Hats in Restaurants

[cobright]

If it was one of those weird ibis birds I wrote a funny story about one in another thread. If I meet that bird outside of WDW he's gonna suffer for it.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

Both my 2 boys and my DH absolutely remove their hats at restaurants. There have been times when they have forgotten ... but my DH will remind them immediately when he remembers. It's manners...

They (DH AND both boys ages 11 and 8) will also give up their bus seat to anyone elderly (or female) that is forced to stand. They hold doors for others regardless of gender/age. They say please and thank you to any/all servers at restaurants. Do they forget at times...sure, but the older they get the less they "forget" and it comes more naturally. I married a gentleman...and am happy to say he is really good at teaching my kids to be gentlemen...

They're not perfect... but I hope that we are raising them to be the kind of men who (one day) will have wives that genuinely appreciate how a true gentlemen acts.

(Typed as the 2 little gentlemen wrestle around on the floor in the next room yelling WWE phrases at each other....)

 

[fowler619]

I would think out of respect a man would remove his hat. If not out of respect for his family but the chef. Sad how our country has slipped into a me me me state.

 

[BuddyThomas]

I would think out of respect a man would remove his hat. If not out of respect for his family but the chef. Sad how our country has slipped into a me me me state.

Respect to what??????

 

[BuddyThomas]

I would think out of respect a man would remove his hat. If not out of respect for his family but the chef. Sad how our country has slipped into a me me me state.

PS- I show my respect by having good manners, not having children ( if I had any) screech and climb under other people's tables, and tipping properly.

Do all you hat people behave the same? Just wondering.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

PS- I show my respect by having good manners, not having children ( if I had any) screech and climb under other people's tables, and tipping properly.

Do all you hat people behave the same? Just wondering.

Absolutely, I do!

Plus, I have my kids remove their hats in restaurants.

 

[BuddyThomas]

Absolutely, I do!

Plus, I have my kids remove their hats in restaurants.

LOL- well good to hear. Good vibes and all that stuff.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

LOL- well good to hear. Good vibes and all that stuff.

LOL!

 

[cobright]

PS- I show my respect by having good manners, not having children ( if I had any) screech and climb under other people's tables, and tipping properly.

Do all you hat people behave the same? Just wondering.

Well mannered ones do. I wonder though, with what criteria do you decide which elements of 'good manners' you practice? Manners is a pretty abstract term but it usually denotes a level of conformity to social customs.

I assume you say please and thankyou because doing so is polite, it serves no purpose other than to convey respect and gratitude to the person you are dealing with. But you choose not to remove your hat at dinner even though doing so is considered polite and a way to convey your respect for the host.

I wonder if you choose to practice elements of etiquette based on how much of an inconvenience they are to you?

 

[Disney_Princess83]

PS- I show my respect by having good manners, not having children ( if I had any) screech and climb under other people's tables, and tipping properly.

Do all you hat people behave the same? Just wondering.

Yes, I think removing a hat indoors shows that the wearer has little or no respect for the people he will be dining with. I also think that women should remove hats when indoors, if they're easy to remove (baseball caps, sun visors, sun hats) In the past, only men were required to remove their hats but this is because womens hats in the past were held on with ribbons and/or hat pins.

Will it ruin my meal if someone else is wearing a hat? Of course not. No one at our table would be wearing a hat and that's what matters to us. That is just how I was raised.

Do you/would you remove your hat when they're playing your National Anthem? If you do/would, then you are acknowledging that removing your hat shows respect. Removing a hat indoors is the same thing.

 

[Jennasis]

I read somewhere that the removing of one's hat indoors was akin to removing one's jacket. Both were signs that you intended to STAY and not get up and leave. I get the concept, but find it pointless and outdated, so I don't particularly care if people wear hats. It has no bearing on my enjoyment of my meal or anything else. I don't wear hats because they give me headaches. If somebody else wants to, good for them.

 

[cw21726]

Do you/would you remove your hat when they're playing your National Anthem? If you do/would, then you are acknowledging that removing your hat shows respect. Removing a hat indoors is the same thing.

This is the most absurd comparison imaginable.

 

[jennylyn_b]

This is the most absurd comparison imaginable.

Actually I thought it was a great comparison.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

This is the most absurd comparison imaginable.

Really? Feel free to disagree with me but maybe try something actually constructive.

Why do people remove their hats for the National Anthem? Think about that for a moment....

Actually I thought it was a great comparison.

Thanks, I thought so too

 

[Jennasis]

Really? Feel free to disagree with me but maybe try something actually constructive.

Why do people remove their hats for the National Anthem? Think about that for a moment....



Thanks, I thought so too

There's lots of interesting info out there about the reasons for removing one's hat in a variety of situations, from the playing of the national anthem to passing a lady in a corridor. It's all extremely arbitrary and a little bit ludicrous IMO. I also don't feel people can pick and choose which hat "rules" they want to follow. If you're going to stick with the "no hats indoors/ata restaurant cause it's disrespectful" thing, then you have to go with all of them, like removing a hat when speaking/meeting with a lady (with a flourish and in a flirtatious manner according the Miss Manners)...and the "rules" get more fuzzy and arbitrary from there.

Which is why I find it easier to abandon all the nonsensical hat rules (and avoid wearing them altogether). besides, nothing more enjoyable then having to see your DH/DS's sweaty hat hair all throughout your meal.

 

[cw21726]

Really? Feel free to disagree with me but maybe try something actually constructive.

Why do people remove their hats for the National Anthem? Think about that for a moment....
)

If something makes no sense it kinda stands on its own. Removing your hat to honor one's country ≠ removing your hat at Chef Mickey's. Or any other restaurant at WDW outside of Signatures in the resorts.

 

[mininewman]

As a person I rarely wear hats, and I honestly can't remember when I wore a (non-winter) hat to even be able to take it off indoors.

As a waiter, however, I do have a sort of two cents on the issue. I do not have any problem with people who wear hats at my tables, be it a ballcap, cowboy hat, a womens dress hat, etc. However, there is one thing that is incredibly important to point out when wearing a hat, BE AWARE OF IT. It is more difficult to communicate with someone when you are sitting down wearing a hat and they are standing up. Eye contact and facial gestures are much less noticeable, your face is blocked by the visor as is your view, so if you are not very polite/actively paying attention and willing to look at me when I speak it makes taking the order, clearing and refilling items, etc much more difficult. This goes along with a lot of other factors, but I have to say probably 4/5 people who wear ballcaps inside do none of these things, and become a massive hassle. They also rarely tip, but boy am I not getting into that conversation here.

The point is: wear a hat if you want so long as you are polite and spatially aware and those of us that may actually be affected by it (as opposed to other people eating around you who likely are not) will not blink or think twice.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Buuut... since I am not Overly Manly Man, I do not always 100% of the time remove my hat while eating at a QS restaurant (or even the occasional character meal). Why?
1) If Donald Duck can wear his hat, so can I. I paid more to be there than he did.
2) My hair is often a hot, sweaty, unsanitary, ugly mess at WDW. I try to spare small children from the trauma of having to see it.

 

[gonzalj1]

Chewing with your mouth open doesn't need knowledge of any existing reasons, same as would be slurping or trying to dislodge something in your teeth at the table, for someone to find it poor etiquette.

Careful here. Lets all remember that etiquette is cultural. What is acceptable in one culture may be deemed extremely offensive in others. One example is the slurping noises we find disgusting at meal time. In some cultures it would be deemed offensive to your host not to make these noises as they are considered a sign that you are enjoying the food they have offered.

There are many such examples from around the world.

I say if doesn't hurt you deal with it. If it bothers you so much remove yourself from the situation. You're choice.

 

[mullysisters]

I don't wear a hat in a restaurant. But why is it considered rude? It just seems like of those things where you don't wear it just because we say so.

I'm 55 years old and I understand this is an old cultural convention. Some religion require head coverings, I've come to be used to it now that we are a culturally diverse population. And celebrate it!

I do care about: body odour, too much body showing, loud obnoxious people, foul language.

I see people dressed in shorts and t-shirts in Signature restaurants, I wonder why they don't want to get a little dressy and have a fun night out, but I respect their right to dress how they want.

There is nothing intrinsically dis-respectful about wearing a hat.