Any ideas for a special evening

[Sharon/Mark]

I am heartbroken to find out that despite phoning 90 days exactly to book the Ilumination Pontoon today all the boats are fully booked - Does anyone have any ideas on what I could do as I replacement An additional problem is that we are getting married at 5.00pm I have already found out that things such as Fantasmic (which was my second choice) if you want to book dinner last sitting is at 4.30pm, I have prevously done the Luala and Whoop De Do

Any help would be very very much appreciated!
Thank you
Sharon

 

[Merandab4]

Sharon.
Can you give us a little more information? you are getting married at 5:00pm. At what Resort? Did you want to do something special after your ceremony that evening, or are you just looking for a romantic evening for another night during your stay?
These would be my suggestions:

1.Try for a Wishes cruise instead-These dock at the Contemporary resort and If wishes is at 8:00pm, than you need to be there at 7:15. This would work perfect if you are marrying at Sunset Point or at the Pavillion. This cruise also holds up to 12 people, so if you have any wedding guests that you want to take along, you can.

2. How about a horse drawn carriage ride for just the two of you. I think this comes with champage for the two of you to share. (If it is not included in the price, I know you can ask for it) You can take these rides at POR and Fort Wildreness.

3. Go to the MK to watch the parade and Wishes (you will not be able to wear your wedding dress into the park though)

4. Have a fancy Dinner somewhere. Victoria and Alberts, California Grill, or it might be fun and yet romantice to eat at Cinderella's Castle and catch the Fireworks from there!

5. Since you originally wanted to see Illuminations, how about making a PS for a restraunt in Epcot. Make sure you tell them you want an ouside table so you can see illuminations.

I could go on and on with other suggestion, but I'll stop here just in case these weren't the types of activities that you had in mind. (I don't want to bore you...lol) But there is plenty to do and I think almost anything can be romantic when you are in WDW with someone you love!

 

[Sharon/Mark]

Sorry for not coming back sooner I have been away with work

I am getting married at the Polynesian Resort on Sunset Pointe, there are 5 members of our families flying in from the UK for our wedding and they have hired a villa, we are staying at AKL, we will however all have disney passes

I am looking do something a little different but not to costly in the region of $40/$50 a head, perhaps a little quirky but rememberable

Currently as a safety net I have reserved (the day after our wedding) Hollywood and Vine with preferred seats for Fantasmic however after reading some of the reviews on the restaurant forum I am beginning to think this could be a mistake....

I would however like to keep the disney theme

Many thanks
Sharon

 

[hmgolden]

Sharon - I would try a Wishes cruise if you can't get an Illuminations one. Also - keep calling and ask about getting an Illuminations cruise. A lot of times people cancel their boats, and if you are lucky you can grab one of the cancelled ones. The same goes for getting a later dinner seating for Fantasmic. Once the park hours are posted they usually open up later seatings for the dinner package.

HTH - I'm sure you'll have a very romantic trip and wedding. Congratulations!

 

[Merandab4]

Since you are getting married at the Poly, I would suggest doing the "Spirit of Aloha" dinner show, if you don't mind doing it again. Perhaps none of your guests have seen it.

Or maybe got to 'Ohanna's for dinner. you could make a PS so you could watch the fireworks while you dine.

I would probably still try for a Wishes cruise. This would be perfect as you could just take the monorail over to the contemporary to where the boat docks.

Perhaps you could look into the Grand One Yacht. This is $350 perhour, and with 5 guests plus you and your groom, it comes to $50 per person. I'm not sure what the additional cost would be for a full dinner onbaord.

 

[DisneyHoneymooner84]

If not I would suggest going to the California Grill. I saw a wedding party there when I went and I thought the surroundings of the restaurant were amazingly romantic. We made priority seating around the time of the wishes fireworks show. They turn off all of the lights in the restaurant and they play the music. If you don't want to sit in the restaurant though during the show there are 2 look out points at either side of the restaurant that you and your Husband can have a nice romantic moment there.

Good luck with the plans

 

[jockey]

When we got married at the pavilion a few years ago we were unsure what to do for the evening meal!! The staff at GF arranged a private dinner for us and our guests (20 in total) on the beach at the GF in time for the fireworks and it was fantastic!! Each person was giving a full menu and we had private servers!!! It was not expensive at all!! Why not speak to your hotel and ask if they can arrange something for you!!

 

[RubySlipperGirl]

Sharon,

I'm a Disney CastMember, so feel confident that the advice I'm giving you is very accurate.

First, when you called to book the pontoon boat did you ask (or did they offer) the "Breathless?" The Breathless is a smaller boat that is a recreation of a 1940s runabout (sort of like a vintage powerboat). It's MUCH COOLER than the pontoon boats and seats six people. It's home marina is the Yacht Club, so maybe you'll have better luck calling the Yacht Club Marina directly. To reach anywhere at Disney, simply call the main Disney Operator at 407-824-2222 and ask to be connected to the YC Marina.

Secondly, your Event Manager may be able to pull some strings. (I know this for a fact!) Call him or her directly, explain the situation, and see if they call the Yacht Club to "work the system" so to speak.

Another great option (and a major WOW) is renting the Grand I Yacht at the Grand Floridian to see the Wishes fireworks at Magic Kingdom. You'll spend alot more $$$ on this option (I think the yacht rents for about $350 an hour), but it's worth it. Plus, since the yacht is much more expensive than a pontoon, the availability is typically much better. The yacht is large enough for groups up to 16 people.

And finally, people always cancel fireworks pontoon boats at the last minute. So, worst case scenario, keep on trying right up until within a day or two of your arrival.

Hope this helps. GOOD LUCK!

RubySlipperGirl

 

[Sharon/Mark]

Thank you for all your tips, when I called Disney I actually had printed off all of the advice on this website I could get my hands on. I am however going to try sporadically to see if anyone has cancelled, as I am in the UK I currently do not have access to a Disney Wedding Co-ordinator and all of my dealings are currently with my UK operator, I believe the first chance I get to meet my wedding co-ordinator will be when I arrive in the US 4 days before my wedding. I have to be honest I am looking for a relatively inexpensive form of entertainment as we are on quite a small budget I am happy to pay however up to about $250 so as delightful as the yacht looks its a little over budget (you can so tell I am an Accountant!) I have been lead to believe that the Pontoon was in the region of $200. I do however so very much appreciate your advice - Thank you