Anybody have a reception at the great movie ride?

[pink_tink8i8]

I've recently been obsessed with the idea of having a reception at the great movie ride. Naturally I was wondering if anybody has had one or has been to one, and what are your thoughts? It's a minimum of $12,000 for the reception so I'd like to be sure it would be worth it. Thanks

- Sabrina

 

[lurkyloo]

Janet2K did!

Trippie:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=676648

Planning Session Trippie (lots of juicy details!)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=634041&page=21&pp=15

 

[pink_tink8i8]

OHH thank you so much!

 

[chipscinderelly]

Janet2k's event was amazing!

Things to keep in mind - policies and pricing changes each year and some of the things that Janet was able to have may not be available now. I know in the year we planned our Fantasmic/Coaster/Muppets reception that we had to work with changes at MGM (I can't call it DHS as it was MGM when we got married in late 2006) so just keep an open mind and be prepared (and slightly flexible). Their management team and chef team are AMAZING to work with - you won't be disappointed .

 

[pink_tink8i8]

Thanks for the advice! I've been looking into it and the minimums are pretty expensive which is why I wanted to know how people felt about it. If you get a chance though, how did you like your reception? It's sounded like it was fun!

 

[chipscinderelly]

It was amazing - best choices we ever made... but I will be honest and say that we paid location fees at just about each location... but it was WORTH IT

 

[Janet2k]

Anybody have a reception at the great movie ride?

Pink_tink8i8, for my FTW VR, I had a progressive dinner party inside the Great Movie Ride. It was wonderful.

Our evening began with a Handprint Ceremony in the outdoor courtyard of the Great Movie Ride attraction:

Everyone then moved inside the Great Movie Ride for a Cocktail Party in the Gangster Venue:

Next up was Dinner in the Western Venue:

Afterwards, everyone enjoyed Mini-Cakes in the Land Of Oz Venue:

Finally, we moved outdoors for a group shot in front of the Sorcerer's Hat Icon:

Mickey Mouse hung around and offered us dance lessons during our outdoor Dance Party:

After Mickey left, we enjoyed desserts, drinks, and more dancing:

The evening ended with a Custom Fireworks Display -- or as Disney likes to call it, a "Kiss Goodnight":

Again, my vow renewal was wonderful. The FTW folks did a lovely job with everything.
.

 

[Janet2k]

Things to keep in mind - policies and pricing changes each year and some of the things that Janet was able to have may not be available now.

Chipscinderelly, excellent point. Disney changes the rules all the time. It's best to always ask them what can and cannot be done in a specific venue in a specific time of year. Only they know the answer to that question.

 

[Janet2k]

Pink_tink8i8, as to pricing, I have a policy of not discussing what my events have cost me. It's far too personal of information for me to share. But I pretty much will share just about anything else, so please feel free to ask questions. By the way, even though I won't discuss pricing, I have shared a few pieces of info -- what my transportation costs were, what my mini-cake costs were, and what my bar bill was. If you'd like to see that info, search for it here on the Dis (if you can't find it, let me know and I'll try to dig up the posts).

Disney's entertainment for my event was incredible. Truly topnotch. I don't think I stopped laughing all night long. I'll share below some photos of the Streetmosphere Characters that were used, as well as a few other Entertainment options that were used for my event:

Hollywood Movie Producer:

Pianist:

Gun Moll & Gangster:

Cowgirl & Cowboy:

Western Band:

Glinda The Good Witch:

Mickey Mouse:

Disc Jockey:

I hope that helped. Have fun planning!
.

 

[pink_tink8i8]

Janet2K, thank you SO much for posting. I was actually going to start sending you pm's soon I was so incredibly hooked after I read your PJ and Tr and saw pictures of your event. My DF still isn't entirely convinced. He thinks the venue and all the characters are a bit cheesy. I on the other hand, think it will be a blast! I would NEVER ask you the cost of your event so no worries there. I figure if you wanted to share you would have in your pj The dance party that you had after the dessert. Was that the location that they mention or was that chosen by you?

 

[Janet2k]

I was actually going to start sending you pm's soon

Pink_tink8i8, no problem. I receive PMs all the time regarding the events that my family has held over the years in WDW.

I was so incredibly hooked after I read your PJ and Tr and saw pictures of your event. My DF still isn't entirely convinced. He thinks the venue and all the characters are a bit cheesy. I on the other hand, think it will be a blast!

I was worried that my parents and aunt would find the entire night a bit bizarre. But they had the most wonderful night, they honestly did.

I would NEVER ask you the cost of your event so no worries there. I figure if you wanted to share you would have in your pj

I honestly wish I could share because I don't like to hold any information back, but I can't. Suffice it to say, my event ran an awful lot more than what you've mentioned, and I had a very small guest list. But I did have some amazing special touches.

The dance party that you had after the dessert. Was that the location that they mention or was that chosen by you?

The location that they use for dancing is normally the "black box" area. That's what they call the final room in the Great Movie Ride attraction -- the one where you view all those movie clips just before the ride concludes. The following photo might jog your memory in case you're not sure of what I'm talking about:

I asked for my dance party to be held outdoors. They told me it could be held in front of the Sorcerer's Hat Icon. That was perfectly fine with me. So imagine my surprise when my event was actually held beneath it. Since I had a small guest list, they were able to arrange things such that the tables & chairs were put on the permitter of the hat's island while everyone was able to dance beneath the actual hat. It worked out very well.

Here is a photo that I doctored to show how the setup was for my event:

That's an actual photo from my event. The DJ, his equipment, and special lighting were set up beneath the hat. Everyone danced in that area.

I can't remember for certain right now but I think it cost more to hold my dance party outdoors. That's a question that the FTW folks can answer for certain if you're considering adding dancing to your event. I do know that my DJ pricing was much higher than what other folks were charged for their events (non-theme park events).

Good luck with your decision. If your budget allows it -- and if you significant other agrees to it -- it can be a very fun event.