Longer Escape Reception?

[Krysssyann]

We are having an Escape wedding next Sept and I wanted to ask about a longer reception? Theoretically you are allowed a 2 hour one if you book through Disney catering, correct? Is there a way (anyone done) having a longer reception? or adding a "pre-reception" onto it? We are having a smaller intimate ceremony at SBP and inviting anyone else who comes to celebrate with us out to a brunch reception and a dessert party (was thinking Ariels - is it still supposed to be open next Sept I saw on the venue list that it was only available until Sept 2010). Thanks! Just trying to figure out how to have the most time with my guests

 

[PunttinOnes]

Hi!

We are having our Pre-Reception start at 1:00 pm and our Reception to start at 1:30 pm and we have our room until 4:30.

::whew::

...and we are having an escape wedding!

HTH!~

 

[Sarah84]

Hi!

We are having our Pre-Reception start at 1:00 pm and our Reception to start at 1:30 pm and we have our room until 4:30.

::whew::

...and we are having an escape wedding!

HTH!~

are you having to pay extra for this? what room are you using?

 

[Firefly09]

Our Escape reception is currently scheduled for 11am-2pm.

Maybe there was a recent change of shortening the reception to 2 hours for Escape brides?

 

[Krysssyann]

That makes me feel a little better...maybe Carrie/lurkeyloo can comment if she knows anything...my wedding consulter mentioned 2 hrs thats why I was asking, I thought it could be a little short and wanted to make sure I should be able to have something longer *fingers crossed* I can't oficially book until January.....

 

[gemmybear83]

Mine is 2.5 hours plus the 1 hour cake and champagne service, this is at Ariels, as we have a small group and a buffet I cant see us needing an extra time.

 

[Chilly]

We extended our cake and champagne reception from 30 mins to 1.5 hours. Our reception ended up being about 2.5 hours. I think they book the room for longer in case you are running late etc but you can't officially make it any longer I don't think. You can't have dj/dancing etc.

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

That makes me feel a little better...maybe Carrie/lurkeyloo can comment if she knows anything...my wedding consulter mentioned 2 hrs thats why I was asking, I thought it could be a little short and wanted to make sure I should be able to have something longer *fingers crossed* I can't oficially book until January.....

when is your wedding day? I am also a fellow September bride. we will be there from 8th -22nd with the wedding on the 12th

 

[PunttinOnes]

are you having to pay extra for this? what room are you using?

Erm... I don't think so?

We are having our escape wedding on a Saturday so we have to meet the $7,500 minimum. I asked if we could just nix the "cake and champagne" celebration immediately after the ceremony and add it in to our reception at the California Grill/Napa room. I chose that room partly because we could stay in it until 4:30.

 

[lurkyloo]

I have asked about this on several occasions and always been told that the official line is 2 hours for a private Escape reception. Obviously, in actual practice they can be a little loosey-goosey about this.

I think this is one of those cases where the official line (2 hours only, no DJ, etc.) is intended to make a clear distinction between Wishes and Escape events. But, as with just about every area of the Disney company, your mileage may vary depending on who you talk to and how much you push.

 

[angel81uk]

Hmmm I wonder if this is another of those things that varies depending on who you ask? I was told by our sales consultant that we could extend it to 3 hours at no extra cost. In the end we found out we would have trouble meeting the f&b minimum with so few people so we added a dessert party on to the end of the reception. That way we get 3.5 hours which increases the cost of drinks, the cost of the dessert party menu etc but as the 2 events run back to back in the same location they haven't increased the f&b minimum.

In an ideal world we would have liked an earlier reception with the dessert party later in the day we just couldn't make the minimums work. Instead we are keeping the cake and champagne reception at SBP and thinking about serving some canapés to keep people going until the reception.

 

[Belle2Be]

I'm not sure where you're getting married, but I know Disney Catering does receptions outside of Disney weddings, so maybe that's an option?

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

For my Escape, I wanted a longer reception, so I started asking about changing to a Wishes...and suddenly, I was given extra time at the reception without changing it. I think for me, I was already spending over the Wishes minimum, so they just let me go by those "rules". So, it likely depends not only who you talk to, but likely, how much you are spending. If it is on par with a "Wishes" budget, I don't see why they can't let you extend it.