Breakfast in France?

[Tabetha]

So are they saying you MUST have entertainment at the GMR event?
What if you don't want an interactive thing?

 

[melanieewr]

Yes, they are telling me that I must have entertainment and the biggie for me is that cannot be varied much from their "entertainment package". There are some things I feel like I could do without. There are "transistion" cowboys from the gangster scene to the western scene that I feel could be left out, but they really don't want to. But, they are willing to concede that the Western Trio could be changed to a stolling solo guitarist. We had even talked about just having dessert in the western area and just strolling through Oz on our way out. I don't know that they would let me omit that...even if I want to. I don't feel like I need the "Good Witch" to conclude the evening...again, they do not want to omit that. The girl I am working with are extremely helpful and I feel that most of the detail can and will be worked out. I know they really want this to be a magical experience

 

[melanieewr]

Brier Rose...VERY COOL..

I know Janet2k had a cookout style dinner there also. I bet you have read her report and have gotten some ideas to add to you own! Will this be a surprise? Have you been in the gift store in the Castle? I had a Cinderella's glass slipper engraved for my granddaughter's first birthday there. They did a beautiful job. I believe there were 3 different sizes to choose from and not terribly expensive either.

 

[Brier Rose]

Brier Rose...VERY COOL..

I know Janet2k had a cookout style dinner there also. I bet you have read her report and have gotten some ideas to add to you own! Will this be a surprise? Have you been in the gift store in the Castle? I had a Cinderella's glass slipper engraved for my granddaughter's first birthday there. They did a beautiful job. I believe there were 3 different sizes to choose from and not terribly expensive either.

That Janet is a dangerous woman!

She is a great inspiration and has helped me so much with all of my planning...even if she did help me blow my budget! Janet if you read this..I'm calling you out!


As far as all this being a surprise, it's not. I'm not very good a keeping secrets, and I've been so excited about all this, there is NO way I could have kept quiet for so long.

Well, I take that back, I can keep some secrets when it comes to presents!

It sounds like the Cinderella's glass slipper that you mentioned would be a fantastic surprise!

We're actually leaving on Wednesday for the World...YAY!
I'll definitely swing by and check that out!

I don't want to hijack your thread, so I'll just pass along the link to mine in case you're interested in the details!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1395059

 

[Tabetha]

Interesting, thanks for the details!

 

[melanieewr]

I have finally realized there is just no way for me to get the Tamu Tamu pics to here! It is in a format that does not allow the entire file to be copied. It is actually an "Event Concept". Anyone that would like to see the concept, I would be happy to email it to you. You can PM me with an address.

 

[Janet2k]

I have read Janet2k's reports and she is an inspiration to me with the wonderful events she has planned.

Melanieewr, thanks for the kind words. I remember your posts & PMs from a year or two ago when you questioned me about a few of the events that my family has hosted in Walt Disney World. I think it's wonderful that you're now planning something special of your own.

I'll try to read this thread later on today -- my daughter has her first soccer game this afternoon and I have to head out the door shortly. But before I close, I'm glad you're doing well. My sister (and many of my friends) are cancer survivors. If you need anything, please let me know.

 

[Janet2k]

I have planned a dinner at GMR for the first night, a Grand 1 yacht ride the 2nd night (we have done this before and loved it), a private safari and dinner...

Real quick... You're not stalkin' me, are you? I've done the GMR dinner, the Grand 1 cruise, and the private safari. I saw in another post your mention of the Narnia dinner (I did another movie set dinner). Hmmm... If you're not stalkin' me, then I fear I might be rubbing off on you. Please speak with Brier Rose about how dangerous that condition can be. It is definitely detrimental to your checkbook. You have been warned.

By the way, as I catch up on this thread later on today, if I find I have photos that might answer a few of your questions, I'll upload them to my photo album and post links to them here. Disney really does a wonderful job with their events. My photos can’t possibly show all the subtle nuances of an event, but if you view them and let your imagination run free, you just might be able to visualize what your own event might feel like. It’s worth a shot, anyway.

 

[Janet2k]

That Janet is a dangerous woman!

She is a great inspiration and has helped me so much with all of my planning...even if she did help me blow my budget! Janet if you read this..I'm calling you out!

Uh-oh!

 

[melanieewr]

Too funny Janet! I haven't been elevated to "stalker" status yet, but that doesn't mean I won't try!

I have not read much here in many a moons, so I did not know about your Grand 1 and Private Safari. I am sure you elevated those events to whole new status. We truly enjoyed the Grand 1.

Today I received "Melanie's 45th Birthday Party" event agreement and details. WOW...it was so nicely done. I was very impressed. And you are so "write" about the checkbook

The Private Safari and Tamu Tamu dinner may have to wait for another trip! We'll see what they come up with. Their minimums for dinner there were very high for our little group. The Breakfast in France is still a definite...even though I do not have a complete proposal. And of course the Grand 1 deserves our return!

I just hope when it comes time to do a TR (I promise you Brides that I will do it in the proper place and not intrude here)...I hope I will be able to do it justice. I just know it will never come close to your beautiful writing style Janet. You are ONE of a KIND! ....and....very dangerous...lol...

 

[yearbook50]

This whole event sounds amazing. Your friends are very lucky!

 

[Janet2k]

Too funny Janet! I haven't been elevated to "stalker" status yet, but that doesn't mean I won't try!

Melanieewr , thanks for understanding that I was only teasing with my comments.

I'm glad that I've been able to share my experiences here on the Dis and that they've proved useful. I spend a lot of time and energy sharing information and I never really know whether or not it's helpful to others. But whenever someone like you or Brier Rose comes along, I suddenly understand that my hard work hasn't been in vain. Thanks.

 

[Janet2k]

The entertainment for each of these has been the big issue with me. I am trying hard to keep the cost for that in check.

Melanieewr, yes, entertainment can be costly. However, Disney does a lovely job with it and I have found it to be worth every penny. If you can swing it, I hope you're as pleased with it as I've been.

...GMR. We will start with cocktails in the gangster area with a streetmosphere performer for the entertainment.

I have some wonderful video footage of Disney’s “Gangster” Streetmosphere characters. They were hysterically funny and had my guests in stitches. Plus, they really knew how to work the crowd. They were true professionals in every sense of the word. However, I don’t know when I’ll be able to find the time to upload my footage (my daughter’s soccer game footage takes priority since I need to share it with her grandparents). But if I can track down my FTW DVD, I’ll see what I can do (it probably won’t be this weekend, though).

In the meantime, here are links to a few of my Gangster photos (see below). I’ll try to look through the rest of my photos and see if there are other Streetmosphere character photos that I should share:

Photo # 1
Photo # 2
Photo # 3
Photo # 4
Photo # 5

Please note that the Streetmosphere characters that were used for my event might be different than the ones that will be used for your event. Please discuss all details with Disney since everyone’s event is different.

… the night for the Grand 1 and I will contact GF dining and have trays of sandwiches, fruit, cheese and wine.

Since you’ve already been on the Grand 1, you know exactly what to expect. My daughter and I were guests on the boat last summer and we truly had a lot of fun.

I don’t have many photos to share of our cruise but I do have some. The ones that might interest you are the ones of the munchies. The Grand Floridian Bakery did an especially lovely job with the customized cake. I don’t know what was involved in pulling that off, but it was a big hit with my Lizority Sisters. Click here for my Grand 1 Photo Album.

Okay, I have to break for dinner now. My husband cooked hot dogs, baked beans, and french fries. Yum! I’ll try to answer more questions as soon as I’m done feeding my face.

 

[Brier Rose]

Please speak with Brier Rose about how dangerous that condition can be. It is definitely detrimental to your checkbook. You have been warned.

Uh-oh!

JANET!!!!
My favorite party crasher! I'm so happy to...uhh "see" you again!

I was just about to call and cancel your cabana.

You've been gone a long time you naughty woman. People would think you have a life outside the Dis or something!

 

[Janet2k]

You've been gone a long time you naughty woman. People would think you have a life outside the Dis or something!

Brier Rose, I wish I had more time to Dis. Hopefully, I'll have lots of time this weekend. After all, I have a newbie to break-in regarding hosting wild & crazy events in Walt Disney World. Soon, I'll be convincing her to have a Fairy Tale Weddings vow renewal. Poor Melanieewr won't know what hit her.

 

[Janet2k]

This evening will be the Private Safari…

Melanieewr, in an old trip report, I wrote about a VIP Safari that my family and our guests attended. I have a handful of photos of that event in an on-line album: click here. About a year and a half later, Disney began offering a similar safari to their concierge guests. I have since attended the Wildlife Discovery Excursion and the ride vehicle is entirely different, which I think is wonderful.

If you read my old trip report, you know that I was confined to a wheelchair during that particular vacation (that was also the vacation in which my family hosted a dinner party on the ballroom set from the “Haunted Mansion” movie). When it came time to board the safari vehicle, I was literally caught between a rock & a hard place. How on earth does someone who cannot walk enter such a vehicle? My only option was to scoot into the van through the back doors -- on my butt. Believe me, it was not the most graceful of entrances. Thankfully, I was able to manage it, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to attend my own event. Yikes!

When I finally had the chance two summers ago to attend the Wildlife Discovery Excursion, I was definitely pleased. This time I was not confined to a wheelchair. However, my dear friend had just undergone back surgery and thus was using a motorized scooter. It gave her peace of mind to know that if she couldn’t walk up the steps of the van, she could use the motorized lift. Here are photos of that safari and its ride vehicle: click here.

I have also attended the Grand Gatherings’ Safari Celebration Dinner. That event used the regular Kilimanjaro Safaris’ attraction vehicles (they’re handicap-accessible). It really was a lovely event and the dinner inside Tusker House was wonderful (including the entertainment). I don’t believe I’ve ever shared photos of that event, though. Maybe one of these days I will.

I love the Animal Kingdom Theme Park, especially at night. I am hopeful that an after-hours event will play a part of a future family vacation. I have a few ideas that I will ask Disney about the next time I am looking to do something unique. I almost asked them about it last year, but since last summer’s event was so last-minute, I went with another private party at the Grand Floridian (I find it hard to resist my favorite resort).

No matter what type of safari event you host during your vacation, I hope it's wonderful.

 

[Janet2k]

Breakfast in France! Oddly, I am more excited about this than anything. The venue is $250 with a food/bev min at $1225. Of course, we are working on the entertainment. I am hoping for a strolling violinst and a streetmosphere performer. Allie has suggested a French Flower Salesman. I would give her some details about my friends that he could then "play upon".

Melanieewr, those fees sound reasonable. I’m impressed. And if you go with a Streetmosphere character, I bet you’ll be pleased. The characters that I’ve used have all been wonderful. They’ve taken factoids that they picked up during simple conversations with my guests and incorporated those factoids into my event. It was amazing to watch them in action. They’re very good at what they do. At least in my humble opinion they are.

 

[Janet2k]

I have a good pic of the "excursion van" now and I really don't think it will work very well. It is almost like a short school bus with very large windows that only open half way down. I prefer the open air regular ride vehicles, I just wanted a more "private" ride.

You’ve seen photos of the safari vehicles that I’ve been in. From your description, it sounds like you’re being offered the Wildlife Discovery Excursion vehicle. It honestly is a very nice vehicle. I think it would suit your event well.

The entertainment for Tamu is really expensive for my small group. It seems very disportionate. The African trio is $5000. Another option is an African dressed Jazz trio, which I actually like the idea of...$2100. The third option is background music...$500.

Remember, these are professional folks and thus charge accordingly. I have been to many events over the years in both Walt Disney World and in Disneyland. Disney’s entertainment has always been top-notch. Of course, this is all my humble opinion, but they have always knocked my socks off – and those of my guests, too.

 

[Janet2k]

I had actually thought about having a VR…

Uh-oh! Stay away from me if you know what’s good for you. I will fill your head with all sorts of ~magical~ ideas.

 

[Janet2k]

I asked today if it would be possible to arrange for the Boardwalk bikes to be at MGM to return to our villa. A definite NO...

Remember, the theme park is across a very busy street from the BoardWalk. Surrey bikes would be too dangerous (not to mention quite a ride).

For a private event, you will be taken into and out of the theme park via the back entrance – the Cast Members Only entrance. Disney Security has always inspected everything that my family and our guests have taken into the theme park via the back entrance for our private events. They will do the same for your event. Please let your guests know in advance.

I also found out that I can have a Disney photographer at the events. I would want minimal intrusion and just a few photos. So far I have been given a price of $100 per hour...2 hour minimum or there is another 2 hour package that includes a CD, delivered the next day...$375. All I need is maybe 30 minutes at each event, so I don't know if we can work through this issue.

I have used Disney for all my photographic needs during my events. It has worked out beautifully. They really know how to fade into the background while your event is going on.

You must pay the two-hour minimum fee. However, if you feel you only want 30-minutes of photos, you can release the photographer early, have no fear.

The GMR entertainment seems a bit elaborate for my little group, but they really don't want to budge on that except in the Western scene. They feel the way it is works best for the overall effect. I would have to agree, but I am still looking for ways to cut those costs.

Yes, the entertainment fee is in the thousands of dollars for that event (at least it was for my event; I don’t know if they’ve dropped the price since then). It is definitely not cheap. However, Disney’s entertainment is incredible and truly makes the event memorable. And after having experienced that event personally, I can honestly see why they’re not willing to budge regarding the entertainment aspect. I wouldn’t, either, if I were them.

Would a different venue be better suited to your needs? There are other venues inside the theme park that don't require such a large entertainment expense. Just something to think about and possibly discuss with your Event Manager.