Dress Code at WDW resort restaurants

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

I have PS to the following restaurants for dinner:Whispering Canyon, Cinderella's Dinner 1900 Park Fare, Ohana's, California Grill, Chef Mickey's, Hollywood & Vine, Brown Derby. Do any of these restaurants have a specific dress code-no shorts or t-shirts? DH and I are dropping off the kids at the Cubs Den while we eat at California Grill so we'll both dress up-DH in polo shirt and khacki pants, me in capri pants or dress. Otherwise DH was hoping to get by with jean shorts and polo shirt if possible. I don't mind if he wears jean shorts the entire vacation, I just don't want to look like some country bumpkins while everyone else is dressed up.

 

[mommystieg]

The only WDW restuarant with a dress code that I know of is Victoria and Albert's. We ate at Coral Reef, Flying Fish and California Grill and wore our "theme park" attire--shorts and t-shirts. At no time we were ever made to feel under-dressed. The California Grill was the only place where we saw people who were "dressed up"

 

[pouncingpluto]

I just made PS at California Grill today and was told that dress is business casual.

Personally, I will be wearing a little black dress, but I have a very late PS, and it'll be my birthday dinner, so I want to dress up.

 

[mommystieg]

The food is wonderful-I had the pork tenderloin and it was yummy. Have a good time and don't stay out too late

 

[Uncleromulus]

Depending on which operator you get at WDW-DINE, you'll be told certain restaurants are "business casual" or "smart casual". In inquiring further (and in speaking with the managers of several hotel restaurants) I asked what kind of dress would be automatically excluded from those codes. Basically, bathing suits, flip-flops (or barefoot) and tank-tops on men.
Like mommystieg, we always wear theme park casual to places like CG and it's never been a problem. But people often do dress up a bit for CG, so if that's what you want to do, by all means do so!!

 

[Gaiusrex]

Originally posted by Uncleromulus
... and tank-tops on men.

No one would turn away a woman in a tank top ^_^

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Originally posted by Uncleromulus
Depending on which operator you get at WDW-DINE, you'll be told certain restaurants are "business casual" or "smart casual". snip

On the Central Reservation System, when they try to book a certain restuarant, a page displays that shows a lot of information (Prices, Hours, Typical Menu and offerings, and any Dress Code requirement). Ask the operator to double check this if you have any specific attire questions.

 

[ducklite]

You'll be fine. All of them are casual--shorts and t-shirts are fine for every place you mentioned--except CG, which you're already planning on sprucing up for. (You'll LOVE the CG!)

I have gotten written info from the various concierge's about dress codes at Citrico's and the CG. I was also told specifically when I booked Shula's about a dress code. For all three it was basically business casual, no cut-offs, sweats, tank tops, etc. and one of them requested a collared shirt for men.

And of course V&A's requires a jacket for gentlemen.

Regardless of dress code or not, my feeling is that when someone dines at an upscale restaurant, they should take a few moments to clean up and dress up. I'm certainly not suggesting a suit and tie (except for V&A's), but even my DH who HATES to wear a noose has no problem with chinos and a golf shirt and loafers.

My rule of thumb--if this restaurant was in our home town, how would we dress to dine there? Just because one is on vacation it shouldn't be any different.

Anne

 

[Uncleromulus]

gaiusrex:
Indeed not!!

But as a matter of fact, most times if a man did show up in a tank-top, he probably wouldn't be turned away. Several posters in the past report seeing men in tank-tops at these sort of restaurants. Got to keep in mind that these "codes" (except for V&A) are more in the way of a suggested (or recommended) way of dressing. You'd really have to be an awful mess to actually be turned away.