What do YOU do for sig. ressies? Change clothes?

When we've gone in December/Jan, it hasn't been as much of an issue because you are not as hot & wilted from the Florida heat. DH usually will wear a collared knit shirt & I will will wear a decent looking cotton-knit top instead of just a t-shirt.

When we've been during warmer seasons, I usually plan our signature dining for days when we are doing some pool time in the afternoon. We finish our swim, clean up, then head for the restaurant. A little nicer (but not dressy) clothes than just day/park clothes. My dd's will sometimes put on sundresses, I usually stick to capris. Comfy shoes if we plan on going back to a park afterwards -and I've even been known to throw those in a backpack.

You "can" get away with most anything at most places and will see people in all sorts of things - I think the exceptions would be V & A and Shula's, but I, personally, feel more comfortable stepping it up a slight bit from just park wear.
 
The only time I've ever felt uncomfortably underdressed at WDW was at Ca. Grill in December. We had planned to refresh at the hotel, but ran out of time (okay, we mismanaged our time :sad2:) and ended up going straight from the park. Nobody looked at us funny -- and we weren't all that grubby -- but because it was December, we were surrounded by large holiday parties, and people were dressed to nines! I mean sparkly evening wear, the works. I don't think it bothered my husband or son at all, but I did feel uncomfortable.

So that's my caution about December. Watch out for corporate Christmas affairs, especially if it's a weekend.
 
I too go back to my room to shower and change before eating at a resort signature, but that may be different this time around if I'm staying offsite. I suppose it depends on how far my hotel is and where the restaurant is located.

I agree with whoever said they stay in park clothes for any of the signatures in the parks. I got dragged into the Brown Derby one time in shorts and a tank top (I wasn't planning to eat there, but ran into friends who insisted they buy me lunch) and no one batted an eye. It's a bit of a hassle to leave the parks and come back and is something I try to avoid unless I have my son in tow. Of course, he's never eaten at a signature with me so it hasn't been an issue.

For the resort signatures, I normally just wear a pretty sundress and some cute sandals. You very rarely see people more dressed up than that unless it's V&A's (afraid I don't know anything about Shulas). I got slightly more dressed up the last time I went to Jiko, but that's because I was celebrating my anniversary and felt like being more fancy. ;)
 
I've mostly been to WDW in May or June, so it would have been awful to go straight to a signature dinner after sweating in the parks all day .. yuck. But, December will be milder weather, so it might be fine. As long as you wear nicer clothes and allow time to freshen up in the lobby bathroom, you should be fine. Last time we went to Cali grill we brought a tote bag so that we could change after dinner to go into the parks (I wasn't going to wear my dress and wedges to the park - I needed my sneakers and shorts!). I don't see why this couldn't work the other way around, where you bring a change of clothes, hairbrush, etc. and just freshen up in the CR lobby bathroom before going up?
 

We always go back to the resort and change for dinner if we are going to a nice place outside the parks. We have a car though so this makes it easier. I would not worry too much about it. A lot of people don't change and go with park attire. I personally would feel uncomfortable not changing, but that's me. You will see very different types of dress everywhere in Disney.

Enjoy The Magic!!
 
Time is what seems to be an issue with the OP. And on a Disney bus (depending on where they are staying) getting back from the park, showering, etc and then getting to the restaurant will take several hours.

And then they will find that they really didn't have to dress up at all.

To note:

Shula's dress suggestions are the same as for all other WDW Signature restaurants--just no swimwear, torn clothes, tank-tops on men, t-shirts with offensive pictures or phrases.
 
Time is what seems to be an issue with the OP. And on a Disney bus (depending on where they are staying) getting back from the park, showering, etc and then getting to the restaurant will take several hours.

And then they will find that they really didn't have to dress up at all.

To note:

Shula's dress suggestions are the same as for all other WDW Signature restaurants--just no swimwear, torn clothes, tank-tops on men, t-shirts with offensive pictures or phrases.

Thanks for the correct Shula's info - I thought I recalled they required a jacket for men. I must have it mixed up with somewhere else. Come to think of it, I think we went there for our 20th anniversary - maybe "I" required dh wear the jacket! :rotfl2:
 
We always return to the hotel midday to rest and change- my only problem is my feet areso tired by midtrip that I need comfy shoes- so my sundress gets casualed up with my little skecher maryjanes. :confused:
 
DH and I usually go back to the resort to freshen up and change. I'll usually wear a sundress and DH will change into khaki's and a polo.
 
I don't change for dinner at signatures, but that's because I wear sundresses in the parks anyway (if it's chilly I wear capris.) My husband usually wears polo shirts in the parks and our boys wear khaki shorts and Disney shirts. For non-park signatures like California Grill, I like to throw polo shirts on the boys. If we're coming from a park then I throw the polo shirts in a bag and they put them on before dinner.
 
We just make sure we are dressed "nicely" for the park that day if we'll be going straight to dinner. Shorts are fine, as long as they are nice shorts, and not active-wear or anything. Same goes for a top. Don't sweat it, just look neat and you'll be fine!

This is what we do. We never go back to our resort before dinner, so we just try and wear some nicer clothes in the park that day. We've never had a problem.
 
We always go back to the resort for a mid-afternoon swim and/or nap and then freshen up before going to any TS dinner. But then again, we go at the end of August when it is hot like fire out and a mid day fresher-upper makes me feel less gross.

My point? I always dress a little nicer for my TS dinners. Even if it is just some place like Tutto Italia or whatever. So I'm sure I'd do the same for the signature places as well. Sometimes it just feels nice to get a little fancier while on vacation.
 
I don't change. While we're not "dressy" at the parks, we do dress nicely. I personally prefer casual skirts and dresses to shorts, so that's what I usually wear (nothing fancy - think LL Bean-style.) If my kids were messy then I'd change them, but then have some nice clothes that are still comfy to be out in.
 


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