Group dinner rates for reception?

[JessHooper]

Does anyone know if we have to take a group per person rate for our dinner? My wedding coordinator said that we did and it would be cheaper for us to not do it that way. We want to have our dinner at either the Yacht Club Galley or the Grand Floridian Cafe in November but we're having 20 people who are all picky eaters so we didn't want to do a group menu. Does this make sense? I am just hoping someone else here had as many people as us for dinner and didn't have to do a group menu. Thanks everyone. You're always so helpful. Groomtb, glad to hear you wedding was 'magical'. I can't wait to see pictures. Where did you end up doing dinner?

 

[groomtb]

HI again, we ate inside the epcot restaurant. everyone just ordered off the menu as you would at any dinner. so basically it was just a regular dinner thing.
different story if you want the whole catered formal reception. which of course will have to be per person rate.
if you're not having a formal reception dinner and just eat somewhere normal. you don't need to pay per person rate. have you seen the dinner menu at where you want to dine?
http://allearsnet.com/menu/men_gfcd.htm
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_ygd.htm

I'm sure it saves a ton by just having a regullar dinner menu. but it really depends if you're doing anything traditional at the wedding dinner that needs longer hours and more private.

I would however, call WDE Dine and ask them about the options for 20 people.

 

[JessHooper]

HI again, we ate inside the epcot restaurant. everyone just ordered off the menu as you would at any dinner. so basically it was just a regular dinner thing.
different story if you want the whole catered formal reception. which of course will have to be per person rate.
if you're not having a formal reception dinner and just eat somewhere normal. you don't need to pay per person rate. have you seen the dinner menu at where you want to dine?
http://allearsnet.com/menu/men_gfcd.htm
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_ygd.htm

I'm sure it saves a ton by just having a regullar dinner menu. but it really depends if you're doing anything traditional at the wedding dinner that needs longer hours and more private.

I would however, call WDE Dine and ask them about the options for 20 people.

Groom, we're doing an evening wedding so we don't want to use a day pass to get into the park to eat. Did you have to use a pass to get into Epcot to eat or did they just let you do your dinner there without using your pass.

 

[groomtb]

we had an early wedding so we bought everyone a pass for Epcot to play and eat dinner. blew our budget big time lol. but everyone had a great time so it was worth it.

the two restaurants you picked sounds delicious! so if you just plan on having a simple dinner, give wdwdine a call to see what the seating situation for 20 is like at those places.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

Or call Group Dining and make the dinner reservation for 20. I forget, are you an intimate or custom, maybe that is the difference?

 

[JessHooper]

Or call Group Dining and make the dinner reservation for 20. I forget, are you an intimate or custom, maybe that is the difference?

We're an intimate. Does that matter? Anyway, we've settled on doing our dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe. Its beautiful and the price is right. I just hope we don't have to do a group dining menu. Groom, glad to hear everything worked out. We're trying so hard to stay within our budget, but its so hard! Everything just keeps adding up. We are slowly paying off Michele from Just Marry so we don't have that hanging over our heads 2 weeks before the wedding. Did you rent your tux through Michele? Or did you travel with them? We want to rent from Men's Warehouse since they are where we are and we can pick them up before the wedding, but we won't have a way to pick them up. No cars! We're flying down on a Sunday the day before our wedding. How did you and your guys do it? I just can't see spending $130 on a tux just to have it delivered. Right now the tux we're renting for my fiance is only $80! Much better for us.

 

[groomtb]

Your coordinator is Michele now? that's wonderful

this is what i found about group dining. not sure if it's like this:
"if you are dining with a large group of 8 or more call WDW-Dine and request to be transferred to "Group Dining". A credit card number must be given to secure the group Advanced Dining Reservation. There is a cancellation policy within 24 hours of the reservation time. A $10.00 penalty per person is applied for guests that do not cancel in advance."
Either way, mark your calender for the time to call WDW Dine, exactly 180 days in advance of your dinner. booking 20 people can be tough.
I do believe if you're just there as a large group dinner, nothing special, then you can order off regular menu. but ask wdwdine anyways. there's a toll free number if you need one. pm me.
I rented at local after hours and it costed for like $150? lol... so $130 for tux+delivery/pickup isn't so bad, I just don't know who they renting from. price varies from designs too.
great idea on making installment payments now! it sure hurts when you're paying a lump sum at the end...

also, do you plan on going to the cafe in full wedding attire, from the Swan?

 

[Mommy Poppins]

Carolyn Allen's basic tux is $115. Designer tuxes are $150. They deliver and pick-up.

www.carolynallens.com