How formal is formal?

[paulc]

I've read a lot about the "dress code" for the formal and "semi-formal" evenings. I was intending to bring a "patterned jacket" and dark trousers for both evenings. However after reading some of the posts I am a little worried that a "jacket and trousers" will not be "dressy" enough for the formal evening where suits seem to be the order of the day from the replies in the posts
Coming from the UK it seems a lot of trouble to pack and carry a suit only to wear for 2/3 hours.
Your views as to whether my "jacket and trousers" approach for both evenings will suffice will be much appreciated.
paulc

 

[Regina]

My DH reluctantly agreed when I said that he should rent a tuxedo for the cruise.

Once onboard, he realized that he made the right decision. Most of the men onboard did have tuxes.

You don't have to bring it with you. Just take advantage of the rental that Disney offers. It's very easy to do.

 

[disneynutsss]

My husband wore a dark suit as most men did. Only a few were in tuxes and believe it or not 2 or 3 tables wore shorts and tanktops!!

 

[BeanoC]

Well...

What it means and what happens are often 2 different things. This is a real pet peeve of mine - it bugs me to no end!!!

For men, formal means a tux. Semi-formal means jacket and tie.

Let me tell you, I saw more than a few guys wearing jeans and even shorts (yes, shorts!) in the dining rooms on semi-formal nights. I saw one guy at the table right next to ours on formal night wearing slacks and a polo shirt. TACKY!!!

I would be too embarrassed to show up dressed like that, but a lot of people do it, and Disney did NOT enforce their dress code at all.

If you want to do things properly, I would suggest taking one suit with a couple of different shirts and ties, and then rent a tux from Disney for the formal night.

Otherwise, just bring your shorts and ask to be seated in the tacky section!!!



'Beano'

 

[ruvidu]

I can not understand why DCL does not enforce some type dress code in the resturants. You have advance notice so why would you show up in shorts and tank tops? Jacket, shirt, long pants and tie should be required as in most nice resturants. These folks that have to wear shorts and t shirts to dinner need to go to Myrtle Beach or Gatlinburg or at least order room service.
On our cruise last year the gentleman (?) that sat at the table beside us wore the same open neck tropical shirt and slacks every night in every resturant. It was like his way to protest DCL asking him to dress up. Am I the clothes police? Oh no, I just notice stuff like this when my wife, myself and most of the other folks in a large room are trying to go by guidelines.
In light of what I have seen in the past, Paulc, you would be just fine with your jacket and slacks. I bring a blue blazer, a pair of tan slacks, and a black suit. I wear a tie whenever the word formal is mentioned (semi or by itself) I believe you will be traveling with us in Sept. and I hope to meet you with or without a tux. Your formal night photos will look even better if you are dressed up a bit.

 

[Windermere]

DH goes white tie and tux on formal night and black tie and tux on semi-formal. We plan for 3 nights in Luminere's and one night in Palo's so that means 2 additional suits.

 

[smjj]

Every few months this thread rears it ugly head and people really tend to get nasty on it. I have seen it several times now and people from both ends of the ladder come out swinging on it. Its fun to read thou.. On our cruise I did not see any shorts on formal night. It was maybe 70 percent suits or jackets and 25 percent tuxes. No big deal, your on vacation so just relax and enjoy...smjj

 

[paulc]

Thanks to everyone for you replies.
It is much appreciated
Roll on September
paulc

 

[jzmomid]

We will be embarking on our first Disney cruise soon - just a 3-day stint on the Wonder as part of the 7-day land/cruise package. I didn't realize there were "formal" or "semi-formal" nights. Perhaps you all are discussing the longer 7-day cruises . . . ? My plan was to make sure my husband and sons had slacks and nice shirts to wear in the dining rooms (we won't be going to Palo's) and have gotten the distinct impression from various sources that this would be completely appropriate. Am I off base?

 

[smjj]

They do not have a formal night on the 3 and 4 day cruises. Palos is sports jacket and tie maybe. I wore a sports jacket with a open polo shirt and fit right in. Most of the ladies(wife included) had on sun dresses or what some would call their Sunday best. I do not remember anything fancier than that for Palos. As for the dining rooms, slacks in nice shirts were the norm for the guys and the ladies again wore nice slacks or sun dress. I do remember some people wearning jeans and shorts and tank tops to dinner. Some might find that too relaxed but it did not both me and I did not see others getting upset either..smjj

 

[Parrotheader]

jzmomid,

I fall more into the "would rather not wear a tux if I don't have to" crowd. Fortunately, we were only on the 3-day too when we went last month. For the 3-day there is no formal night. You'll only have one night at a "formal" restaurant, Lumiere's if you stick to the regular rotation. But even then, it's not that formal. Most of the men I saw in Lumiere's for both seatings were either dressed in "nice" casual attire (by that I mean long-sleeve button up and nice slacks) or just a coat and tie, very few suits actually. Some people even had shorts although that seemed too casual. I ended up wearing some nice dress pants, a colored-dress shirt, a camel hair jacket (only because I brought it) and no tie. It blended right in quite nicely.

On the 3-day, things are supposedly MUCH less formal. They come by and take your picture at your table at Lumiere's and if you like pictures where you're all dressed up you may want to dress a bit nicer. I get those photo ops at business conferences all the time and get bored with those personally. My favorite Disney-sponsored pics were the ones they took on Castaway Cay since those are the memories we cherished more anyway.

 

[jzmomid]

Thanks for the info. Someone please rate the Wonder restaurants for me - most formal to least formal.

 

[Parrotheader]

1) Triton's
2) Animator's Palette
3) Parrot's (or is it Parrot) Cay

And like it's been said above, besides Triton's pretty much your typical business casual type clothes work for the other restaurants.