Dress Code?

[lchughes75]

Is there a dress code in some of the fine dining restaurants in Epcot? I assume not - everyone is "theme park" attire, I would imagine?

 

[Alesia]

Is there a dress code in some of the fine dining restaurants in Epcot? I assume not - everyone is "theme park" attire, I would imagine?

Correct.

 

[tobikaye]

No separate dress code for the park restaurants than the normal theme park attire. There are a few of the signature restaurants at the resorts that have more of a dress code, but I have read that not all of these restaurants enforce these. The only one that has a stricter dress code is Victoria and Alberts.

 

[L&Lfan]

Monsieur Paul tried, I'm told, by suggesting a "resort casual" code (no tank tops, etc) when they first opened, but I don't know if they were successful or if they even still recommend it. Can someone who might know please comment? All the other World Showcase eateries, even Le Cellier which is a signature, accept whatever one is wearing in the park.

 

[Dizduke]

I think some of the nicer establishments don't allow tank tops.

 

[saskdw]

Yeah, the signature restaurants probably won't allow tank tops, swin trunks, bikini tops etc.

But a regular t-shirt and shorts is fine.

We had Christmas dinner at Artist Point. I wore a good pair of jeans and a long sleave shirt. There were people dressed up and there were also people in t-shirts.

 

[MyOtherSS]

I've never seen dress code enforced. Last trip, I left my nice shirt at home and had to buy one I'll probably never wear again for a hefty price at wdw to meet the dress requirement. Once at the restaurant a bunch of people walk in with t shirts with no attempt to look presentable have no problem getting seated. Kind of annoying...

 

[SouthJersey]

I've never seen dress code enforced. Last trip, I left my nice shirt at home and had to buy one I'll probably never wear again for a hefty price at wdw to meet the dress requirement. Once at the restaurant a bunch of people walk in with t shirts with no attempt to look presentable have no problem getting seated. Kind of annoying...

Being Disney and in the park, I don't think a clean t-shirt is unbecoming...
If I throw on a pair of Cole Haans, nice dark jeans and a t-shirt, what's the issue? I'm opposed to shorts, flipflops, cut-offs and tanks.

As for the OP, there is a dress code for the park signature Monsieur Paul, but it's not enforced heavily. However, based off the times I've been there, you would be out of place in a tank top and shorts. Everywhere else is full on park attire.

The signatures at the resorts have a policy, but also aren't enforced. Park attire at the signatures for adults, will be the minority of guests, but you wouldn't be the only one.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Outside of V&A, I'm not sure there's a strictly enforced dress code anywhere.

We're not snobs whatsoever, but it feels nice to throw on some khakis and a nice shirt when you go out to eat at a nice restaurant. It adds to the experience. Now, we've never seen anyone in a bathing suit or shorts, but we've been to Narcoossee's and people wear t-shirts and jeans. I mean, if you look neat, all the power to you... but I wish Disney would enforce a dress code.

Then again, I wear khakis or jeans and a button-down shirt to work every day. I guess that's an indicator that the times are changing..

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Being Disney and in the park, I don't think a clean t-shirt is unbecoming...
If I throw on a pair of Cole Haans, nice dark jeans and a t-shirt, what's the issue? I'm opposed to shorts, flipflops, cut-offs and tanks.

As for the OP, there is a dress code for the park signature Monsieur Paul, but it's not enforced heavily. However, based off the times I've been there, you would be out of place in a tank top and shorts. Everywhere else is full on park attire.

The signatures at the resorts have a policy, but also aren't enforced. Park attire at the signatures for adults, will be the minority of guests, but you wouldn't be the only one.

Yeah that's a good point... and don't take my comment wrong. I actually agree with you, if you look presentable, all the power to you. My family has dressed up in years past, though, as we dine at Narcoossee's every Christmas. Last Christmas we looked around and thought "what's the point anymore?" If anything, we feel out of place.

 

[SouthJersey]

Outside of V&A, I'm not sure there's a strictly enforced dress code anywhere.

We're not snobs whatsoever, but it feels nice to throw on some khakis and a nice shirt when you go out to eat at a nice restaurant. It adds to the experience. Now, we've never seen anyone in a bathing suit or shorts, but we've been to Narcoossee's and people wear t-shirts and jeans. I mean, if you look neat, all the power to you... but I wish Disney would enforce a dress code.

Then again, I wear khakis or jeans and a button-down shirt to work every day. I guess that's an indicator that the times are changing..

I'm all for jeans and a button-down
There's definitely no call for dropping a nice pair of jeans for an upscale restaurant like the one's Disney offers. I break out a nice suit for Per Se and Eleven Madison Park which would be equivalent or beyond V&A and that should be expected. But a place like Del Frisco's, Ruth Chris, Morton's or these signatures, dark jeans and a button down or polo would suffice. As it's loosely enforced now, I usually just throw on a solid t-shirt with nice jeans/shoes simply because it's a happy medium of what's there now. I don't feel like packing a nice jacket since I know the table next to me likely has a donald duck t-shirt and flipflops lol.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I'm all for jeans and a button-down
There's definitely no call for dropping a nice pair of jeans for an upscale restaurant like the one's Disney offers. I break out a nice suit for Per Se and Eleven Madison Park which would be equivalent or beyond V&A and that should be expected. But a place like Del Frisco's, Ruth Chris, Morton's or these signatures, dark jeans and a button down or polo would suffice. As it's loosely enforced now, I usually just throw on a solid t-shirt with nice jeans/shoes.

Oh, I definitely don't go with a suit. But yeah, if I'm going to Narcoossee's I tuck my shirt in with khakis. Totally agree with the Del Frisco's analogy. I think you should look presentable. I'm more of a "creative" preppy dresser. I'll throw on a button down with khakis or jeans, whereas my family friend who went on the trip with us is a bit more modern/fashion forward. He went with a Calvin Klein polo and dark wash jeans.

I'm just saying.. you feel out of place when you sit down and everyone is wearing park attire. But we've learned to tone it down a bit. You look even more out of place when you go to the park after

... and now I'm in the mood for a steak.

 

[SouthJersey]

Yeah that's a good point... and don't take my comment wrong. I actually agree with you, if you look presentable, all the power to you. My family has dressed up in years past, though, as we dine at Narcoossee's every Christmas. Last Christmas we looked around and thought "what's the point anymore?" If anything, we feel out of place.

See now Narcoossee's has had a more well-dressed clientele last time we were there and I've made it a point to wear a button down at least.
Especially for a Christmas day dinner, I'd break out something nicer.
I used to hate suits until I got older. My parents used to force me into them as a kid for their stuffy events and parties. After going out for law enforcement and how adamant they were about a 'power suit' and how people actually interact with you differently, it gave me a whole other perspective on dressing the part for what the event is.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

See now Narcoossee's has had a more well-dressed clientele last time we were there and I've made it a point to wear a button down at least.
Especially for a Christmas day dinner, I'd break out something nicer.
I used to hate suits until I got older. My parents used to force me into them as a kid for their stuffy events and parties. After going out for law enforcement and how adamant they were about a 'power suit' and how people actually interact with you differently, it gives you another perspective on dressing nice for events.

Totally hear you. I find myself looking for excuses to dress up.

Haha OP - to answer your question - look neat!

 

[SouthJersey]

Totally hear you. I find myself looking for excuses to dress up.

Haha OP - to answer your question - look neat!

OP - Mine and his exchange is a perfect example for your original question lol.
Two different Disney guests expressing the same views that dress DOES matter, even in Disney. You won't be turned away, but there's countless people who will be dressed to code or even above. You'll even find the service different based on your appearance. The service I receive when 'dressed the part' has always been much better than when I decided to throw on Air Max's and a graphic t-shirt and go to the same places.

As long as you're comfortable and presentable, it's no issue. I'd rather be seated next to polite guests in park attire, than an obnoxious guest in a suit.

 

[saskdw]

I get both sides of the argument.

However I think they would have a hard time filling the restaurants with a strictly enforced dress code.

For me. I dress professionally all year round for work. I don't want to dress that way on our annual WDW vacation. We come all the way from western Canada and our stays are usually 2 full weeks. 16 nights last December. The suitcases get pretty full packing for that long of a stay. "Dress clothes" don't make the cut, just no room and very little interest. Yes I pack some nicer jeans and a couple of nicer shirts, but thats it.

I'm not dressing to impress anyone at WDW, I'm dressing to be comfortable. As stated if we're going to the Yachtsman I will select a nicer pair of jeans and the nicer shirt, but at WDW that's as far as I'm prepared to go. We make good money and I'm a big tipper for good service. The server is missing out if they choose to assume the guy in the sports jacket at the next table tips better.

 

[SouthJersey]

I get both sides of the argument.

However I think they would have a hard time filling the restaurants with a strictly enforced dress code.

For me. I dress professionally all year round for work. I don't want to dress that way on our annual WDW vacation. We come all the way from western Canada and our stays are usually 2 full weeks. 16 nights last December. The suitcases get pretty full packing for that long of a stay. "Dress clothes" don't make the cut, just no room and very little interest. Yes I pack some nicer jeans and a couple of nicer shirts, but thats it.

I'm not dressing to impress anyone at WDW, I'm dressing to be comfortable. As stated if we're going to the Yachtsman I will select a nicer pair of jeans and the nicer shirt, but at WDW that's as far as I'm prepared to go. We make good money and I'm a big tipper for good service. The server is missing out if they choose to assume the guy in the sports jacket at the next table tips better.

Yup, same, I wear jeans at all of them.
Our DC and our chief are insane about appearance of uniforms and gig-lines, all 'volun-told' events in suits, etc.

The parks only have one signature - Le Cellier - and being how long their walk-up is and the ADR availability, they'd likely still fill out.
The resort signatures would definitely fill with an enforced dress code. After the Dis arguments about dress, I made it a point to actually pay attention last trip at the signatures each night and the vast majority are dressed according to the code. It could be because we go later in the evening, not sure.

As for the server, they shouldn't account for dress to an extent of their service being different to the point it impacts the guests' experience. But at the high-end places we frequent, I've noticed far better service when I dress to their code. It's the same with the NYC taxi experiment that focused on dress and appearance- the nicer dressed individuals yielded cabs substantially more than the latter, to the point cabbies even passed the other individual and picked up the well dressed.

The thing with Disney and restaurants is the existence of a dining plan. With the plan, a lot of people tend to 'go all out' on their trip and this includes dining out how they don't dine out at home. You'll notice the non-dining plan locations at Disney have consistently better reviews than those who are on the dining plan. Why? Disney knows, the restaurant owners know. There's a reason why you don't see park attire and out of control children at Shula's and BlueZoo, but see a fair share at Yachtsman or Flying Fish - those in tank tops and park clothes usually don't go upscale back home. Servers always assess the diners and see what type of night they're going to have at work, from their appearance to their demeanor. The dining plan isn't an issue when the guest is dressed presentably, but if you're in park attire at Narcoossee's on the dining plan, I'm already thinking my tip is going to lack as compared to the table OOP or on plan, dressed to the code.

 

[MyOtherSS]

Being Disney and in the park, I don't think a clean t-shirt is unbecoming...
If I throw on a pair of Cole Haans, nice dark jeans and a t-shirt, what's the issue? I'm opposed to shorts, flipflops, cut-offs and tanks.

As for the OP, there is a dress code for the park signature Monsieur Paul, but it's not enforced heavily. However, based off the times I've been there, you would be out of place in a tank top and shorts. Everywhere else is full on park attire.

The signatures at the resorts have a policy, but also aren't enforced. Park attire at the signatures for adults, will be the minority of guests, but you wouldn't be the only one.

If I throw on a nice pair of dress shorts, what's the issue? Even Narcoossees dress code considers this acceptable but they want collared shirts not t-shirts... I'm not one for dressing up and I could not care less what other people wear to dinner but why even have a dress code if it doesn't matter if you follow it or not?

 

[nat8199]

Eh... DH will be in shorts and a t-shirt, maybe with flip flops, for our signature meals (Le Cellier and Yachtsman). We will be coming straight from the parks, so there is nothing we can do about it.

 

[SouthJersey]

If I throw on a nice pair of dress shorts, what's the issue? Even Narcoossees dress code considers this acceptable but they want collared shirts not t-shirts... I'm not one for dressing up and I could not care less what other people wear to dinner but why even have a dress code if it doesn't matter if you follow it or not?

I'm fine with dress shorts.
It's the 'jorts' and huge, baggy frayed cargo shorts I was referring to.

It doesn't effect me either and it doesn't hinder the dining experience, but the overall experience would be BETTER if people didn't show up in tank tops with deodorant matted underarm hair flowing freely.