Dressing Up for Table Service

[DrunkJam]

I had dinner in Artist Point in my wedding dress.
I had dinner in Narcoosee's in jeans and a shirt (with a collar)
The staff were equally nice to us, and both times, I don't recall noticing what others were wearing.
No one / neither environ made us feel uncomfortable either time

 

[squeezle]

We like to plan at least one date night where we schedule a resort signature restaurant and dress a little nicer - but only because it is fun for us. We also eat at in-park signatures (usually for lunch) in our park clothes.

 

[SurferStitch]

DH and I are big on dressing up for signature resort meals, so we're usually the "overdressed" people in the restaurant. Now, in a park, obviously part attire is fine, but then again, my park attire is almost always a cute sundress or nice top/shorts with sandals (no tees or tanks). DH's park attire is nice shorts (khaki/plaid) and a button down short sleeve shirt. He says tees are too hot.

Dinner at places like Narcoossee's, Cali Grill, YSH, Citricos, Flying Fish, Blue Zoo, etc. are dress up time for us. I wear dresses almost all the time (not casual, but not formal), and DH wears khaki pants and a nice button down shirt, and many times a jacket at Cali Grill and Narcoossee's. We also love to dress to the nines for V&A. Full suit/tie for DH, cocktail or semi-formal dress for me.

You will not be out of place in shorts and tees, but the signature resort restaurants are special... if you can, make it that much more special and trade the shorts/tees for khakis (him) or a dress (her). It isn't any more difficult, as long as you don't plan to be park commandos and go straight to dinner.

 

[Sandi]

I was just about to ask about Tiffins. Is T-shirt and shorts acceptable in Tiffins? We will be in AK all day and if I'm too casual in T-shirt and shorts for Tiffins, I have to skip Tiffins. I'm one of those people who hates dressing up so rather skip "nice" restaurants even at home if I had to dress up.

We had dinner at Tiffins last month. It was terrific -- really enjoyed the lounge and the dining room. We wore our typical theme park wear -- shorts, knit top, sandals for DD and sneakers for me. I also brought along a sweater that I was glad to have because the air was a bit cool for me. Don't skip Tiffins! It tied with Jiko for our favorite dining experience last month.

 

[keahgirl8]

We had dinner at Tiffins last month. It was terrific -- really enjoyed the lounge and the dining room. We wore our typical theme park wear -- shorts, knit top, sandals for DD and sneakers for me. I also brought along a sweater that I was glad to have because the air was a bit cool for me. Don't skip Tiffins! It tied with Jiko for our favorite dining experience last month.

Somehow I don't know anything about Tiffins! Is it hard to get an ADR?

 

[Dean Marino]

We are dining at California Grill in early December and will be going into the MK for extra magic hours after dinner.

We are staying at an Epcot area resort so going back to the room to change is not an option. Our attire will be weather dependent but most likely jeans, decent tops and park shoes. We will definitely not be dressed up.

Will we be ok?

All of this is a suggestion - it's just what I and my wife do....

We use disguised Park Attire . Both of us go do WDW with sets of BLACK jeans, no orange crap. Our shoes are BLACK Postal Service sneakers from "New Balance". Mix of long, and short sleeve shirts, with the shorts being Polo's.

In the case of The California Grill - I can walk in with what absolutely look like Black Pants and shoes, and a long sleeve shirt. Same at Shula's. As we depart from dinner, and go to the MK, I can roll up my sleeves, walk into the MK in jeans and sneakers, and be VERY happy.

We also carry a very SMALL, LIGHT backpack - this contains our rain gear, and (in the dead of November) two 300 weight fleece jackets.

Now - V&A? Oh no - suit and tie for me, dress for my wife . But those same dead-black sneakers work perfectly .

So - the point about what WE do..... we adjust, generally change for dinner, but we don't let dinner "kill the night" . Again, just us - we do this for ourselves, and for other patrons - a good many of whom are there at five year intervals, and want to celebrate very SPECIAL events .

 

[anniemae]

I would add Flying Fish to the list

I was just going to post this!

 

[Sandi]

Somehow I don't know anything about Tiffins! Is it hard to get an ADR?

I can't imagine that it is difficult to get an ADR. We reserved well in advance, but the restaurant had lots of available seating. It is off the beaten path, so people don't know about it. It's on the expensive side, but it was really good.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Typically the restaurants labeled "signature" are the ones some folks feel the need to dress up for. As far as Disney is concerned the only one you must dress up for is V&A. As long as you follow the not permitted list which is Not permitted: Tank tops, swimwear, hats for gentleman, cut offs, or torn clothing. While T-shirts are now allowed, the policy remains that T-shirts with offensive language or graphics are not acceptable. You will be fine with whatever you want to wear.

This is exactly the bottom line!!

And to add the tank top provision does not apply to ladies in those tank top style tops--its just for men in those undershirt/gym shirt type tank tops.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

V&A is indeed the only restaurant that you NEED to dress up for.