Getting nervous - do I need to be concerned??

[Ellen aka Snow White]

My husband and I are going for a short trip before a work convention in January. We will have 2 days in the parks and I have reservations at California Grill for one of those evenings. We have never been to California Grill and now I'm starting to second guess my choice. We will spend the day in Magic Kingdom and don't really want to take the time to go back to Port Orleans to change for dinner plus we plan to possibly go back to park after dinner. I know it is a signature restaurant - will we be completely 'out of place' in our park clothes??
TIA

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Are you second guessing only because of the clothing issue? They will not turn you away in park clothes, unless you are wearing swimwear, torn clothing like cutoff shorts, or tank tops (for men).

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

Yes because of the clothing issue - not that we will be turned away - but feeling awkward or out of place. I would love to be able to dress up for it but really don't want to use the little time we have commuting back and forth.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If any, there will be very few guests there "dressed up." There may be some. There will also be guests in park attire.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes because of the clothing issue - not that we will be turned away - but feeling awkward or out of place. I would love to be able to dress up for it but really don't want to use the little time we have commuting back and forth.

You could do what my fiance and I did when we had a similar plan. We took a back pack to the park in the AM that had our "nicer" clothes that didn't wrinkle easily. I put in a dress that was easy to slip on and a pair of nice sandles, he had a polo and a pair of wrinkle reduction khakis as well as sporty dress shoes. About 1 hour before our reservation we headed out of MK grabbing our clothes from the locker. We took the stroll over to the Contemporary and changed in the bathrooms on the floor where you check in for dinner. I did a quick make up and ran a brush through my hair. Fiance ran a comb through his. We then checked in a few minutes early and had a cocktail while we waited. After the dinner (where we got seated at the window for fireworks!) we quickly changed again and walked back to the MK and threw our bag back in our locker. I believe it was EMH so we still had several more hours in the park.

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

You could do what my fiance and I did when we had a similar plan. We took a back pack to the park in the AM that had our "nicer" clothes that didn't wrinkle easily. I put in a dress that was easy to slip on and a pair of nice sandles, he had a polo and a pair of wrinkle reduction khakis as well as sporty dress shoes. About 1 hour before our reservation we headed out of MK grabbing our clothes from the locker. We took the stroll over to the Contemporary and changed in the bathrooms on the floor where you check in for dinner. I did a quick make up and ran a brush through my hair. Fiance ran a comb through his. We then checked in a few minutes early and had a cocktail while we waited. After the dinner (where we got seated at the window for fireworks!) we quickly changed again and walked back to the MK and threw our bag back in our locker. I believe it was EMH so we still had several more hours in the park.

I had actually thought about this as an option but wasn't sure about where we would change! Thanks for the info

 

[mchelle77]

You could even look into a locker for the bag if you didn't want to lug it around with you all day. We did the dress-change for the luau, worked out great!

 

[jrmasm]

I wouldn't worry about it. DH and I went wearing our park attire (polos and nicer khaki shorts) and we were completely comfortable. Table next to us was very dressy, table next to them jean shorts...

Don't sweat it.

 

[littleblackegg]

You could do what my fiance and I did when we had a similar plan. We took a back pack to the park in the AM that had our "nicer" clothes that didn't wrinkle easily. I put in a dress that was easy to slip on and a pair of nice sandles, he had a polo and a pair of wrinkle reduction khakis as well as sporty dress shoes. About 1 hour before our reservation we headed out of MK grabbing our clothes from the locker. We took the stroll over to the Contemporary and changed in the bathrooms on the floor where you check in for dinner. I did a quick make up and ran a brush through my hair. Fiance ran a comb through his. We then checked in a few minutes early and had a cocktail while we waited. After the dinner (where we got seated at the window for fireworks!) we quickly changed again and walked back to the MK and threw our bag back in our locker. I believe it was EMH so we still had several more hours in the park.

We have also done this. As long as you have your clothes in a locker, you won't have to schlep them around. Confession: I have also changed in the car.

 

[katt789]

My husband and I are going for a short trip before a work convention in January. We will have 2 days in the parks and I have reservations at California Grill for one of those evenings. We have never been to California Grill and now I'm starting to second guess my choice. We will spend the day in Magic Kingdom and don't really want to take the time to go back to Port Orleans to change for dinner plus we plan to possibly go back to park after dinner. I know it is a signature restaurant - will we be completely 'out of place' in our park clothes??
TIA

Take an easy change of clothes with you into the park & store them in a locker for the day! Change on your way out or over at the Contemporary. They won't turn you away but it is easy to feel out of place up there! It's also common sight to see people in completely "un-classy" clothing. Depends how comfortable you are!

Cali Grill was one of my all time favorite restaurants at disney! The view, the food, the drinks, the lounge, we went multiple times just for drinks! And the experience was always wonderful!

 

[supersnoop]

will we be completely 'out of place' in our park clothes??

I wouldn't worry about it. DH and I went wearing our park attire (polos and nicer khaki shorts) and we were completely comfortable. Table next to us was very dressy, table next to them jean shorts..

Define "park clothes." As you can see, that means different things to different people. I'd try to avoid printed t-shirts, and I'd try to wear pants, not shorts, that day.

 

[disnut8]

We went back to our resort to change for our dinner at California Grill and my husband wore long pants and a collared shirt and I did a skirt and a nice shirt. We also wore different shoes that we brought in our suitcase for just this dinner. We were disappointed as many people were in shorts and park attire including sneakers. There were also many children there so it wasn't a quiet place where only couples hang out for a romantic dinner.

 

[Hopefully]

Yes because of the clothing issue - not that we will be turned away - but feeling awkward or out of place. I would love to be able to dress up for it but really don't want to use the little time we have commuting back and forth.

I would feel awkward& out of place in ordinary park clothes. I agree with the majority of PP. If I could not go back to my room to freshen up, I would bring a change of clothes with me that day

 

[DisneyWishes14]

You will not be turned away. Once when checking in for Monsieur Paul, a woman checking in in front of us was wearing cut-off jean shorts and viking face paint. She was seated.

If we are doing a nice dinner from a park, my DH will typically wear khaki shorts and a polo and I'll either wear a sundress or capris and a nicer top - it's kind of middle ground between "park" and "dressed up".

 

[si-am]

I got all dressed up for Cali Grill one year only to be seated at a table next to a guy wearing a track suit and sneakers. So... The last time we went, I wore nice printed shorts, a flowy tank top, and leather flip flops. If they aren't going to enforce a dress code, then I'm not going to hassle with changing into anything special.

 

[soniam]

When we had reservations at Carthay Circle at Disneyland, I wore a short dress (summer), that could be casual but sort of dressy, with some nicer, but not fancy, sandals. I felt comfortable in the park and at the restaurant. You could wear slacks and a nice, but not fancy, sweater or top. That would probably do well everywhere, except Victoria & Albert. However, I don't know what the weather will be in January. You don't have to dress up much in most WDW restaurants.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Shorts and t-shirts--which is probably typical "park attire"-- are perfectly acceptable. They need not even be dress shorts--cargo style are just fine.

Nobody at CG will even be giving you a second glance.. it's not a fashion show.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I got all dressed up for Cali Grill one year only to be seated at a table next to a guy wearing a track suit and sneakers. So... The last time we went, I wore nice printed shorts, a flowy tank top, and leather flip flops. If they aren't going to enforce a dress code, then I'm not going to hassle with changing into anything special.

Just to note that track suits and sneakers are not on the "not permitted" list. Therefore acceptable!!

 

[TeresaWen]

Define "park clothes." As you can see, that means different things to different people. I'd try to avoid printed t-shirts, and I'd try to wear pants, not shorts, that day.

Very true! I wear dresses to the parks a lot. Makes packing so easy and I'm ready for whatever comes up. I tease my husband - as a woman I can be considered "dressed up" in something as comfortable as a nightgown!!

We were in California Grill on Sunday. Never even noticed how anyone else was dressed. We had an amazing evening. Hope you do too!

 

[crabbygal902]

When I've been to California Grill, there are people dressed all kinds of ways. Wearing "nicer" park attire, I think you'll be just fine.