escape reception question

[schallerb]

hello, I am planning to have an escape wedding next year and was just wondering about adding a reception. if you do, does that mean you have to spend atleast $7500? Also, if I wanted to book a reservation at a resturant, like Tony's in magic kingdom, would it be possible to allow the guests only a few choices off the menu so it could be pre-paid? If I was able to do that, would that count as adding a reception to the package? I hope this makes sense and thanks for anyone who can help!

 

[MsEsty]

I'm finding that only with certain restaurants can you do a "reception" and have it count towards your requirements. I was looking at Tony's and was told that it would have to be a regular Disney Dinning Reservation and I could not pick entrees/prepay.

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

We're planning a VR next year (April 2011) and have been thinking about a "reception". However, I'm more inclined to contact the restaurant myself (rather than go through DFTW) in order to save some money.

My question is when I should contact the restaurant? and Do I contact them directly or do I go through Disney Dining?

 

[tinkerbell 766]

My understanding is that you only trigger the $7500.00 minimum if you book a privately catered event through DFTW (this includes DPs). Or, of course if your Escape wedding is at a week-end. If you book a restaurant reception yourself, then I don't think the minimum is triggered.
I can't answer you question about menus and pre paying - sorry!!

 

[schallerb]

thanks for the info. i would assume to book a reservation, you call the disney dining, my fiance has done reservations for us through that for our previous trips, he told me that you just call or do it online and they book it for you.

So, i'm asumming if your not doing a dinner through DFTW that we do it ourselves and the WC doesn't get involved? We can't decide if we should book a seperate reservation, or go through disney, bc we aren't adding many upgrades to our package, so $7500 seems like a lot.

 

[lurkyloo]

If you go through Disney for a *private* event, you will trigger the $7,500 minimum. (Private meaning you're in there when the restaurant is closed to other guests, or you book a private room at one of the convention centers). If you just ask your Disney wedding planner to book a regular restaurant reservation for you, there's no minimum expenditure but there's really no advantage to it either, unless s/he can somehow get you into a restaurant that's fully booked or something.

So if all you want is a group reservation at a restaurant during normal business hours, you can make that yourself by calling Disney Dining or (if your group is larger than 10 or 12 people) Group Dining: 407-939-7700.

Now if you want to make special arrangements with the restaurant where you plan to dine—like personalized menus or a set menu for your guests or sitting in a certain section—you can call the restaurant manager directly, after you make the reservation, to talk about your options. This usually only works at the restaurants at Downtown Disney and the resort restaurants—park restaurants don't really give this kind of personalized attention.

 

[schallerb]

lurkyloo, you always know the answer the everyone's questions! thanks, you're awesome! We really want a personalized menu, so that it can be paid for in advance, so it's kind of like a real reception, but we think we can do the escape package plus our own dinner reservation for less than $7500, do you know any resturants that do personalized menus without going through DFTW? Or is it kind of like hit or miss where we have to call these resturants and see if they will do it for us? We were just looking into Tony's in MK bc right after we ate there he proposed! e just wanted to see our options.

We were also looking into character dining, I know people say that you are allowed in any resort resturant in your wedding attire, but would you be allowed to do like the chef mickeys in the contemporary in your wedding attire? Any other buffets that anyone would recommend? Thanks so much for all the responses!!!!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I am having my reception at Citricos, and although I haven't booked yet, and can't until my 180 day mark (1st Nov), I have already spoken to Lee, one of the managers. He was very helpful and quick to answer all my enquiries. I am making my own menus to match my other stationary, and Lee has said his staff will be happy to put these out for me, along with my favours. We will be having a long table (there will be 16 of us) and I will provide a plan of where I want people to sit, and do individual favour tags to act as placecards. I will deliver all this to Citricos the day before our VR. People will have the whole menu to choose from, however, despite my printing my own. I am also going to pay on the day with my cc. However, I do know that Citricos has a larger party menu (for over, I think 16 people) which you may be able to pay in advance. We decided against this as we are only 16, 3 of which are children
I am sure that you will be okay in 'Chef Mickey's' in your wedding attire. It is only in the theme parks that you (officially) cannot wear it!!
I also like '1900 Park Fare' for a character buffet. Be aware, however, that all character buffets can get crowded and noisy!!! If you were dining at 1900, you could have piccie taken at the beautiful GF - IMHO an added bonus!!!! HTH

 

[lurkyloo]

Do you know any resturants that do personalized menus without going through DFTW? Or is it kind of like hit or miss where we have to call these resturants and see if they will do it for us?

Your best bet are Disney's Signature restaurants at the resorts (the ones that require 2 table-service credits on the dining plan) and the restaurants at Downtown Disney. The Signature places are especially helpful because they are special-occasion places that are used to dealing with people celebrating milestones. Cinderella's Royal Table might be the exception among park restaurants, since it is also a special-occasion place and even offers packages and enhancements you can buy.

It sounds like tinkerbell_766 has the perfect set-up at Citricos—other ones that have been accommodating to brides in the past are Narcoossee's and Yachtsman Steakhouse, plus Portobello, Wolfgang Puck, Raglan Road & Fulton's at Downtown Disney and the restaurants at the Swan & Dolphin.

We were also looking into character dining, I know people say that you are allowed in any resort resturant in your wedding attire, but would you be allowed to do like the chef mickeys in the contemporary in your wedding attire? Any other buffets that anyone would recommend? Thanks so much for all the responses!!!!

As tinkerbell_766 said, you can definitely wear your wedding attire at a character meal that's not in the park, it just might be a little nutty in there. Some Escape couples have had their reception at 1900 Park Fare and taken pix with Cinderella and her sisters—it seems like a more mellow atmosphere.

 

[maywedding]

Hi there! We are having an escape wedding next May and Im organising the reception at the California Grill. The minumum spend is $3000 for the private room that looks over MK but its a really lovely resaurant and our fav so we don't mind spending the $$$$$ as I only intend getting maried the once!!!!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi from another May (VR) bride!!
When in May is your wedding?

 

[Mydisneywedding]

If this helps you decide...

I just returned from Disney, while I was there my finace and I decided to eat at Citricos since we are having our wedding dinner there on 1/6/11.

I had contacted the manager directly, she was nice enough to make our reservation for us on the 180 day mark and we told her we would be there on 9/2/10 to have dinner so she made that reservation for us as well.

When we arrived they had menus with our names printed on them, Gary the manager that night came to talk to us about our event, showed us how they would seat us since we are 25 total, and even the chef came over to give us details on the menu.

They were hosting a wedding that night and they even made an extra appetizer for us to try.

The service was outstanding, I recommend any Escape bride to host their dinner at Citricos

 

[maywedding]

Hi from another May (VR) bride!!
When in May is your wedding?

Hi Tinkerbell766 - Its May the 4th - be with you lol. We have emailed on my thread I think

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Aha yes, I remember now - SBP right?
Are you having your reception at CG? We are staying at BLT so we may bump in to one another!!

 

[maywedding]

Aha yes, I remember now - SBP right?
Are you having your reception at CG? We are staying at BLT so we may bump in to one another!!

Yup SBP. Hopefull the contracts come through today to get it all sorted as we are 4 days overdue!!!!! Well i guess i just want to know that its all sorted. Yes may bump into each other! Yup we are booking one of the private rooms to watch Wishes - can not wait!!!!

 

[weedee]

If this helps you decide...

I just returned from Disney, while I was there my finace and I decided to eat at Citricos since we are having our wedding dinner there on 1/6/11.

I had contacted the manager directly, she was nice enough to make our reservation for us on the 180 day mark and we told her we would be there on 9/2/10 to have dinner so she made that reservation for us as well.

When we arrived they had menus with our names printed on them, Gary the manager that night came to talk to us about our event, showed us how they would seat us since we are 25 total, and even the chef came over to give us details on the menu.

They were hosting a wedding that night and they even made an extra appetizer for us to try.

The service was outstanding, I recommend any Escape bride to host their dinner at Citricos

I am having my reception at Citricos, and although I haven't booked yet, and can't until my 180 day mark (1st Nov), I have already spoken to Lee, one of the managers. He was very helpful and quick to answer all my enquiries. I am making my own menus to match my other stationary, and Lee has said his staff will be happy to put these out for me, along with my favours. We will be having a long table (there will be 16 of us) and I will provide a plan of where I want people to sit, and do individual favour tags to act as placecards. I will deliver all this to Citricos the day before our VR. People will have the whole menu to choose from, however, despite my printing my own. I am also going to pay on the day with my cc. However, I do know that Citricos has a larger party menu (for over, I think 16 people) which you may be able to pay in advance. We decided against this as we are only 16, 3 of which are children
I am sure that you will be okay in 'Chef Mickey's' in your wedding attire. It is only in the theme parks that you (officially) cannot wear it!!
I also like '1900 Park Fare' for a character buffet. Be aware, however, that all character buffets can get crowded and noisy!!! If you were dining at 1900, you could have piccie taken at the beautiful GF - IMHO an added bonus!!!! HTH

I totally concur with these ladies regarding Citricos. We booked our reception through them and NOT DFTW. It wasn't a private event but it was really lovely and we didn't have to meet any minimum. We booked through Disney dining and personally contacted the managers to work out all the details. There's more info in my PJ/TR and some pictures of how they set up our table. Hope that helps!