BOC Bar/Refund and Food/Bev minimums

[amalone1013]

Maybe I missed this somewhere... but let's say, somehow, after our meal and BOC bar, we would actually be under the per person minimum? IE, we have an $80pp meal and everyone averages 2 drinks, so $96pp total, which would be less than the $100pp minimum for a mini-wishes brunch wedding. Does that cause problems, or would we be ok because Disney's estimate for the BEO would be 4 drinks per person, so $112pp...

I'm an overplanner, everyone. I have to know all outcomes
Thanks!

 

[lurkyloo]

With a bill-on-consumption bar, Disney uses the following calculation to determine the amount of your 30-day final payment: 2 drinks per person for the first hour and 1 drink per person each hour thereafter x the price of a cocktail in whatever liquor package you selected. Believe me, they are not going to let you pay less than the minimums.

 

[Laurmc8]

Hi,
This was also my question. I think my family has enough drinkers that we won't be under the minimums but was curious as well. In the scenario OP presented they would just refund back until up to the overall F&B minimum((adults x $100) + (jrs x $90) etc), correct?

I kind of put it in my head that if i didn't think there'd be enough drinkers, try to plan the food menu to meet the junior $90 per head point and then if adults each have one drink you're good; and this way you'd be sure you're paying for food you're using rather than having a lower price menu and paying estimated possibly-unused drinks just to meet minimum. Does that make sense?

I know this is going to be an issue when we reach that point of planning as my cousins and friends will be drinking enough to warrant a package bar and them some (a few cousins already wanted to confirm it's open bar even though it's at 10am) but DF's (much smaller) side barely drinks; not sure if they'll balance out better with BOC or package.

anywho, let us know what the results of this are or if your planner gives you more detail.

 

[lurkyloo]

In the scenario OP presented they would just refund back until up to the overall F&B minimum((adults x $100) + (jrs x $90) etc), correct?

Correct!

I kind of put it in my head that if i didn't think there'd be enough drinkers, try to plan the food menu to meet the junior $90 per head point and then if adults each have one drink you're good; and this way you'd be sure you're paying for food you're using rather than having a lower price menu and paying estimated possibly-unused drinks just to meet minimum. Does that make sense?

Works for me!

I know this is going to be an issue when we reach that point of planning as my cousins and friends will be drinking enough to warrant a package bar and them some (a few cousins already wanted to confirm it's open bar even though it's at 10am) but DF's (much smaller) side barely drinks; not sure if they'll balance out better with BOC or package.

This is the way I look at it: With BOC, at least you have a chance of getting money back. If you pay the package price, that money is gone forever. Even if you end up having to pay after the fact with BOC, you're paying for drinks actually drunk, not an estimate. And unless somebody went waaaay overboard, it ends up being about as much as you would've spent on the package anyway.

This episode of my podcast features a guest who did multiple events over a weekend with a crowd of heavy drinkers and still ended up getting money back because she went with BOC: http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2013/03/27/how-to-save-a-bundle-on-the-bar/

 

[Erzengel]

Agreed.

We had some drinkers in 90 person group, however we did it by consumption and it was a lot less than anticipated and we ended up getting a credit for it.