Does anyone dress up for dinner anymore?

[HeyKoolaid]

I am not sure how I feel about this. On our last trip, we took dress clothes to wear to California Grill and Artist's Point. The people seated next to us at Cali looked like they had come in from the pool. I notice we were one of a few guests who wore something other than shorts and a tshirt. I one hand, I was a bit irritated, because it kind of took away from the whole 'experience". On the other hand, I thought it was nice because I could forget about bringing dress clothes for the next trip and just wear whatever I wanted. So what is your philosophy on dressing and dining?

 

[kiford]

We try to strike a balance between nice clothes and clothes we wear to the parks. We usually go in early December so we don't feel like we have to wear shorts during the day so we'll typically wear linen or pants (or, for me, a silky pair of knit pants that are still wearable in the parks) or khakis and a nice shirt. The few times we did go at hotter times of the year, we typically would reserve time to go back to the room and change before going out to dinner. I was brought up in a fairly traditional manner to believe that a nice dining room requires appropriately matching clothing. I do find that it somewhat tends to impact my experience at a nice restaurant though I realize and understand that not everyone is staying on the grounds and/or has the time and opportunity to go back and change especially with children so I try not to focus on it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

So what is your philosophy on dressing and dining?

1) I go along with the "Old Fashioned" traditions.
. . . dress in nice clothes
. . . for Signature Restaurants, long pants, nice shirt (short of long sleeve, but with a collar)
. . . except for V&A, sport jacket not necessary (although I have worn one on special occasions at Shula's and blue zoo)
. . . no ball caps or hats, except fashionable headwear for ladies
2) Yes, I am an Old Fuddy Duddy.
3) But, that is how I was raised, and how I raised our kids.

 

[Candycane83]

I actually like dressing up and wouldn't hesitate to dress up. But... I have a reservation for California grill brunch and Narcoosee's dinner on the same day and spending the day at MK. We're staying at AKL so I doubt we would go back to the resort. I'm in a pickle

Edit: I have dressed up and wore dresses to the parks last trip but have a 2 year old in tow this time...

 

[Disney_Alli]

I feel like my sister and I are some of the few in our generation who insist on dressing for dinner. I don't like going to any of the resort restaurants in park clothes even if they're not signature restaurants. On my last cruise some of the staff stopped our parents and told them how much they enjoyed that we all dressed up each night... My sister and I were 26 at the time
I prefer to wear nicer clothes to do most activities. I've also recently discovered dresses and skirts made by athletic wear companies, they look very put together (I'm wearing a pencil skirt like this at work as I type this) but breathe and move like athletic wear - so nice!

 

[Gaurhoth]

All things equal, I'd agree that dressing nicer for nicer restaurants is both part of the experience and 'polite' to the other patrons.

However... in the June heat... I forgive myself and typically stay in 'resort casual'. Given the already long lines and limited time to 'accomplish' things with the kids, I'm not going to drag them back to the resort just to change clothes (which could take 2+ hours round trip). Hopefully the other patrons will forgive us as well.

 

[Hibiscus]

V&A is the only restaurant I consider fine dining and the only one I will dress up for. The two venues you mentioned are theme park restaurants. I'll look presentable and I won't smell, but there's absolutely no way I'm going to adhere to more of a dress code in Disney World than I do for some of the best restaurants in NYC.

 

[minnie mum]

V&A is the only restaurant I consider fine dining and the only one I will dress up for. The two venues you mentioned are theme park restaurants. I'll look presentable and I won't smell, but there's absolutely no way I'm going to adhere to more of a dress code in Disney World than I do for some of the best restaurants in NYC.

Neither of the restaurants mentioned by the OP are theme park restaurants. They are resort signatures. And while I would never think of dressing as formally as I might when dining at a fine dining establishment in a major city, and I don't know how the OP defines "dress clothes", I think that being clean, groomed, and dressed in resort casual clothing (slacks and a collared shirt or slacks/skirt, blouse or dress) is appropriate for any resort signature.

For regular TS restaurants or park signatures, I think regular park attire should suffice.

 

[Shanti]

I am not sure how I feel about this. On our last trip, we took dress clothes to wear to California Grill and Artist's Point. The people seated next to us at Cali looked like they had come in from the pool. I notice we were one of a few guests who wore something other than shorts and a tshirt. I one hand, I was a bit irritated, because it kind of took away from the whole 'experience". On the other hand, I thought it was nice because I could forget about bringing dress clothes for the next trip and just wear whatever I wanted. So what is your philosophy on dressing and dining?

At signature restaurants, we dress "resort casual" (polo shirt & slacks for males, simple dress for females).

 

[rosiebean]

I actually like dressing up and wouldn't hesitate to dress up. But... I have a reservation for California grill brunch and Narcoosee's dinner on the same day and spending the day at MK. We're staying at AKL so I doubt we would go back to the resort. I'm in a pickle

Edit: I have dressed up and wore dresses to the parks last trip but have a 2 year old in tow this time...

I'd wear comfy dress for lunch that could be worn in the park and pack a knit jersey type dress in my park or toddler bag for to change into if needed that night. When my two were toddlers, I *lived* in black jersey wear, because black hid stains and the knit usually looked presentable even if it was rolled into a ball in a dresser drawer before I put it on! I still have a few traveler's line dresses from Chicos that I ball up and pack when I have a similar dilemma.

 

[Regan117]

I've done park days and walked over to CR to have dinner at California Grill. Since I always carry a small backpack with me, I just put a sundress, deodorant and a hairbrush in my bag and changed in the CR bathrooms. I'd feel weird about having dinner at a resort signature restaurant in park clothes. And they DO actually have a dress code posted, which makes it even more awkward.

 

[ZoZo]

I think for in-park TS restaurants, as well as non-signature resort restaurants, it's fine to wear regular park attire (shorts/t-shirts). I don't really "get" the whole dressing-up thing at WDW for most restaurants - it's a theme park, after all! I don't go to signature restaurants, in general, except once in a while to CG, since I prefer the more casual restaurants. I figure if I'm neat and tidy, I'm good to go! If I was a big sweaty mess, I'd go back to the resort and change before going to CG.

But I'm not sure why people are bothered if other folks choose not to get dressed up - I figure it doesn't I affect me, and I really don't pay attention to (or care about) things like that.

 

[Marlyn]

In the heat of summer I wear a sundress if I am dining at a nicer restaurant, in park or out. If its a more casual place, shorts and tees are fine. I have young adult boys who like to wear tank tops in summer heat in the parks. If we are going into a TS they carry nice t-shirts in their bags to change into. If it's a resort we are going to they carry lightweight collared shirts to change. I will not let them keep their sleeveless tees on at any TS, and they would not be comfortable doing so since that's not how they were raised.
If our plan is a signature, like CG....we would go back to resort for a cool down and change.

 

[lubob]

I love to dress up for dinner but most of our reservations are the same time as when we are in the parks and with my wife and our two kids we just can't get back to the resort to change clothes in time for dinner. If we were just going for dinner it's a different story but not when you are walking around the parks all day.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Yes. Wifey and I always dress for the signatures at the resorts. Nothing over the top. Me slacks, shirt, possibly a dinner jacket but not usually. Wife some sort of female dress ensemble.

MG

 

[Nancyg56]

I like to dress fo dinner and do so while in Disney. With that said, I do not care what anyone else wears. I don't notice if they wear sandals, shorts or dress shirts, and cannot understand why anyone else cares.

 

[jtdl]

I will probably never do a signature restaurant at a resort as when we are there we are in the parks from open to close. If I were to go to one in a park I would be in the same clothes as I wear to the park. I would not take clothes to change into that is for sure! Walt Disney World is an amusement park, if they offer a top scale restaurant in an amusement park then I'm sure they don't expect people to "dress" and if they did a dress code would reflect that. As for the resorts, I would follow the dress code - if shorts and t-shirts are allowed, then there is no reason why a person can't dress in that attire. I never have understood why what others wear affects one's meal. We cruise a lot on several cruise lines and even they are getting away from "formal" dress. Although many don't allow shorts in the main dining room for dinner YET, very few people are in "fancy" clothes even on formal nights.

 

[happymommy]

I often wear a sundress to the parks anyway (but don't do a lot of dining at TS restaurants any longer at Disney as I'm tired in the evening and don't find them as worth it to me anymore).

I am more comfortable in a nice sundress than in shorts often.

If I were going to California Grill I would enjoy it more personally if I felt like I was dressed nicely. I ignore those around me - if they want to go in shorts and tee shirts, oh well.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

We dress up for California Grill, and usually dress resort casual for a regular TS restaurant. We get cleaned up for dinner after a day in the park, polo for me.

 

[ariane37]

With the exception of HBD we do dress nicer for signature restaurants. DH will wear dress pants and a nice shirt, I'll wear a dress (I did wear nice capris once too) and I have the boys ( 10 & 14) get as dressy as I can without us getting into a fight lol, so usually button down shirts with their jeans or nicer shorts. I enjoy "dressing up" and don't get to do it often and since they do have a dress code, well, that's what we do For DH and I it makes the experience different than our non-signature meals there. Every time we've been -Yachtsman, Narcoossee's, Citricos, CG, there are people in various states of dress from park attire to fancier than us and while it would be nice if everyone were dressed up to a degree, I understand people's reasons for not doing so.