Two random questions about the dress code at V&A

[VAfamily1998]

I was able to snag a reservation at V&A for our trip for my Dh's 50th birthday, on his birthday! I'm so excited, and I have never been to a restaurant of this caliber before.

I know about the dress code, so I have two questions:

1. How did you pack your nice clothes in your luggage? Did you bring a garment bag, or did you send your clothes out to be pressed at the hotel? We're staying at BC, and I think they have that service (but I'm sure it's really expensive!) I'm typically a VERY light packer and just put all my stuff in a duffle bag.

2. Did you wear your magic band? A magic band won't really "go" with my nice dress...but we'll need them to get back in our room! I hadn't planned on carrying a purse because my "travel purse" is super casual and won't go at all--and I really don't want to have to buy/bring a nicer bag.

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

 

[loves to dive]

We drive so packing wasn't an issue although I did put my dress in my suitcase. I unpack as soon as I arrive and there were no issues. Had there been, there is an iron and ironing board in the room. My son wore a nice pair of kaikis, a dress shirt and tie and jacket. He packed everything except the jacket, which just went from the car to the room.

We did not wear our MBs but we were staying at Dolphin so no help there. You can get a card issued at the front desk for room keys at the resort, I left my MB in my room once while staying at YC and had to get one. You might try asking as the guest services at the BC. Otherwise, maybe hubbie can just put one in his pants pocket or even loop it around his belt loop. His jacket would cover it. I wouldn't have hesitated to wear mine if I had to but I also took a nicer little bag to carry cause I need reading glasses and didn't want to hang them around my neck.

 

[marikujawa]

I'm pretty sure you can use the MDE app on your phone to open your room door.

 

[jessiegirl1982]

So I haven't been to V&A, but have been to high end places. I would buy a cheap basic black (or whatever color) evening bag/clutch. It doesn't need to be a designer, but it is a good staple. There are plenty at Macy's for under $30. I personally can't go anywhere without a purse, though. That or just have your husband put your things in his jacket/pants pocket.

 

[Heather07438]

I'd try to pick outfits that I could manage ironing if they wrinkled in suitcase. Pretty sure most rooms have an iron/board?

Rolling helps when you pack some items but something like a button down shirt won't travel unscathed. Otherwise, I'd look into getting pressed at the resort. Usually inside the closet there's a bag with details too. Not cheap but could be worth the expense between the peace of mind and time savings.

Enjoy V&A! We're hoping to try it in the near future too.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I was able to snag a reservation at V&A for our trip for my Dh's 50th birthday, on his birthday! I'm so excited, and I have never been to a restaurant of this caliber before.

I know about the dress code, so I have two questions:

1. How did you pack your nice clothes in your luggage? Did you bring a garment bag, or did you send your clothes out to be pressed at the hotel? We're staying at BC, and I think they have that service (but I'm sure it's really expensive!) I'm typically a VERY light packer and just put all my stuff in a duffle bag.

2. Did you wear your magic band? A magic band won't really "go" with my nice dress...but we'll need them to get back in our room! I hadn't planned on carrying a purse because my "travel purse" is super casual and won't go at all--and I really don't want to have to buy/bring a nicer bag.

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

We've been to VA a few times and by coincidence have almost always stayed around the Boardwalk when eating there.
First, the valet/laundry service is capable of pressing your clothing, and although I've never used it it will be expensive.

Whether I chose to take a garment bag or not really depends on the fabric and length of my garment. Normally I travel with clothing I can just hang on the shower pole of a steamy bathroom, and all, if not most wrinkles fall out. This is the route I took for VA: a classically cut dress and statement jewelry. At least once I wore a jacket atop my dress so that would have hidden the MB as well.

I don't recall worrying about my MB but I do carry a wristlet that's fine for any occasion and might have put it in there. Perhaps just let your DH wear his since it'll be hidden under his jacket and you are traveling together. Oh and we took an Uber and paid about $10.00 for the ride. Just a heads up should you plan to get a mani/pedi, hair style at the salon at YC/BC: make your reservation in advance and don't bring your own nail polish. For some odd reason you must use products from the salon. On the bright side they have an extensive collection of colours.

Have an enjoyable time whatever you chose to do; wonderful food and experience!

 

[Dean Marino]

Deleted

 

[StayAwake]

This was a few years ago, but here is my experience:

I wore a cocktail dress that doesn't wrinkle when it is packed and some flats. I took the bus transportation from my resort to Magic Kingdom and then the resort monorail to the Grand Floridian. I wore my magic band, but carried a small wristlet with my phone and some cash, just in case. I ended up getting a cab back to the hotel since there was one waiting and the monorail service had just ended right before I got there, so I was glad I had some cash along.

People were nicely dressed but not formal.

 

[Asnell]

1. How did you pack your nice clothes in your luggage? Did you bring a garment bag, or did you send your clothes out to be pressed at the hotel? We're staying at BC, and I think they have that service (but I'm sure it's really expensive!) I'm typically a VERY light packer and just put all my stuff in a duffle bag.

One trick for packing nice clothing without wrinkling it is to wrap it with tissue paper, or wrap it around something else. When you buy clothing in a nice store, they wrap it with tissue paper for this exact reason.

It works nicely for DH's dress shirts. For any jacket or blazer, he folds it down the middle, sort of inside out (with arms to the inside, shoulder to shoulder but with the lining showing). For nice dresses, I put something in the middle -- a few sheets of tissue paper works, but so do plastic bags or even another lightweight piece of clothing or two -- and fold the dress gently over the item inside. On trips like a cruise where I have multiple dresses, I pile them on my bed, with the least fussy one on top (will become the inside) and the most fussy on the bottom/outside, and gently fold them (both sides inward, then top down, and roll).

 

[kiford]

We use a suit bag/case. The one we have is a bit more like a suitcase once you've folded it in half so it has wheels and more space than a regular soft suit bag. DH puts his suit into the bag provided by the tailor before it goes into the case. If we need to, DH's suit can be sent out for ironing but the bag and the case tends to keep it reasonably wrinkle free. It's not really that expensive to have things pressed or even cleaned. Less expensive than our local dry cleaner IIRC. I usually bring dresses that don't wrinkle easily or which fall out when you've hung them up or put them into the bathroom with a bit of steam for a few minutes.

DH just puts his MB into his pocket or wears it since you don't really see it under his cuff and I'll either clip mine to my purse or put it into the purse if there's space. Since they give you a little padded table to put the purse on, you don't really see it once you've been seated if it's clipped to it. But you'll see many people dressed formally there and wearing MBs.

 

[smadath]

You could always order a travel garment steamer and have it sent to the resort. Steaming is easier than ironing!

 

[Kasper11]

Keeping wrinkles out in a duffel is really hard, if not impossible. Back in my Army enlisted days, I used duffels to travel back when iron and starched uniforms were expected. Basically no chance to keep wrinkles out no matter how hard I tried. So if you stick with a duffel, I suggest ironing or sending out once you arrive.

That said, maybe upgrade to a decent carry-on bag. I now work in a field where a suit is the expected dress. A nice carry-on with a built in garment bag will allow you to properly fold a suit or two, the wife's dresses along with a couple shirts and not get them wrinkled. If you have only one item that needs the wrinkle care, I would add something else to the garment bag, like a couple t shirts, to prevent too tight of a fold and keep the wrinkles away.

 

[GoingSince1990]

I wear my $50,000 gold MB with encrusted diamonds at V&A.

 

[holden]

Check out YouTube videos for how to fold a sport coat/suit jacket. I watched one and then packed my DD12’s equestrian coat (same thing as a suit jacket) in a carry on and it was perfect whe we arrived.

We are doing V& A for my 50th also! I won’t pack a super fancy dress. I’ll probably pack something I’d wear to a wedding/banquet. I find that rolling clothes keeps them mostly wrinkle free.

 

[trishadono]

Using the phone with the app to open is best as previously posted. Also bring a mini screwdriver or do before you leave and take the puck out of your mb,

The puck should fit in his pocket or discreetly on the table.

 

[sponica]

Get a plastic key card to open the hotel room door or a cheapo black hand bag. I used to have some decent ones that I bought on clearance for sub 30 dollars.

When I've done "formal" attire while traveling, I just let my dress hang in the bathroom and set the shower to as hot as humanly possible.