Help with welcome dinner for wedding

[hAm53]

we'll be hosting a dinner for our guests the night before our WDW Wedding. We're using the MK boat dock as a meeting place, as you can't miss them.
originally we were thinking of going to trail's end becuase a) the food is sooooo good 2) its a good change from the citricos meal we'll be hosting the wedding night, and d) its a great value.
(10 points for whomever can name what movie "A,2, and D" is from)
When we were at trail's end last week at our wedding planning trip, we were told by our waitress that although trail's end could hold an extra 20-30 people, it'd be really tight. and we'd probably be put over in crocket's tavern, which is a decent walk to the buffet line.
so now we're thinking of chef mickey's for the welcome dinner. it would be easier to get to from the mk (just a 3 minute walk), more options for food, and easier to get tables together. plus there are 4 characters (5 if you count goofy at the front by where you have your pic taken).
and although mickey's would be $300 more than trail's end, we'd actually "save" $740 since we wouldn't then get mickey and stitch at the wedding (which would be $1040).
what would you choose?

[dallastxcpa]

I would go for Chef Mickeys. I think it would be an awesome time for your guests. Also, have you made your reservation yet. I think when you book large parties 20 - 30 people you actually go through group sales.

[Epcotgal8]

I don't know how many guests you will have or your budget, but I think I might keep Mickey and Stitch for my wedding and have the welcome dinner at 'Ohana. Still easy to get to from the MK and I think the atmosphere is great for a welcome party. Just a thought.

[hAm53]

our weddings not until sept, so i haven't made the PS's yet. although i know i'll need to go through group sales to get tables close together.
they'll be about 20-30 of us, and although i love 'ohana, we have to vegitarians, so I couldn't do that to them. plus we'd get killed on the drink bill. ;) those lapu lapus aren't cheap!

[stinkerbelle]

can ya get more "disney" then Chef Mickey's?

"A, 2, D" is from Home Alone 2...Buzz said it.

heheheh

[ahutton]

I think the idea of a buffet or family style meal is a great one for a group that size, then everyone can be pretty well assured they will eat together. Chef Mickey's would be fun and an easy walk. Whispering Canyon would also be an easy boat ride from your current meeting place, it would be a different atmosphere than your reception. If you were going to be over towards EPCOT or MGM that day you could also do Cape May and have your meeting place be outside EPCOT at the International Gateway or at the Yacht/Beach boat dock (from either EPCOT or MGM). I've never tried Trails End, but it sounds good except for the seating arrangements. For me that would have been enough to make it a no, we had Grandparents at our wedding and wanted to keep it easy for everyone to get around. At any of the places (even 'Ohana) it would be easy enough to plan the meal to include soft drinks/coffee/tea and have the staff advise anyone ordering from the bar that it would be for cash. That is how our rehersal/welcome dinner went, nobody minded at all.