Atlantic Dance Hall Reception

[princessmegank]

Hello all,

I decided to finally join the board after a couple of years of reading post back and forth.

My boyfriend and I are discussing the possibility of having a Disney Wishes Wedding in late 2014. We have been heavily looking into all the details we can find about the process, venues, pricing, etc.. Last night we decided that we would probably, and most likely want hold our reception at the Atlantic Dance Hall. I am just curious, for those who have chosen this option for their reception, how they liked it, what the food was like, and if there are any other fees associated with this venue…and so on.

I would love to hear your insight and details of your experiences!

Thank you much!!

Megan

 

[rrali33tt]

I am in the same boat as you. My boyfriend and I are looking at a fall 2014 wedding at ADH over labor day weekend (its the only date that works for our wedding party right now). The venue fee for ADH is $500 and I think you need to hire a guide for $125. If you want to use the video screens during the reception its an additional $750. You must use Disney for all decor.

Since you are new to the planning process, I would reccommend getting the PassPorters guide to weddings...it is really helpful and lists all the fees for each venue.

http://www.passporter.com/weddings.asp

 

[princesswendy720]

I am in the same boat as you. My boyfriend and I are looking at a fall 2014 wedding at ADH over labor day weekend (its the only date that works for our wedding party right now). The venue fee for ADH is $500 and I think you need to hire a guide for $125. If you want to use the video screens during the reception its an additional $750. You must use Disney for all decor.

Since you are new to the planning process, I would reccommend getting the PassPorters guide to weddings...it is really helpful and lists all the fees for each venue.

http://www.passporter.com/weddings.asp

We just had our reception at ADH and only had the venue fee (which covered an event guide and the marquee). They change things all the time, so it's possible this has already changed though!

 

[princessmegank]

Thank you ladies for your reply, I purchased the 'Passporters' ebook last night and started reading through it immediately!

I am excited to get through the whole book and learn some new information about DFTW. So far it has been very helpful..!

 

[Cmdbuddy]

Hi there!

We are having our reception at ADH in September. ADH can host up to 80 people for a plated meal or 200 for a buffet meal. It seems like most people that use ADH go for the buffet meal. The catering is handled through the Boardwalk catering, but goes with Disney's standard menus. The ones for 2013 are here:

Here are all the menus for 2013:
Wedding Menus

Keep in mind that you can customize them any way you want, this is just a starting place. You can also try up to 8 different things during your menu tasting.

 

[Cmdbuddy]

Also, I'm not sure if it's because we have such a large guest count (150) or because we are having a dessert party in EPCOT afterwards, but we have 2 event guides assigned to our group. They are $150 each.

 

[princesswendy720]

Also, I'm not sure if it's because we have such a large guest count (150) or because we are having a dessert party in EPCOT afterwards, but we have 2 event guides assigned to our group. They are $150 each.

I think you just posted your budget in that thread, if so, your $500 venue fee is split on the BEO as $200 for marquee and $300 for event guides. They aren't in addition to the venue fee.

 

[Museofire]

Hey guys new to this, but I felt like I had to chime in since I had this discussion with my consultant two days ago. All of the above talk of fees is accurate IF you're having a buffet reception. If you want it to be plated they will only do it on Sunday or Monday nights and they charge you a $2500 furniture moving fee. Since they remove all their cocktail tables and replace them with banquet. My consultant also told me that ADH does not have a kitchen so they actually set up a tent behind the venue and use that for cooking and the quality of food does suffer.
She was very candid with me which I hella appreciated and thought I should pass it along.

 

[princesswendy720]

Hey guys new to this, but I felt like I had to chime in since I had this discussion with my consultant two days ago. All of the above talk of fees is accurate IF you're having a buffet reception. If you want it to be plated they will only do it on Sunday or Monday nights and they charge you a $2500 furniture moving fee. Since they remove all their cocktail tables and replace them with banquet. My consultant also told me that ADH does not have a kitchen so they actually set up a tent behind the venue and use that for cooking and the quality of food does suffer.
She was very candid with me which I hella appreciated and thought I should pass it along.

The move fee is when you have a higher guest count and want to put the large rounds on the first or 2nd floor (not the dance floor). We only had 45 people so everyone fit on the dance floor and there were no move fees (we didn't use the cocktail tables). I think I've seen as many as 8 rounds on the dance floor before but they might have limited it now. The F&B minimum is also higher for plated than buffet.

 

[CaptainObvious]

I got married at ADH 5 years ago

 

[faithtrustnpixidust]

I keep reading different numbers for Atlantic Dance Hall. Does anyone know the minimum number of guests?
Also for those of you that have had 40-80 guests how was it? Did it seem too big for the size of the group?
Thanks!

 

[bigr3ddog]

I keep reading different numbers for Atlantic Dance Hall. Does anyone know the minimum number of guests?
Also for those of you that have had 40-80 guests how was it? Did it seem too big for the size of the group?
Thanks!

I see different numbers too. Passporter reports 80-120 for plated meals and up to 200 for buffet. Disney just says 150-200. So I don't know minimum.

 

[faithtrustnpixidust]

I see different numbers too. Passporter reports 80-120 for plated meals and up to 200 for buffet. Disney just says 150-200. So I don't know minimum.

exactly! I know there are brides who have used ADH with smaller groups tho.

 

[emc1123]

We are having about 45-50 guests and are able to use just the downstairs dance floor. We are having rounds of 8-10 for no extras fee. They do charge the $500 for the event guides and marquee with our names

 

[bkramer]

Hi! Thank you guys so much for starting this thread. I am interested in an ADH reception for approx. 50 ppl and the info above has been super helpful! I have a few extra questions specifically for ADH as this seems to be one of those venues that has a few other details/requirements that others might not.

1. What do the required venue escorts do? Are they basically keeping an eye on the place as a restaurant manager would when opening a restaurant extra hours for a private event?

2. I have noticed that there is an additional minimum food spend( maybe $9600?) plated meals as a pop up kitchen has to be set up for this venue. Is there an additional food minimum for buffets? If so, does anyone know what it is?

3. Can we bring our own alcohol to ADH as we can to some others? I know there would be additional corkage fees and services on estimated costs of what is supplied (lurkyloo's podcast helps yet again!)

4. I know that DJs have to be supplied by Disney for ADH... is there different costs since most of the equipment would already be in house for this venue?

5. Is there an additional moving charge (on top of the set up fee w/ rentals) to have the normal chairs moved off of the dance floor to be replaced with chivari chairs that would be rented?

I know that is a whole bunch of questions... hopefully there are a bunch of ADH brides, or brides who had inquired about ADH lurking around here!

Thank you in advance!!

 

[bigr3ddog]

2. I have noticed that there is an additional minimum food spend( maybe $9600?) plated meals as a pop up kitchen has to be set up for this venue. Is there an additional food minimum for buffets? If so, does anyone know what it is?


5. Is there an additional moving charge (on top of the set up fee w/ rentals) to have the normal chairs moved off of the dance floor to be replaced with chivari chairs that would be rented?

I only know some of the answers. Buffets have minimum food and beverage expenditures. If it ends before 5 pm, it's $1475 minimum food and beverage expenditure. If it ends between 5 and 8 pm, it's $5000. If it ends after 8 pm on Sunday or Monday, it's $5000. Events Tuesday through Saturday have to end before 8 pm.

There is a $2500 furniture removal fee. This fee appears to be aimed at existing cocktail tables. I don't know if that applies if you only move chairs.

 

[bkramer]

Thanks! that's really helpful. I'm hoping for a brunch or lunch so either way, the first two figures are right on point with what we would be spending to meet DFTW catering minimums (first one is much lower even! darn those catering minimums... it seems that's what really puts most Disney brides above budget). I'm hoping that we will have the reception on the dance floor and the pre reception on the top level utilizing the cocktail tables, so hopefully we won't get hit with the moving fee... we'll see I guess.

If anyone has any idea about the other details feel free to chime in!