Ariel's vs ADH

[FutureDisBride2013]

Hello ladies,

I am hoping you can provide me with your insights yet again. Debating on using Ariel's or the Atlantic Dance Hall for our reception venue and would love to hear everyone's thoughts on each place. If you could help me out and let me know what the venue fees are, can you use outside vendors or bring your own decorations, anything.... I so appreciate it.

 

[MickeysStarTrader]

I have not used either venue, so I will not give an opinion on which is best. I like the look of both venues, but there are many ways in which they're different so it's not really a fair comparison. ADH is a much bigger venue, with more space for dancing and obviously a higher guest capacity. In my opinion, it literally has a dance hall feel to it from photos I've seen. Ariel's is a much smaller venue with a sea theme which might not fit with your theme. Ariel's colors are very light and the room is airy so it shouldn't clash with your colors. Ariel's is more cozy and vintage whereas ADH has a more modern style.

Another thing you may want to consider aside from the look of the venue and the guest capacity is the distance from your ceremony. If you had your ceremony at Boardwalk for example, ADH is the closest but the Yacht & Beach isn't unreasonably far. Also the type of food. Unless the rules have changed (which they could have, Disney's rules seem to be different year to year) Ariel's only offers a buffet style of reception food, but ADH offers both plated or buffet style options. I'm not sure if that matters to you? And of course there are the minimums to think about which I've listed below:

ADH
Max. guest count = 200
F&B for events ending before 5pm = $1,500 (S-Th) / $1,700 (F & Sa)
F&B for events ending between 5pm-8pm = $7,500 (S-Th) / $9,500 (F & Sa)
F&B for events ending after 8pm = $7,500 (S-Th) / $16,000 (F & Sa)
If the event begins before 2pm, per person minimum = $75
If the event begins after 2pm, per person minimum = $100
(All the above prices are before service charge and sales tax)

Ariel's
Max. guest count = 90
F&B = $1,000
If the event begins before 2pm, per person minimum = $75
If the event begins after 2pm, per person minimum = $100
(All the above prices are before service charge and sales tax)

 

[lurkyloo]

Note that the per-person food and beverage minimums are higher in 2013: $100 (breakfast), $125 (lunch) and $150 (dinner). These apply no matter where your reception is.

 

[lurkyloo]

Also, the latest minimums for Atlantic Dance Hall are

Buffet ending before 5pm: $1,475
Buffet ending between 5pm and 8pm: $5,000
Buffet ending after 8pm (avail. Sun & Mon only): $5,000
Plated meal: $9,600


And Ariel's has a $1,500 minimum at dinner.

 

[FutureDisBride2013]

Thank you so much for the feedback. At this stage of the game, I am very open. I am looking at about 40-50 people and the buffet does not bother me. I want a WP ceremony so there will be a distance regardless and as far as colors I am thinking Navy and White with a nautical or under the sea theme so I think I could go either way.... This idea gathering phase is so challenging.

 

[Emily11212]

Also, just so you know, I almost went with Atlantic Dance Hall, but then I changed it. Here is why: (and I wrote this on another post somewhere, lol)

Atlantic Dance Hall tables only seat 4 people. Now, you can have those tables taken out and have bigger tables brought in, but there is a table moving fee of $2,000 to do that. Then, on top of that, there are certain days where you don't even have that option to move the tables out and you have to use their 4-tops no matter what.

Now, for someone with a smaller wedding, a 4-top isn't bad, but put those people in a hall that seats 200, and it just feels like the hall is huge and not as intimate. We ended up going to The Living Seas, and Ariel's was actually our second choice. We have about 70-80 people coming.

Please understand, not telling you to pick Ariel's, just telling you what happened to me when I almost signed the contract for ADH but then did a little investigating when I really read over the contract about the tables.

But wherever you have it, it will be WONDERFUL!!!

 

[FutureDisBride2013]

Also, just so you know, I almost went with Atlantic Dance Hall, but then I changed it. Here is why: (and I wrote this on another post somewhere, lol)

Atlantic Dance Hall tables only seat 4 people. Now, you can have those tables taken out and have bigger tables brought in, but there is a table moving fee of $2,000 to do that. Then, on top of that, there are certain days where you don't even have that option to move the tables out and you have to use their 4-tops no matter what.

Now, for someone with a smaller wedding, a 4-top isn't bad, but put those people in a hall that seats 200, and it just feels like the hall is huge and not as intimate. We ended up going to The Living Seas, and Ariel's was actually our second choice. We have about 70-80 people coming.

Please understand, not telling you to pick Ariel's, just telling you what happened to me when I almost signed the contract for ADH but then did a little investigating when I really read over the contract about the tables.

But wherever you have it, it will be WONDERFUL!!!

Thank you!!!! I appreciate the comments. I am becoming very indecisive.....but I have no doubt it will be a great day!

 

[Sorahana]

I was just at a wedding reception at Ariel's (my friends from a college program got married) and it was a beautiful space! There were around 40 guests.

 

[twiu]

Also, just so you know, I almost went with Atlantic Dance Hall, but then I changed it. Here is why: (and I wrote this on another post somewhere, lol)

Atlantic Dance Hall tables only seat 4 people. Now, you can have those tables taken out and have bigger tables brought in, but there is a table moving fee of $2,000 to do that. Then, on top of that, there are certain days where you don't even have that option to move the tables out and you have to use their 4-tops no matter what.

Now, for someone with a smaller wedding, a 4-top isn't bad, but put those people in a hall that seats 200, and it just feels like the hall is huge and not as intimate. We ended up going to The Living Seas, and Ariel's was actually our second choice. We have about 70-80 people coming.

Please understand, not telling you to pick Ariel's, just telling you what happened to me when I almost signed the contract for ADH but then did a little investigating when I really read over the contract about the tables.

But wherever you have it, it will be WONDERFUL!!!

That's not completely true. They will bring in 10 tops on the dancefloor for free. If you want he 4 tops removed (in the 2nd level of the first floor) then you will have to pay a fee to get them removed and add more tables.

We had 8 10 tops on the dance floor and didn't pay extra for them.

 

[Cmdbuddy]

That's not completely true. They will bring in 10 tops on the dancefloor for free. If you want he 4 tops removed (in the 2nd level of the first floor) then you will have to pay a fee to get them removed and add more tables.

We had 8 10 tops on the dance floor and didn't pay extra for them.

How much space was left for dancing after that? Do you have any pics?

 

[twiu]

I lied, I had 7 tables and there was plenty of dancing room. I had 180 guests and there was plenty of room to dance!

 

[Emily11212]

That's not completely true. They will bring in 10 tops on the dancefloor for free. If you want he 4 tops removed (in the 2nd level of the first floor) then you will have to pay a fee to get them removed and add more tables.

We had 8 10 tops on the dance floor and didn't pay extra for them.

Ok, I went back over my contract, and I made a mistake, I apologize. However, they might have changed the policies since your wedding because the numbers are different.

As of 2012, you can add 6 ten-top tables for no additional fee and they will be on the dance floor. If you want to add anymore than that, they will make you take the four-tops out and charge you a table moving fee of $2,500. Also, you can't move the four-tops out on Tuesday through Saturday. So you can only do that on Sunday or Monday! I know it sounds crazy, but it's in black and white in my contract. My original wedding coordinator did mention to me that they had changed their policies at ADH recently, so that must have been some of it right there. The contract said that after doing anything else besides adding the 6 ten-tops, then we would be charged $2,500. So keep that in mind!

Twiu, thank you for posting a picture, I was kind of curious as to see what it looked like myself!

 

[princesswendy720]

We have 50 guests and everyone will be seated on the dance floor at ADH so no additional fees for tables. I prefer ADH over Ariel's because of the high ceilings and windows/balconies.

 

[disbride10989]

We are having our reception at Ariel's in May. We chose this location because of the various ways of setting up the venue. There are 3 sections to the room: in our case for seating, the buffet setup, and music/dancing. Also, we are using Martha's Vineyard for the cocktail hour, which is right outside of Ariel's. We are probably having somehwere between 40 and 50 people. Hope this helps!

 

[FutureDisBride2013]

We are having our reception at Ariel's in May. We chose this location because of the various ways of setting up the venue. There are 3 sections to the room: in our case for seating, the buffet setup, and music/dancing. Also, we are using Martha's Vineyard for the cocktail hour, which is right outside of Ariel's. We are probably having somehwere between 40 and 50 people. Hope this helps!

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback and hearing everyone's perspective. I like the multiple seating areas too.

We have 50 guests and everyone will be seated on the dance floor at ADH so no additional fees for tables. I prefer ADH over Ariel's because of the high ceilings and windows/balconies.

Thank You, I agree with the high ceilings and windows. I just have to see if we do go with ADH I think I have to change the day, which is ok we just have to see what works.