Can my boys wear shorts to dinner?

[BuzzBoyMom]

Putting my flame retardant coat on...

My DSs were 4 and 6 on our first cruise. They wore pants and polos for dinner and I even got them in suits for formal and semi-formal nights.

I'm the parent. They are the child. Need I say more?!

 

[Disney with Triplets]

The following will be the dress attire for the 7 children sailing with our party in December:

2 - "'tween-aged" girls will be observing the adult suggested dress as long as capri pants can be called resort/cruise casual

3 young elementary aged girls will be wearing various Princess dresses and/or sun dresses when those costume dresses become "too itchy".

2 young elementary aged boys will be wearing kakhi shorts and polo style shirts except for the most formal night. If we're lucky, they won't insist on wearing tennis shoes and will opt for the nice sandals instead.

While I cannot promise that they will me model passengers representing the dress code, I can assure fellow passengers that they will be minding their manners, will not be running around the dining room, and will otherwise be "little ladies and gentlemen" in the making. It's all about picking your battles, folks and establishing reasonable expectations considering the circumstances.

 

[Buddy Bear]

Just popped up a fresh bunch anyone want some?

As Bugs Bunny used to say, "It's the suspense that's killin' me!".

Checklist: Popcorn - Yes, Soda - Yes, Nestle's Crunch Bar - Yes.

Houston it appears that all systems are go!

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

We just got back last week. My DS (8) and his cousin(14) both wore pants at dinner every night. He was uncomfortable and did get whiny but that is because he didn't like to sit for an hour to an hour and a half for dinner. When ever he did get whiny the only response he got was "We'll leave after Mommy gets her dessert!!" After dinner he would then go change if he wanted to but most of the time it didn't bother him to have pants on. Amy

 

[lbgraves]

I'm the parent. They are the child. Need I say more?!

:thewave:
I guess that I am lucky. I buy the kid's clothes & they wear them. If I bring an outfit down & tell DS to get dressed, he doesn't care what it is. He would wear a necktie with a polo shirt if I let him. He wore long pants to every meal on both of our cruises while age 5 & 6. I do have to be a little more firm with DD. She would wear her Cinderella dress every night if I let her.

 

[crisi]

Another point to consider, the dining rooms are often slightly chilly - particularly if they spent a lot of time in the sun. They aren't going to be uncomfortable in long pants. They may be slightly chilly in shorts. I had a sweater with me most nights.

We managed to get my five year old into dress pants each night. We brought black ones so he could wear them to dinner each night and if he spilled a little it wasn't a huge deal.

 

[goofymama]

Softly in the distance, I hear popcorn popping...

mmmmm, now I can smell it too. It's making me hungry

 

[Buddy Bear]

:thewave:
I guess that I am lucky. I buy the kid's clothes & they wear them. If I bring an outfit down & tell DS to get dressed, he doesn't care what it is. He would wear a necktie with a polo shirt if I let him. He wore long pants to every meal on both of our cruises while age 5 & 6. I do have to be a little more firm with DD. She would wear her Cinderella dress every night if I let her.

Lucky for me I have all girls.

I am the only boy that doesn't like to wear pants.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

:thewave:
I guess that I am lucky. I buy the kid's clothes & they wear them. If I bring an outfit down & tell DS to get dressed, he doesn't care what it is. He would wear a necktie with a polo shirt if I let him. He wore long pants to every meal on both of our cruises while age 5 & 6. I do have to be a little more firm with DD. She would wear her Cinderella dress every night if I let her.

_______________________________________________________

It does get harder as they get older. My DD lived in her princess dress too. She used to love when I'd buy her matching hairbows, socks, etc and dress her like a doll. It was a completely different story when she slowly approached her 8th birthday. She detests 'girly' stuff, and likes only the trends. Makes me want to cry sometimes.

Nevertheless, it's DH's and my 'our way or the highway' when it comes to following guidelines or rules for appropriate dress. (weddings, cruises, etc.) (No, haven't hit the teenage years yet. I know it's even harder.)

I'll pass on the popcorn. I gained too much last week.

 

[jrabbit]

This thread is a little to tame for me. I'm taking my campfire, graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmellows to a more exciting thread

Actually DS since he was 9 wears slacks to dinner. On casual nights he usually wears a polo shirt (he doesn't really like them) and on formal nights he wears a dress shirt and a tie (he doesn't mind this for some strange reason). What he has done on every cruise though is as soon as he is finished with his desert, he takes off for the room (he can find it easier than the rest of us ) and changes his clothes and he checks out the towel animal. DD on the other had enjoys being a princess and stays for the entire meal.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Yes. I've been on 5 Disney cruises and there are always kids in shorts at dinner.

(flame suite on)

When we sailed on the Wonder, I bought my grandsons, then 9 and 10, nice "dress" khaki shorts to wear to dinner and 3 button-up tropical shirts ... as it turns out they only ate with us once ... the other two nights they wanted to stay in the Lab.

Anyhow, I don't see a problem with them wearing nice shorts and shirts.

 

[jacksmom]

I have an 8yo ds that is very tall and looks 10! I know he would rather wear shorts, but I have bought dress pants! I am wondering though if on pirate night he could get away with shorts (long dressy light khaki shorts)? He has a black polo with skull and crossbones to wear with either black pants or very light khaki shorts! Any opinions?? We want to be appropriate!~

 

[Momeska]

I think on Pirate Night, pretty much anything goes! My DSs and DH wore costumes with pajama pants that I had cut off and torn the bottoms into long strips. They wore shirts with skulls and doorags and eyepatches and everyone loved it. Especially since the boys arrived late due to a late excursion and came wandering in with DS13 wearing BOTH eyepatches! Always the cut-up!

 

[jlima]

DS11 and DS5 wore shorts on the Pirate Night.

On the last night, DS11 wanted to stay in the club, and DS5 had shorts and the shirt from the Kids Graduation. It ran late due to the big bingo game running late before it, and there wasn't time to change.

But they each had school uniform khaki pants that they wore at least 3x during the week and jeans that were worn on the other nights.

 

[katboferguson]

wow. I read everyone's posts. thanks for the input. I am glad I asked the question, because I would not have packed pants at all for my boys as we will be at Universal and DisneyWorld first before we go on the three day cruise. Since this is a three day cruise is there still a Pirate night? and is there a formal night? I guess I am still a little confused. Thanks

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Since this is a three day cruise is there still a Pirate night? and is there a formal night? I guess I am still a little confused. Thanks

I can't answer about pirate night, but I know formal night is only on the 7-day cruises.

 

[lbgraves]

Yes there is a pirate night on each cruise...3, 4, & 7 day.