Going through the menus... Anyone have more info on cocktail hour??

[fearthisinc]

So we are going through the menus and WOW.. lots of choices.. I know its still way early to even be thinking about the food but from my understanding of weddings the food is one of the highest costs.. this is apparent to me as we have gone though the lists and picking everything we like and are looking at 275 for food and open bar.. This includes a plated menu and a cocktail hour.. Very pricey.. and that price only includes a piece of wedding cake.. No other dessert.. Just have two questions and that I can't seem to find answers for..

1. During the cocktail hour are the hors d'oeuvres passed around or are they set up on tables?

2. One of the things we saw listed that sounds like it would be great for our guests is the deluxe seafood display.. Just wondering if anyone that had a disney wedding or is further along in the process knows exactly what this looks like.. It says it has shrimp, crab claws, and scallops.. But just wondering what kind "display" they put on.. Is it just a small tray that sits on a table? Does it keep getting "refilled". It says its about 35.00 per person so I am going to assume they keep it full but again wanted to see what others knew about it..

For our cocktail hour we are thinking of doing 6 hors d'oeuvres plus the seafood display..

 

[Chilly]

That sounds like way too much food for the cocktail hour. Most people only do a couple of things. I only had fruit and still everyone couldn't finish dinner because they were too full.

 

[andeesings]

For our cocktail hour we are thinking of doing 6 hors d'oeuvres plus the seafood display..

I'm a New Yorker-- cocktail hours here are probably more food than many people see at a dinner-- we're SUPER excessive up here!! I know my family would expect that sort of insane cocktail hour, lol, so for the record I don't think 6 hors d'oeuvres sounds crazy! We had a rather large seafood display at the private event I attended in Epcot-- it was certainly refilled with regularity, but I have to admit I didn't each much from it myself because there was so much other stuff. What I had was delicious, though.

 

[fearthisinc]

I'm a New Yorker-- cocktail hours here are probably more food than many people see at a dinner-- we're SUPER excessive up here!! I know my family would expect that sort of insane cocktail hour, lol, so for the record I don't think 6 hors d'oeuvres sounds crazy! We had a rather large seafood display at the private event I attended in Epcot-- it was certainly refilled with regularity, but I have to admit I didn't each much from it myself because there was so much other stuff. What I had was delicious, though.

Trust me I know lol.. I am here in NJ.. We would do more but we priced out a custom plated menu and just with food and open bar we are at 275 per person lol.. We may have more but right now figuring 65 people.. Right there is about 18k lol.. We are trying to get an idea on how Disney does the cocktail hour.. Not sure if items are passed or if all of them are set up at a table.. And we would love to get first hand knowledge of the seafood display.. Both sides of our family are seafood lovers so we were kind of thinking a nice big seafood display in the middle and three hors d'oeuvres on each side.. But again we have no idea what kind of "display" disney puts on..

 

[lurkyloo]

It depends on what you order. You can request that certain individual items be passed (like, say, mini corn dogs or scallop shooters), but others (like a seafood display or the antipasto display) are set out on special stands.

 

[Cmdbuddy]

Actually, they told me that only cold hors d'oeuvres (I have to google this word every time I want to use it) can be passed due to food safety. Anything that is warm will be served buffet style.

A lot of venues across the world sell you things per item. Like $20 for 100 pieces, and you would have to figure out how many to buy. Disney sets it as a per person price. I asked about this during my menu tasting and the chef said it's their responsibility to make sure they don't run out. So yes, they will keep refilling it.

 

[Cmdbuddy]

I have to warn you though- 6 hors d'oeuvres plus a seafood buffet will run you close to $90 a person probably.... and that's not including dinner!

If you're looking at doing a buffet dinner, I would look at a pre planned buffet dinner (for example, the Glass Coach), and customize it. They include stuff for the pre reception already, and then you could add on from there. Seems like it's cheaper if you tell them "I'm using this menu as a base and want to do this to it" as opposed to just going a la carte.

 

[fearthisinc]

I have to warn you though- 6 hors d'oeuvres plus a seafood buffet will run you close to $90 a person probably.... and that's not including dinner!

If you're looking at doing a buffet dinner, I would look at a pre planned buffet dinner (for example, the Glass Coach), and customize it. They include stuff for the pre reception already, and then you could add on from there. Seems like it's cheaper if you tell them "I'm using this menu as a base and want to do this to it" as opposed to just going a la carte.

We are actually doing a plated dinner.. From what we have priced out the cocktail hour, reception dinner, cake, and open bar its like 275 per person..

 

[Cmdbuddy]

If you're ok with that, then go for it. Don't forget about the service fees. That's a lot of money per person. You may want to look at a Bill on Consumption bar as well. It's not a cash bar, but you only pay for what you drink. Disney will have an estimate for how much you will drink, and you prepay that. If you don't drink that much, you get a refund check back. It's only economical to have the open bar if like 90% of your guests are heavy heavy drinkers. Carrie did a podcast about this... might be worth listening to.

http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2013/03/27/how-to-save-a-bundle-on-the-bar/