt.

BINGO!!!

We ate there two weeks ago and there were plenty of men and women in shorts. I made sure to take note since there had been other threads about this topic.

And the night we went there it was relatively cool (mid 70s during the day)so I'm sure as the weather gets hotter shorts will become more prevalent.

Bob

 

[Uncleromulus]

Leota:
I guess that's the "issue" for me. You enjoy dressing up once in awhile for dinner and that's good. You can do that if you want. But must EVERYONE be made to dress up?? There's lots of us who DON"T like to dress "up" for dinner but who are still neat and well-behaved. Why keep us out??

SWimmer10: Confused by all of this?? I still believe you'll be able to get in dressed theme park casual. But if you'll feel "better" dressing up, then no choice but to leave MK early and change.

 

[DCHSswimmer10]

Thanks this really helps!

 

[ladysoleil]

I'm definitely going to stress the "neat" casual. When we went in March there was a group of young ladies ahead of us at the check-in desk wearing swimwear topped by short denim miniskirts and zipper sweatshirts. They were guests at the Contemporary, apparently, as they were asked to change and come back. So, they will turn you away if you're wearing something overly casual, but if you're clean and tidy, you'll be okay.

That said, some people do get fairly dressed up. We didn't go crazy, but we did stow a clean shirt for DH and a few toiletries in a park locker to tidy up a bit before we headed over to dine.

 

[lenshanem]

I wouldn't worry about it. I wore black dress pants, silk top and high heels and felt over dressed! Men should be fine in khakis and any shirt other than a T-shirt, woman - casual, but not shorts or anything. A sundress, even a skirt thrown into your day bag should be fine to slip into before arriving.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

This a good info thread for us too! We are hoping for a 10 yr anniversary dinner at the CA Grill during the MVMCP. Just DH and I are going to the party and were hoping to step out for a nice romantic dinner and then come back for more partying.

I have been trying to figure out what to wear to the park that would also fit the CA Grill. We were going to try to go in MVMCP at 4pm like last year and then leave around 7 for dinner and head back to the park after the fireworks. Maybe we'll try for a really, really early dinner and then change into park wear afterwards. We don't want to take away too much time from the party, but we also want to take advantage of our only night away from the kids and do something romantic.

 

[Leota]

Leota:
I guess that's the "issue" for me. You enjoy dressing up once in awhile for dinner and that's good. You can do that if you want. But must EVERYONE be made to dress up?? There's lots of us who DON"T like to dress "up" for dinner but who are still neat and well-behaved. Why keep us out??

Uncleromulus - I never said they should keep people out or that they should have a code - I said if you have a code, enforce it. If you aren't going to enforce, why go thru the trouble of telling people that you have it?

I really don't care too much what people wear, I just found it odd that it was noted to me several times to dress a certain way, yet it really didn't matter.

For example,we had 2 youg men in our party whose dress clothes had gotten wet (outdoor wedding reception earlier in the day) who didn't come as we were told it was smart casual. Since their non-Park outfits had gotten wet, they couldn't dress as they were told was required. Once we got there, we realized they had missed a wonderful meal for no reason. There were plenty of folks in Park wear. Silly us for following the code that was noted to us when we made our PS.... That is where my frustration comes from.

I do believe in dressing for a nice dinner out, but I don't expect everyone else to feel the same. (DH certainly doesn't! )

 

[justhat]

We ate there on 4/20 and my husband, daughter, and I all had shorts and t-shirts on. We were seated for our PS without a second glance. We've been there many times before, almost always in park attire (a few exceptions when we've dressed up cause we wanted to) and always been seated without anyone even looking at us.

 

[justhat]

For example,we had 2 youg men in our party whose dress clothes had gotten wet (outdoor wedding reception earlier in the day) who didn't come as we were told it was smart casual. Since their non-Park outfits had gotten wet, they couldn't dress as they were told was required. Once we got there, we realized they had missed a wonderful meal for no reason. There were plenty of folks in Park wear. Silly us for following the code that was noted to us when we made our PS.... That is where my frustration comes from.

I do believe in dressing for a nice dinner out, but I don't expect everyone else to feel the same. (DH certainly doesn't! )

We were at AK on 4/28 before going to Citricos for dinner and I stupidly decided to ride KRR a 2nd time before we left. I hadn't really gotten wet the 1st time that day so I figured I'd be okay. I was wrong. I was soaked, more than I'd ever been on that ride and as soon as I got off we had to leave for the GF (ride broke when I was on it so I was stuck at the top of the drop for 20 minutes!). I was hoping to go back to the CR to change but the added time on the ride ruled that out. So I went went, very wet. I had to buy a Mickey shirt in the GF giftshop and change in the bathroom so I didn't have to eat cold and wet, but they didn't have any shorts so I was stuck wearing weat shorts. I sat on a few napkins and that seemed to help. I wouldn't have wanted to go there like that, but I would have been pretty late if I had gone back to change so I dealt with it.

The last time we ate there was on our honeymoon, and I definitely dressed up for that, so this was a big change!