Dress code in mdr's?

[Rebecca Pocahontas]

I will be going on on a 4-night cruise on the Magic. I've read that Disney is much more casual in their dining room dress code than other cruise brands. Do a lot of adults wear shorts to dinner? Or do most people get dressed into long pants or a dress? Even if shorts are acceptable are there a lot of people that wear them?

 

[allears]

And here we go again.

 

[OKW Lover]

In our experience very few people wear shorts to the MDR

 

[jubjubrsx]

I pretty much wear what ever I want, or have on.... sometimes its just to darn hot to worry about changing into jeans.

 

[Kontos]

Should I cancel my upcoming cruise? I don't think I can afford the Armani suit for semi-formal night. Plus do I really need a top hat and manacle for formal night?

 

[DIS_Ag]

Wear what you want and try to not worry what over people are doing. I wear shorts most nights in the Caribbean but will put on a polo or button down. I do wear pants and a sport coat on formal night, but don't really notice any one else.

 

[lorimay]

Cruise casual, I will wear a sundress or even capri pants.
My husband will wear a pull over and slacks.

Formal & semi formal I wear a dress or jumpsuit.
My husband will wear the jacket on formal night, but just a shirt and tie on semi-formal.

 

[mandylovesdisney]

It's too cold in the dining rooms to wear shorts lol

 

[Neptune's Fork]

In my summer cruise experience on Fantasy last year it seemed to me that the majority wore shorts. And I got the impression no one would give a hoot what you wore as long as you were clothed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I will be going on on a 4-night cruise on the Magic. I've read that Disney is much more casual in their dining room dress code than other cruise brands. Do a lot of adults wear shorts to dinner? Or do most people get dressed into long pants or a dress? Even if shorts are acceptable are there a lot of people that wear them?

The only "dress code" for the main dining rooms is "no swimwear or tank tops for dinner". Beyond that, you'll see all manner of dress on any given night. From full-on dress up to shorts & tshirts.

I haven't found DCL to be any less casual than other lines, just more tolerant of "it's my vacation, I'll dress as I like" attitudes.

 

[NAB]

Yes you will see shorts in the dinning rooms and jeans. Especially the teenage kids. I remember when this wasn't the case but now it is.

I wear my capri pants and a nice shirt and my husband will wear cargo type shorts and maybe a polo shirt on causal nights. On a 4 night there is an optional dress up day but you don't have too but they will have the nicer background out for pictures so people tend to dress up .

 

[trickiwoo]

Wear what makes you feel comfortable. If you like to dress up a bit for dinner, then do so. If you hate dressing up and like to be casual, that's fine too. Either way you won't feel out of place. Some people dress up, some people dress more casual. No matter what you wear, you won't feel overdressed or underdressed.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

It's too cold in the dining rooms to wear shorts lol

Temperature is subjective one person could be cold in shorts in the dining room well another doesn't relly care. I've worn shorts in the MDRs to dinner even before it was allowed and was never turned away. I've also been at tables where my fellow table mates have worn them too. If people wearing shorts in the main dinning room is a problem for you book dinner at palo and remy every night or sail another line that has a stricter dress code, otherwise it shouldn't mater to you what anyone is wearing. If you and your party want to wear pants and dress every night go ahead.

 

[MunFam]

Should I cancel my upcoming cruise? I don't think I can afford the Armani suit for semi-formal night. Plus do I really need a top hat and manacle for formal night?

I mean...with the prices DCL is charging, I would assume you already owned an Armani suit of three. LOL!!!

 

[MunFam]

In my observations, the longer the cruise, the more formal people get. On our 14 nighter, I would say 75%+ of the people in the MDR and posing for pictures were in black tie (we were) or at minimum a suit for men and long summer dresses for women.

On a 4 night cruise (which we have not done) I think the most formal we would get would be a maxi dress and khakis and polo. Most evenings I would say DH was in "golf attire" be it shorts and polo with boat shoes or pants and button down with loafers.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

On a 4 night cruise (which we have not done) I think the most formal we would get would be a maxi dress and khakis and polo. Most evenings I would say DH was in "golf attire" be it shorts and polo with boat shoes or pants and button down with loafers.

On a 4 night cruise, there's no "formal" night. There is a "dress up optional" night. I don't believe the cruises that have an actually named "formal" night start until like the 6 or 7 night cruises. Less than that they are dress up optional.

Although, even "formal" is mostly optional, too.

 

[MUN]

I will be going on on a 4-night cruise on the Magic. I've read that Disney is much more casual in their dining room dress code than other cruise brands. Do a lot of adults wear shorts to dinner? Or do most people get dressed into long pants or a dress? Even if shorts are acceptable are there a lot of people that wear them?

Most adults do not wear short pants in the MDRs.

 

[gotomu212]

We were recently on the Wonder and most nights my husband and son wore shorts (golf attire-nice khaki shorts and a polo). I wore sundresses/maxi dresses. Our randomly assigned tables mates did the same, and 3 of the 4 tables around us were similar.

I normally don't notice but since this is such a changing topic I specifically took time to look around. Longer cruises and European cruises all seem less casual to me.

 

[scrapbookmom]

The dress code has definitley become more casual over the years. On our first cruise in 2006, I would say most men were "dressed" every night in pants and polo or button down shirts, women in nice pants or dresses of some sort, casual to dressier. In the past year or two, we have seen a trend towards more shorts and polos/resort style shirts for men and boys, capris/casual sundresses on women. Do men still were pants and women dresses/skirts? Of course, but in my experiences, it is changing. I personally prefer the choice to be more casual if we want (while still adhering to DCL guidelines), and it cuts down on luggage. On our PC cruise in '08, the amount of suitcases, clothes and shoes needed to dress four people for 15 nights was crazy! That being said, wear what makes you happy and comfortable.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

We were recently on the Wonder and most nights my husband and son wore shorts (golf attire-nice khaki shorts and a polo). I wore sundresses/maxi dresses. Our randomly assigned tables mates did the same, and 3 of the 4 tables around us were similar.

I normally don't notice but since this is such a changing topic I specifically took time to look around. Longer cruises and European cruises all seem less casual to me.

I think that people tend to wear dressier clothes when touring Europe. It's not likely as hot and people are going to churches and all manner of places so are likely in pants and a nice top even after a day of touring. Most going to the Caribbean spend the day in their bathing suits and beach clothes.

I haven't been on a Caribbean cruise longer than 11 days so I don't know if longer cruises are more formal. It always seems about the same to me.

ETA: I personally don't mind the more casual cruise experience. It's in line with the times. Very few fine dining restaurants even have a dress code beyond smart casual these days.