Disney wedding questions

[dianeschlicht]

Is there a way to do a wedding and have a dinner party at one of the WDW restaurants without doing the "Disney Weddings" package? We are wanting to do a VERY small wedding (a second for both parties), and we are DVC owners, so we will give them the accommodations. They would like to get married down there, but aren't fussy about it being on Disney property. My question is if they can make an ADR for the wedding party (probably a total of 10 people) at one of the theme park or resort restaurants without first going through the Magical weddings program?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You can try--but they may encourage you to:

Do 2 separate ADRs at the same or close times.

or

A catered event.

Your best bet is to call WDW Dining and see what they would do. Then you would know for whomever is making the ADR. You may have to wait unitl the booking window opens as everything is *possible* until you actually try.

We did ADR's at Trails End in January for the WISH team (not a wedding of course--but a large party) and I think we got away with several ADRs of 8-10 people. One of our ADRs was for 30 (though management said that was not supposed to be permitted).

Give it a shot and see if it will work--but what we all did was called on the first day ressies were available.

It could work--but the earlier you attempt the better.

You should be able to coordinate ordering a cake to be served at your meal as well. I don't remember how you do that, but Disney Dining could direct you.

Have you considered the Chef's Table at Victoria and Albert's?

 

[scanne]

I think the Chef's Table at V&A only seats 8. I think V&A has a private room for small parties. There is a separate line to call when booking V&A's.

As far as dining - we traveled with a group of 10 people last year and had no problems making dining reservations. They cannot guarantee that you will all be at one table, but if you explain your "celebration" to the CM at dining and again when you check in for your dining ressie, I am sure you will be accommodated. Just be flexible and willing to wait for a large table for everyone.

Also, if the bride will be wearing a wedding dress, she will not be permitted into a theme park. Hope this helps!

One of our ADRs was for 30 (though management said that was not supposed to be permitted).

I had booked a prty of 50+ one year for a school group. I had to book it through group dining. I'm surprised no one directed you that way. I think a party of 8 or more is considered a group. THere is a separate line for group dining - I forget what it is though.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I had booked a prty of 50+ one year for a school group. I had to book it through group dining. I'm surprised no one directed you that way. I think a party of 8 or more is considered a group. THere is a separate line for group dining - I forget what it is though.

We had a group of 90 and couldn't be assisted.

We managed though--we booked up the first half hour or so of reservations.

It might have had to do with our restaurant choice--but they were really trying to talk us into a "catered" private event which we didn't want. They were also telling us this when we got there.

But a regular group of 10 can be booked via ADR without going through group dining.

 

[Disney Doll]

How fancy or not do they want to be?

There's a million different scenarios. We once saw a lovely private cocktail party being held at the Wilderness Lodge in the ground floor rooms along the main pool. They had tables with hors d'ourvres and cocktails set up on the grass sort alongside the left side of the pool, but behind hedges that were there so there was some privacy. The people who were attending the party were staying in those rooms right there, so everyone was kind of mingling between the rooms and enjoying the cocktails and so on. It looked quite lovely.

You can make a dining reservation for 10 at any of the restaurants. You don't get into group dining until you have a party of 13 or more.

If they want to be a little fancier, how about getting married at the beach at the Contemporary and then to the California Grill for dinner? I think there is a sort of separated room near the back of that restaurant that could be nice.

If they will be staying at the BCV, they could get married on the beach there, and then do cocktails/hors d'ouervres back in their room or poolside at the quiet pool. They could probably actually do the whole thing poolside if they didn't want to go from the beach back to the pool.

The bigger problem if they don't want to involve Disney will be to get someone to marry them. They'll need to find out the rules and regs for getting married in Florida(if they don't live there) and find an officiant. I don;t know how they'd go about doing that if they are not familair with the area.

 

[lil mermaid]

I think the others have given you good advice on booking the dinner part.

As far as Fairytale Weddings is concerned, you can't get married on Disney property without going through them. I mean, you can - if you don't get caught. You could do it in your resort room or something, and there really isn't much they can do about that, but officially - you can't do it out in the open. It may also be difficult to find an officiant who would be willing to perform the ceremony for you because they wouldn't want to get FTW honked off at them, you know? Also - no wedding gowns in the theme parks.