Shorts

[brucechase]

2 weeks off the Wonder and the navigators say nothing about no shorts, just no swimwear. I called DCL before my cruise and they said it was fine to wear shorts.

I wore shorts on 2 of the nights. Also, on the 3 day cruise, it says OPTIONAL dress-up night.

If you think what I wear has anything to do with you, then that is really for you to resolve yourself. I don't dress for anyone else and could care less what they think.

Wear shorts and enjoy your cruise.

 

[CKCruising]

...something shrunk mine from sitting in the closet for the last umpteen years...On the plus side, since we are cruising again in 2 years maybe my new suit won't have time to shrink in the midsection.

Your closets must have been built by the same company that did mine.

 

[Yen Sid]

We went a few weeks ago and I was wearing really nice shorts and a polo for dinner, I was dressed nice and super comfortable seeing as it was near 90 degrees. I noticed many people wearing shorts, although some did not make good decisions on their attire they still wore them at dinner.

 

[lbgraves]

2 weeks off the Wonder and the navigators say nothing about no shorts, just no swimwear. I called DCL before my cruise and they said it was fine to wear shorts.

I wore shorts on 2 of the nights. Also, on the 3 day cruise, it says OPTIONAL dress-up night.

If you think what I wear has anything to do with you, then that is really for you to resolve yourself. I don't dress for anyone else and could care less what they think.

Wear shorts and enjoy your cruise.

The Wonder is much more casual a setting than the Magic due to the length of the cruises. The navigators say cruise casual but do not define it like the navigators on the Magic. On the Magic the formal and semi formal nights are not optional, or not listed that way in the navigator. Everything about the evening is formal...from the menu to the uniforms of the servers.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

First, I had no idea that this was a hot topic...guess I never thought anyone really cared. I did just notice the OP has only one post - this thread starter.

Personally, we like doing the late seating and like dressing nicer (no shorts) to make our dinners feel a little more upscale. We do that at restaurants back home too - makes for more meaningful family gatherings when the meal is treated as a special event.

However, we are at an age where doing that is second nature and wearing shorts feels like dressing down at times (Disney Cruise dining).

All that being said, I could really care less what anyone else wears or how they feel about it. We've seen very few (if any) people wearing shorts at dinner - but maybe it's a bit different for the later seating.

No worries. Life is short.

 

[mmouse37]

Yes, very hot topic.

Are shorts permitted? Yes -- but not "officially". As others have said, although Disney's written policy/recommendation states "no shorts, swimwear or tanktops", they seem to only enforce the swimwear dress code. I think it's kind of like the no outside food policy in the parks.

If you're on a 7 night cruise, the Navigator will also state that shorts are not acceptable attire for the evening meals. However, Disney won't turn you away or even say anything to you, except perhaps at Palo.

That said, I think it's whatever you feel comfortable doing. Personally, I don't feel comfortable wearing shorts at dinner on the cruise, but I also won't judge others on their choice of attire.

As far as a polo, the only dress policy/suggestion for shirts is that you not wear a tank-top so feel free to wear a t-shirt with those shorts.

Yep, they definitiely will turn you away from Palo, even at brunch, if you are in shorts. Our friend showed up in shorts and they would not let him in (I told him!). PJ said he had spare pants for him so our friend waited but the pants did not fit and he left to go eat elsewhere......so they will turn you away in shorts at Palo.

 

[lbgraves]

I'm not trying to start anything, really, maybe because we come from a temperate climate it confuses me. Would you mind explaining to me how it is disrespectful to wear shorts? I'm not knocking you, I've just never viewed someone else's choice of shorts vs pants as disrespectful and now I'm thinking maybe there is something more to it that I'm missing?!

Perhaps it does have something to do about where you grow up? To me it is like what we wear to church. I was raised that you dress up to go to church and maybe a pair of nice pants for girls. I still do not feel comfortable wearing shorts or jeans to church and will not do so...and will not allow the kids to do so. I know that the important thing is that we go but there is no shaking the "dress code" for me.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Yep, they definitiely will turn you away from Palo, even at brunch, if you are in shorts. Our friend showed up in shorts and they would not let him in (I told him!). PJ said he had spare pants for him so our friend waited but the pants did not fit and he left to go eat elsewhere......so they will turn you away in shorts at Palo.

Good for PJ


Rob

 

[mhsjax]

Perhaps it does have something to do about where you grow up? To me it is like what we wear to church. I was raised that you dress up to go to church and maybe a pair of nice pants for girls. I still do not feel comfortable wearing shorts or jeans to church and will not do so...and will not allow the kids to do so. I know that the important thing is that we go but there is no shaking the "dress code" for me.

I don't think that it has anything to do with that, myself, I grew up in Florida and I am still here, hot as all get out. I would never wear shorts to dinner on a cruise. Just the way I was raised. However, as long as the shorts' aren't tacky and your butt or crack isn't hanging out, I really don't mind what anybody else wears. If I had my way everyone would dress for dinner, but that is my own little world. LOL

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Perhaps it does have something to do about where you grow up? To me it is like what we wear to church. I was raised that you dress up to go to church and maybe a pair of nice pants for girls. I still do not feel comfortable wearing shorts or jeans to church and will not do so...and will not allow the kids to do so. I know that the important thing is that we go but there is no shaking the "dress code" for me.

no jeans or shorts at church for my family infact I have rarely seen jeans at our church.

Rob

 

[outlander]

Actually, it is stated on the DCL website...under the FAQs:

What should I wear to dinner?

Thanks for finding that!
I had no doubt it was there *somewhere*
It is definitely NOT anywhere in the area about dining.
Again, I just think it needs to be easier to find.

The cruise documents I received (Ship and Shore Vacation Guides) states in the section OnBoard Dining, "For dining attire please refer to "What to pack" in this booklet or visit disneycruise.com". This guide is sent out well before the sail date as it is for describing excursions and such so that passengers can book activity reservations in advance.

I can tell you that for my upcoming cruise (6 DAYS! whoohooo!) that there was not a ship and shore guide.
Maybe repeat cruisers don't get one? Seems odd...er....cheap.

I noticed that the Navigator states those are 'suggested guidelines' for dining attire. It is definitely not stated as a dress code.

Anyway....FWIW, I'm not packing any shorts. My point was just that I don't blame those who might not know or those who really feel shorts are appropriate.

 

[SILLYANDI]

Perhaps it does have something to do about where you grow up? To me it is like what we wear to church. I was raised that you dress up to go to church and maybe a pair of nice pants for girls. I still do not feel comfortable wearing shorts or jeans to church and will not do so...and will not allow the kids to do so. I know that the important thing is that we go but there is no shaking the "dress code" for me.

IThank you for your honest (no flames) response. I really am confused about it, but what you are saying explains it a bit for me...

 

[trimix]

I'm not trying to start anything, really, maybe because we come from a temperate climate it confuses me. Would you mind explaining to me how it is disrespectful to wear shorts? I'm not knocking you, I've just never viewed someone else's choice of shorts vs pants as disrespectful and now I'm thinking maybe there is something more to it that I'm missing?!

I don't see your post as trying to start anything, but I don't believe the concept of respectful dress is a regional thing.

I've been to many weddings where formal attire was specified, and I have never seen anybody show up in a t-shirt and jeans. I have been to these weddings in Southern California, Washington, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, and New Jersey and people in all those states thought it would be disrespectful to the bride and groom to dress casually for a formal event.

I have attended ballets in Washington, California, and Florida. With the exception of ballet school and university performances, people dress formally. I've never seen a note about expected dress on a ticket, and I've never seen a t-shirt and shorts in the theater during an evening performance. Maybe matinees are less formal, but I've never been to one.

When I have attended funerals, the only people not dressed at least semi-formally where the people who dressed for work because they didn't have time to change before or after the services.

Now it's my turn to say I don't want to start anything but...
If any reader thinks it should be perfectly OK to dress however you want for a formal wedding (I'm gracing you with my time, spending my hard earned money to get here, so accept it!) then please explain why you think a t-shirt and jeans are acceptable at what the organizers state is a formal event.

And if any reader thinks it is unacceptable to disrespect a marrying couple or the family of a deceased individual by showing up at a formal wedding or at a funeral in casual dress, but it's perfectly OK to attend a formal dinner dressed totally casually, please explain why one formal event deserves respect and the other doesn't.

 

[outlander]

And if any reader thinks it is unacceptable to disrespect a marrying couple or the family of a deceased individual by showing up at a formal wedding or at a funeral in casual dress, but it's perfectly OK to attend a formal dinner dressed totally casually, please explain why one formal event deserves respect and the other doesn't.

This is an E A S Y one for me. There is a huge difference between a wedding/funeral situation and a public event.

1. Wedding/funeral is going to be someone you know fairly well.
If you are going to one of these events, chances are you are going to have something very much in common socially and would have the same or similar expectations as far as dress.

2. Wedding/funeral is hosted (i.e. paid for) by someone else. Granted, you may have to pay for accomodations but the event is paid for by someone else. If someone else is paying for an event I am attending, I will gladly abide by their rules/expectations.

On the other hand, if I am paying for something, I am going to envoke my big person-adult-decision-making right and make my own choice.


Of course there is the arguement that people should respect others in the dining rooms but there is no doubt SOMEONE would end up being offended in the dress of another anyway because we all have different backgrounds, cultures, etc. That shouldn't be held against anyone. It's called prejudice.
Besides, you just really can't please everybody.
(The story of the slinky dress had me glad my boys weren't around!)

All of that said, Disney does not have a DRESS CODE except for Palo.
The rest is 'suggested attire'. If someone else can't or doesn't want to follow the guidelines, I personally am not going to feel disrepected. Last time I checked, no one owed me anything. .....Well...my brother still owes me a birthday present...but hey....I'm not holding it against him.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

I think this thread needs to go into the pile with...

Is it okay for people to smoke on their resort balcony?
How much do you tip mousekeeping?
Can you hang your towels and swimsuits on the cruise ship verandah?
How much do you tip at buffets?
Etc., etc.

If you want correct answers to any of these, please pm me.

 

[karibritt01]

Now it's my turn to say I don't want to start anything but...
If any reader thinks it should be perfectly OK to dress however you want for a formal wedding (I'm gracing you with my time, spending my hard earned money to get here, so accept it!) then please explain why you think a t-shirt and jeans are acceptable at what the organizers state is a formal event.

And if any reader thinks it is unacceptable to disrespect a marrying couple or the family of a deceased individual by showing up at a formal wedding or at a funeral in casual dress, but it's perfectly OK to attend a formal dinner dressed totally casually, please explain why one formal event deserves respect and the other doesn't.

First, the question was not intended for the formal and semi-formal evenings, but for the casual ones. Would you wear formal attire to a picnic? No. Your examples of weddings and funerals are comparing apples to oranges.

Second, I can not honestly say that I "noticed" what anyone else was wearing in the dining rooms. I know people were dressed from extremely casual to very nice on all nights, but can not tell you how many wore formal attire or not, etc. It really had no bearing on the level of enjoyment I had at dinner. To feel disrespected because someone else chooses to dress casually in a restaurant is petty and egocentric in my opinion.

Last, let me say that this posting is not intended to flame you for your opinions or values. You asked that we explain our opinions, and that is what I am attempting to do. No personal offense intended, and I hope you don't read it that way!

 

[karibritt01]

Can you hang your towels and swimsuits on the cruise ship verandah?

Didn't know that was a hot button to press around here, too! Guess we blew it there as well, as we dried stuff there every day. Why would people even care since they have to be invading my personal space to notice? Seems like that would be similar to complaining where I stored my feminine products in the bathroom!

 

[ariel7303]

My DH wore shorts and a polo on the last day of our 7 night cruise. He did ask my thoughts first and I told him that I thought he looked good to go to dinner. The rest of the week he wore dockers and polos....so...in reality, once seated there was no difference in his appearance from the first day to the last. While dressing up is part of the experience...so is being comfortable in your clothes!

 

[NJFabFour]

I think this thread needs to go into the pile with...

Is it okay for people to smoke on their resort balcony?
How much do you tip mousekeeping?
Can you hang your towels and swimsuits on the cruise ship verandah?
How much do you tip at buffets?
Etc., etc.

If you want correct answers to any of these, please pm me.

Yes, there should be a sticky for these hot-button issues that seem to get interpretted a thousand different ways . . . the fact is that with so many people from so many different walks of life you will see some variation in how people behave on their own vacation just as you do at WDW.

Perhaps it does have something to do about where you grow up? To me it is like what we wear to church. I was raised that you dress up to go to church and maybe a pair of nice pants for girls. I still do not feel comfortable wearing shorts or jeans to church and will not do so...and will not allow the kids to do so. I know that the important thing is that we go but there is no shaking the "dress code" for me.

I have no problem with what people wear to church or to dinner onboard but find we are all rather selective about what codes and rules we are willing to "shake" when it comes to our own vacations and preferences. In most school districts, it is a "code" or policy that family vacations are not acceptable absences but clearly many of us DIS'ers ARE willing to "shake" that one.

I personally would never find what one wears to church (or dinner) as being reflective of the way they were raised or the way they choose to raise their children. Our church is very casual and welcomes everybody in whatever attire they wish to wear.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

You worried me when you said Palo allows tshirts now! I had to pull up a recent navigator and it says "Recommended Attire..dinner: dress shirt or jacket required for men (no shorts or jeans please).....brunch: cruise casual, no shorts, swimwear or tanktops."

Sorry about that! I was referring to the OP's question about wearing a Polo, as in a polo shirt, and not Palo, the restaurant. For the main dining rooms, there is nothing in the Navigators or on-line on DCL's FAQ page that restricts what type of shirt you wear, except for tanktops, so I suggested wearing a t-shirt with the shorts.

I always find these threads amusing as the topic is usually about shorts and a "nice" top or "polo", etc. when Disney does not recommend that you wear a collared shirt or other "nice" top. Jeans and a t-shirt technically don't violate any of the written dress policies/suggestions, but I've rarely see this combo except perhaps on Mickey Mouse Club night.