California Grill Attire

[Lorelai]

I read something about California Grill now having a policy regarding specific attire. Can anyone tell me exactly what the policy is? Do males need a tie?Thanks.

 

[ufgator]

I just heard on this board that it's business casual - I haven't been in a couple of years. Someone else can probably give you more info.

 

[BCV23]

The current term being used is business casual. But if you ask the CM to read what that means, you will be told....no swimwear, no tank tops. Some CMs will elaborate on their own but if you ask them to read the explanation that is what it will be.

This is no actual change from previous years. At times it has been called resort casual, smart casual ( a really dumb term in my mind), etc.. but always the guidelines have been the same....no tanks, no swimwear.

There is a change in seating procedure however for some months now. You check in on the second floor and are escorted up on the elevator.

 

[MikeWazowski]

They change the words, but its still the same. Somtimes I go with shorts and a polo, others a shirt and tie. I have never found any problems and doubt anyone would. Unless you had cut off jeans and a tank top. But, you are at Disney.

 

[ducklite]

I do believe things are changing at the CG, and I think within the next two months we're going to hear from people refused service for not being in true business casual. Unless you are in Bermuda, shorts are not considered business casual, and in Bermuda those shorts are worn with a sport coat and sometimes even a tie.

Will it make some people not dine there? Sure. But there will be plenty of others dressed as requested right behind them to fill those tables. I don't think they are at all worried about it.

Anne

 

[BCV23]

I don't know, Anne. We dined there around March 1 and although it was too cool for shorts, a guy on the elevator with us was wearing a Tshirt and casual jeans. He was certainly seated with no problem. I think that is more casual than nice shorts and a polo shirt. Has someone in the know told you something else?

Say hi to TC.

 

[cjsmith]

I do believe things are changing at the CG, and I think within the next two months we're going to hear from people refused service for not being in true business casual. Unless you are in Bermuda, shorts are not considered business casual, and in Bermuda those shorts are worn with a sport coat and sometimes even a tie.

Will it make some people not dine there? Sure. But there will be plenty of others dressed as requested right behind them to fill those tables. I don't think they are at all worried about it.

Anne

Anne, I believe you are right. There is a new head manager at CG and he is looking to make a change. The one thing that CG doesn't have to worry about is filling their tables. Not only do they get guests from those visiting Disney, they are a very popular restaurant for those who live in the Orlando area. The fact that no one will have problems because they're Disney isn't really true, Disney can enforce dress codes, they do it now at V&A's and people still go all the time! If they decide that they want CG to become a bit more sophisticated in their minds by shaking up the dress code, they have the right and they will do it.
I see a lot of places down here in Naples now refuse service and entrance due to their dress code and we are a resort town. Most of our town is very casual and golf shorts are the norm down here all year. Just last Saturday night we were not allowed in a place simply for a cocktail because my husband had shorts on. He had on Ralph Lauren dress linen shorts that were dry cleaned and pressed, a button down Ralph Lauren dress linen shirt and dress shoes and looked great. He looked much nicer than most of the people we did see let in but the fact was he had shorts so it was a no go. The establishment has decided to start enforcing their dress code and had no problems telling us very nicely that we could not go in. We accepted in and moved on.

 

[ducklite]

I don't know, Anne. We dined there around March 1 and although it was too cool for shorts, a guy on the elevator with us was wearing a Tshirt and casual jeans. He was certainly seated with no problem. I think that is more casual than nice shorts and a polo shirt. Has someone in the know told you something else?

Say hi to TC.

I'll say hi to her, need to call her and ask her to run by my house to check something.

As far as the CG, several posters have reported being told by CG staff that the dress code is changing and will be enforced in the near future. Taking that into consideration along with the new policies on check-in, it's a fair assumption that things are changing.

Anne

 

[Ajax]

I do believe things are changing at the CG, and I think within the next two months we're going to hear from people refused service for not being in true business casual. Unless you are in Bermuda, shorts are not considered business casual, and in Bermuda those shorts are worn with a sport coat and sometimes even a tie.

Will it make some people not dine there? Sure. But there will be plenty of others dressed as requested right behind them to fill those tables. I don't think they are at all worried about it.

Anne

I'd love to see that happen! We dined at the FFC on 3/18. The CM told me that the dress code was business casual when I made the PS. We 'dress' for dinner anyhow, so it was no skin off of our collective noses.

But many people hadn't, and looked as if they'd decided on a $300 meal after a long hard day at the flea market. We're not snobs, but we play by the rules and expect others to do the same.

 

[iwaseeyore]

We were there on 3/6. We saw jeans, shorts and things less appealing.

Ducklite, I think you are off base. As long as we are talking WDW no one get refused as long as the dress code is a recommendation.

At V&A, it's not a recommendation.

Look at all the the places the dress code police want to enforce a dress code and no one would eat at the nicer places at WDW.

 

[DVCconvert]

Nuts.!!!

So I can't go to CG wearing my speedo's, flip-flops and a muscle shirt anymore!??????

Bummer.

 

[BCV23]

I guess time will tell. But the elevator change has been on place for quite some time now....since at least last summer as we dined there in July. The term has changed but nothing else so far as far as suggested dress. And again, if you ask what that means...it is the same as always.

My husband enjoys wearing nice shorts to CG in warmer weather. It is nice to leave snow behind in late March and wear shorts in FL. If indeed CG doesn't allow that at some point, I would be surprised.

To me one of the quirky charms of the CG has been seeing locals dressed for the prom seated next to a family who could be dining at a casual country club restaurant.

And we are not slobs....in fact my husband and sons are often the only men on our MCO flights who wear sports coats.

 

[anne930]

We have an early PS on Sunday nite during our stay Memorial Day weekend. We are planning on going from MK after being at the park all day. Even though we will dress in nice shorts and shirts, it will be too hot to get more dressed up than that. And our PS is too early to go all the way back to the Yacht Club to change clothes. We have done this in the past and had no problem - I would hate to have to change our PS to somewhere else - we enjoyed eating there so much!! But I agree it is a very nice place and I can appreciate them upgrading the dress code, especially later in the evening. BUT IT IS DISNEY - give us a break !!

 

[Uncleromulus]

As Bcv23 says, time will tell. And as Cjsmith says, you accept it--OR you move on. And that's what I'll do--move on. CG isn't all that good to be forced to dress up and enforcing a dress code is a direct slap in the face to all those would-be diners who dress theme park casual because it's HOT in Florida, because they are on vacation, and because they are coming from somewhere (or going somewhere) with dinner at the California Grill in between.
My own hunch is that this sudden code enforcement is based on some belief that a correctly dressed and thoroughly scrubbed crowd will somehow "behave" better--not linger 2 hours over a lemon water waiting for Wishes to start, or allowing their kids to run all over the restaurant getting in the way of servers and patrons alike.
Of course that belief is quite false, and I anticipate subsequent posts where folks report an hour wait for their PS seating, or that their meal was disrupted by unruly kids, and the poster wonders how and why that could happen at such a fashionable restaurant.
lorelai: As to your original post--there is no dress code REQUIREMENT just yet. But in anticipation, and in case you show up somehow "incorrectly dressed" and are refused admittance--go somewhere else. Narcoose's is a fine spot for dinner and Wishes, and at least for now, you can get in there w/o any worry.