Explain the signature dining dress code, please

[Richard M Nixon]

I have a few signature restaurants planned that make note about their dress code, and it's just confusing me. I know V&A's is very direct with their requirements, but places like Citricos and Jiko are so obtuse.

Men may wear khakis, slacks, jeans or dress shorts and collared shirts. Sport coats are optional.

Not permitted are tank tops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cut-offs, torn clothing and t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics.

So it gives a list of what I may wear (what I interpret as a suggestion, not a directive) and a list of what I am disallowed from wearing. I'll be coming from a day in the MK so I'll probably be in shorts (probably not dress shorts, but I really can't make the distinction) and a t-shirt. It doesn't say not to wear those things, so I feel I'm in some ambiguous grey area.

Can someone out there lend me some clarity?

 

[wilkeliza]

I have a few signature restaurants planned that make note about their dress code, and it's just confusing me. I know V&A's is very direct with their requirements, but places like Citricos and Jiko are so obtuse. So it gives a list of what I may wear (what I interpret as a suggestion, not a directive) and a list of what I am disallowed from wearing. I'll be coming from a day in the MK so I'll probably be in shorts (probably not dress shorts, but I really can't make the distinction) and a t-shirt. It doesn't say not to wear those things, so I feel I'm in some ambiguous grey area. Can someone out there lend me some clarity?

Dress shorts are khakis or other nicer looking material.

Not sure if they don't allow t-shirts but at some signature you will definitely look out of place. Best plan of attack is to rent a locker and put a set of nicer clothes in there. Then right before you leave MK or after you arrive at the resort you can quickly change into something more fitting of the dinning experience you have chosen.

 

[NewRVLady]

I have seen folks in park garb in many of the nicer restaurants

 

[Itinkso]

You'll find a variety of park garb wearing guests in Jiko and Citricos. Citricos seems to give off a dressier vibe, possibly because it's located at GF, but we fit in comfortably as there were a lot of guests wearing t-shirts and shorts.

 

[RealBlast3]

I don't think they "want" you to wear like, jean shorts or like bathing suit style wear shorts with crazy colors or like jogging shorts. And they don't really "want" you to wear your Batman T-shirt or Grateful Dead tye-dye either.

I have never wanted to feel out of place, so on those days I simply wear a nicer pair of shorts, such as khaki style or cargo shorts and yes, I even bought myself some "dress shorts" they do make them, they are like dress pants, sort of, but shorts.

But no, they probably won't throw you out if you come dressed like a punk skateboarder.

And I simply bought myself some comfortable but very snazzy and colorful "collared shirts". There are all sorts of comfortable and relaxed looking collared shirts. Think of like polo shirts for instance, like the kind with the little alligator on them.

It's really not that hard to adhere to this dress code once you have some guidance. I agree it could be more clear - I didn't know exactly myself what they meant at first years ago. I now understand the look, for guys, anyway, they are really asking you to adhere to. It doesn't mean you have to get dressed up - it just means a slight alteration to what you might normally wear so you look more "preppy" shall we say.

Believe me, even though there will be some who are clearly in violation of the dress code when you go to the signatures, you will be glad you look presentable in those surroundings. Save the beachwear for when you go to The Crystal Palace and Sci-fi Dine in, and break out the polos and the khaki shorts for your Citricos and California Grills. Nice and easy.

 

[Networth]

I have seen folks in park garb in many of the nicer restaurants

Pet peeve of mine. If your spending $300 at least on dinner why dress like your tromping around the park, its called “signature” and has a dress code for a reason. Not saying it to you RVLady just in general.

 

[smcabee]

Pet peeve of mine. If your spending $300 at least on dinner why dress like your tromping around the park, its called “signature” and has a dress code for a reason. Not saying it to you RVLady just in general.

If I'm spending $300 at least on dinner I want to be comfortable and not in some stuffy dress clothes. While I adhere to any dress code at a restaurant I choose to go to imo as long as clothing is not offensive who cares what you wear.

 

[sleepydog25]

Pet peeve of mine. If your spending $300 at least on dinner why dress like your tromping around the park, its called “signature” and has a dress code for a reason.

Agree totally. I realize many prefer to be "comfortable," but I'm completely at ease and comfy in slacks and a nice shirt. There are literally dozens of restaurants and even more QS/CS eateries where a dress code isn't warranted; however, there are only a handful of restaurants in the World which delineate a dress code which patrons mostly ignore anymore. Dressing nicely is one way of demonstrating politeness and manners, a certain gentility that society largely lacks anymore. Please don't construe that to mean people preferring to dress down lack manners and grace while dining because that would be a generalization. Still, dressing the part is also an act of manners, most especially when a dress code is suggested or required. For the typical wedding, most still would consider a guest showing up in ratty, cut-off denim shorts, flip-flops, and a camo ball cap to be in poor taste. Same goes with me for signature dining experiences.
In the end, it's a fault of Disney. Either be specific with the dress codes and enforce them, or don't call them signature restaurants.

More specific to the point of the OP, however, is that wearing shorts and a t-shirt into a signature restaurant outside of V&A's won't get you booted. If you want to be safe, one of your nicer pair of park shorts and a pullover, collared shirt would be nice.

 

[jerseygal]

I have a few signature restaurants planned that make note about their dress code, and it's just confusing me. I know V&A's is very direct with their requirements, but places like Citricos and Jiko are so obtuse.



So it gives a list of what I may wear (what I interpret as a suggestion, not a directive) and a list of what I am disallowed from wearing. I'll be coming from a day in the MK so I'll probably be in shorts (probably not dress shorts, but I really can't make the distinction) and a t-shirt. It doesn't say not to wear those things, so I feel I'm in some ambiguous grey area.

Can someone out there lend me some clarity?

Personally, we always dress up "a little" when dining, but I have seen dress code very varied...Don't think it is enforced, so I wouldn't worry about it at all!
HAVE FUN!

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with most others. The Signature Restaurants are a notch above the other TS and as such you should dress up a bit. I also agree that if you come in park clothes you will most likely be allowed in. I personally would feel out of place.
When we go I wear a pair of linen capris and a nice blouse with fancy sandals. DH and DS wear dress shorts and a collared polo type shirt. For our Signature dinners we generally take a break at the resort before dinner and freshen up.
It is all about the experience to us. We are going to a nicer restaurant for a expensive, delicious dinner. We feel better dressed up, just a bit.
Enjoy

 

[Dawn68PA]

I never noticed the "hat" part before. My BF always wears a fedora style hat when he dresses up. No one has addressed it but it's always classy.

We enjoy dressing up a little when we dine at a nicer place. It's fun!

 

[Marthasor]

You'll be fine in shorts and a t-shirt. We ate at Cali Grill in August and there were people in suits and cocktail dresses and people in shorts and t-shirts. If we are going straight from a park to a signature, I wear a comfy sundress and sandals and DH and DS wear khaki shorts and a polo shirt. Everyone is comfy and we all look reasonably ok for dinner.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The dress guidelines are just that--guidelines. It's what they suggest you wear--what they would like you to wear.

But if you choose not to follow the suggestions that's fine as long as you avoid the "not permitted" items.

I would also observe that there are as many patrons in "cargo" style shorts as there are in dress shorts--and the tank top and hat business does not apply to the ladies.

With the bit about dress/vs cargo shorts understood, I'd say about 70-80 % of the folks are dressed somewhere within the guidelines--the remaining folks are in standard park attire.

It does not matter--they will let you in either way. Go with what makes YOU feel comfortable.

 

[Disney Dynamite]

You'll be fine in shorts and a t-shirt. We ate at Cali Grill in August and there were people in suits and cocktail dresses and people in shorts and t-shirts. If we are going straight from a park to a signature, I wear a comfy sundress and sandals and DH and DS wear khaki shorts and a polo shirt. Everyone is comfy and we all look reasonably ok for dinner.

This is exactly how my DH and I dress for signature restaurants, and we've never felt out of place or underdressed. As long as you avoid the items that aren't permitted, you'll be fine.

 

[Zooshoveller]

If you don't want to change, I would consider wearing "plain" khaki shorts (no cargo) and a polo/golf style shirt (or even one made with athletic sweat-wicking material that golfers wear) to the park. Comfy and more appropriate.

 

[wilkeliza]

This is exactly how my DH and I dress for signature restaurants, and we've never felt out of place or underdressed. As long as you avoid the items that aren't permitted, you'll be fine.

That description sounds nicer than just "park cloths" a nice sundress and khaki shorts with a polo is nice and would not look out of place at a signature.

 

[sleepydog25]

I never noticed the "hat" part before. My BF always wears a fedora style hat when he dresses up. No one has addressed it but it's always classy.

We enjoy dressing up a little when we dine at a nicer place. It's fun!

I like fedoras, and you're right, they're generally considered dressy. I have less enthusiasm for ball caps, especially in tandem with ragged jean shorts and a tank top as we saw in Monsieur Paul two three weeks ago. He wasn't alone in that there were numerous other couples in the restaurant in tank tops, flip-flops, running shorts, cut-off denim shorts, and ball caps in various stages of wear. In fact, I numbered on one hand those who met any semblance of a dress code out of the 75% full restaurant. I would have welcomed a fedora!