Just back--kids and clothes report

[Uncleromulus]

At the 3 signature restaurants (Yachtsman, Citricos, California Grill) "business casual" was taken to extremes, even for me. I'm a fan of the very relaxed business casual dress code, but I'm not a fan of sloppy. While we saw no hats, bathing suits or torn clothes, we did see cargo shorts, gym shorts, gym style grey t-shirts a few sweat shirts, lots of tank tops on women. One man at Citricos had on what looked like a white undershirt!!!Shoes ranged from flip-flops to sandals to crocks to VERY worn tennis shoes. Very few folks seemed to have on any socks. One lady we saw in dungaree shorts had the bottoms "frayed" in "LIL Abner style.
And these were the signature restaurants!! Dress was almost exactly the same at Raglan Road, Yak and Yeti, and Mama Melrose--restaurants with NO dress code. You would have been hard put to tell the difference.

Kids were everywhere of course. Most at CG, then a large # at Citricos, not too many at Yachtsman. Mama Melrose was swarming with kids, as was Raglan Road. Yak and Yeti had their fair share too.
V&A had no kids and everyone was dressed "to code". One gentleman arrived with no jacket and was given one.

 

[disnut8]

I'm not sure I see Disney turning away people who don't meet the dress code. At least not now. And unfortunately once something is relaxed a bit, it continues to be relaxed and more relaxed and more relaxed. Other than turning people away at the door if not dressed properly, I don't see where Disney can do much about it right now. The gentleman at Victoria and Albert's was given a jacket because he didn't have one. I don't see Disney laying in a stock of shoes to replace flip-flops.

Personally, I really don't care what other people are wearing while they are eating. If it's something they wear to the parks and everyone is exposed to it there, what's the difference with dinner?

 

[Pumbaa_]

Thanks for the update. While I rarely care what people wear, I do prefer the Signatures to dress up a little. Fine dining is an event and it is nice when people treat it as such.


Glad V&A is enforcing their standards

 

[Booyakasha]

That is just too bad. I think Disney is making a mistake by not inforcing some kind of dress code. To me dining at a Signature restaurant is not just the food it is the ambience and when some one wears flip flops or cut offs or gym wear it lessens the experience for me. It is sort of like being in the MK and seeing a rude guest yelling at a CM or someone yelling at their kids. It takes away some of the Magic.

B.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Just to note that I rarely care what folks wear either. I'm much more concerned how they behave!
I do this little report (and look closely at what people wear) mostly because I know kids and clothes are very often questions many folks have, especially for the Signature spots.
And right now, it's almost anything goes as far as dress is concerned.

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

Thanks for the report. How was the FOOD?

Is this the only thread you have posted about your trip? We're eager to hear other details!

Welcome back to ice/rain of PA. Hope you had a safe trip.

Christine

 

[3for Me]

The first time we really noted the change was last year. We dined with our kids at CG and at Narcoosee's.

We brought the usual khaki's and button down shirt for my son with the Bass bucks. Girls had nice pants and top one night and a casual but nice skirt and top for the other. DH and I had on "nicer casual" pants. He had a button down for both nights and I had nice boots to wear and a nicer top.

Let me tell you - we were WAAAAYYYY over dressed compared to MANY if not MOST.

I was waiting for my kids to complain that I had made them get "dressed up" unneccesarily.

I truly had not noticed the decline until then. I agree with Uncle...usually don't really care what others are wearing and totally understand that you are in "theme park mode".

However, if you know you are scheduled for a nice dinner that has some form of a dress code, maybe at least your "nicer park clothes" should be in order that day.

In other words - no undershirt type things that OP is describing. While it doesn't particularaly bother me - I do think that is sort of yukky.

 

[FFXDSNADDICT]

OMG when I read your post I knew exactly what you were talking about. The hubby and I got and an ADR to Artist Point cause we were celebrating our Honeymoon and wanted a really special dinner. We dressed in a little over business casual. I wore Heels and he wore really nice dress pants. When we walked in though we were seated next to an entire family wearing SWEATPANTS AND SWEATSHIRTS!! EXCUSE ME business causal never means sweats! It was such a mood killer. I wish they would really be more strict with their dress codes or not mention them at all!

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for the report. I hope you have reviews too.

I just noticed in your signature we were there the same time. Sorry we missed you!

 

[John's Mom]

Thanks for the info. Can't wait for your dining reviews.

 

[BCV23]

Oh, good. I know when I see this report that most excellent reviews will shortly follow! Looking forward to reading them.

On our recent trip of only 5 nights, we had two signature dinners, California Grill and Artist Point. I actually don't remember any children the night we were at AP and saw many people in true business casual. Really, quite a few were probably either at business dinners or enjoying dinner after a day at a convention. And at CG on a Sunday, it was a mix of park clothes and business casual. I suppose it varies from night to night.

Enjoyed this report as always, Uncleromulus. Did you have easy travels given all the winter storms?

 

[DisneyLunaTics]

Brenda, Sorry about your honeymoon! But, certainly CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the new baby Massey (pretty name)!!! I am staying at the CSR next week, your opinion please!

Blessings,

 

[Uncleromulus]

Reviews coming all this week!! Will try to do Yak and Yeti lunch and Raglan Road dinner later today.
Thankfully we got out (and back) just before the bad weather. And the weather forecast wasn't all that accurate, as it turned out. We were expecting a BLIZZARD based on what the Weather Channel was showing!!

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

Well.... DF and I have ADR's for signature restaurants almost every night. We were looking forward to a dressier atmosphere since this will be our honeymoon (also first trip to WDW ever). I had planned to wear dress pants and a nice shirt and DF khakis or dress pants and a button up. DF even wanted to wear a tie one or two nights.... I'm thinking we will be WAY overdressed! Our ADR's are Narcoossee's, Citrico's, California Grill, Yachtsman Steakhouse, and Cinderella's Royal Table.

 

[BCV23]

DISNEYmooner2008, you will not be overdressed with the possible exception of CRT. We've never had dinner there but as it's in the middle of the MK, I imagine most patrons will be in theme park clothes. That is true at breakfast and lunch there.

But at the other dinners you've planned, there will be others in nicer clothes. We wear the type of thing you're planning at those restaurants except for the tie (my DH does wear one to V&A). He's even been known to wear a sports jacket or blazer to CG and we often see gentlemen doing that.

It's just that you can count on seeing some guests in much more relaxed garb as well.

Dress to please yourself. It's your honeymoon and you've chosen signature restaurants. Dress up if you wish and enjoy!

 

[Finally08]

People go to Disney to dress up and eat? I can't imagine wanting to get dressed up to trudge through a DW park, to sit and eat. Then what? You walk around and ride rides dressed that way?

This is why I'm happy with counter service.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

All of our ADR's that we plan to dress up for are at Resort Restaurants. We plan to go back to our room to shower and change after the parks.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Good advice. NO need to dress "down" if you don't want to. Dress however makes you comfortable. Don't dress to "fit in". NOBODY is going to care!!
I'd say about 70% of folks are in pretty much the long pants and collared shirt outfit. THat's what I wore at our Signature meals. But as I note, about 30% of the others are in theme park clothes, or less. And RARELY did I see a man in a jacket or a lady in a dress.

 

[Booyakasha]

People go to Disney to dress up and eat? I can't imagine wanting to get dressed up to trudge through a DW park, to sit and eat. Then what? You walk around and ride rides dressed that way?

This is why I'm happy with counter service.

To each their own, but for the most part, people are talking about dressing up for the Signature Restaurants which are not in the parks. They are at the various Deluxe resorts.

B.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Disneymooner, please dress up! If that is what you planned, you should do it. You'll have beautiful pictures and you can always photoshop out the raggedy t shirt people! I can't believe that with less than 10% of the restaurants asking for business casual, people can't put on a polo short and khakis! I really wish they'd enforce it!

This is what I had to look at while dining in my new wrap dress at Jiko- a "Rednecks and Whitetails" t shirt and Hawaiian print bathing suit trunks!

So sad.