How do you dress for signature dining

[Nancy for Disney]

There is a chance I may try and work in a signature dinning meal on our upcoming trip but the best night for us to do it will be a day that we get to the parks late morning and stay until the park closes which is 7 pm for that particular night. How do you dress for comfort in the parks but still nice enough for signature dinning. I have heard they are lax about the dress code but I don't want to be a total slob either.

Thanks!

 

[prncess674]

Stay away from the mickey printed t-shirt and loud hawaiin board shorts and you should be fine. If I know I will be going straight from park to signature dining, I wear belted khaki modest shorts or pants with a solid knit polo shirt. Before popping into the restaurant I head to the restroom, wash my hands and face, brush my hair. If it is particularly hot I may change shirts that I have tucked inside my small backpack that I carry.

 

[llqool]

Sometimes we go back to the hotel and change, but several times we have brought a change of clothing (well, a polo for my husband and a nice sweater for me) and just gone into the bathroom and changed before dinner.

You can even wear jeans as long as they are not ratty looking.

Honestly, the dress code is really not enforced, which is a shame, b/c it can detract somewhat from the signature dining experience to have people in ratty cut offs and baseball caps sitting across from you.

 

[Nancy for Disney]

Thanks for the tips. Going back to the room is not an option and the thought of carrying around extra clothing all day is not at all what I call "comfort". Can I wear my tennis shoes? Right now I only plan on bringing three pair of shoes. One pair of sandals, similar to Teva's but uglier, one pair of tennis shoes, and a dressier type shoe that will only get me through about an hour in the parks before causing me pain. I don't own any other shoes that would be more comfortable. Shoe shopping is out of the question. I need to put Christmas presents for the kids first.

 

[llqool]

Tennis shoes are fine

And since it seems like you are going in December, there is probably little likelihood that you will be hot and sweaty from the parks, so I would say just make sure you wear something that is not torn and ratty, and you can wear it right into the restaurant.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with a PP, that although the dress code is not stringently enforced having others messy in a nice restaurant detracts from the experience of fine dining.
I always wear a dressy pair of capris, a nice blouse and dressy sandals. My DH and DS wear dress shorts, and sport shirts (with collars)
We personally do not wear tennis shoes to the Signature restaurants.
You will see everything however.
Have a Great Trip

 

[Kit'smommy]

DH, DS and I ate at Citricos on Monday. I wore a nice skirt and cardigan and DH and DS wore very dark jeans and button front shirts.

Everyone I saw was dressed nicely. For once I did not see athletic shoes or tees.

 

[StitchFan73]

I usually wear a nice pair of capris or slacks and a blouse and bring light sweater (I am always cold) and sandals.

DH usually wears nice jeans and a polo or a button down shirt and a pair of dress khaki shorts. Shoes he usually wears nice sandals or a pair of (new and clean) sneakers.

We don't go overboard, but we do dress nice.

 

[GailT]

I went to Nicosses (sp) and citricos (sp) for New Years eve and Christmas last year and wore what I wore all day in the parks. To me going back to get dressed for dinner having dinner then going back to change to go back in the parks isn't a vacation to me, I don't go like I am a street person, jeans and a top and they never turned me down few more weeks and I will be doing the same thing, same restaurants and I am so excited, nothing like Christmas in Disney World

 

[Uncleromulus]

We usually wear shorts, tennis shoes, me a polo shirt and Mrs U a very casual blouse. Once in awhile I'll wear tan slacks and Mrs U jeans. But we never come directly from the parks, as we're usually swimming back at the hotel pool before we get ready for dinner.

You'll see most everything at the Signature spots. Tennis shoes are perfectly fine, as are sandals. So are T-shirts absent any offensive pictures or wording.

 

[MickeyNicki]

First time at Jiko I wore a dress and DH Dockers and a polo...after that we wore nice shorts, shirts, DH wore jeans...it seems that anything goes at these places although at Jiko they did turn away a man wearing a sleeveless shirt revealing all his tattoos.

 

[blanq]

Stay away from the mickey printed t-shirt and loud hawaiin board shorts and you should be fine. If I know I will be going straight from park to signature dining, I wear belted khaki modest shorts or pants with a solid knit polo shirt. Before popping into the restaurant I head to the restroom, wash my hands and face, brush my hair. If it is particularly hot I may change shirts that I have tucked inside my small backpack that I carry.

This is the strategy my family has as well. DH and DS wear khaki shorts/pants with a polo, and I generally wear capris with a shirt that is not a t-shirt. We are generally comfortable enough for the park and restaurant. There are times we head back to resort in late afternoon, change out of our park clothes, freshen up, put on some new clothes and head to a restaurant. I do feel better when we do the later option, but sometimes it is not always possible.

 

[natalielongstaff]

I wore a dress as did my dd, my dh had on long trousers and a shirt, personally i would prefer the dress code to be fully enforced ! i dont like to see casual dress in fine dining places

sorry

 

[prncess674]

I wore a dress as did my dd, my dh had on long trousers and a shirt, personally i would prefer the dress code to be fully enforced ! i dont like to see casual dress in fine dining places

sorry

Disney signature dining is not fine dining. The food served at most WDW signature dining is barely passable for most large cities.

 

[christinec68]

I wear a skirt or capris with a pretty top/blouse and sandels. My DH wears slacks (maybe khaki style shorts if it's summertime but usually pants) with a button down shirt. We always go back to the hotel to freshen up. It's a nice meal so we like to make it feel like a special night out and not just an extension of a day at the parks.

 

[Booyakasha]

Disney signature dining is not fine dining. The food served at most WDW signature dining is barely passable for most large cities.

It all depends on what you consider fine dining. Disney's signature restaurants are certainly not The Inn at Little Washington but they are the best Disney has to offer and I would think barely passable is a bit of a misstament.

B.

 

[SydneyFalco]

Disney signature dining is not fine dining. The food served at most WDW signature dining is barely passable for most large cities.

This is true. The last ostrich filet I had at California Grill I remember thinking that it paled compared to Denny's Grand Slam Ostrich Platter. That one was served with the beak and everything.

Still, despite the pedestrian gril that Lovey and I barely choked down, the California Grill did have a nice view and reasonably posh accesories (though I prefer platinum flatware).

So I felt like it might not be completely out to lunch to throw on a pair of pants and a dress shirt.

 

[prncess674]

This is true. The last ostrich filet I had at California Grill I remember thinking that it paled compared to Denny's Grand Slam Ostrich Platter. That one was served with the beak and everything.

Still, despite the pedestrian gril that Lovey and I barely choked down, the California Grill did have a nice view and reasonably posh accesories (though I prefer platinum flatware).

So I felt like it might not be completely out to lunch to throw on a pair of pants and a dress shirt.

I didn't say signature dining is on par with Denny's, but it isn't fine dining that requires coat and tie or any of the pomp and circumstance that some believe, neat and clean are really all that is needed. Living in DC I am accustomed to a much higher level of service, atmosphere and food quality for the price. I equate it similarly to the laughable "Deluxe" designation Disney gives its hotels. Disney "deluxe" barely passes for 3 star in the rest of the country.

Perhaps if the only thing in your town is Denny's then Disney signature dining is a big night out.

 

[tlenzendorf]

We plan on bringing dinner clothes to the park in our backpack and putting them in a locker for the day. Then we'll change before we head to dinner.

 

[christinec68]

I didn't say signature dining is on par with Denny's, but it isn't fine dining that requires coat and tie or any of the pomp and circumstance that some believe, neat and clean are really all that is needed. Living in DC I am accustomed to a much higher level of service, atmosphere and food quality for the price. I equate it similarly to the laughable "Deluxe" designation Disney gives its hotels. Disney "deluxe" barely passes for 3 star in the rest of the country.

Perhaps if the only thing in your town is Denny's then Disney signature dining is a big night out.

I agree that disney signature is not fine dining but it is the nicest option on property except for V&A which is a completely different league all together. The CMs wearing white jackets instead costumes/smocks and the pricier menu indicates that Disney does not consider these places to be on par with the park restaurants. I think that's why they are in resorts and not the parks so that guests aren't walking off splash mountain and walking into the restaurant. A few years ago the dress code was more defined but in no way limiting - I dont recall that a jacket & tie was ever required. Now all Disney asks is that guests do not wear torn clothes and pool/beach wear so as long as guests comply with that there's not really an issue despite what people's preferences are. Personally, I am not going to go to a nicer restauarant in the same clothes I wore all day in a park but I don't care what other people wear.