Stricter dress code at Signature Restaurants

[SpaceRangerEric]

I have a problem with the current dress code, in that it allows t-shirts, jeans and jean shorts. Most of these restaurants are at resorts, not in the park. I do not see what is so hard about looking more presentable in these finer dining establishments.

But I would like to hear other's opinions.

 

[jarestel]

None of the items of attire you listed are particularly upsetting to me given the fact that it is WDW where casual is the norm. Most times I don't tend to notice the way others are clothed anyway unless they happen to be way over the line, ie hairy armpits peeking out from tank tops or other such un-appetizing apparel. Doesn't affect my dining experience at all if the fellow at the next table is wearing jeans though.

But I'm sure there will be plenty of folks who can't enjoy their meals if the people around them are, in their eyes, inappropriately dressed.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I agree.....but my feeling is most will disagree.

 

[Chime]

Even if a restaurant is at a resort, doesn't mean it's at your resort. It can be difficult to get changed into something nicer.
Although we always go back to our resort to change if we're going out for a nicer dinner, many people go right to the restaurant from the parks.
If they're not staying on property, if they have a short window planned for a meal, etc. may make it harder to change into something more formal.

It doesn't really bother me to see a group at a finer restaurant that isn't in "nicer" clothes.
The only places that I would find it inappropriate are maybe the fine dining at the Grand Floridian (Victoria & Alberts..., etc.).

But I guess to answer your question it really doesn't both me that much. We like to dress accordingly for the atmosphere, but I don't find it annoying/problematic if others don't.

 

[_queenie_]

I agree, but it just couldn't be too strict. I think jeans are okay, as long as they aren't ripped. I would get rid of the t-shirts and jean shorts though, and say twill shorts and button down or polo shirts (men). They might not even have to change the dress code at all if they would just enforce it better.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I can't imagine what the folks mean by less strict....
We already see belly shirts, baseball caps, armpits.....should we all sit in a signature in our undies?

 

[Pakey]

The dress code doesn't bother me near as much as having the finer places overrun with cramped tables, loud and impatient guests and noisy/crying children. I no longer consider most of the signatures to be "fine" dining. Therefore, I no longer see the need to go back to my hotel and change after leaving the parks. V&A, definitely. Bistro, definitely. But all of the other places which are now available through the dining plan have certainly changed. I do not think dress code alone is going to do much to make a difference. I'm fine either way but I certainly do not want to get dressed up, spend the evening in uncomfortable shoes, sitting next to a table where a couple is arguing or kids are coloring. If the atmosphere is going to be like Applebee's then I want to be able to dress accordingly.

 

[Lamandpercy]

I think the dress code is ok as it is but Disney don't enforce it. I insisted DH went in trousers only to find lots of men in shorts and t-shirts. I also made him wear a shirt which he was not pleased about either. I wore a skirt and a dressy top and sandals with a small heel. We did feel a little over dressed compared to others. I know its Disney but it is nice to dress for dinner once in a while, it doesn't have to be OTT.

 

[Pakey]

I think the dress code is ok as it is but Disney don't enforce it. QUOTE]

Disney's dress code definition of business casual is no bathing suits, tank tops or frayed clothing. Jeans, shorts and t-shirts are acceptable according to their policy so there's not much to enforce except for bathing suits.

 

[Sandy321]

The dress code doesn't bother me near as much as having the finer places overrun with cramped tables, loud and impatient guests and noisy/crying children. I no longer consider most of the signatures to be "fine" dining. Therefore, I no longer see the need to go back to my hotel and change after leaving the parks. V&A, definitely. Bistro, definitely. But all of the other places which are now available through the dining plan have certainly changed. I do not think dress code alone is going to do much to make a difference. I'm fine either way but I certainly do not want to get dressed up, spend the evening in uncomfortable shoes, sitting next to a table where a couple is arguing or kids are coloring. If the atmosphere is going to be like Applebee's then I want to be able to dress accordingly.

I agree - when we went to LeCellier there was a mom with 2 cranky crying kids, she was yelling at the cm's - she couldnt get an earlier adr - so she showed up at 6pm and wanted LeC to "Fit them in so they wouldnt have to wait"
well, no one misses their adr at LeC - at least not on that night - those kids were crying they were hungry, they were tired, the dad kept saying, lets just go back to the resort, mom was not having it - we have a TS, we're using it, and I dont care if everyone here hates us...

I asked NOT to be seated near them!!

 

[aubriee]

I voted stricter. I usually try to do at least one signature restaurant each trip (if not more). Yeah, it can be a pain to bring along nicer clothes, but you are told the dress code when you make the ADR, so should be able to follow them.

I ate at Jiko in Dec and had the loudest family right behind me. I had made a point of leaving AK early to go back to my resort to bathe, change, put on makeup, fix my hair, etc. The family behind me was obviously dressed in their park clothes. In fact, the mom had almost exactly the same outfit I had on earlier (khacki shorts, Disney T and flip flops). Both teenage boys were wearing flowered board shorts, tank tops, and flip flops, and daughter was wearing a short terry cloth dress over her swimsuit. Dad was wearing a pair of khacki shorts and a Disney Tshirt. Truthfully, I probably would not have noticed what they were wearing, except that they were sooo loud and the mom was wearing almost exactly what I had changed out of earlier, plus you could see the daughter's swimsuit straps under the neck of her coverup. There were quite a few people staring at them, because they were so loud and definitely underdressed.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Especially using WDW transportation, it could take HOURS for a family to go from a theme park, back to the hotel, change, then get back to a signature restaurant. Lots of folks are either coming from or going to a theme park at WDW. I'm not really in favor of making them go out of their way simply to dress "better" for dinner.
The current code--enforced--seems fine with me. As others have said (or will say) anyone who wants to dress better can certainly do so. For me, I hardly notice what others are wearing.
In line with what Pakey suggested, most if not all the WDW signature restaurants do have an Applebees atmosphere and dressing better won't make any difference. A kid throwing food or running around playing tag with brother and sister is still causing a disturbance no matter how the parents are dressed.

Should add that I usually wear kaki long pants and a Disney polo when I am at a Signature restaurant. MRs' U usually in dress shorts and a Disney Polo. We do that mostly because we spend so little time in the parks these days and have plenty of time to change. And we have a car, making it easy to get to and from OKW to any restaurant.

 

[webray]

I have a problem with the current dress code, in that it allows t-shirts, jeans and jean shorts. Most of these restaurants are at resorts, not in the park. I do not see what is so hard about looking more presentable in these finer dining establishments.

But I would like to hear other's opinions.

We prefer to be able to dress casual, go straight to a restaurant from the parks. We are never wearing anything tacky anyway and there is nothing wrong with jeans/t's. Sometimes a person in jeans and a t-shirt look much nicer than a person who "dresses up" for a restaurant..lol.

With airline weight restrictions, I wouldn't want to have to worry about packing extra clothes just to eat in a nicer restaurant. Luckily we can drive.

I think Disney would prefer to fill the restaurant and have their servers make great tips rather than worry about someone in a pair of jeans.

 

[Stitch'sGlitch]

I think that the dress code is fine as it is right now. We normally go straight from the parks to dinner. Jeans, T-shirt, shorts (with a reasonable inseam) shouldn't affect the food that you are eating and your dining experience.

 

[maggs]

It is fine as it is. I travel to Florida from England and it is tough enough trying to restrict the amount of clothes I can take. I dont want to have to have to pack skirts and dresses as well just so that I can enter a signature restaurant in the evening. We all try to look tidy and presentable as it is. I dont need any more restrictions especially since we go in the hottest summer months.

Maggs

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm OK with the current dress code. But I'd like to see better (any) enforcement.

 

[Booyakasha]

The dress code is not inforced now so it is sort of a moot point. I do think that t-shirts should not be allowed. I think that nice shorts should be allowed but there is really no way to control that because as soon as you allow shorts you will see board shorts and gym shorts etc. So I think shorts should be only allowed on kids. This will also stop people from going directly from the park to the restaurants.

The other big issue is that you have people from all over the world attending Disney and dress is extremely different depending on where you live. I recently participated in a discussion on high end dining and dress code (not DW) and the majority of the people in the Eastern half of the U.S prefer much more formal clothes while dining whlile people out west especially CA prefer much more casual dress. Speaking about shorts most people in NYC, Chicago and D.C. would never ever wear shorts to a fine dinging restarurant where people in California, Portland and Denver did not have issue with it.

The bottom line IMO is when you go to a signature restaurant at Disney you need to clean yourself up. Nice shirts, pants and footware. Leave the Mickey Mouse t-shirts, board shorts and sandals for the parks. Disney also needs to absolutely refuse service to those people that insist on going to these restaurants looking like slobs.

Flame on!

B.

 

[LowesChevy]

I would really like to see collared shirts implemented for men at the signature restaurants. It takes away from my dining experience when I see a guy wearing a tank top with his arm hair hanging out at Yachtsman or Artist Point. I do not mind shorts, but when clothing is ripped or has holes in it they should not be worn to signature dining.

We like to head back in the afternoon to the resort and rest and clean up for going back out for dinner. Thats what we are used to doing. Not every body heads back to their resort during the day, esepecially if they have lunch adrs. Everyone is different, but if they enforced the rules they have I would be more content-rules are rules-no exemptions.

 

[TDC Nala]

It is fine as it is, for a theme resort where use of a car is not necessary and transportation often takes a great deal of time. They do object to torn jeans according to the dress code.

I often wear black jeans to signature restaurants.

The biggest difficulty with the current code is that Disney does not enforce it. They seem reluctant to turn away diners for any reason.

I'd assume they'd turn away a party in pool clothes because I haven't ever seen that in a sig restaurant, but I have seen everything else.

 

[Dawn68PA]

The dress code is fine. I do not think people should be wearing sleeveless tops to a finer dining establishment. Nice jeans and top, fine for WDW. What annoys me more than anything at any restaurant is out of control/noisy kids. Nothing can be done about that though.