Formal Night ????'s

[antkim]

I will be traveling with dh and 2 ds's(8,3). I am not sure that "formal night" will be a hit with the little guys. Are there other options for dinner? I know there is room service but anything else? Could the kids go to the kids clubs that night and have dinner there? I think it would be a nice treat for dh and I to get all dressed up but I am not sure that it will be worth the hassle of getting the boys all decked out...let's just say we are a pretty casual family and "formal attire" is not abundant in this house!

Kim

 

[lbgraves]

You could do room service or a quick bite at Pluto's on deck 9 before taking the kids to the club. The kid's navigators are in the FAQ thread at the top of this forum to find the dinner times for the club. They vary each day. It depends on your seating time which will work best for you.

 

[DisneyPinDiva]

Topsiders is also another option for dinner if you don't want to go to the regular dining rotation. Please don't be afraid of Formal night though. A lot of people do go "formal" but there are also just as many who wear the normal dinner attire. They are not going to ban you from the dining room if you are not in gown or tux.
I think the main reason a lot of people get all decked out is because it's the only chance they get to do it. Also they may want to take a formal family portrait. Even if you and DH decide to get all dressed up... the kids don't have to... chances are they will want to stay in the clubs anyway!!

 

[vassello]

I have to second that. We didn't really bring any formal items - mostly sundresses for me and DD11. My DH brought a dinner jacket for Palo and formal night. For my DS9 we just brought a few pairs of khaki pants and short sleeve polo shirts - this is what he wore to dinner everynight, except pirate night. There are people who really dress up and then others who wear their normal casual dinner clothing. You will feel fine either way.

shari

 

[castlegazer]

Kim, yeah, the kids can eat in the clubs. You can also get them some food around the pool prior to talking them up to the clubs too.

We are bringing just a nice shirt and slacks with tie for my son. My daughter has dresses. DH will be wearing a suit because of the budget crunch (normally we rent a tux while on board).

I think your guys would have fun at the formal meal, really. If they don't, do what we are planning on doing every night, take them up to the clubs halfway through the meal and come back and finish in peace.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

We were one of the few families dressed up on formal night for first seating dinner. Our servers and head waiter even commented, "Oh my goodness -- you're so dressed up."

Second seating had more people dressed up, but even then, many people wore casual dinner clothes.

 

[castlegazer]

I think the main reason a lot of people get all decked out is because it's the only chance they get to do it.

The main reason people do it is because this is the way it is supposed to be and it is the suggested attire. It is not casual or resort wear night - it is formal night.

 

[HLester3]

I was looking so forward to Formal night because I wanted a pictures with the formal Minnie & Mickey. I got my DS age 4 a tux on Ebay for $25, and I have the cutest picture of him posing with Minnie in her evening gown and him in his tux. I also got a dress for my daughter on ebay (actually the one above this post with Cindrella) **I have never gotten to thank her for posting the seller and posting such a cute picture, the dress looks just like Cindy's*** I felt both purchases were wonderful.

I wish I could post the pictures, but I have not figured out how to resize them. We also got a family picture with our family in formal wear and Mickey in his tux. I missed goofy and donald in their tux outfits, since i did not call on the phone to see when they were going to be out.

I was a little worried that DS would not want to get into the tux, but he felt very grown up wearing a tux like his dad. The fact that everyone told him how cute he looked as he walked down the hall also helped. We actually changed back into our regular clothes and had dinner at Topsiders on Formal night and then went to the show. For me it was all about the pictures. Plus my shoes were killing me, since I am not used to walking around in heals.

 

[tecdavidt]

I have always worn a black cocktail dress, never a long gown. My husband does wear a tux but that is because he owns one. Our 13 daughter wears a dress. A lot of men wear suits. You can be as formal or dress in regular dining room attire. You could also avoid the night by dining in Topsiders. The choice is up to you. If you are in a suite, you could order the dining room meal in your room. You have a lot of choices. Kathy

 

[Queen2]

As already said, you will see a varity of all styles of attire. You will fit in what ever you wear. "Formal" to very nice clothes you would wear to church, to normal casual clothes. I wear sweats all the time, so for me just to get out of them is great. I usually wear black slacks & a nice blouse. To me that is formal

 

[unixadm]

We are a casual family as well....and the only time our kids have been in suits were for some pictures at Thanksgiving......We brought their suits and they actually enjoyed getting dressed up. You might be surprised at the reaction.

You could definitely put them in the kids club, or just opt out of the formal dinner and eat at Topsiders, Pizza by the pool, etc.

I don't agree that with other posters that say you could just go without your formal attire. We saw a few families like that.....in basically Tshirts and pants....The majority of people at our Formal and Semi-Formal dinners were dresses appropriatly. Those who were in T-Shirts stuck out and it detracted from the evening for the people that took the time to dress up.

 

[antkim]

Thanks guys..I will have to think about all of this! I aonly have 11 months! I guess I was more concerned about my 3 yr old...he is not so great at the table as it is...need to work on that! Well, he should be better at 3 than he is at 2, right? Maybe I will do as Castlegazer suggested...have them join us in the beginning and then have them go to the clubs...then we can enjoy the rest of the night quietly!

unixadm...noticed you will be at the BWV in April. I will be there from the 11-14th! Splitting our stay between BWV and the cabins!

Kim

 

[unixadm]

unixadm...noticed you will be at the BWV in April. I will be there from the 11-14th! Splitting our stay between BWV and the cabins!

Kim

Kim,

We will be there April 2nd-April 7th.

Here in Georgia, the schools are closed the first week of April.

 

[antkim]

Kim,

We will be there April 2nd-April 7th.

Here in Georgia, the schools are closed the first week of April.

I get to WDW on the 8th! Staying at the cabins first! Oh well, we will meet in Jan!