ANOTHER Emergency!!! Sister getting married next Monday!

[MinnesotaChill]

Okay, for those of you who helped me last Wednesday, I need help again. My sister decided to move the wedding to Disney. It will be at 1 pm at the BW on Monday (in one week). Since the wedding was originally scheduled for Key West, there are already significant price increases for hotels/flights, etc. She is trying to come up with entertainment for approx 30 people on the day of the wedding after the ceremony but before dinner in the evening that DOESN"T involved park admission. Disney isn't providing much assistance because this is so last minute. We can't get rooms until group sales open in the morning and the wedding planner (who was in a meeting all day today and didn't return her call until after group sales was closed), won't work with her until she has the rooms booked. So she is asking for my help.

They also haven't made any suggestions for her dinner. They can't put together a reception that quickly. Any ideas? We also will need inexpensive group ideas for the day before and after the wedding and possibly other restaurants that would be fun with lots of people.

I feel very responsible for this since I am a dvc owner, used to be a cast member and am the "expert" in our family. HELP!!!

There will only be three children, mine, ages 7,7, & 5. All have been to Disney- all are well enough behaved for a nice restaurant.

Thanks for your immediate help! I will read through the trip reports for ideas too. You guys are the greatest!

 

[Snow_White]

As far as restaurants that would be fun with a lot of people, I was thinking either Ohana or Whispering Canyon? If you ate at either one of those, you could try to catch Wishes afterwards, so that would be a little bit of free Disney entertainment (I just checked--Wishes is scheduled for 8:00 pm next Monday). I would call tomorrow and see if any of them can accomodate 30 people though. Other non-theme park restaurants that might be good are Yachtsman Steakhouse or the California Grill (if you want something fancier) or Spoodles. But again, who knows if they could accomodate your whole group I would definitely try to work with Disney Dining tomorrow and see what they can do.

As far as group activities go, I just checked and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is occuring on both December 4 and December 6!! So, that would be a way for the whole group to go to the park together without having to buy park hoppers (although I'm sure it's more money than you guys were thinking). I personally think that would be a blast.

I'm having a hard time coming up with any non-generic, inexpensive group activities (other than mini golf and stuff like that)....I think my best suggestion would be Mickey's Xmas party.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure the wedding will be beautiful
Jennifer

 

[JonetteA]

I am so excited for your sister....have you tried calling Fulton's Crab House? It is not super expensive, and they may be able to sit a large group. It is in Downtown Disney, which would be a great location as there is usually the train set up and the toy store and the Christmas store. I think it would be alot of fun.

Hang in there! I really think that your sister needs to have a spa treatment after all of this stress!!!

 

[Janet2k]

My sister decided to move the wedding to Disney. It will be at 1 pm at the BW on Monday (in one week).

She is trying to come up with entertainment for approx 30 people on the day of the wedding after the ceremony but before dinner in the evening that DOESN"T involved park admission.

We also will need inexpensive group ideas for the day before and after the wedding and possibly other restaurants that would be fun with lots of people.

That is wonderful news that your sister will have a wedding in Florida after all.

I have no idea how formal the wedding will be or how much time there will be between the ceremony and the reception, so I’m just going to throw out a bunch of ideas…

Miniature golf
Specialty cruises
Watercraft rentals
Fishing excursions
Surrey bike rentals
Hayride
Horseback riding
Group tennis lessons
Group golf lessons

She could plan one or two of the above events and the guests would choose to attend the one that appeals to them the most. For example, the golfers would have fun on a group lesson, while the boaters would have fun cruising around Crescent Lake.

As to fun group dining locations, here are a few (most of these locations offer character meals):

Hoop-Dee-Doo
Luau
1900 Park Fare
Whispering Canyon
‘Ohana
Cape May
Boma
Chef Mickey’s
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ

There are also fun restaurants inside the theme parks (the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater and the Prime Time Café immediately come to mind), but I’m not sure if you want to force anyone to use a theme park ticket in order to dine.

Have fun planning. I hope the wedding is wonderful.

 

[Luvndisney]

All of the responses you got so far are great! I am sure you will be able to pull something together magical for her and your family. good luck

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Okay, for those of you who helped me last Wednesday, I need help again. My sister decided to move the wedding to Disney. It will be at 1 pm at the BW on Monday (in one week). Since the wedding was originally scheduled for Key West, there are already significant price increases for hotels/flights, etc. She is trying to come up with entertainment for approx 30 people on the day of the wedding after the ceremony but before dinner in the evening that DOESN"T involved park admission. Disney isn't providing much assistance because this is so last minute. We can't get rooms until group sales open in the morning and the wedding planner (who was in a meeting all day today and didn't return her call until after group sales was closed), won't work with her until she has the rooms booked. So she is asking for my help.

They also haven't made any suggestions for her dinner. They can't put together a reception that quickly. Any ideas? We also will need inexpensive group ideas for the day before and after the wedding and possibly other restaurants that would be fun with lots of people.

I feel very responsible for this since I am a dvc owner, used to be a cast member and am the "expert" in our family. HELP!!!

There will only be three children, mine, ages 7,7, & 5. All have been to Disney- all are well enough behaved for a nice restaurant.

Thanks for your immediate help! I will read through the trip reports for ideas too. You guys are the greatest!

For dinner, I would definately look into the Napa or Sonoma Room at the California Grill. Can now to see if they are open! Next Monday is right after the taping of the Christmas parade for network TV! The views cannot be beat and they have packaged menus. Additionally, the meals are served California style (aka fmaily style). It would make for a nice coming together of the families and a real "meal" as opposed to a reception.

The Sonoma Room has a minimum expenditure of $2,500 and looks out onto Fort Wilderness. There are also panoramic views of the Orlando skyline. The Napa Room has a minimum expenditure of $3,000 and looks INTO the Magic Kingdom. They pipe the music into the room for a private viewing of Wishes, too. I know the Napa Room has a private bar and I think it's likely the Sonoma Room, too. We ate in there non-reception related sense once and am almost positive there was a bar in the Sonoma Room....

PM me if you want the list of menus, bar prices, etc. I have all of them at this point! Addtionally, if you'd like my IM name, I'd be happy to send that and monitor it today in case you needed/wanted anything answered there.

Good luck!
xoxo

 

[Codie]

What about the Adventurer's Club? They do magical gatherings things I believe and it is quite fun there!

 

[ahutton]

Pleasure Island is certainly less expensive than a theme park, and as DVC members can't we buy reduced cost admission?

As for dinners - don't forget Swan or Dolphin hotels, they have some great places that can do groups.

For casual meals any of the buffets would be fun - Cape May comes to mind.

How exciting!!