Chi84
Premium Member
I was taught that it's good manners to "dress for the occasion," whether it be a wedding, funeral, church service, fine dining restaurant, etc. The idea behind it is that it shows respect for the occasion and the other people sharing it with you. Rules of etiquette change with the times, though, and people now focus more on personal comfort when it come to dress.
Still, fine dining restaurants do more than just give you food to eat; they try to create a certain atmosphere or ambiance for their patrons, and they charge accordingly. They serve food using fine china, crystal stemware and actual silverware, even though the same food could be served in plastic baskets and paper cups. Like it or not, when you are there, you are visible to others and become part of that ambiance. That's not just my personal opinion - it's Disney's. As the owner of the restaurant, they publish a dress code stating acceptable attire and ask people to comply with it. The sign on the podium at California Grill states a dress code. It does not say "behave well," "there must be some sort of fabric covering your nether parts," or (my favorite all-time low suggestion) "just don't stink." And what is Disney actually asking for with its minimal dress code? There are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from in Disney that don't have a dress code.
As people become more and more isolated these days, rules of behavior are changing and dress codes may become a thing of the past because they impact one's personal comfort. Also, Disney doesn't enforce its dress code except in the most extreme circumstances, provoking complaints from people who go out of their way to comply. Until Disney actually drops the dress codes, though, I think people should make some effort to comply with them even if they are not forced to do so by the restaurant.
Still, fine dining restaurants do more than just give you food to eat; they try to create a certain atmosphere or ambiance for their patrons, and they charge accordingly. They serve food using fine china, crystal stemware and actual silverware, even though the same food could be served in plastic baskets and paper cups. Like it or not, when you are there, you are visible to others and become part of that ambiance. That's not just my personal opinion - it's Disney's. As the owner of the restaurant, they publish a dress code stating acceptable attire and ask people to comply with it. The sign on the podium at California Grill states a dress code. It does not say "behave well," "there must be some sort of fabric covering your nether parts," or (my favorite all-time low suggestion) "just don't stink." And what is Disney actually asking for with its minimal dress code? There are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from in Disney that don't have a dress code.
As people become more and more isolated these days, rules of behavior are changing and dress codes may become a thing of the past because they impact one's personal comfort. Also, Disney doesn't enforce its dress code except in the most extreme circumstances, provoking complaints from people who go out of their way to comply. Until Disney actually drops the dress codes, though, I think people should make some effort to comply with them even if they are not forced to do so by the restaurant.
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