Belle Vue Lounge Meet 'n' Greet?

[NeverlandClub23]

I have been trying to figure out any time in our already full schedule to do like a meet 'n' greet for our guests since I didn't want the only time we see each other to be the day of the wedding. However, I'm not really sure at this point who will be even coming to our wedding, let alone how many would be interested in a meet 'n' greet, so I don't really want to do a dining reservation somewhere and then 4 people show up. We have invited approx. 60ish people at this point, but I think no more than 30-35 will show up for the wedding (realistically, I'm expecting 20-30).

Really the only opportunity for us to do anything before the wedding is on a Sunday before noon. We were going to stay at the Polynesian for two nights before switching over to OKW, but I'm thinking about changing this to the Boardwalk for the first 2 nights.

I see that the Belle Vue Lounge is open for a "Continental Breakfast". I was wondering if I could order a few trays of food and drinks (milk, coffee, etc.) beforehand and just take over a few tables in a corner somewhere? Has anyone done something like this before? I think anyone that stops by will be just doing so for a few minutes before they go to a park, but we would have it "open" from around 9-11 a.m. for people to stop by.

I've been going crazy all weekend trying to think of anything we could do so any suggestions you have will be much appreciated! We wanted to keep the cost for this meet 'n' greet around $1,000 or below. We would prefer to have it indoors, but are not totally opposed to outside. Our wedding is just going to be outside all day and if the weather isn't the greatest that week I don't want our guests only memory of our wedding is that we forced them to be outside in the cold . Thanks for any help or insight!

 

[lurkyloo]

Sounds good to me! The only thing I can think of is that Belle Vue Lounge is pretty small, so if for some reason there were a lot of other guests there that morning, you might have to move to the covered patio outside.

If you do have $1,000 to spend, you know you can get the Attic for a $1,000 food and beverage minimum before 5pm...

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Oooooooo! I hadn't thought about the Attic! Do you think I could have brunch for around $30 pp there (which would be about 35 people for the $1,000 minimum)? Also, is there an iPod player already there or maybe I could bring my own for background music? Do I contact Disney Catered Events (which from their website looks like it only pertains to corporate events?) or private dining at the Boardwalk? Thank you so much for your help! I've been reading your e-book and love how helpful it is for people who aren't even planning DFTW's!

 

[lurkyloo]

Yes! You can customize any menu, so you'd just have to give them an idea of what you were looking to get and they'll tell you how much of it you can have for $30/person. As I recall, our wedding brunch was only about $32/person, and it had all the usual stuff.

The iPod hookup w/speakers at the Attic costs $250, so you might just want to bring your own portable player. Also, they pipe in the resort's background music, so it's not totally silent in there to start with.

Disney Catered Events is the place to call. They are geared toward corporate events, but they also do private events for individuals.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I just got off the phone with the greatest CM ever at Disney Catered Events (his name is Ricky) and he's putting a menu together for me and he said my budget will be no problem at the Attic! Hooray! I'm so looking forward to this!

So, Mrs. Lurkyloo, if you happen to be in the World on December 9th and are in the mood for meetin' 'n' greetin', please stop by and load up on mickey waffles, er, I mean, get meeted 'n' greeted!

 

[lurkyloo]

Hooray! That's so exciting, I may have to plan a trip just for those Mickey waffles!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Well I hope you haven't booked your flight...

I got a call back and to get Mickey waffles with a brunch at that time of year at the Boardwalk would've been $50+ per person . Something to do about labor costs being so high at the Boardwalk as they have fewer employees during the beginning of December?

Anyways, now we're having a full-blown welcome party brunch at the Tamu Tamu Courtyard (complete with a Mickey waffle action station) for about $44 per person (what a savings, I know ). I'm excited, but I am definitely going to hold on to the Attic for a 5 year vow renewal...

 

[lurkyloo]

I will eat Mickey waffles anywhere, anytime. And Tamu Tamu Courtyard sounds like a swell place to eat them!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Well, then rebook that flight!

The funny thing is my BEO said Whole Wheat Mickey waffles. I was so excited they tasted so good AND were "healthy"! But then it occurred to me that those may be completely different waffles and I emailed my planner. He was very apologetic and corrected it. Whew! Almost ate something healthy!