Hot take on sig dining dress code

[Leigh123]

I realize there is a difference between upscale dining at WDW and other destinations. I have done both. My point in saying that is I know the difference between WDWs dress code and say one in Vegas or NYC ((meaning WDWs is rather relaxed) That being said, I don’t understand why people can’t leave the parks and change into more compliant clean clothing to come into a signature dining restaurant. I’m not saying they need to put on their ball gown. BUT seeing people roll in in their theme park shorts and sweaty T-shirts distracts from the ambience of the restaurant. Here’s an even hotter take, when you take your babies to a restaurant at 8 o’clock at night, they are going to fuss and scream. Go earlier

 

[fla4fun]

I realize there is a difference between upscale dining at WDW and other destinations. I have done both. My point in saying that is I know the difference between WDWs dress code and say one in Vegas or NYC ((meaning WDWs is rather relaxed) That being said, I don’t understand why people can’t leave the parks and change into more compliant clean clothing to come into a signature dining restaurant. I’m not saying they need to put on their ball gown. BUT seeing people roll in in their theme park shorts and sweaty T-shirts distracts from the ambience of the restaurant. Here’s an even hotter take, when you take your babies to a restaurant at 8 o’clock at night, they are going to fuss and scream. Go earlier

I think it makes a difference whether the signature restaurant is inside a park or at a resort. I am more likely to give someone a pass on theme park clothing if they are dining in a park than if they are dining in a resort. The signature resort restaurants just feel like they deserve that little bit of extra effort.

Unfortunately babies will fuss and scream no matter what time they are in a restaurant and we have no way of knowing what time zone they came from to know if it is early or late at 8:00pm.. If they are from California, 8:00 will feel like 5:00 to the baby. I don’t appreciate it when the parents make no attempt to calm their child or take them out of the dining room for a few minutes. However, if the parents are trying, there’s not much else to be done. That may have been the only reservation available to them and it is just the luck of the draw that they ended up dining the same time as you. Disney has age restrictions on the restaurants where they feel it is warranted.

 

[Leigh123]

Hi, thanks for responding. You did make a very good point about in or outside of a park restaurants. I was 1000% referring to resort restaurants for signature dining. As for the 8 o’clock reservation time if that was all that was available and I had a toddler a newborn I probably wouldn’t take the reservation. I am not anti-child in a restaurant believe me, especially at Disney lol when I’m at a character meal or at an in Park restaurant I don’t even bat an eye when someone kicks scream spills, etc. however, when I’m paying 200 or more dollars for two of us to have dinner at a nice signature restaurant at 8 o’clock in the evening I would just like some peace and quiet in my atmosphere. I also should’ve probably clarified to say I met children in that are no doubt up past their bedtime and on overload from being in the parks all day.

 

[fla4fun]

Hi, thanks for responding. You did make a very good point about in or outside of a park restaurants. I was 1000% referring to resort restaurants for signature dining. As for the 8 o’clock reservation time if that was all that was available and I had a toddler a newborn I probably wouldn’t take the reservation. I am not anti-child in a restaurant believe me, especially at Disney lol when I’m at a character meal or at an in Park restaurant I don’t even bat an eye when someone kicks scream spills, etc. however, when I’m paying 200 or more dollars for two of us to have dinner at a nice signature restaurant at 8 o’clock in the evening I would just like some peace and quiet in my atmosphere. I also should’ve probably clarified to say I met children in that are no doubt up past their bedtime and on overload from being in the parks all day.

I have never experienced an infant making noise in a restaurant, but I have had to listen to a lot of toddler tantrums. I think the worst child in a restaurant experience I have had at Disney was a family of four, the parents and two children who appeared to be maybe seven or younger. The kids got under the table and were head-butting it, making the plates and silverware rattle and the glasses tip over. The parents just sat there eating, totally oblivious to what their kids were doing. It was awful, and it was very disturbing to all the tables in close proximity. I don’t blame you for wanting a quiet dinner!

The only infant disturbance I have had to deal with was on a plane, overnight flight to Europe. The poor mom tried everything to calm the baby down, but nothing worked. I feel for the parents in a situation like that because there is nowhere to go. I was glad to have some excellent earplugs . . .

 

[Leigh123]

I have never experienced an infant making noise in a restaurant, but I have had to listen to a lot of toddler tantrums. I think the worst child in a restaurant experience I have had at Disney was a family of four, the parents and two children who appeared to be maybe seven or younger. The kids got under the table and were head-butting it, making the plates and silverware rattle and the glasses tip over. The parents just sat there eating, totally oblivious to what their kids were doing. It was awful, and it was very disturbing to all the tables in close proximity. I don’t blame you for wanting a quiet dinner!

The only infant disturbance I have had to deal with was on a plane, overnight flight to Europe. The poor mom tried everything to calm the baby down, but nothing worked. I feel for the parents in a situation like that because there is nowhere to go. I was glad to have some excellent earplugs . . .

I also feel for parents in situations where they are without a solution. But you said it so much more eloquently than I typed it thank you very much. It’s when those parents know that their children are being a distraction to other diners and don’t do anything about it and continue to have their cocktails and eat their dinner. I’m talking about California Grill or Yachtsman Steakhouse etc..

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Totally agree with the distinction between in-park and resort restaurants. I definitely see the point about the overall atmosphere and contributing to an elevated experience, but for me personally, I find the attire of others pretty easy to ignore and it doesn't have an impact on my meal. On the other hand, the parents who seem to make no effort to calm their kids after it's clear it's not a quick fix and/or let them watch videos/play games on devices at full volume with no headphones definitely frustrate me. And in some restaurants the very close proximity of tables only magnifies the issue(s). I do my best to give the parents the benefit of the doubt (and obviously, we're in Disney -- we expect kids) but there are some occasions where it's apparent they do not give a you know what.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I've seen people show up to signature dining restaurants in their pajamas before. I don't think Disney cares to/wants to be bothered with enforcing the posted dress code other than Victoria and Albert's IMO. And before someone gets upset with me, no I'm not condoning it. It's just what it is.

As for the kid thing, I've had meals ruined by other people's kids screaming and running around tables. The experience I had at Napa Rose over at DL was so bad due to another party's kid that it honestly ruined that restaurant for me. I see that now it's a very expensive prix fixe menu so I don't think I'll return regardless.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Never seen pj wearing people in any restaurants but thank goodness I rarely eat breakfast. Now, I have seen them at concierge lounges but interestingly enough only at WDW where some think rules/etiquette/norms don’t apply to them. Weird

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

I think logistics play a big part of it. Last family trip we ate at Narcoosees around 6pm of our MK day. We left MK around 540pm and walked there. If we had gone back to OKW to change into dressier clothes we'd be looking at least an hour plus 2 additional UberXLs. Zero chance that's going to happen with us. Just not worth it so people can see me in a polo shirt instead of a t-shirt.

 

[Skippyboo]

Say you are staying at All Stars but you are at MK with an ADR at 7 pm for California grill. So are you walking over to Contemporary or hopping on Resort Monorail at 630 pm or are you leaving MK at 4pm to wait for a All Stars bus that you don’t know exactly when it’s coming, 20 minutes on the bus , walk back to your room, everyone shower and dress up, walk back to bus stop, wait for bus back to MK , ride bus to MK, go through security again to walk or monorail to Contemporary?

 

[smcabee]

Who cares what others are wearing. Focus on your family/dinner guests and your food.

 

[Dsny4fun]

I'm also paying $200+ to eat at a signature....but at the end of the day...this is still a theme park vacation which in my mind...does not require my family to get dressed up to make you happy. I'll mind my business, you mind yours and we'll all get along much better

 

[fla4fun]

Say you are staying at All Stars but you are at MK with an ADR at 7 pm for California grill. So are you walking over to Contemporary or hopping on Resort Monorail at 630 pm or are you leaving MK at 4pm to wait for a All Stars bus that you don’t know exactly when it’s coming, 20 minutes on the bus , walk back to your room, everyone shower and dress up, walk back to bus stop, wait for bus back to MK , ride bus to MK, go through security again to walk or monorail to Contemporary?

I understand what you are saying, that because the restaurant is so close and your hotel so far away, logistically it may not make sense to go back to freshen up. In this case, personally, I would probably take a backpack with at least a change of shirt, and the toiletries to freshen up, and put it in a locker for the day at MK. Freshen up and change in the CR restrooms and leave the backpack with Bell Services while dining. If I didn’t want to carry a bag, then I would go back to AS, but use a rideshare to go back to CG after cleaning up. But that’s just how I would do it for me. So long as the people at the next table don’t have BO from being hot and sweaty in the park, they won’t be bothering me.

The dress code has become so lenient that basically anything goes . . . except swimwear.

For CG per Disney’s website:

 

[CVG]

The only real signature dining experience at Disney is the chef's table at V&A so I don't really worry about what everyone else is doing.

 

[Anthony1971]

Dined in Michelin star restaurants in NYC with others in sweat pants and T shirts -likely would have been shorts if it were warmer- Where Disney in fact has a dress code for its single rated restaurant. Yes another but not owned by Disney. Signiture or like, steakhouses etc in NYC, are come as you are these days. If different the restaurant will have jackets to wear over your T shirts. Not taking away from anyone’s opinion but this changed a long time ago. Never bothers me what people are wearing so long as they are respectful of others in the restaurant… and that comes dressed up or not.

 

[CVG]

Dined in Michelin star restaurants in NYC with others in sweat pants and T shirts -likely would have been shorts if it were warmer- Where Disney in fact has a dress code for its single rated restaurant. Yes another but not owned by Disney. Signiture or like, steakhouses etc in NYC, are come as you are these days. If different the restaurant will have jackets to wear over your T shirts. Not taking away from anyone’s opinion but this changed a long time ago. Never bothers me what people are wearing so long as they are respectful of others in the restaurant… and that comes dressed up or not.

Agreed. Some of the best dressed people are utter a-holes towards the people looking after them.

 

[JLTraveling]

Meh. I gave up a long time ago when formal night on cruise ships turned into a come as you are free for all. I used to love getting all glammed up for the night. But if people can't be bothered to go put on some nice pants or a skirt when their room is literally a 5 minute walk from the restaurant, I definitely don't expect them to go through the hassle of returning to their resort to freshen up at a theme park, which could tack an extra couple of hours onto their day.

 

[Marthasor]

The dress code stuff never bothered me. I, personally, like to freshen up and put on clean clothes but it's really for my own comfort. I really don't care what any one else is wearing. Prior to the dress codes becoming more casual, I had to laugh when I showed up to check in for Monsieur Paul a few years ago (when it still had a "dress code") and a woman in front of me checked in wearing cut-off jean shorts, a crop top and full-on Viking face paint. As they escorted her up the stairs, I knew right then and there the dress code was going the way of the dodo. As for children's behavior in signatures - it's WDW - I've come to expect chaos and noise everywhere. When I really can't take chaos and noise, I vacation elsewhere.

 

[J-Dog]

I just don't get why people care what other people are doing.

I mean, I guess if a kid is screaming his head off at the next table, then that might be mildly distracting. But kids under their own parents' table or walking around don't detract from it for me at all.

And, for the life of me, I can't understand why other people's clothing choices would affect your meal. I am interested in the food and the people I'm with, not what Joe Blow at the next table is doing/wearing. I couldn't possibly care less.

 

[HopperFan]

Other than parks, where I don't think we'd be eating anywhere "signature" dress applicable ... we do dress nicer for the nicer restaurants. They don't even have to be signature but we will wear sundress, nicer capri, collared shirts etc. I don't care what others wear, but I might notice if they don't fit in.

As far as kids I'm not happy to spend lots for a nice dinner and it be disrupted by ill behaved. In our house if you are not behaving, you are removed. Once at California Grill the next table was a large party at a long table. There were children walking & stomping ON the table going from one end to the next and not a thing was done to stop it. Parent failure and honestly staff should have said something, if nothing else it wasn't safe.

Say you are staying at All Stars but you are at MK with an ADR at 7 pm for California grill. So are you walking over to Contemporary or hopping on Resort Monorail at 630 pm or are you leaving MK at 4pm to wait for a All Stars bus that you don’t know exactly when it’s coming, 20 minutes on the bus , walk back to your room, everyone shower and dress up, walk back to bus stop, wait for bus back to MK , ride bus to MK, go through security again to walk or monorail to Contemporary?

We have been in this scenario. We brought a backpack with change of clothes and put in a locker. Easy solution. But for the most part we try to schedule in ways it work better. Once we had a hotel break mid afternoon, dressed up a bit to go for our dinner then headed to MK for evening. The kids were fun about taking pictures in the park in their nicer clothes.