cdtommie - not doubting you at all, and hope it didn't come across that way.
Last year, we got the dress code spiel, as I was very unhappy with lugging myself back to EPCOT in dockers and dress shoes later in the evening. Also, at the 11/5/5 PFTS last year, we saw 1 person possibly in shorts, and 1 guy in jeans and a white ball cap, and that was it. Everyone else was pants, slacks, skirts, and nicer. Believe me, I paid attention, because I was a bit toasty myself until we got inside the coolness of the building. I paid attention early on, that is, until about the 8th wine station.....
This year, I called and got that same blasted 'no shorts' spiel, as first words of the description of the 'resort smart casual' code. But, the CM couldn't give me that dress code until she was about to book the event for me. Unless someone at WDW has a weird sense of humor and is randomly pranking us, then I have to believe that the dress code mentioned to several of us who have called was in the system, and correct. Too many people with the same information from the same source. But, CM's not giving out full information, or not finding it, can happen just as easily.
Note: The dress code description came at about the same point in the process where they are just about to give you your confirmation number when you make regular ADR's, i.e. like for the California Grill or something.
My description was given near the end of the reservation process.