My Private Event At The Grand Floridian Marina…

[Janet2k]

On the night before my Fairy Tale Weddings custom vow renewal, my husband and I hosted a private event at the Grand Floridian’s marina. My Event Manager put together a wonderful party for us. It was absolutely perfect.

I didn’t want to post photos of my event until I had written about it in my trip report. But since I have been unable to finish my trip report thus far, I thought I needed to rethink that situation. The Grand Floridian is such a lovely place for a private event that I truly felt guilty keeping that knowledge all to myself. I hope the photos that I am about to share will give you a glimpse of what is possible to plan at that resort. And when I finally get around to writing about my event, I promise I’ll share my story with you (for now, keep an eye on my two trip reports: FTW VR Planning Session Trip Report (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=634041) and FTW VR Trip Report (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=6849976#post6849976)).

In order to pull off a flawless event like I experienced, you need to work with the experts. Those experts are found within the Fairy Tale Weddings organization and also within the Convention Services organization of the Walt Disney World Convention Resorts (Grand Floridian, Yacht/Beach Club, BoardWalk, Contemporary, and Coronado Springs). I have personally used the Grand Floridian’s Convention Services organization for two of my family’s private events. Both of my events were memorable beyond words, and both of my events would have been impossible to plan without the guidance of the Disney experts.

For those of you who are interested in hosting a private event at the Grand Floridian Resort, please consider contacting your Fairy Tale Weddings Event Manager. There just might be something special that they can plan for you that falls within your budget. It certainly never hurts to ask.

Before I share my photos, I would like to mention that they were taken by Disney Event Productions. The same photographer who had taken my Summerhouse Dinner Party (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/janettwokay/album?.dir=c7e1&.src=ph) photos also took my Marina Party photos. The photos turned out beautifully.

I think it’s about time that I shared photos of my Grand Floridian Marina Party. Click here (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/janettwokay/album?.dir=/305f) to view my on-line photo album, or click here (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/janettwokay/slideshow?.dir=/305f&.src=ph) to view a slideshow version of the photos.

[LittleBlackRaincloud]

Looks like a great time! I didn't even know event's like this were possible. If only I could convince some of my family to come to WDW! *sigh*

[MApigletfan]

Wonderful photos - thanks for sharing. I loved the carved pumpkins they were a nice touch. The food all looked so good, mmmm.

[janine]

It looks fabulous.
After reading your reports, I decided I would think along those lines for a bbq style reception after my wedding.
I emailed the conventions twice, and I phoned twice and no one returned my calls or emails. My EM also told me I couldn't do this if I was an intimate bride. maybe that's why they didn't bother phoning back.
I have now decided on the Yachtman steakhouse followed by a pontoon boat to see the fireworks later. It's the next best option . Just really disappointed in Disney for not even acknowleding my request.
Thanks for sharing Janet.

[WithDisneySpirit]

What a great looking party :goodvibes Isn't it true, however, that anyone can plan a party like this at the GF? Maybe it is just a matter of contacting the right person at the correct number?

Are the Snow White's apples yummy? I have never seen those before, they look wonderful :3dglasses

Thanks for sharing, the GF is a great place for a party!!!!

[we3disneygo]

wow! what a great party! thanks for sharing the pictures!! :goodvibes

[Mommy Poppins]

Great party and pictures Janet!!!!

[952LisaR]

Thanks for sharing, it looks like a great party.

[ead79]

Janet, it looks positively wonderful! I love all the details put into decorating for your party and all the special foods they created. Disney truly is superb at what they do. It looks like everyone had a magical time. Thanks for sharing!

[WDWbride2007]

Janet, both of your private parties were gorgeous. I am looking into planning a welcome party at the GF for my intimate wedding. How long in advance can you book with the GF conventions office? Thanks and congrats!!! :earsgirl:

[IrishCinderella]

Hi Janet...Your pictures are really quite lovely, and everybody looked like they had a great time...

I'm new to the forum, but my fiance and I are interested in hosting a rehearsal dinner/welcome party for everyone coming to our wedding next year, and I was hoping you'd be willing to share how many people you had at your party...or how many the marina area can accomodate, if you know.

Thanks.

[AnnaBelle06]

Those are so nice! Looks like you all had a nice time. One question... were did you get the custom made dolls?!?!?! Those were so neat!

[Janet2k]

Thanks, everyone, for your kind words. I put a little bit of information into the "Grand Floridian FAQ" thread on the Resorts Board and thought I should post it here too:

- - - - - - -
As to last year's vow renewal, the Welcome Party that our Event Manager put together for us was perfection. He knew Halloween was my favorite day out of the entire year. He knew Rick and I had met on Halloween. He knew my family had a fun-loving attitude. He took all those things into account and put together the most perfect party. I just hope that came across in the photos that I shared. I would like to note that my Event Manager truly used just the right amount of touches to make that party completely our own. Pumpkins were carved in our images... Wait staff were attired in authentic Haunted Mansion ride costumes (plus full face makeup)... Grand Floridian furniture was used as buffet stations… Homemade Halloween treats were served such as candy apples, s’mores, and Mickey Krispsies… Nostalgic candy from days of yore was available for the Trick ‘Or Treat bags… The list goes on. It was a very fun and oh-so-relaxing night for my family and our guests.
- - - - - - -

Yes, my family's party at the marina was wonderful. And since the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party was going on that night, we had extra special fireworks to view from across Seven Seas Lagoon. If you took a look at my photos, you caught a glimpse of the “perimeter” fireworks that Disney sometimes sets off. It was amazing watching those fireworks from the Grand Floridian’s marina.

[Meezers]

Wow...I think that about sums it up!

[Janet2k]

Now to answer a few of your questions…

LittleBlackRaincloud, yes, Disney is capable of creating some truly amazing events. For some odd reason they don’t publicize that side of their business. My guess is that it is because their special events can be costly and are geared towards large groups of people (conventions, meetings, etc.). However, some of their events can be tailored for smaller groups. I have tried to share as much information as I can about the special events that my family has experienced.

Janine, I’m sad to hear that your phone calls went unanswered. But I’m happy to hear that you’ll be dining in the Yachtsman Steakhouse. (I dined there during my vow renewal vacation; my Aunt treated quite a few of us to dinner and we had a lovely time.) Your dinner should be scrumptious, and following it with a fireworks cruise will be the perfect way to end your magical evening.

WithDisneySpirit, if anyone wants to host a private event in Walt Disney World, I was told the following back in 2004: "The safest route to recommend to someone is to call Disney's Sales Lead Management department. They will determine by the size of the group and requirements who best to handle the event and coordinate the initial contact." (To answer your question about the apples, they were yummy – white chocolate shell with white chocolate mousse filling.)

WDWbride2007, welcome to the Dis website. I’m not sure how far in advance you can book an event. I booked my Summerhouse Party without too much notice. The same goes for my Marina Party. If you have a date in mind, give them a call now to see what kind of timeline they prefer to work within. If your wedding falls within a popular time of year, the sooner you can book your venue the better. When I finally decided to add a Welcome Party to my vow renewal, I was afraid that the marina was already booked. Luckily for me, it was available.

IrishCinderella, welcome to the Dis website. At my Summerhouse Party, there were 9 guests. At my Marina Party, there were somewhere between 25 – 30 guests. I know there is a guest capacity limit at the marina, I just don’t know what it is. A phone call to the Disney should answer that question for you.

AnnaBelle06, our custom dolls (click here (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/janettwokay/detail?.dir=cd85&.dnm=2a87.jpg&.src=ph)) were made by a man on the West Coast. Believe it or not, the day after our dolls arrived from China, he left the West Coast (I don’t know where he went). I wrote about my doll story in my trip report: click here (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=634041&page=6&pp=15&highlight=3-d%23post10267806) (look for the post entitled, “A Couple Of Living Dolls”). I felt blessed to have been able to get at least one set of dolls made of my entire family. They will be a fun item to hand down through the generations.

[JonetteA]

Janet, Another beautiful event. Hmm that 1 year since the vow renewal is coming up......(hint about the trip reports...) =) Girl, always fabulous!

[Rustyflwr3]

Wow! Everything looks amazing! Thank you for sharing!

Jess

[Janet2k]

Janet, Another beautiful event. Hmm that 1 year since the vow renewal is coming up......(hint about the trip reports...) =) Girl, always fabulous!

Oh, JonetteA, you wicked girl. ;) Alas, I will not get my trip report done in time. So many details to share, such little time...

[Moonbeams]

Janet -- Thank you so, so much for posting this info. I had no idea you'd hosted a second party at the GF Marina!

I've read through your Summerhouse party thread and learned so much. After reading your reports, I am now contemplating hosting a GF Marina party for our guests the night before we sail on DCL for our wedding in 2006. Your photos gave me a good idea of what can be done. Disney can do anything! But it seems like you have to ask them about it a lot of the time. Thank heavens for the DIS board and people like you who are so giving by sharing your stories and photos with us!!

I love the furniture! Such an elegant, warm touch. I'm hungry just looking at the photos of the food! Love the carved pumpkins and the dolls!

It's been almost a year since your 20th Anniversary VR. I believe you did something for your 19th. So what do you have planned for your 21st?

Thanks again!

Jennifer

[Janet2k]

Moonbeams, how kind of you to post what you did. I hope that if you choose to host a special event at the Grand Floridian, that it will be as magical as my events have been. I truly adore that resort and its Cast Members. There’s not a finer bunch of folks anywhere.

Since you asked, I should tell you that my husband and I won’t be doing anything for our 21st wedding anniversary. It feels odd to say that.

Let me give you some background. This summer we were guests of Nutz4dzny at both Disneyland and at the Hotel del Coronado. We had a wonderful vacation with them. They truly were gracious hosts. In return, we asked them to vacation with us in Walt Disney World for Halloween. But in September Nutz4dzny was told that her surgery was scheduled for the end of September / beginning of October. That made a Halloween vacation impossible. We talked it over and decided to move our vacations to Christmas / New Year’s. Then after she had her recent surgery, her doctor informed her that he wanted to schedule another round for the end of November / beginning of December. That meant a Christmas vacation was impossible. I cancelled our Christmas vacations just the other day. The important thing now is for Nutz4dzny to get her health back. As soon as she does, we’ll be planning our joint vacations. We really do have a lot of fun when traveling together. I am lucky that she is in my life, even if we live on opposite coasts.

So, that leaves me at home for my 21st wedding anniversary. I told my husband that since I had planned our 19th and our 20th anniversaries, and since we wouldn’t be doing anything special for our 21st anniversary, he had to plan our 25th anniversary. Believe it or not, I actually was in contact with the Disneyland folks earlier this year regarding special events and what is possible there. They are very creative folks, just like the Walt Disney World folks are. Our 25th anniversary just may be spent in Anaheim if the Orlando folks aren’t careful. ;)

I should probably admit that I fully expect to be a little blue next week. Halloween is my favorite time of year, and Walt Disney World is my favorite place to spend it in. My family has actually spent five of the past six Halloweens in Orlando. We have the most wonderful memories. It will feel odd for us not to be there next week. In order to cheer myself up, I sent a little something to my favorite Cast Members at the Grand Floridian. I wanted them to know that even though we won’t be there in person, we will be there in spirit. I can almost hear the music to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party’s “Villains Parade” as I type this post. Oh, I better stop that. Tears and electronics don’t mix.

Again, thank you for your kind words. I hope to continue adding to my two trip reports as time marches along. I am bound and determined to finish my tales for my children. I think they will enjoy reading them to their own children one day. Well, at least that’s my hope.

[D&R love Disney]

Janet your pictures are spectacular. The party looks like it was an incredible time. Disney certainly went out of their way creating the magic.

[Janet2k]

Last year I put together a short video slideshow with a few of the fireworks photos from my Summerhouse Dinner Party Event. I did this as a thank you for my friends. Within the next week, I hope to share this slideshow in my FTW Vow Renewal Planning Session (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=634041 ) trip report. I thought I would share it here first in order to give you folks a small (very small) glimpse of what I experienced at the Grand Floridian’s marina. Please note that my Disney photographer took these photos at an angle. His main objective was to capture my guests watching the fireworks, not necessarily getting photos of the fireworks themselves.

Click here (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8735633457268912980&q=%22Grand+Floridian+Marina%27s+View+of+Magic+King dom%27s+Fireworks+Show.%22+playable%3Atrue) to go to the video slideshow. It is located on Google Video. (Note: I don't think you need to install Google's video player in order to view it. Things have changed with Google Video over the past few months.)

If I can find the time, I hope to do the same thing with my Fairy Tale Weddings Welcome Party (the party this thread is about). I’ll post a link to it here.

[Janet2k]

Since there has been some discussion lately regarding beverages (both soft and hard and everything in-between), I thought I would share a few of the items that I was charged for in regards to my Welcome / Dessert Party (note: these prices were from October of 2004):

- - - - - - -
Fee, Bartender
$100
Plus Gratuity (20%) and Sales Tax (6.5%)
$127.80

Hosted, Assorted Sodas
$2.75 each
13 glasses = $35.75
Plus Gratuity (20%) and Sales Tax (6.5%)
$45.69

Hosted, Bottled Water
$3.50 each
3 bottles = $10.50
Plus Gratuity (20%) and Sales Tax (6.5%)
$13.42

Hosted, Premium Cocktails
$5.75 each
10 glasses = $57.50
Plus Gratuity (20%) and Sales Tax (6.5%)
$73.49

Hosted, Premium Cabernet Sauvignon
$6.25 each
5 glasses = $31.25
Plus Gratuity (20%) and Sales Tax (6.5%)
$39.94

Hosted, Premium Chardonnay
$6.25 each
5 glasses = $31.25
Plus Gratuity (20%) and Sales Tax (6.5%)
$39.94

Total Beverage Bill: $340.28
- - - - - - -

My guest list was small and thus my beverage bill was very reasonable. Plus, my guests didn’t really drink that much since everyone was too busy chitchatting and enjoying the gorgeous moonlight. It was a very laid-back and relaxing party. Perfect, absolutely perfect.

[janine]

Janet's events sound fantastic don't they?
I am in the planning process with the Yacht Club for a private event down on the beach there for my wedding, inspired by Janet's events. I just hope it will be as good as Janet's. I am sure it will.
I just love to read all about her parties. She really should be working in Disney's convention's department.
She has so much information to pass on, and worded so beautifully. Janet, have you not thought about working there?

Janine

[UnderTheMistletoe]

How lovely! I loved the details and the special surprises for your guests! :)

[Dooda]

the pictures are lovely... thanks for sharing

[WonderWomanDC]

I love hearing about your events, Janet2k.
One of these days I have to post my recaps from my wedding at the Tower of Terror :)