[timkelmom]

I am considering a cruise for next fall. My husband does not want to wear a jacket on the cruise. I have read about the formal, semi-formal, and casual nights. What can you really wear? Are there dinner buffets available? Do you have to eat dinner in one of the resturants or are there other options.

We are not normally formal dining people and would not enjoy it. To my DH, a golf shirt is dressed up. Is this acceptable? I also read no shorts at dinner. Is this strict? My DH lives in shorts. He only wears long pants about 5 times a year. I could persuade him into a pair of Dockers if need be, but he would prefer shorts.

HELP! This could be a deal breaker for my DH, and I really want to go on the Magic/Wonder.

Any input would be great.

[mickeymotto]

We did the Wonder last year and it was FANTASTIC!!! We also just came back from a 9 day Royal Caribbean which was very nice too. The Disney had 1 formal night and RC had 2 formal nights.

Let me start by saying...you do not have to attend the formal night dinner, there are other options such as room service (Which is free) and usually atleast 1 alternative restuarant to eat every night. Its always your choice.

We enjoyed formal nights and the dinner is usually really great.(Not to be missed....loved the Lobster ) We saw a variety of dress on those nights from Tuxedos to suits to nice shirts with collars for the men. Women wore anything from fancy gowns to a nice pair of slacks/blouse, even saw sundresses w/blazers. I did not see shorts or jeans on those nights, I think they frown upon that. So if you can talk him into a pair of dockers and a collared shirt you will be fine.

The best thing about a cruise is to enjoy yourself and so what you want. But by all means go on the cruise....you won't regret it! We absolutely loved Castaway Cay! I would love to go back with the Pirate ghost ship there now.

[timkelmom]

Thanks for your input. I wonder how long the pirate ship will be there? I honestly forgot about room service. I wonder if Pluto's Dog House is open during the dinner hours?

[mickeymotto]

Originally Posted by timkelmom

Thanks for your input. I wonder how long the pirate ship will be there? I honestly forgot about room service. I wonder if Pluto's Dog House is open during the dinner hours?

I don't know how long the ship will be there either....love for it to be there if we decide to go again. My boys are beggin to go.

I just dug out my Navigators from our trip and here is the schedule:

SCOOPS- 12PM-6PM (They have ice cream and wraps)
Pluto's Dog House -11:00am-12:00am (Hamburgers,hot dogs, chicken tenders & chicken breasts)
Pinnochios Pizzeria 11am-6pm (PIZZA)

And don't forget they also have a late night Pirate buffet 10:45-11:30pm

Like I said, they won't go hungry on any cruise...especially woth all these options.

My one DS lived at Plutos.

[timkelmom]

Thanks again. Glad to know I have options.

[mickey]

On standard nights, definitely no shorts in the restaurants, though dockers and a golf shirt are normal attire. Pretty much what I wore every night. I live in shorts as well, but it wasn't a big deal. I never dressed up for the nightly show, many people were still in their shorts there. During the formal nights, I would suggest a nicer shirt. I usually took a suit, and was kind of in the middle attire wise. Never saw any shorts at all. Please note that the dinners are my favorite part of any Disney cruise. The watiers are fabulous, as is the food. Missing out on dinner each night, you miss out on the best part of the cruise.

I also suggest Palo, and eating there, you must wear a tie, so that is a bit beyond getting him in dockers. Definitely worth it, one of the best meals I have ever had.

There isn't any reason to bring a suit or tuxedo, but if you think he will balk on wearing dockers or a tie on some nights, I would suggest just passing on the cruise. To pay all that money to go on the cruise at then eat dinner up at Pluto's every night is like going to Disney World and spending the entire week outside the parks because you refuse to ride the bus. Just tell him to suck it up, it is worth it.

Oh, and anywhere else on the boat? No problem wearing shorts at all.

[timkelmom]

Thanks Mickey. I wouldn't say that we would eat at Pluto's every night. He just really doesn't want to wear a jacket, although he does have one. Dockers and golf shirts are no problem. I could probably even coax him into an oxford shirt. I just didn't know how "formal" Triton's or Lumiere's were. My DH is a carpenter and hasn't worn a tie in years.

I just wanted to know if there were other options is we chose to skip resturants one night, and now I know that there are.

[timkelmom]

Just wondering if anyone else had any input. Thanks.

[ssn]

Are you planning on the 7 day cruise or the 4 day? On the 4 day there is no formal night. The rules are that you cannot wear shorts to dinner, dockers and a polo shirt seemed to be the standard attire. There were still quite a few people in shorts though. DH only wore a tie and a button down shirt (no jacket) the night we went to Palo.

[llama]

Originally Posted by timkelmom

Just wondering if anyone else had any input. Thanks.

We've been on many cruises and Disney are by far the most casual. I agree with everyone else here - a nice pair of pants and a shirt with collar will be fine at all the restaurants - with possibly the exception of Palo's. Like everything else Disney, dining on the cruise is an event, so don't miss it!

Another option (I don't think your dh will go for this one - but just to file away under "good to know") is that there is tuxedo rental on all cruises. You simply place your order before the cruise and it will be waiting in your cabin when you board. My dh always does this because he loves to change from beach bum to Cary Grant. The tuxedo package comes with everything - including 2 shirts - so it saves a lot of packing.

[woohoo]

They are much more relaxed in the dressing dept- the night we go to Tritons we will wear church type clothes but not gowns and suits etc... Just nice attire- otherwise they just frown on beachwear. They also have a buffet so you can always do that instead.

[timkelmom]

Thanks so much you guys. We are planning a 7 day. Thanks Llama for the tip about the Tux rental. It is good to know. I now feel confident that we will all enjoy every dining experience. Not sure about Palo, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

[llama]

Originally Posted by timkelmom

Thanks so much you guys. We are planning a 7 day. Thanks Llama for the tip about the Tux rental. It is good to know. I now feel confident that we will all enjoy every dining experience. Not sure about Palo, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Palo is a wonderful restaurant - but all the dining rooms on the Wonder are - well - "Wonder-ful". If you plan on trying Palo, make your reservation for early in the week. We went the last night of our cruise, thinking it would be a nice way to end the week, but by that time we had been stuffed with so much food we just didn't enjoy it as much. By that time eating was like a "job"

[timkelmom]

Originally Posted by woohoo

They are much more relaxed in the dressing dept- the night we go to Tritons we will wear church type clothes but not gowns and suits etc... Just nice attire- otherwise they just frown on beachwear. They also have a buffet so you can always do that instead.

I was wondering if there was a dinner buffet in addition to the dining rooms. I thought maybe buffet was only for breakfast/lunch.

Llama, that's funny. Who wouldn't love a job as a professional eater. I have heard that there is a lot of food on cruises.

I am more excited now than ever.

[skeeternmunka]

This info will make my DH very happy. He hates to get dressed up.