How do you feel about the Disney "business casual" dress code?

[jimmalru80]

I definitely agree and wish that Disney would enforce the business casual dress code. We enjoy getting a little dressed up when we go to CG or another signature restaurant.

I agree 100%. We dress up for dinner at Signature Restaurants.

 

[Katiebell]

Well, this has been an interesting discussion...

Yes... but do people go out to signature restaurants every night of their WDW vacation? We don't. Why can't people plan for a nice evening out and allow for the transportation time in their schedules?

Yes, I could see doing this maybe one or two nights of our trip, especially if we knew that dinner was the end of our evening and we wouldn't have to go change again. I've seen some peoples' ADR lists, and it seems like they are doing signature dining every night -- especially those who went with the DxDDP. I would personally find that exhausting...plus I'd have to pay for the extra luggage to lug all those dress up clothes

I hardly think going back to one's room to change for dinner is that big a deal. I go back to the resort every afternoon anyway for a rest and a swim anyway. But, I suppose if you are doing the parks commando style, having to take anytime out of that could be an imposition.

I respectfully disagree -- I think it is a huge hassle when you are relying on Disney transportation, especially if you are staying at a moderate or value and have to stand in the hot sun waiting for a bus (or possibly for the next bus because the first one is full). It's probably a lot less hassle if you are at one of the deluxe resorts right on the monorail and can change in your room and then go to a signature restaurant right at your hotel or just down the monorail line. Not really an issue of doing it "commando style" (although I have been known to do that from time to time ) I just try to plan our itinerary to be as efficient as possible, with the less time on buses the better I'm sure it would be much easier if we had a car at our disposal, too.

If a person does not want to deal with the dress code, they should just not go to the signature restaurants. But, if one wants to enjoy the signature dining experience, putting some decent clothes on seems a small sacrifice to make.

Which is exactly why I said that until now I have opted *not* to go to the signatures, because of the transportation hassle of bussing from park, to our hotel, to another park, to transfer to yet *another* bus to the restaurant But I also fully understand that for some guests, dressing up and going out for a nice dinner is an important part of their vacation. I love doing that too, but not so much at Disney -- I'd rather go to a more casual place with a "fun" atmosphere. But, that's just my personal preference.

But either way, I do solemnly promise if I ever decide to go to CG, my clothes will be decent -- I won't show up in rags, a bathing suit, a chicken suit, or shirtless in overalls. I won't even show up in my Tink T-shirt and my Croc flip-flops

I defiantely think for Singature Resturants you should definately be dressed.

ITA, we should all be dressed. Naked diners WOULD be rather distracting. And probably not very hygenic.

I think the point is you have two vastly different priorities at play:

group A - enjoys a nice meal, views it as a special event with their loved ones. So they dress up etc.

group B - it's all about the parks but you need to eat. Why waste time at the parks to get dressed up.

or group C - love the parks, love good food, love restaurants that are more casual but have a fun atmosphere -- and DON'T love riding buses all day.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Must say that we have never seen anyone in a bathing suit at any Signature restaurant in all the years we've been dining. Nor (since the dress code went into effect) torn clothes, tank tops on men, etc.
Essentially the code as it exists IS being enforced. There may be a slip or two somewhere, but not significant.
A lot of what I'm reading seems to be folks unhappy with people not being "neat", or not simply deciding to dress up a bit simply because such and such a place is a "Signature" restaurant. Suggesting to me it's really the code itself, not the enforcement, that bothers some people.
For instance, we saw two gentlemen last trip at Signature restaurants in plain white undershirts. With sleeves. I never would have worn anything like that, but it met the definition of a t-shirt and had no offensive language or graphics. Lots of people would suggest Disney was lax in enforcing the code letting those 2 guys in. Slobs they certainly were. But they met the code and wore nothing that was prohibited.
And if you ask did it bother me, the answer is "not really". They were with their families, were quiet and that's what I mainly care about.

 

[suzimar57]

the business casual policy is fine with us

just means DH has to wear a buttoned short sleeve shirt and remove his cap....

 

[crisi]

I answered its too leinent, but I don't like that response. It is too leinent. It does not however "ruin our signature dining experience." Society has, IMHO, gotten far too lax and people confuse "they let me do it" with "its OK." They let me stay in my seat on the bus while I look at an old woman standing there trying to hang on with both hands - but that doesn't make it OK. No one makes me say please and thank you, but that doesn't make it ok. But I don't let the fact that other people were raised in barns ruin my life. I just look at them, point them out to my kids and say "those people are rude - either out of ignorance or selfishness."

 

[RMulieri]

OK, I'll bite! (no pun intended) I think there should be an 'enforced' dress code for the signature restaurants. The key word is 'enforced'. Business casual isn't that hard to achieve, even at WDW. There are plenty of places to eat right after leaving the parks. There should also be a few places to dine where you actually have to take a shower and dress up a bit for. Personally, if I'm going to spend over $300 for a nice meal, I don't want to smell the table next to me. LOL!

BTW, it was kinda hard to vote - I mean, Business casual is not too lenient if it is enforced. The way it is now, they sorta, kinda, well... maybe have a dress code at signature restaurants, but when you go to dinner, you still see cut-offs and flip flops.

Don't get me wrong - the way I think of Business casual is a clean shirt and nice slacks or shorts. I'm not even picky about the whole 'collared shirt' thing. Although, how hard is it to wear a polo shirt? Anyway, I don't want to have to dress to the nines for the signature restaurants, just clean up a bit and look nice. Not park wear, you know what I mean?

Agreed.

 

[Diddy]

personally, I would be in favor of the dress code if everyone had to wear at least one item from the business casual clothes listed at thebizcazblues.wordpress com

 

[crisi]

I think "is it enforced" depends on how you read the dress code. I see non dress shorts all the time. If I extend the adjective "dress" to include both shorts and t-shirts (which is how I read it - and if you are wearing dress shorts, you'd look silly in a non-dress tee), I see non-dress t-shirts all the time too.

I think there is a lot of ground between what they itemize out as "NOT PERMITTED" and what they specify as appropriate - and that is where the debate sits. For instance, if you are wearing a skirt or dress shorts you can't wear typical gardening crocs without looking ridiculous or typical beach flip flops (some flip flops are quite dressy) without looking silly. Common sense would say your visible warddrobe is consistant (if you want to have holes in your underwear, no one knows). You don't wear flip flops and a swim coverup with a diamond tiara (unless you are Paula Abdul - which should tell you right there that its a bad idea).

What a lot of people seem to do is sit right above "not permitted" - they are wearing camping shorts and a Mickey t. I wouldn't consider either of those "dress." Note that women aren't "allowed" t-shirts at all - only "blouses" - which should clue you in to the type of tshirts men are supposed to be wearing.

But I think itemizing out a dress code should stop when you leave junior high. i.e. adults should know that track shorts aren't appropriate dinner wear and you don't bear your midriff in a nice restaurant. That there is a difference between "dressy jeans" and "the 505s that don't have holes in the knees yet - but probably will in another month." That a ten year old well worn favorite concert t shirt might not have holes in it or anything obscene written on it - but its a ten year old concert t-shirt - a new concert t-shirt probably isn't the best choice.

It would be nice if Disney could say "you are eating in a Signature restaurant. We expect you to make an effort to dress nicely and neatly in a manner appropriate for going out to dinner at a nice restaurant" and have people understand what that means.

 

[MadamMim]

My problem is less with what people are wearing and more with how they behave at the Signature locations. I've gone out all sorts of dressed up because I wanted the evening to be special and I've got to admit... I didn't even notice anybody else in the restaurant. And that's how I like it! It's my goal to enjoy my food and my company, so unless there's somebody talking really loudly or burping or letting their children run around or something along those lines... I couldn't care less what they've got on. If they don't feel the need to wear dress clothes when they're about to drop a hundred plus dollars on a meal, that's their decision. I just like an excuse to wear heels.