It doesn't make sense!

[SRUAlmn]

Well that really stinks. I wish that I had thought of this a lot sooner. We might try the California Grill. Maybe that will work, but I heard the rooms are smaller and probably only seat 40-50. Does anyone know? And we wanted to have dancing. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

We booked the Napa room (the larger of the two) for our reception and it's capacity is 50. I 'believe' the Sonoma room's capacity is 30.

 

[dznystar]

I have been on the phone with Disney all day! I called and spoke with Matt at DFTW first thing this morning. He informed me that if you are planning an Intimate, your WP will only plan the wedding. You can plan other "outside" events, but they don't do that at DFTW. So he referred me to Recreation. I then spoke with another gentleman and explained that I was trying to have an Intimate Wedding and book a larger Illuminations Dessert Party. He suggested calling Grand Gatherings. He also told me about the Illuminations International Dinner and Dessert Party at the Odyssey. It sounds really neat, but not quite what I'm looking for. I wasn't quite satisfied with my answers, so this afternoon I called and spoke with someone else at Grand Gatherings. (Disney is such a large company, that unless you speak with someone who has been there for a long time, or you ask a castmember about something they are familiar with, they probably won't give you the answer you want. Just, keep trying.) The last person I asked told me about the same International dinner. I asked her about the Illuminations Dessert Party at the French Island. She said she thought that was booked through the WP. So I began some research online. I went to Disney World website and found something under Magical Gatherings. They offer special things for large parties (anything over 8) for Resort guests. One of the things they mentioned was a Custom Event. I called the phone number, which was Group Sales. But unfortunately they had already closed for the day. So I will try tomorrow, hopefully with some good news. I'll keep you posted with the results.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I have been on the phone with Disney all day! I called and spoke with Matt at DFTW first thing this morning. He informed me that if you are planning an Intimate, your WP will only plan the wedding. You can plan other "outside" events, but they don't do that at DFTW. So he referred me to Recreation. I then spoke with another gentleman and explained that I was trying to have an Intimate Wedding and book a larger Illuminations Dessert Party. He suggested calling Grand Gatherings. He also told me about the Illuminations International Dinner and Dessert Party at the Odyssey. It sounds really neat, but not quite what I'm looking for. I wasn't quite satisfied with my answers, so this afternoon I called and spoke with someone else at Grand Gatherings. (Disney is such a large company, that unless you speak with someone who has been there for a long time, or you ask a castmember about something they are familiar with, they probably won't give you the answer you want. Just, keep trying.) The last person I asked told me about the same International dinner. I asked her about the Illuminations Dessert Party at the French Island. She said she thought that was booked through the WP. So I began some research online. I went to Disney World website and found something under Magical Gatherings. They offer special things for large parties (anything over 8) for Resort guests. One of the things they mentioned was a Custom Event. I called the phone number, which was Group Sales. But unfortunately they had already closed for the day. So I will try tomorrow, hopefully with some good news. I'll keep you posted with the results.

You Go!!! You sound just like me! When I really want something, I don't stop until I get the answer I want

 

[druidia]

I seem to recall that to book the Napa or Sonoma Room at the CG during dinner was quite a hefty premium excluding the meal, etc? Like $3K and $5K? Don't know if that still applies?

 

[SandraVB79]

I've heard several brides say if you go through Group Sales for something like that and they find out you are having an Intimate wedding that day, they will cancel your cruise. What if you had the party the next night?

Can't you have someone else make the reservation for the dessert thing? I mean, like have your DM or so make the reservation, and then all go there and have the party? That way, officially, it's not you who will have the event next to your wedding.
I guess in that case, you couldn't wear your gown though...

 

[starseed]

I seem to recall that to book the Napa or Sonoma Room at the CG during dinner was quite a hefty premium excluding the meal, etc? Like $3K and $5K? Don't know if that still applies?

I'm not sure if what I have is older information, but I read info that said that the food and beverage minimum for CG's smaller room is $2,000 at night. The maximum is 40 people and apparently it is possible to set up a dance floor but that will lower the guest capacity.

There will be ten of us for our Intimate dinner in the Chef's Domain at Citricos (16 people max.) and have a F&B minimum of $650 and it looks like we will hit that (and more!) very easily.

Early on in our planning, I felt very limited by certain policies that affect Intimate weddings. But with time, research, persistence AND patience, I now feel that we will be getting what we want and I'm happy that we have persisted. Keep asking your questions and sometimes it's absolutely necessary to push-back a little to get what you want. Good luck!

HTH.

 

[dznystar]

Well, here's the latest info. I called Group Sales this afternoon. The cast member took all of my information, knowing that I was planning an Intimate at the WP. She said that a Sales Manager would contact me back with rates and dates the early part of next week. When I talked to Matt at the WP yesterday, he said that they won't cancel another event, but DFTW won't plan anything outside your Intimate ceremony anymore.

 

[gail228]

Catering and Conventions IllumiNations407-939-4887 Shannon Turner Private Dining 407-824-2578
Group Dining 407-939-7707
Grand Gathering 407-939-7526

Try Shannon first. She originally planned our dessert party before we switched it over to a weddings planned event. Since you can't do that anymore, Shannon should be able to help you. Tell her your concerns about the wedding- she listened to everything we were worried about and assured us they would not cancel our event...

Good luck!

PS- I don't think you should go the Grand Gathering route. The party looks nice, but it is not private. Just my preference...

 

[gail228]

Catering and Conventions
IllumiNations 407-939-4887 Shannon Turner

Reposting- the last post format makes it look like Shannon can be reached through Private Dining. Sorry- she is in Catering and Conventions @ Epcot.

 

[dznystar]

Catering and Conventions
IllumiNations 407-939-4887 Shannon Turner

Reposting- the last post format makes it look like Shannon can be reached through Private Dining. Sorry- she is in Catering and Conventions @ Epcot.

Thank you! I'm guessing there won't be anyone in the office today, but I will be sure to call them on Monday!

 

[lurkyloo]

Hi Dznystar - what ever happened with this? I know you've prolly posted since, but I couldn't turn up anything in the search engine and I'm dying to know if you were able to book an Illuminations dessert party for more people than are attending your Intimate ceremony.

Thanks!!!

 

[dznystar]

Hi Dznystar - what ever happened with this? I know you've prolly posted since, but I couldn't turn up anything in the search engine and I'm dying to know if you were able to book an Illuminations dessert party for more people than are attending your Intimate ceremony.

Thanks!!!

Well... we eventually changed the wedding to a custom, having the ceremony at the WP and the reception at the upper and lower french island for illuminations. Everything went really well until monday when I found out that the night of our wedding is extra magic hours at EPCOT. My planner told me that we could move the reception to the Living Seas, but thats not what I wanted. This week has been a huge disaster and no one at Disney really understands. We chose the french island for a reason, and both of us really loved the idea of illuminations. Now we're planning the reception in the St.Augustine C&D and going out on the Marina to see Wishes. But there are differences in the costs and its just not the same. I've been so upset ALL week, and I have no idea what to do.

 

[allisonswonderland]

I am so sorry things are not working out---

 

[AnnieBelle]

My fiance and I had the same issue with the Intimate Wedding and that is why we switched over to the Shades of Green wedding. We wanted to have some of the on site locations for the reception, but the price tag on the custom and the guest limitations on the Intimate really held us back. I hope that things work out for you, I am so sorry for your disappointment!

 

[disprincessatheart]

Well... we eventually changed the wedding to a custom, having the ceremony at the WP and the reception at the upper and lower french island for illuminations. Everything went really well until monday when I found out that the night of our wedding is extra magic hours at EPCOT. My planner told me that we could move the reception to the Living Seas, but thats not what I wanted. This week has been a huge disaster and no one at Disney really understands. We chose the french island for a reason, and both of us really loved the idea of illuminations. Now we're planning the reception in the St.Augustine C&D and going out on the Marina to see Wishes. But there are differences in the costs and its just not the same. I've been so upset ALL week, and I have no idea what to do.

Have you been to EPCOT on an EMH night? We were there in the fall and found that people still cleared out of the WS pretty well, just a lot of people in the front of the park after hours. Other than hoping for a more private event, is there another reason you wouldn't want to keep your reception as it was?? We were planning to do the same setup for our wedding (WP and FI Upper and Lower) but had to postpone. We were lucky that EMH that day ended up being in the morning, but I think if it was me I'd still keep the location and deal with the people in the park vs changing locations. There aren't any attractions near FI that will keep a big crowd in that area of the park after Illuminations, so I doubt you guys will even really notice that the park is still open.

Good Luck with whatever you decide!!!

 

[M&M126]

Have you been to EPCOT on an EMH night? We were there in the fall and found that people still cleared out of the WS pretty well, just a lot of people in the front of the park after hours. Other than hoping for a more private event, is there another reason you wouldn't want to keep your reception as it was?? We were planning to do the same setup for our wedding (WP and FI Upper and Lower) but had to postpone. We were lucky that EMH that day ended up being in the morning, but I think if it was me I'd still keep the location and deal with the people in the park vs changing locations. There aren't any attractions near FI that will keep a big crowd in that area of the park after Illuminations, so I doubt you guys will even really notice that the park is still open.

Good Luck with whatever you decide!!!

I think the problem is that she wont be able to have a DJ and she wants that at her reception. You can only have a DJ in the park after the park closes. I was just dealing with this issue when trying to decide on a date for my reception.

Dznystar, I hope everything works out. I'm sorry for all your setbacks. It'll be ok come wedding day!

 

[dznystar]

Have you been to EPCOT on an EMH night? We were there in the fall and found that people still cleared out of the WS pretty well, just a lot of people in the front of the park after hours. Other than hoping for a more private event, is there another reason you wouldn't want to keep your reception as it was?? We were planning to do the same setup for our wedding (WP and FI Upper and Lower) but had to postpone. We were lucky that EMH that day ended up being in the morning, but I think if it was me I'd still keep the location and deal with the people in the park vs changing locations. There aren't any attractions near FI that will keep a big crowd in that area of the park after Illuminations, so I doubt you guys will even really notice that the park is still open.

Good Luck with whatever you decide!!!

Its not necessarily the crowd in the park, but the fact that a DJ can't play music until the park clears, even if they are in future world. Our only option was to have the illuminations pre reception, and move all of our guests to the living seas. Thats not the location that i wanted, and didn't want my guests to have to move that far.

 

[Skylarr29]

How many guests do you have? Have you asked about using the Bistro in France, American Adventure Rotunda or the Parlor upstairs if your guest list is smaller? Or maybe Illuminations as pre reception and then on to a ball room at the Boardwalk or yacht and beach club? I know this is frustrating so just trying to give ideas that maybe you haven't thought of? There is also Atlantic Dance Hall??? Hope this gets straightened out soon.

 

[disprincessatheart]

I see - we weren't having a DJ, so it didn't occur to me. I think the idea of using one of the other WS ideas sounds nice. I know it's not exactly what you were hoping for, but it could still be really nice. There are a bunch of private rooms in WS that might work - you probably know more about those than most of us do. I know having to change things around at the last minute stinks (I had to cancel all of my plans 6 weeks before my wedding while we figure out a new date) but remember that you may come up with something even better than your original plan! If you really love FI, maybe you can keep it for the pre reception and find another location for the DJ portion, or use it for your rehearsal the night before instead??

 

[lurkyloo]

Thanks for the update, Dznystar. Now I remember reading the other thread about the debacle you're going through, and I'm so sorry things are not working out the way you'd planned. I hope you keep us posted - Disney had better make this right!