"Smart Casual"...What exactly does that mean?

[2ndHnymnr]

I made our ressie for Ca Grille, and was told that Smart Casual was the dress code.

I am guessing that it is somewhere in between short and Jackets required.

Help please!

 

[becka]

I am no expert but if someone told me "smart casual" I would probably wear khakis with a lightweight blouse. Nothing I would feel too hot in but certainly not as comfy as my denim shorts and a t-shirt!

 

[Belle5]

DH usually wears a nice polo or short sleeve dress shirt with dressy shorts or khakis and some leather sandals or docksider type shoes when told that a restaurant is smart casual. I wear something similar but with a feminine flair. (More of a casual blouse and strappy sandals.)

 

[Uncleromulus]

After a # of conversations with Disney restaurant managers, I learned that Officially it means anything except tank-tops and bathing suits.
You'll see a wide variety of dress at those sorts of places. We always wear nice walking shorts and our newly purchased Disney T's. Sometimes I'll wear a Disney short sleve shirt w, collar (if I happened to find one to buy).

 

[StaceyA]

I have eaten there once, and I wore Capri's, and a non pocket tee shirt. (all black)
but i saw all different types of dress, all the way down to jeans and shorts. I would recommened some sort of Khaki's or capri's even a dress or a skirt if so desired.

 

[erikthewise]

I think it means your supposed to be "smart" enough to know it doesn't really mean "casual".

I wish people would just say what they mean!

 

[robinb]

I tend to wear shorts in just about every restaurant except V&A's . However, I would say that most of the patrons at the CG were dressed better than I was!

 

[melvin]

I myself like to dress up a bit for nice restaurants in Disney like California Grill, BUT.... I see many people in park attire (especially in the early evening). Last year we were at CG and sat next to a may I say rather sweaty family... the man WAS wearing a tank top. I don't think they actually enforce any dress codes. His attire did not bother me so much, but the fact that they let their very young toddler cry/scream all through dinner without one of the parents taking him out of the room! Yikes. Not as irritating, though, as the time at Narcooses that a bunch of very drunk conventioneers took over the restaurant, ruined everyone else's time and caused the Grand Floridian to then close down Mizner's bar, but that's another story....

 

[Hnymoon@Dixie]

Originally posted by becka
I am no expert but if someone told me "smart casual" I would probably wear khakis with a lightweight blouse. Nothing I would feel too hot in but certainly not as comfy as my denim shorts and a t-shirt!

LOL I couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[angey77]

When I made my PS at CG, I flat-out asked the CM what "smart casual" was and she said "Just don't look like you just came from the pool." I took this as looking ratty and wearing flip flops. My bf and I both took showers before we went to dinner and dressed in khakis (I had on a blue baby t and he wore a button-up) and we fit right in. It was a weekend and some people were actually dressed up, but there were plenty of people in shorts.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

I've always taken "smart casual" to be not a policy, but a plea. Dress casual, but remember it's a restaurant! There's good advice here. As for me, smart casual is comfortable shorts, a polo or button casual shirt, socks, and sneaks. And several $20 bills.

Pat

 

[Daxx]

I'd have to guess that "Smart Casual" is the opposite of "Stupid Formal". Hahahaha!

Anyway, I am going to agree that it's casual dress (no swimwear, no jeans, no shorts, no water socks). I'd be inclined to wear what you'd wear to the office on casual dress day - skirt or capri's and a nice t-shirt or blouse, nice sandals. For a man, Dockers and a polo shirt or short sleeve button down. Nothing loud or obnoxious. Understated is best.

 

[lissawynn]

DH and I ate at CG during our honeymoon trip in Sept. '02. He wore a Polo dress shirt and nice khakis. I wore nice capri khakis and a nice blouse. There were people there *really* dressed up, but I felt completely comfortable in what I was wearing. We're going back during our Halloween trip this year! Enjoy!

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Daxx
I'd have to guess that "Smart Casual" is the opposite of "Stupid Formal". Hahahaha!

Anyway, I am going to agree that it's casual dress (no swimwear, no jeans, no shorts, no water socks). I'd be inclined to wear what you'd wear to the office on casual dress day - skirt or capri's and a nice t-shirt or blouse, nice sandals. For a man, Dockers and a polo shirt or short sleeve button down. Nothing loud or obnoxious. Understated is best.

Interesting comparision LOL!

I agree with your description of smart casual.
And as a side note with the nicer WDW restaurants IMHO dressing up a notch is better when you aren't sure.

My grandmother always told me "one can never be overdressed..." I guess it stuck with me through the years.

Anne

 

[susy]

I always pack very nice clothes for our trips. For daytime in the parks we wear walking shorts and nice (new and ironed) t-shirts. Since we take breaks every day, we dress a little nicer for evening, even if we are just going back to the parks. My DH will wear a polo shirt with nice shorts or pants and I will wear a nice blouse with pants or nice shorts. Notice the "nice" pattern??? I agree it's better to be over-dressed than under. If we dine in our resort, it's a little easier to dress up, since we don't have to walk around a park. At Boma I wore a long summer dress and sandals. Okay, so I even get dressed up for the pool. I have gotten some strange looks at the ASSP!

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I have had dinner there several times and I would definitely lean towards being more dressed up than less. Smart casual is something you would wear to a country club or a nice restaurant. You don't have to wear a jacket or a fancy dress (although you can and fit in perfectly) but it should be your better casual clothes. If you have designer casual clothes this is the time to wear them. Theme park casual is not the appropriate dress here and you will feel out of place wearing it. You don't see very many people in shorts ( I don't remember anyone)