Napa Room Wedding crisis

[aduck126]

Hello everyone! I am going to book the Napa Room (located in the California Grill) for my wedding reception. I am having an escape wedding and my planner told me that I have to wait 6 months before the date to book it. However, my aunt is a Florida resident so she can book it whenever she wants but they told her it wont be very "wedding like." I was wondering if anyone else had a problem like this. My wedding planner even said that they couldn't guarantee transfering the cake if I dont book it through the disney wedding people. I dont know what to do because my heart is set on the Napa Room. Can anyone give me some advise, or what they mean when they say "wedding like"

Thanks!

 

[disbridemimi]

Does she have to pay a deposit to book it? How much will she lose if she books and cancels? Can she book it to like "hold" it, and then cancel at the 6 month prior, and then you swoop in and book it at the 6 month mark? Like she calls to cancel, you call to book at the same time? Is that an evil thing to do? Im not trying to plot against Dis or anything, but well what to do in this situation? You can either wait and risk losing it, or have her book it and deal with the added step of making it "weddinglike" and having them bring your cake over (which really shouldnt be a huge issue, I wouldnt think? what if your aunt were having a regular cake delivered that werent a wedding cake? Would they give her a hard time? )


Have you chosen a back up location just in case? Or could you change your ceremony time if you need to accomodate a change in room time?

 

[lurkyloo]

What they mean is, you can't book a wedding-related event without going through Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings. Your aunt could book it to hold a regular private event there, but if she starts trying to add a wedding cake or anything else they feel is wedding-like, the convention services group may tell her they can't work with her on it. Most of the time, the minute you mention anything wedding-like to them, they tell you they can't help you and that you have to call Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings. This is all so that people won't attempt to circumvent DFTW to hold weddings at Disney.

I really wouldn't worry about not being able to get the Napa Room 6 months out. It helps if you can be flexible with date and time, but it's not like you're trying to book the Wedding Pavilion on Valentine's Day or something. Most people working with DFTW are able to secure the locations they want.

 

[Bride-to-be]

We put the Napa room on hold in Feb for next January. Our consultant did it for us and said that we didn't have to say yes or no until may... Perhaps the reasoning is thats its for the night before our wedding and not our actual wedding reception. But it seems weird because it was DFTW that booked it for us.

My feelings are that different people there follow different rules. If you are anxious then I would try to ask someone else and see what they say.

Also as to whether is weddingish or not - my feelings are that anything can be decorated. I have never seen the room in person but all of the pictures just make it look really modern. I think being able to watch wishes from up there really really makes it and would alone make the spot very weddingy. Just figure out what you want to do with linens and such and I am sure the whole thing will come together.

 

[aduck126]

Does she have to pay a deposit to book it? How much will she lose if she books and cancels? Can she book it to like "hold" it, and then cancel at the 6 month prior, and then you swoop in and book it at the 6 month mark? Like she calls to cancel, you call to book at the same time? Is that an evil thing to do? Im not trying to plot against Dis or anything, but well what to do in this situation? You can either wait and risk losing it, or have her book it and deal with the added step of making it "weddinglike" and having them bring your cake over (which really shouldnt be a huge issue, I wouldnt think? what if your aunt were having a regular cake delivered that werent a wedding cake? Would they give her a hard time? )


Have you chosen a back up location just in case? Or could you change your ceremony time if you need to accomodate a change in room time?

I already looked into the booking and canceling thing. My planner Brianna did that for me and she said that is not something that the Grand Gatherings people do. I guess they are not really affiliated with Disney and don't work with them at all which is kind of a pain.

I guess as far as the cake goes I might have to literally walk the cake over to the restaurant myself. I dont know if they set it up at the grand floridian and I ask for a box or something...everyone is being kind of aloof about the issue.

I am really am set on having the wedding and napa room. i'm willing to change the wedding day just to get the napa room but its kind of annoying that the wedding books 8 months out and the room books 6 months. you think they could make an exception for wedding people. that means invitations are going out like 5 months in advance.

 

[Bride-to-be]

I was just looking at your date. We have it on hold for 1/30/10 - after you.... I honestly think if you can't go through DFTW that you should just have your aunt book it and that way you can sleep at night. Whatever the extra cost of it may be - I think its def worth it just to reduce your stress levels.

 

[aduck126]

We put the Napa room on hold in Feb for next January. Our consultant did it for us and said that we didn't have to say yes or no until may... Perhaps the reasoning is thats its for the night before our wedding and not our actual wedding reception. But it seems weird because it was DFTW that booked it for us.

My feelings are that different people there follow different rules. If you are anxious then I would try to ask someone else and see what they say.

Also as to whether is weddingish or not - my feelings are that anything can be decorated. I have never seen the room in person but all of the pictures just make it look really modern. I think being able to watch wishes from up there really really makes it and would alone make the spot very weddingy. Just figure out what you want to do with linens and such and I am sure the whole thing will come together.

How did you get it so early?! Are you having a wishes wedding? who is you planner? ugh, see I have heard like 15 different things from different people I have talked to and thats why it is so annoying. My planner wont book it until 6 months period.

Good Advise! I am planning on sending a troop of family members over there to decorate the space too. I saw another post with that brought in their own table runners and mickey confetti and it looked really cute. I'm just so stressed out about not being able to book it.

 

[aduck126]

AGREED! i'm going crazy!

 

[aduck126]

What they mean is, you can't book a wedding-related event without going through Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings. Your aunt could book it to hold a regular private event there, but if she starts trying to add a wedding cake or anything else they feel is wedding-like, the convention services group may tell her they can't work with her on it. Most of the time, the minute you mention anything wedding-like to them, they tell you they can't help you and that you have to call Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings. This is all so that people won't attempt to circumvent DFTW to hold weddings at Disney.

I really wouldn't worry about not being able to get the Napa Room 6 months out. It helps if you can be flexible with date and time, but it's not like you're trying to book the Wedding Pavilion on Valentine's Day or something. Most people working with DFTW are able to secure the locations they want.

Thanks for the info! does the group cancel the event if they find out it is too weddingy?

 

[Bride-to-be]

I don't know what we are doing - I am sort of in limbo at the moment somewhere between a wishes wedding and a cruise wedding. We are waiting to hear about the construction details for the castle. I think our planner is a wishes planner so I don't think he could help you.

But someone who can help you is Shelley who works for Impressions. I can't say enough great things about her. But she could totally take over the decorating and have everything decorated for you so your family doesn't have to do it. She also sells the white chocolate castle cake toppers which would be so appropriate if you are having dinner looking out over the castle. You should check out her website - www.themescometrue.com and then just email her and ask what she has done in the way of decorations for the napa room before. She is super super nice and could show you lots of pictures.

 

[aduck126]

hmm thanks for the info! I was checking out her site a couple days ago. I might do that. You were probably able to book it so early because of the wishes wedding. The escape weddings don't get priority, so you're left scrambling everything together last minute.

 

[Bride-to-be]

Sorry to keep posting. But I just had another sort of back up plan for you. The new DVC Contemp Tower is going to have some sort of a lounge at the top. My planner said that because its DVC he didn't know yet if DFTW would be allowed to use it. He thought he would know all of the details by June. June is not that far away. They might be able to do something really cool up there too.

I didn't realize about the escape wedding. Sorry. That sucks!

 

[aduck126]

thats awesome! thank you for letting me know. I'll mention that to my planner.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

The Napa room is a "special venue" for Wishes brides - we can book earlier than 8 months. That is why some people have it booked already. We can book it a year out.

I know for our date we were able to get both rooms no problem, so you should be fine. Do you have your heart set on the Napa Room? because the Sonoma room is there too, and would double your chances....

It sucks you have to wait though. I feel your pain.

 

[Carye]

Where are you having your ceremony?

I am getting married the same day, ceremony in Epcot UK and reception in the Whitehall room at GF.

How exciting to find someone with the same date!!!

 

[aduck126]

I am doing the wedding pavilion ceremony and as you can tell by my post, want the Napa Room reception. I don't have the pavilion booked yet because I have to wait until May 11th but last time I checked there were still 3 times open so it looks good for me so far.

Thats exciting! Yay to same day weddings!