Although Disney lists limits on dress (no swimwear in the dining rooms, etc.)
here on their website, what exactly do people "normally" wear?
I've got you covered. Formal, Semi-Formal, Cruise Casual, Optional Dress Up, or Pirate will be noted as the evening attire on the front corner of your Personal Navigator each day. So let's break those down
Formal
These evenings, most guests seem to go with somewhere in the range of "Sunday Best" to cocktail dress. Some opt for tuxes and ball gowns (when else can you really wear one?) Jackets, although requested on the website, seem pretty rare. Dark slacks and a button down are more common.
 |
| Rocking the sweater vests and tiaras. |
The little princesses often choose a favorite costume from their wardrobe (yes, leftover Halloween costumes, tiaras and fairy wings are welcome) while the boys range from tiny suits to khakis and sweater vests and full length jeans are not unheard of in the elementary set.
Semi-Formal
Semi-Formal means one tiny step down from formal. In practice this is cocktail to "Sunday Best" with the latter being more the norm.
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| Comfy, not too stuffy! |
Girls often go in sundresses, skirts or princess gowns. Boys tend toward the khakis or jeans.
Optional Dress-Up
On shorter cruises, rather than formal or semi-formal, there is a single "optional dress up" night. This runs the gamut of the formal and semiformal nights. If you want to dress up and get a nice family photo, this is your evening to do it.
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| Optional Dress Up |
If you want a chance to relive the elegance of classic ocean liners, feel free to break out the pearls. Just don't be surprised to see not everyone shares your enthusiasm for dressing up.
Pirate or Cruise Casual
Yes, guests really do dress up on pirate night. I've seen everything from quite convincingly accurate replications of costumes from Pirates of the Caribbean (people were asking for autographs and photos from these guests) to humorous (though family friendly) pirate tee shirts or Hawaiian print shirts.
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| A Pirates Life for Me! |
Most guests hang out in the pirate t-shirts or a range of pirate attire (Halloween to renaissance festival) with the second most common choice being tropical sundresses and shirts.
Cruise Casual
Polo shirts, khakis, sundresses and such are the staples.
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| Often you can wear the same outfit day to night for cruise casual. |
This is the most relaxed of all of the evening dress variations.
What if I just don't want to dress up?
Disney is very lenient on it's main dining room dress code. If you forgo swimwear and tank tops, almost everything else is acceptable, even if not common. Their minimum standards are listed
here on their website.
What if I'm self conscious about being underdressed relative to my fellow cruisers?
Quick service is available at walkup counters on the pool decks, a more casual sit down dining room is available at the aft of the pool deck or there is always room service.
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| Veggie burger and fries! No dressing up required. |
I'd take a look at the dining room to check it out before you assume everyone will be dressed like Fred and Ginger.
What about Palo and Remy?
These classy restaurants request classy attire to help set a special and elegant atmosphere. Men need a dress shirt and dress pants for Palo For Remy, add a jacket (tie optional).
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| Pull out the dressy clothes! |
Ladies require a pantsuit or dress in either location. Jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops and tennis shoes are prohibited and they do enforce this dress code.
Now you know what not to wear and more importantly what you'll want to pack.
Happy cruising!
I've got you covered. Formal, Semi-Formal, Cruise Casual, Optional Dress Up, or Pirate will be noted as the evening attire on the front corner of your Personal Navigator each day. So let's break those down
Great information! Thanks for sharing ~ I have to say your kids are adorable!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the breakdown. We tend to follow whatever the suggested attire is for the night. I think it makes the cruising experience more special and fun!
ReplyDeleteI was explaining the different divisions and then that Disney recently revised it's dress code for cruise casual to "no tank tops, no swimwear".
DeleteI do tend to follow the spirit of the evening and dress up! After running around all day it's nice to freshen up before a sit down meal anyway!
Great article! I've wondered what exactly one would wear on a Disney cruise. Thanks for letting us know so we can be prepared when we go on our first Disney cruise!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips! We're taking our first cruise in October and I haven't even started thinking about clothes yet!! I guess I need to get some cute outfits lined up.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Your articles are helping me convince my husband to go on his first cruise haha. I do have a question though. For those dress up nights or the fancy restaurants, would military dress blues look totally ridiculous? I don't want to go to dinner and have him feel too fancy or uncomfortable, you know?
ReplyDeleteThey would be on the dressy end, however, I have seen military dress before and it's always a pleasure to thank our military for their service.
DeleteI've not gone a cruise yet without running into someone in a wedding dress and their party dressed to the nines on formal night. One table over will be a family of four with the dad in Dockers and a button down with his wife in a sundress or slacks and the kids in jeans.
It's a matter of what he and you want to wear.
Over the years we have trended toward less formal in the main dining room but still quite dressy in Palo.
Pinning this for future use! Can't wait to take my first Disney cruise!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHello, thanks for writing these articles, I have one question if you can help me, it says no tank tops allowed, but what about sleeveless dresses? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHowdy Daniela!
DeleteI'm so glad that you're enjoying these articles. Sleeveless dresses are welcome (and a very good idea when you're in the Caribbean!) Some people bring a cardigan or wrap because of the air conditioning. Have a magical voyage!