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

[Lindsayrg3]

Hi Experts,

I have a question re: restaurant attire. Husband and I will be having dinner at California Grill and Narcoossee's on our trip. I know that the dress code for these is resort attire or business casual, but some posters have said that they felt wildly out of place even in those clothes.

We want to spend as much time in the parks as possible, and the idea of going back to my resort, showering, changing, and doing the whole hair/makeup thing just seems like it would take far too much time. We also want to head back to the parks after we eat, so then we'd have to change back into our more comfortable park wear. Do people really do this? Does anyone go to these places wearing "park clothes"? It will be December, so I won't be in shorts or anything, but still...

What to do?!?

 

[starrysky]

DH and I like to go back to our resort shower and smarten up before going to dinner.

I personally would rather people made an effort fitting the style of restaurant they are going to. People do go in shorts but we have only seen people who are more dressed up.

I take a couple of dresses that I can wear comfortable sandals with and DH Wears light pants and a shirt and smart loafer style trainers.

Its up to you what you wear though and as far as I am aware you only have to really dress up for V&A.

 

[sassyredhead]

I change clothes if signature restaurant is outside the park. If inside (Le Cellier dinner, Brown Derby), I do not change.

 

[sydneysmom]

when we went to Narcoosee's, I just wore a sundress and sandals and DH wore nice pleated shorts and a short sleeve button down. VERY CASUAL. we didn't feel out of place at all. there were some men in jackets, but honestly, they were in the minority. Most people were dressed in vacation casual.

there was a man in Narcoosee's in a tank top w/ hair sprouting everywhere.... I do not advise this.... it looked SOOOOO nasty. and just a wee bit TOO casual !

 

[mdsd8700]

We also like to go to back to room to freshen up before dinner each night, so we always change. However I have seen people dressed both "up" and more casual at the Cali Grill. I agree with PP if you have a comfy sundress and sandles I would go that route. The same with DH (although dressier shorts not a dress ) and sandals you should feel comfortable in both the resturant and the park.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[JohnNYC]

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!

 

[TDC Nala]

If it would take more than an hour to go back to the room and change for dinner, and then another more than an hour to go back to the room and change to get back to the park, then I wouldn't bother. Certainly wouldn't wear a swimsuit or anything grody to the park if I was anticipating a signature dinner though. Jeans are OK. I wouldn't wear a dress to a park (and definitely not in December)

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I would go back to the room and change.

Then I'd bring park clothes in a backpack and after dinner, would change into park clothes, put the dressy clothes into the backpack and head to the park. You could put the backpack in a locker at the park if you don't need it and just remember to grab it when you leave the park.

Would something like that work for you?

 

[Taja]

We tend to visit WDW in December more often than other times--primarily due to the nicer weather.

It's possible to wear some nicer clothing to the park during the day, and just change shoes. If we have a car, we leave the shoes in the car; if not, we rent a locker--usually need it for a jacket most nights, anyway.

Usually for a signature restaurant, we will return to our resort and clean up before dining. We don't get all that hot and sticky in December--with a few exceptions! *LOL* I usually take a small duffel (a nice tote bag would work) with my park shoes/socks (clean *ahem*) to the restaurant and change shoes after the meal if we're going to a park. My BFF has shoes that are comfortable for the parks and look decent for dining. Mine--not so much! *LOL*

 

[Lindsayrg3]

Everyone, thank you so much! Your replies have really helped me figure this out!

I think we'll go back to the resort, change, and freshen up before our dinner dates. After dinner, we'll probably watch fireworks and then head back to our resort. I didn't think how late if would be after- I'll be pooped for sure!

 

[jenneth79]

Everyone, thank you so much! Your replies have really helped me figure this out!

I think we'll go back to the resort, change, and freshen up before our dinner dates. After dinner, we'll probably watch fireworks and then head back to our resort. I didn't think how late if would be after- I'll be pooped for sure!

I'm sure you will be fine no matter what you wear. My DH and I prefer to freshen up anyway before heading out to dinner, especially after a long day at the park, so we usually change into something a bit more business casual, but certainly not extra fancy, unless we're dining at V&A or one of the steakhouses, which for some reason, I feel the need to wear a skirt to.

You should have a fabulous time at WDW no matter what!

 

[edisneydreaming]

I generally go back to the room and change but if I have to go right from the parks I pack a clean shirt and nice shoes in my day bag and change in the bathroom. I then change my shoes again if I'm going back to the parks. I also wear nice capris for the day. Have fun.

 

[EvilQueenT]

we get anxious over wasting what we call "mickey minutes" when we go in the fall/winter when the parks close earlier so at that time of year we don't often go back and change. i usually end up wearing a pair of jeans and a decent top. the one place i usually feel a real need to change is cali grill but honestly last december we went and it was sooooo cold i ended up grabbing my cinderella sweat shirt out of the car at the last minute and wore it over my nice slacks and top...i was just cold that night and couldn't seem to get warm. they seated me without batting an eye and happily took my money at the end of the evening. summer time i go back and clean up but the parks are open really late and it so hot i feel gross if i don't go get cleaned up. even then i tend to wear capris and a top or a sun dress...super casual. it's florida AND a tourist destination...i;ve lived here off and on (mostly on) since 1972 we expect people to dress more casual than business casual.

 

[kaffinito]

Honestly, I was disappointed that we seemed to be the only family at Narcoosees the night we were there that had dressed up. One family had clearly just come from the pool, complete with flip flops and swim trunks. The men had decent shirts on, but still, swim trunks?

I would wear a nice decent top to the parks then go to dinner. You won't feel out of place if you are under dressed.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I have frequently gone in Dec. I don't pay much attention to how others are dressed at a restaurant. But I know I was most happy taking an afternoon break, a shower, and wearing a polo or button down shirt, khakis, and a pair of loafers when I went to CA Grill. Not terribly dressed up, but a little above what I normally wear in a park. I have day wear, and evening wear.

 

[jm106]

I am glad to see this. I dont have signature places but I was still concerned about going to a sit down restaurant straight from the parks. We have 2 kids along so we dont want to go back to reosrt to change so I think Ill take DH a clean shirt and I will think about what i choose in the morning. We are going in May so I picture hot and sweaty, makeup gone and hair wild from the rides. I think mascara and a hair brush are going into my bag as well.

 

[princesspeach]

I am glad to see this. I dont have signature places but I was still concerned about going to a sit down restaurant straight from the parks. We have 2 kids along so we dont want to go back to reosrt to change so I think Ill take DH a clean shirt and I will think about what i choose in the morning. We are going in May so I picture hot and sweaty, makeup gone and hair wild from the rides. I think mascara and a hair brush are going into my bag as well.

We were there in May and ate at signatures every night. Honestly I can't imagine not showereing before dinner. We were beyond hot and sweaty by 2pm. I live in Az and I know hot.

 

[frannn]

We have dinner outside the park around 7, so by that time we are more than ready for a shower and/or change of clothes. I bring casual sundresses for the nicer signatures, and black capris and a nicer top, with nicer sandals, for dinner shows. We usually go in Sept, so its very refreshing to change into fresh clothes in the evening. This also gives us the opportunity to dress DD8 in something adorable, and make good use of the photopass!

 

[HunnyJar]

I am glad to see this. I dont have signature places but I was still concerned about going to a sit down restaurant straight from the parks. We have 2 kids along so we dont want to go back to reosrt to change so I think Ill take DH a clean shirt and I will think about what i choose in the morning. We are going in May so I picture hot and sweaty, makeup gone and hair wild from the rides. I think mascara and a hair brush are going into my bag as well.

I have a little tip for the hotter months. We usually go to Bath and Body Works before our trip and buy several little pocket sized anti-bacterial sanitizers. They have fantastic scents and they really freshen you up during the hotter months. We just take a damp paper towel and add some of the sanitizer to the paper towel. While it isn't as good as a shower (obviously) it does make you feel better and makes you smell better, too. My husband and I were taking a picture in front of the castle during the MNSSHP a few years ago when the photograph commented on how we must have just gotten to the park. Actually, we had been there since rope drop.

 

[JJsmama]

I cancelled CG because of this issue. I had CG for 5:45 and realized that we would not have time to go back to POR, shower then return to CG (or it would be very rushed and thus unpleasant/ not worth it.)

No matter how we tried to dress that morning, we would look awful after the parks all day (summer!) so I just cancelled. I would not feel comfortable going to CG without feeling fresh and with kids who would most likely have ice cream on their clothes...