How to dress to dine in the Parks?

[Disney Newbie]

We will be staying at All Star Sports so I don't want to have to go back to our room to change for dinner, but would like to go to one of the nicer places to eat.

Do people just "go as they are"? which is probably sweaty and messy or carry other clothes with them or what? I don't want to end up feeling out of place and spoiling our fun by looking odd. (I am hoping to get into one of the two french places in Epcot.)

And do they have the AC up so high you freeze without a sweater?

 

[unkadug]

The restaurants at the parks are all come as you are. If you pass the dress code to get in the park, then you pass for the restaurants also. :wave:

I've never seen people carrying around a clothes hanging bag all day at the park just so they can change into business casual for dinner.

 

[Disney Newbie]

not totally crazy

I was thinking more like a non-wrinkling shirt or coverup that would go in the bottom of our backpack while we tour. :lol:

Thanks for the help !!

 

[unkadug]

If it will make you feel better, then I would do it. However, it really isn't neccessary.

 

[Victoria]

Don't worry about what you are wearing. People go to dinner dressed however. The only time you really have to worry about your attire is when you go to some of the restaurants outside of the parks and at all of the Signature Dining restaurants (Victoria and Alberts, California Grill, Etc...) You are better off just being comfortable.
If you are going to WDW in the summer sometimes it does get a bit chilly in some places. In most cases however, you will be all too happy to find AC that you won't care that you are cold.

Welcome to the boards!!:wave:

 

[LaughingGravy]

Hurray!

As others have mentioned, if you are able to get in the park with what you're wearing, then they won't refuse you.
The reason for this post is that it's nice to hear about a desire to be dressed properly for dinner.
Personally, I think a shirt with a collar and footwear with socks (no flip-flops) makes for a nice appearance at a sit-down dining establishment within the parks.

Pants are a nice idea,too:lol:

Of course I always like ladies in skirts.

 

[The Mom]

I always have a lightweight sweater/thin jacket (totes makes some very lightweight folding ones) in my bag, as I find the restaurants to be a bit too chilly, especially if I've been caught in an afternoon shower.

 

[Yellow Shoes]

I think it was Samantha Brown on one of her "Great Hotels" shows about Disney who said,

You may feel funny eating steak and lobster (or escargot, in your case) while wearing a Goofy t-shirt, but you'll get over it.

Seriously, most people do not dress differently for dinner, except at those places that require it.

If, however, you are more comfortable with something a little nicer, you won't feel overdressed, either.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I think this depends on the time of year, as well. I might wear a dress shirt and khakis in February, but not in the middle of summer. When it is 95º out with 90% humidity, most people would probably get heat stroke walking from the Epcot entrance to a restaurant in World Showcase wearing long pants--not to mention the sweat stains would make it pretty senseless to dress up, since you would look nasty anyway.

 

[Disney Newbie]

Well, when I called for PS for Les Chefs de France, I was told that there was a dress code of "Business Casual" - meaning nice shorts and a collared shirt. No tank tops or swimsuits! And this is not listed as a signature restaurant.

Now I know and we will be prepared.:slurp:

 

[ToTBellHop]

Well, when I called for PS for Les Chefs de France, I was told that there was a dress code of "Business Casual" - meaning nice shorts and a collared shirt. No tank tops or swimsuits! And this is not listed as a signature restaurant.

Now I know and we will be prepared.:slurp:

And this is why I limit my Epcot meals to La Cantina de San Angel, the Electric Umbrella, and Sunshine Seasons Shorts and t-shirts all the way when it's hot hot hot out!

 

[CoffeeJedi]

When we ate at Alfredo's, followed by an evening of strolling around World Showcase and Boardwalk, we went back to the Dolphin and changed. I wore khaki pants and a casual bowling/cabana shirt, with leather sandals; and my girlfriend wore a light skirt and shirt with comfortable, but nice looking sandals

it was nice because we really felt like we were going for a "night out", connected to, yet seperate from the rest of our vacation. i did notice that a lot of other people (mostly couples without children) did the same

 

[PBarton]

. I wore khaki pants and a casual bowling/cabana shirt, with leather sandals; and my girlfriend wore a light skirt and shirt with comfortable, but nice looking sandals

it was nice because we really felt like we were going for a "night out", connected to, yet seperate from the rest of our vacation. i did notice that a lot of other people (mostly couples without children) did the same

Nothing to do with dining, but...

During evening extra magic hours at Epcot, we like to return back to our hotel, for a quick shower and to get changed into smarter clothes such as chino's etc.

It makes strolling around the World Showcase much more relaxing, taking in the sites and sounds.

Its shorts and t-shirts at the restaurants though, we would only dress up for something like Victoria and Albert's... and we would never go there.

 

[LaughingGravy]

I wonder if Mr. _______ dresses up at all when frequenting the Epcot restaurants? Or is it only Victoria and Albert's?

 

[Main Street USA]

As said above, there are rules in some places at the resorts and such, but as far as them actually enforcing them.......it doesn't really matter. My girlfriend and I had hats on for our reservations at Cali Grill after a long day at the parks. The host asked us to remove them, and I simply said, look, we've had a long day at the parks, and we'll feel really uncomfortable if we have to remove our hats. Guess what.....they let us eat. Big surprise. You're still in Disney World, and no matter where you go, they know it.

 

[mattfz]

If you get dressed up for dinner, do it for your significant other...not the restaurant staff or fellow patrons! Anything goes really, as long as you have shorts on!