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Shorts in Dining Rooms


kurukthemal

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I saw on another site that shorts are requested not to be worn in the main dining rooms. How much is this followed? I have three girls all under 8 and we are also packing for a relatively hot and humid week in Orlando prior to the cruise. Of course, I am not speaking of wearing cut-offs, but nice fashionable shorts. We also don't want to be the "standout" family. :)

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I am a stickler to the rules. While most meals are "Cruise Casual"—no shorts, swimwear or tank tops you will see some people dressed in a way that goes against these rules. Obviously you can do what you feel comfortable with. I just had my daughter (myself as well) wear sundresses. The dining rooms can be cold too, so bring a sweater!

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They ask for no shorts, please follow the dress code.

 

Just because you can do something and get away with it, doesn't mean you should.

 

The restaurants are all air conditioned, slacks or a dress will be just as comfortable.

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I saw on another site that shorts are requested not to be worn in the main dining rooms. How much is this followed? I have three girls all under 8 and we are also packing for a relatively hot and humid week in Orlando prior to the cruise. Of course, I am not speaking of wearing cut-offs, but nice fashionable shorts. We also don't want to be the "standout" family. :)

 

Girls of 8 are fine do not worry unless swimwear. Swimwear is a no no, try to dress them up on formal nights, lots of pre teen age kids do not dress up.

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Everyone on our cruised dressed really nicely- not fancy, just smart. They all looked really well put together.

 

I agree that the maxi and sun dresses that are a plenty work PERFECTLY for the cruise! They are comfy, look adorable, and have shall we say...eatin' room! Some wear smart trousers.

 

It's really easy to dress on these cruises comfortably and without looking sloppy. They aren't formal, but the atmosphere is SUPER nice. I like the idea that I am going to a nice dining room every night (who gets to do that that often at home?) and so I'm not going to dress down for it.

 

Slip a dress over head and you are literally good to go in a few minutes.

 

Kudos to our cruisers for everyone looking really cute and trendy without being formal or sloppy!

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If your girls wear shorts, you will not be the "standout" family in the main dining room because in practice, many families do wear shorts into the dining room, often dependent upon what sort of day it has been (port vs. sea) and which seating (main vs. late).

 

The dress code is found at DCL's website within each dining venue's description (links can be found here). And to quote from Animator's Palate (which is similar to the other main dining room dress codes):

 

Dress Code

The dress code for dinner at Animator's Palate changes nightly. Check the Personal Navigator—the Disney Cruise Line daily newsletter detailing all there is to see and do—for more information while onboard. However, you are requested to not wear tank tops, swim wear or shorts for dinner.

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We wore Tiaras every night...except the pirate night. Then we went as pirate wenches in full corset and cavalier hat regalia...

 

Wait...you have to be 7 to wear princess dresses to dinner?! :eek:

 

jk. Tiaras at 31? They weren't obnoxiously big, they were cute, and they called us princess wherever we went.

 

Tiaras at 31 - you betcha~!

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I run with a pretty dressy crowd. We are an educated crowd of forty-something's with children ranging in age from 0-14. We dine out frequently in nice restaurants in Atlanta and have a gourmet supper club once a month. And guess what happens during the summer, the girls are decked out and the guys where shorts. Nice shorts and collared shirts. I feel like this is the norm wherever I go. Especially on a tropical vacation. On previous cruises, my DD3 and I are typically in a dress and the guys are in shorts and collared shirts (except for formal nights). I think this looks nicer than jeans, which ARE allowed. I agree with no swimwear and tank tops but think the rest is overkill for a vacation setting.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

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Seems like started an interesting topic! I run with an educated crowd too in our 40's and wear a suit every day for work. Perhaps that is why I loath having to get dressed up for vacation. However the girls like it and that is what is important to me. So a little extra packing will not be too terrible. Thanks for the tips!

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Didn't read all of the posts here but I guess it depends on how the shorts are "worn". If really dress the shorts up like vineyard vines, j crew etc you might be ok. I've not seen lots of shirts at dinner other than on guys but again a gal can totally rock out a shirts outfit. I probably fall into the a bit dressier crowd but wouldn't be offended by totally dresses up shorts.

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Depends on the cruise. We have been on 4 Disney cruises. The first one I wore slacks on casual nights and suits on Formal nights. After seeing everyone else I was way overdressed.

 

The next cruise I brought dress shorts with me just in case. The first 2 casual nights were slacks and suits on formal nights.

 

But on the last night (we have late dining) I can see everyone was wearing shorts to the early dinner so I wore mine still with a collared shirt. At first it felt out of place but most people were wearing shorts the last night.

 

Now I do wear dress shorts on Pirate night since allot of people are dressed up as pirates as it is.

 

I guess it depends on the cruise.

 

I agree dress shorts and a nice shirt are better than jeans and a t-shirt.

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We board the Disney Dream in just 4 days for a family reunion type cruise. My wonderful grandson was discussing the dining room with his mother as they went through the materials sent by Disney.

Mom : "and no swimwear in the Dining Room"

4 year old boy: "Oh NO!:eek: I have to wear my underwear!! Why can't I wear my pants??"

 

Guess we always call it a swimsuit or bathing suit -- swimwear and underwear sound close enough to panic over!

 

For formal night the young man has his clip on tie and his belt -- that is formal to him especially the belt which is only worn on Sunday for fast potty reasons!

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I saw on another site that shorts are requested not to be worn in the main dining rooms. How much is this followed? I have three girls all under 8 and we are also packing for a relatively hot and humid week in Orlando prior to the cruise. Of course, I am not speaking of wearing cut-offs, but nice fashionable shorts. We also don't want to be the "standout" family. :)

 

Myself, my 8-year-old and my 3-year-old have worn shorts and t-shirts to all three main dining halls with no issue. One of the things I love about DCL is that they are very relaxed dinning attire. The only thing they will turn you around for is wearing flip-flops, but as for the rest, so long as you aren't wearing swimming suits, you'll be ok.

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Depends on the cruise. We have been on 4 Disney cruises. The first one I wore slacks on casual nights and suits on Formal nights. After seeing everyone else I was way overdressed.

 

The next cruise I brought dress shorts with me just in case. The first 2 casual nights were slacks and suits on formal nights.

 

But on the last night (we have late dining) I can see everyone was wearing shorts to the early dinner so I wore mine still with a collared shirt. At first it felt out of place but most people were wearing shorts the last night.

 

Now I do wear dress shorts on Pirate night since allot of people are dressed up as pirates as it is.

 

I guess it depends on the cruise.

 

I agree dress shorts and a nice shirt are better than jeans and a t-shirt.

 

Yup, all three trips we've taken on DCL have been like this, which is one of the reason we keep coming. Dinner attire is super relaxed and it's so wonderful to be able to enjoy the cruise without having to worry about dress code nonsense. A good pair of dressy bermuda/capri shorts with a t-shirt will be more than sufficient, even for "formal night". In fact, I distinctly remember maybe 10 families or less (~in a 250 family hall) that wore actual formalwear on formal night. Everyone else, including ourselves, just took it easy and relaxed.

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Still a fan of the really cute BLOUSES out there vs just a T-shirt. Why not wear comfy fashion. I think tights under a mini dress or capris etc are very dinner appropriate and there are some shorts that are nice (not jean cut offs) that still look cute with a blouse.

 

I found sun dresses the literal easiest, but I like cute tops too. I probably find the ho hum T shirt more boring and casual than the shorts... Maybe would make exceptions for glittery Disney character T-shirts for fun! (I do have several of those!) But I would still dress it up somehow (maybe a crochet shrug or something) and some jewelry.

 

This is an endless debate for all cruise lines anyway....

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Depends on the cruise. We have been on 4 Disney cruises. The first one I wore slacks on casual nights and suits on Formal nights. After seeing everyone else I was way overdressed.

 

The next cruise I brought dress shorts with me just in case. The first 2 casual nights were slacks and suits on formal nights.

 

But on the last night (we have late dining) I can see everyone was wearing shorts to the early dinner so I wore mine still with a collared shirt. At first it felt out of place but most people were wearing shorts the last night.

 

Now I do wear dress shorts on Pirate night since allot of people are dressed up as pirates as it is.

 

I guess it depends on the cruise.

 

I agree dress shorts and a nice shirt are better than jeans and a t-shirt.

 

At least you weren't the worst dressed guest. You got that going for you.

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It riled the h*ll out of me on our last trip when 3 of the couples at our table were beautifully dressed and one couple, who plonked themselves beside each other right in the middle of the table, had crumpled shorts that my other half wouldn't even wear to work!

 

By night 3 they were dining on their own at a table for 8........

 

I don't mind children in shorts but sit an adult beside me in them when it says not to and I won't be impressed, not that many folks would care about that these days. Dressing for dinner is an important part of some peoples cruising experience. I would never ever go to dinner in shorts as you might have worked out by now!;)

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It riled the h*ll out of me on our last trip when 3 of the couples at our table were beautifully dressed and one couple, who plonked themselves beside each other right in the middle of the table, had crumpled shorts that my other half wouldn't even wear to work!

 

By night 3 they were dining on their own at a table for 8........

 

I don't mind children in shorts but sit an adult beside me in them when it says not to and I won't be impressed, not that many folks would care about that these days. Dressing for dinner is an important part of some peoples cruising experience and if you don't want to you can always go to one of the other food outlets in shorts and Ts.

 

In none of our trips we sat with another family. I don't think Disney does multi-family tables unless it's by request. Other cruise lines do that, Disney does 1 family per table, at least they do that on the big ships.

 

Also, each person and family cruise they way they want. You like the formality that's fine. We for instance enjoy the relax of "come as you are" and not having to worry about wardrobe. Just like I wouldn't be bothered by someone dressed up to the nines, I would hope people people would respect that I wear bemuda shorts and t-shirts, and Disney allows for that which is one reason we keep cruising with them.

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In none of our trips we sat with another family. I don't think Disney does multi-family tables unless it's by request. Other cruise lines do that, Disney does 1 family per table, at least they do that on the big ships.

 

Also, each person and family cruise they way they want. You like the formality that's fine. We for instance enjoy the relax of "come as you are" and not having to worry about wardrobe. Just like I wouldn't be bothered by someone dressed up to the nines, I would hope people people would respect that I wear bemuda shorts and t-shirts, and Disney allows for that which is one reason we keep cruising with them.

 

It's not so much that they allow it but that they tolerate it.

You're their guests and it would be rude for them to correct your manners.

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Is the implication that by wearing relaxed clothing my manners come into question?

 

The cruise line make it clear that they request you do not wear shorts to dinner.

 

You are admitting to ignoring that request and in doing so and as YOU prefer instead by not observing their request/wish, only you can decide if your manners are questionable in that instance.

 

ex techie

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