Help me to explain to Dh that Disney restuarants are casual!

[WishingOnAStar]

Dh wants to take all these REALLY nice clothes because "we'll be eating out"- I keep trying to explain to him that we'll be eating out in the course of running around parks and nice shorts and a t-shirt are perfectly acceptable. We do have something a little more dressy (matching Mickey/Minnie aloha outfits - dresses for girls and dress shirts for guys) for O'hana's.
But we're eating at all casual places (Chef Mickey's, Prime Time, CRT, Tony's, Plaza, Teppanyaki Grill, Beaches & Cream, LTT, CP, 1900 Park Fare.....)

Am I wrong?

 

[donald...really]

As far as your question about the restaurants being casual, except for Victoria and Alberts you are correct. It sounds like you are bringing a nice outfit for a special night out, but other than that, nice shorts and t-shirts, especially in the theme parks are fine.

When I took a friend of mine to WDW a few years ago and he heard that we were going to be eating at a french restaurant at EPCOT he brought a tie!!! Nedless to say, he didn't wear it.

 

[CamColt]

As much as I do enjoy dressing up, I will have to say shorts and tops are not only fine, but the norm at those restuarants listed.

 

[jazznms]

Have u thought he might be planning a special night out and wants to keep it a surprise
I see V&A in your future or not

 

[Mickeyhugger]

While I agree that most of WDW is casual, (and yes, tell your DH he can 'dress down' while there) I think it's great he prefers to err on the side of caution. Just hop over to the DCL boards and read some of the threads from people who whine about formal night. 'I'm on vacation and I shouldn't have to dress up,' 'who really cares what I wear,' 'judge me for who I am, not how I dress,' etc..

Have fun!

 

[Carrieberry]

I LOVE to dress up, but at WDW you would be in the minority if you dressed nice to eat at the restaurants. We have ducked into some soaking wet from rain, others in tank tops and shorts with beet red faces from the heat. Dress so you are comfortable in the parks and you will be fine, no need to go change for meals. When we go back to the resort to shower and relax or swim, we then change for dinner before heading back out for the eveing and when we do that we tend to look a little nicer, like what you are talking about with the matching shirts and stuff. My husband would roll on the floor laughing if I told him to pack a tie unless we were going to V&A or a dressy evening at PI.

 

[jlproffitt]

For the restaurants listed, casual park attire is the norm.

Victoria and Albert's requires jackets for men and evening wear for women.

There are other restaurants with dress codes, however. When I made PS for our upcoming trip at Jiko, California Grill, and Artist Point, I was told that there is a dress code of business casual. The CM actually had another euphemism for the dress code, but he translated it to business casual for me.

My assumption from that is that table service restaurants at deluxe hotels are headed in that direction.

Again, for the restaurants you've listed, just about any attire will do though.

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

Just tell him that if he dresses up, he will stick out like a sore thumb and everyone will wonder why he is so dressed up.

If I know guys, he wont want everyone looking at him! That might work. It's what I told my DH our first trip and he thanked me for it later!

Good luck!

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

jlproffitt, re: the sunset safari, we're supposed to be eating at Jiko's right after a safari drive. I imagine we'll be on the casual side unless they give us time to go back to our rooms to change??

What is the average outfit at dinner at California Grill and does it factor into whether you get a good table or not?

 

[ducklite]

Every place you have listed is come as you are casual. Park attire welcome and appropriate. In fact the only thing not appropriate would be bathing suits, and maybe your PJ's

Anne

 

[Uncleromulus]

And actually, those "business casual" dress codes are not really enforced codes at all. More on the order of preferences. Truth is that absent a bathing suit or a tank-top on men, you can eat at ANY WDW restaurant except V&A. So dress up if you want to--many do. But you don't have to.

CaliforniaDreamer: How you dress at California Grill has absolutely nothing to do with what sort of table you'll get. I should know--we've gone about 6 or 7 times now for dinner, always in theme-park casual. We had tables at the window, in the middle, and in the wine room. Just depended on what time we ate and how crowded they were.

 

[WishingOnAStar]

Thanks, all, for your help. I made dh put the clothes he wants in a pile for me last night and he finally gave in - one pair of "dress shorts" to go with the nice shirt for O'Hana's and the rest is casual- run around the parks - wear. I know he'll be so much happier in the long run!
Don't get me wrong - we'll still look "presentable", but my main concern is comfort if we're going to be walking around all day long. We're not sure if we'll go back to the hotel mid-day or not.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

BTW, when I said "casual" after the safari ride I meant our version of casual, which is never shorts, usually black jeans or khaki colored pants. (we're going in winter) no goofy hats.