Formal or informal dining?

[MICKEYKART]

I'd like to find out how many people would prefer to have NO formal or semi-formal nights on their Disney cruise. I think Disney is missing the boat (no pun intended) by having formal and semi-formal nights on their family oriented cruises.

 

[Dodie]

"Missing the boat?"

You could have fooled me. What I saw was hundreds of people all dressed up (kids too) enjoying both formal and semi-formal nights. Lots of photos, lots of strolling on deck, lots of really nice-looking people.

The other options are there if you don't want to dress up.

 

[BuzzRocks]

Disney went out of their way to design the Magic, and then the Wonder, after the luxurious cruise ships of a bygone era. So why ditch what, to some, is one of the main things that capture that ambiance??? IMHO, all gentlemen should be required to wear a jacket at dinner every night, with the exception of the tropical night on the eastern or a similar event on the western. If you are unwilling to do this, there are other dining alternatives. One thing people can't complain about on a Disney cruise is a lack of availability of food.

 

[ducklite]

Amen buzz!

If I wanted theme park dining I wouldn't bother to cruise, I'd just stay at WDW and eat turkey legs.

Anne

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

While reading this board, I've noticed that most of the people who express concern or displeasure about the formal nights on the Disney Magic are doing so before they go on the cruise.

I haven't seen too many people complaining about the experience after returning from a Disney Magic cruise. My guess is that most of the people who didn't like the idea of formal nights before they cruised ended up enjoying being part of a grand tradition that goes back to the ocean liners of long ago -- whether the men wore a tux, a dark suit, or at least a blue or black blazer over dress slacks, and whether the women wore a gown, cocktail dress, business dress, church dress, or other dressy attire.

For those who really can't stand to dress up, there are good alternatives. The reports on this board have indicated that Topsiders has excellent food and atmosphere at dinner. And there's always room service.

 

[kellyb2000]

I didn't mind dressing up on our last cruise and it was actually kinda fun BUT it required two new pricey outfits and that was just on the four day - if we would have been on a 7day cruise it would have been 2 new outfits each. And then to top everything off, our semi-formal Triton's dinner fell on the first night and hardly anyone else was dressed up. Well, a fat lot of good it did us buy new clothes. I had never heard that you don't have to dress up on the first night. Personally, I'd rather buy stuff on vacation and bring it home instead of buying stuff at home to take on vacation. My husband is a contractor so he obviously doesn't wear a suit everyday and our church is very casual. If it ever came to "requiring" jackets in all restaurants, you can count us out. I'm not knocking the formal nights, it won't stop me from going and/or dressing up but let's face it, people are on vacation. It's hard for me to get out of my bathing suit for regular clothes much less a ballroom gown.

 

[PinClubs]

I guess I was under the impression that the only difference between WDW and the Disneyu Cruise was water. I hoped I would have the same fun and Pixie Dust on the Cruise as I have in the theme parks.

Oh well, if you are going to take the fun out of the Disney Cruise then I will just stay where the Pixie Dust is.

Jeff

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by PinClubs
I guess I was under the impression that the only difference between WDW and the Disneyu Cruise was water. I hoped I would have the same fun and Pixie Dust on the Cruise as I have in the theme parks.

Oh well, if you are going to take the fun out of the Disney Cruise then I will just stay where the Pixie Dust is.

Jeff

Look at it this way. At WDW you can either eat casually in the theme parks, or you can get dressed up and dine at some of the upscale resort restaurant which have dress codes. At WDW I take myself out of the parks and change for dinner every day, and dine at places like Citrico's, Jiko, California Grill, etc. Although I know many who do the same, I know we are not the norm.

You on the other hand would prefer to stay in the theme parks and eat casually rather than getting dressed up. So you are being the norm at the theme parks. On the cruise you would prefer to not get dressed up, and there are dining options for you in that case. This is not the norm for cruisers.

If you truly feel that dressing up a couple of times on the cruise will ruin the vacation, then perhaps you are right, you would be happier simply visiting WDW.

On the other hand I would be very happy if WDW would enforce a dress code at some of the more upscale restaurants (they are starting to at California Grill, Chef's, and Citrico's, and have long had one at V&A's.)

Anne

 

[BuzzRocks]

Even at WDW, there are restaurants that require you to dress for dinner. It's not taking away any Pixie Dust. On the contrary, having everyone dress for dinner gives the dining room more of an elegant feel, adding even more Pixie Dust to an already magical experience. If Mickey dresses up, and requests his guest to do the same, then I'm following his lead.

 

[CamColt]

To me, part of the fun of a Disney Cruise, or any cruise for that matter, is the chance to get dressed up. When you go to a classy restuarant, and get the service that you get on a ship, it somehow doesnt have the same effect if you are there wearing jeans and a tshirt. I actually couldnt believe on the last night of our cruise our tablemates showed up one in a t shirt and one in a sweatshirt. To each his own I guess.
However if they did do away with the dressy nights(we were just on the 3 day so no "formal" nights for us) I would be greatly disappointed.

 

[PinClubs]

There is no question that this is a matter of personal taste which will never be agreed upon and that is fine.

Please keep in mind for me and my family that the words class, elegance, refinement , fine dining and ...................................fun are about as far apart as I can imagine.

ducklite wrote:

On the other hand I would be very happy if WDW would enforce a dress code at some of the more upscale restaurants (they are starting to at California Grill, Chef's, and Citrico's, and have long had one at V&A's.)

________________________________________________

Good Lord! Please don't do that...don't suck all the fun out of Disney. See if you can pretend to be a kid for a moment. Animator's Palate, Parrot Cay, and to some degree Triton's and Lumieres are happy Disney places. It would be a shame if the adults started dictating what happens on the cruise. Talk about the Grinch stealing Christmas

Jeff

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by PinClubs
There is no question that this is a matter of personal taste which will never be agreed upon and that is fine.

Please keep in mind for me and my family that the words class, elegance, refinement , fine dining and ...................................fun are about as far apart as I can imagine.

Jeff

Fine dining is lots of fun. As is class and elegance. I find it much more fun to be around people with class then people who are boors.

If you don't see fine dining as fun, then what does it really matter? You can eat dressed as you like at the fast food and casual dining places, and I'll dress up and eat at the fine dining places, and we'll both be quite happy.

Anne

 

[Dancind]

We haven't done a cruise yet, but I voted to keep it. Yes, I'm spending extra money pre-cruise to outfit myself and my family. I bought my DH a very handsome and classic slightly used tux for less than $100, and found a beautiful gown for myself. We'll just have to do more cruises to get our money's worth out of the clothes! Now to work on my DD. I can't wait to see what our formal pics look like, I'm sure that one will go on our wall! Diana

 

[PinClubs]

ducklite wrote:

Fine dining is lots of fun. As is class and elegance. I find it much more fun to be around people with class then people who are boors.


According to Webster's dictionary and anyone else who knows the English language...

The definition of a "Boor" is a peasant (rude and insensitive also).

I am neither rude nor insensitive, but I do appreciate being called a "Peasant" by someone who is not an elitist.


Jeff

 

[Michelle]

Okay, y'all the topic of dress on the cruise always is one of our fun hot topics.

Let's keep the discussion to the topic of DRESS and avoid the personal attacks, please.

Thank you!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by PinClubs
Please keep in mind for me and my family that the words class, elegance, refinement , fine dining and ...................................fun are about as far apart as I can imagine.

Then the dining rooms will be no fun for PinClubs on the formal nights, and neither will the reception in the atrium. Disney makes every effort to present an elegant, refined atmosphere and a fine dining experience on the formal nights. The servers are in formal attire. The tables are covered in white linens. There's appropriate music to add to the aura of class.

Many of us think this is great. It's a show -- a themed experience, if you will. The theme is first class on an early 20th century ocean liner. And by dressing the part, you're part of the show. If you don't make at least some effort to dress the part, you diminish the show for those who do.

PinClubs does not find this theme appealing. This is not an attack on PinClubs. There are plenty of things that other people enjoy that I don't find appealing (like the really loud music at the Sailaway Party).

The good news is that PinClubs and others who feel the same way can escape to Topsiders and enjoy equally good food without dressing up. And if Topsiders is still too fancy, there are snack bars and room service.

 

[herrmfam24]

To me dressing up is one of the best parts! you feal so elegant and special

 

[dave54]

We just returned from the Magic and while I agree with what Disney is trying to do with their "Dress Codes" the simple fact is that MANY people ignore it. Some might say, the heck with them, having some formal nights give those who like to dress up a "reason" to do it but I think there is a large "middle group" who kind of want to fit into the scene Disney is trying to create. That said, the group who doesn't follow do kind of spoil it IMHO. Disney either has to enforce the rules (like fancy restaurants do) or back off completely, I think they try to walk the line and it doesn't work.

PS I rented a tux and my wife bought some fancy dresses for this last cruise. If we ever get a chance to go again, we would be somewhat more casual about our dinner dressing.

 

[Irishmom23]

Even on the 3 day cruise, my DH, DS , and 2 DD's dressed up each night for dinner, and really enjoyed it! It is not too often that the girls get to wear dresses, let alone fancier ones, and my son (who is 17!) has always liked to dress in a suit and tie for special occasions. My DH, who is a boat mechanic, enjoyed getting into his suit and becoming part of the ambiance at Tritons. The girls wore dresses at the less formal dining rooms
(AP and PC), while I wore a pantsuit. The gentlemen in our family wore resort casual (polo shirts and nice pants) for Parrot Cay, and a shirt and tie for Animator's. Both DH and I dressed well for Palos, as did everyone else there we saw. I agree, if you rather not dress up, it is your choice, and there are dining alternatives for those who wish to wear shorts and T shirts. Keep the formal/semiformal nights!!

 

[Fawn]

I would also like to point out that the children who are expected to dress up and attend these affairs are getting an invaluable lesson in life manners and skills....in a fun, easy-going Disney way!!

What a great non-threatening way to introduce them to the finer points of life that they may experience at work or social functions as adults!

Having said that, it's still just a TON OF FUN as far as I'm concerned. Like being a part of a cast in an movie!!