Alternatives to Whitehall?

[Sweetsus]

Hey everyone!

Hope some of you may be able to help me out? I'm looking for an alternative location to the Whitehall Room and Patio for my reception.

So here's the situation. Firstly, as some of you know, I have been told by my sales consultant that another couple want the Whitehall for our chosen date and that we'll have to go into a lottery to see who gets it It doesn't help that I have to wait until the end of April to find out what happens but thats neither here nor there

Now the second issue is that we're currently looking at 49 guests which our sales assistant tells me is too many for the Whitehall (though I would be surprised if they all came!). I'm being told we can only have 40 ppl if we want to have a DJ and dance floor in the room. Then I was told that we could probably have our full guest list there but we'll have to have our DJ and dance floor outside and if it rains we won't be having a DJ at all!

So I've been thinking to save myself some possible heartache over the next couple of weeks that I should look for some back up location - just in case.

Now while I have issues with those birds in the Whitehall, its actually a good location for me. I want a ballroom - not too big. I like that its a round room, Victorian style and that it has doors that open up onto the patio. One of the major draws for me is that it has so much natural light coming in the doors and windows. I have been advised to consider one of the other ballrooms in GF but I'm not flying my friends and family over to Florida to sit in a room with no windows - sure I might as well hire a hall in Dublin if I'm going to do that! Coming from a country that seems to forever rain I want to be able to enjoy the sunshine (I hope!) on my wedding day.

So rant over Can someone suggest a similar location as a back up? I would be so grateful

Thanks !

 

[disneygal922]

Hi! i'm not sure how set on the GF you are, and i don't have a lot of info to share. BUT... i think the St. James Room has a patio area. I'm not sure if there are windows though.

 

[lurkyloo]

What about one of the restaurants at the Grand Floridian? Tiggerificheidi moved her reception from Whitehall to Narcoosee's when she outgrew it. Lots of windows there. And Citricos also has amazing natural light but less of a problem with window glare in pictures.

If you're set on a ballroom, you can check out floor plans at all the resorts on the Disney Meetings web site at http://www.disneymeetings.com. Click on “Virtual Site Inspection” in the “Let’s Get Started” box and then select the resort to see room dimensions and capacity information and to make a virtual site inspection.

 

[lurkyloo]

Hi! i'm not sure how set on the GF you are, and i don't have a lot of info to share. BUT... i think the St. James Room has a patio area. I'm not sure if there are windows though.

Yes! The St. James Room at the BoardWalk Conference Center has a big patio. The only windows are in the doors that lead to the patio though.

http://www.tazfoto.com/webhtml/stjames.htm

 

[Sweetsus]

Hi! i'm not sure how set on the GF you are, and i don't have a lot of info to share. BUT... i think the St. James Room has a patio area. I'm not sure if there are windows though.

Yes! The St. James Room at the BoardWalk Conference Center has a big patio. The only windows are in the doors that lead to the patio though.

http://www.tazfoto.com/webhtml/stjames.htm

I never even thought of here! That could do alright - once I see light I'm happy. I'm gonna add it to my list. Thank you both so much!

I know I'm being crazy and totally fussy but it's how I pictured my day - I'm determined there will be sunshine!

I've looked at the restaurants but not sure if its what I want. I've always wanted a ballroom!

 

[disneygal922]

YAY!! I actually helped someone! happy to help!

 

[Skylarr29]

Well we had dancing in the Whitehall room with a DJ and custom dance floor. We didn't have 40 guests but we didn't want our guests crammed at tables so we used 4 of the largest 72 inch tables that seat 10-12 people and had a sweetheart table with plenty of room left over. You can view photos in my trip report, link in siggy. I used an outside florist and he went and measured the room himself and said we would have plenty of space... and we did.

Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[Pinkerbell1983]

I really like St James' Patio, I was torn between that and the Whitehall Room. The Napa room at at Cali Grill can also accomadate your number of guests and has views of Magic Kingdom!!! I like the American Adventure Parlor too, but I'm not sure on the number of guests.

 

[orangetiggs]

we were torn with whitehall room and st james room but went for whitehall room in the end.

We didnt like the bordds but dint even notice them on our wedding day

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

What time of day and where are you having the ceremony? I had the WP and liked keeping the reception close. We had 68 at Narcoossee's, which has tons of natural lighting and great views. With 40-50, you'll be able to seat the guests on the lower level, leaving all of the upper level available as a dance floor (which is just as big if not bigger than the space you'd have in Whitehall).

 

[Sweetsus]

Well we had dancing in the Whitehall room with a DJ and custom dance floor. We didn't have 40 guests but we didn't want our guests crammed at tables so we used 4 of the largest 72 inch tables that seat 10-12 people and had a sweetheart table with plenty of room left over. You can view photos in my trip report, link in siggy. I used an outside florist and he went and measured the room himself and said we would have plenty of space... and we did.

Good luck whatever you decide!

How many guests did you end up having - I may have missed it when I went through your TR. LOVE ur wedding btw - its similar colours to what I'm using!

What time of day and where are you having the ceremony? I had the WP and liked keeping the reception close. We had 68 at Narcoossee's, which has tons of natural lighting and great views. With 40-50, you'll be able to seat the guests on the lower level, leaving all of the upper level available as a dance floor (which is just as big if not bigger than the space you'd have in Whitehall).

We're going for the 2.30 ceremony in the WP. We wanted a 12pm ceremony but we were told that if we wanted to stay in the room longer than the standard 4 hours that we would have to meet food and beverage minimums all over again I actually didn't think you'd be able to have a dance floor in Narcoossee's - I think I assumed that as it was a restaurant they wouldn't let you clear areas for a dance floor

 

[Sweetsus]

I really like St James' Patio, I was torn between that and the Whitehall Room. The Napa room at at Cali Grill can also accomadate your number of guests and has views of Magic Kingdom!!! I like the American Adventure Parlor too, but I'm not sure on the number of guests.

I like the American Parlor but I've just booked Misty so won't be able to have anywhere inside the parks.

we were torn with whitehall room and st james room but went for whitehall room in the end.

We didnt like the bordds but dint even notice them on our wedding day

I plan on covering them if we get the Whitehall!! I'd focus on them the whole day!

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

We're going for the 2.30 ceremony in the WP. We wanted a 12pm ceremony but we were told that if we wanted to stay in the room longer than the standard 4 hours that we would have to meet food and beverage minimums all over again I actually didn't think you'd be able to have a dance floor in Narcoossee's - I think I assumed that as it was a restaurant they wouldn't let you clear areas for a dance floor

I think you'd have to have a 10:00 am ceremony to use Narcoossee's or Citrico's (or one of the restaurants), because you have to be out by 3 or 4pm, I think.

But you can totally rearrange the furniture in Narcoossee's (or give them your floor plan and they arrange it, actually)

 

[Skylarr29]

How many guests did you end up having - I may have missed it when I went through your TR. LOVE ur wedding btw - its similar colours to what I'm using!

We ended up with 32 I think but we had enough seating table wise to accommodate 48 if we needed to (4, 12 person rounds) and then our sweetheart table for 50.

 

[Sweetsus]

We ended up with 32 I think but we had enough seating table wise to accommodate 48 if we needed to (4, 12 person rounds) and then our sweetheart table for 50.

Thats great to know! I really can't see my numbers going further than this!! Plus we have a couple of children thrown in there too so they're not going to take up the same amount of space as an adult - we're also having a children's activity table outside so that'll clear more space! Or maybe I'm being naive about this?

 

[Sweetsus]

I think you'd have to have a 10:00 am ceremony to use Narcoossee's or Citrico's (or one of the restaurants), because you have to be out by 3 or 4pm, I think.

But you can totally rearrange the furniture in Narcoossee's (or give them your floor plan and they arrange it, actually)

10am is totally out for me - I'm gonna have to drag myself out of the bed as it is! I'm such a last minute person.