Narcoossee's

[Holstar]

Heya all!

We're really really struggling with finding a reception venue, and at first glance Narcoossee's ticks all of the boxes. Except for one...

Timing.

We really want an afternoon ceremony, which would mean a late afternoon cocktail hour and then an evening reception + fireworks dessert party. But, from the book I understand that Narcoossee's is only available until mid afternoon, is this right? I'm like 99.99% sure I saw photos of an evening reception once upon a time, but I can't find them now. Are WDW ever flexible? Do they ever do evening receptions at Narcoossee's? I'd imagine you'd need to book out the whole restaurant for that to be feasible, which I'm imagining (if at all possible) would cost big big bucks.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'd really really like a venue with some form of outdoor space so it's not just in one room. I like Whitehall + patio, but I read that the ballrooms tend to need more in terms of decor. I love the Attic, but I'm not keen on the furniture/decor restrictions, although other than this it's completely perfect. Ideally, we'd also like a plated meal, rather than a buffet.

I'm being too picky aren't I?

H.x

 

[lurkyloo]

I'd imagine you'd need to book out the whole restaurant for that to be feasible, which I'm imagining (if at all possible) would cost big big bucks.

^^This. And the restaurant is so popular, I'm not sure a buyout is an option at any cost. The only restaurant I've ever seen them suggest as a buyout is Monsieur Paul, which is run by another company. It could be that Disney just doesn't do that for their restaurants.

I'd really really like a venue with some form of outdoor space so it's not just in one room. I like Whitehall + patio, but I read that the ballrooms tend to need more in terms of decor.

Well that's up to you and how YOU feel about the space. Have you seen Whitehall in person, or even just in photos? Many folks do nothing beyond centerpieces as decor there, and you may like it as-is too! Of all the ballrooms at the Grand Floridian, it definitely has the most character.

http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/wdw-venue-photos/whitehall-room/

Other indoor/outdoor spaces:

Atlantic Dance Hall - http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/wdw-venue-photos/atlantic-dance-hall/

St. James Room & Patio - http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/wdw-venue-photos/st-james-room/

California Grill - http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/wdw-venue-photos/california-grill/

I love the Attic, but I'm not keen on the furniture/decor restrictions, although other than this it's completely perfect. Ideally, we'd also like a plated meal, rather than a buffet.

Out of curiosity, what were you hoping to do with the furniture and decor that's restricted? I admit that the new green chair slipcovers are even uglier than the old floral ones, but we were able to overlook those because the rest of the room was so charming!

Regarding plated vs. buffet, is the allure the fact that each course is individually presented, making it feel more formal? Because Disney can go as fancy as you want on the buffet, food-wise, or you can just do action stations (space permitting), which tend to impress guests.

I'm being too picky aren't I?

Nah.... each of us has that "thing" (or several things!) that bugs us or has captured our imagination and must be excluded from/included in our wedding!

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Depending on the size of your guest list, Bluezoo at the Dolphin may be a good fit for you. The upper deck of the lounge can be reserved for cocktail hour, and their private dining room can seat up to 54 guests. There is a patio off the private room that would give you a little outdoor space. After dinner, you could easily make your way over to Epcot for an IllumiNations fireworks dessert party, or you can watch the aerial fireworks right from Bluezoo's patio.

Il Mulino at the Swan also has private indoor/outdoor space.

 

[Holstar]

Well that's up to you and how YOU feel about the space. Have you seen Whitehall in person, or even just in photos? Many folks do nothing beyond centerpieces as decor there, and you may like it as-is too! Of all the ballrooms at the Grand Floridian, it definitely has the most character.

Just photos unfortunately - we'll likely not be able to come out until after we've booked.

Out of curiosity, what were you hoping to do with the furniture and decor that's restricted? I admit that the new green chair slipcovers are even uglier than the old floral ones, but we were able to overlook those because the rest of the room was so charming!

It's a bit of a mix. I am, completely and utterly in love with the look of the room and the little balcony and well, pretty much everything about it. But, I don't like splitting our guests - as we're going to be at the very very top of the room capacity and as I don't think theres any flexibility to move the outdoor dining space inside, there's no way of avoiding it. And yes, the chair slipcovers are super ugly. I guess, we've had this idea in our heads for how we'd like it to look, the sort of centre pieces we like etc and I'm not sure how it would work with this space.

But I am going to have a big think about it and see if i can get my head around whatever it is thats holding me back from falling in love with the attic. I think, in part, it's to do with the fact that we know we will have at LEAST 25 people who will definitely, 100%, be there. But the rest of our family and friends who we will be inviting? That could potentially push us waaaaaay over the guest count. I'm not sure how to approach that. We're no where near the point of booking yet, so I guess we could chat to people before hand and have a back up plan of a different room? We were thinking of super duper breaking tradition and sending save the dates out at the two year mark to get a feeler from people, as flights would need to be booked at latest 11 months beforehand, and hey, we can't just spring a trip on them that will cost near the $2k mark without lots of notice if we want people to stand a chance of seriously being able to consider it.

I guess this isn't just about the room!

Regarding plated vs. buffet, is the allure the fact that each course is individually presented, making it feel more formal? Because Disney can go as fancy as you want on the buffet, food-wise, or you can just do action stations (space permitting), which tend to impress guests.

I think it's what I mentally associate with buffet - here in the UK, every buffet reception I've been to has been in a church hall, with a bad DJ and dodgey cocktail sausages on a plate, some hard sandwiches and a bowl of chips. We've always pictured our weeding as being quite formal, you know, the standard plated steak or perhaps lamb for dinner etc. I need to have a proper think!

Thank you Carrie - you always seem to make me reconsider what ever it is I'm having a mini melt down over. Back to the drawing boards and sorry for the essay xx

 

[KiniShakenBake]

I attended a reception at the Atlantic Dance Hall. It was absolutely beautiful, and the way they do it is really neat.

Talk to your coordinator about it, because the view onto the lake is wonderful from the hall. You can host a cocktail hour in the upstairs area while you are coming back from the ceremony, taking photos on the boardwalk, etc... Then once everyone has gotten their cue from the DJ and gotten seated, they will bring in the party. Your entrance to your reception is announced, and you'll descend down the stairs from the upper balcony down into the reception hall, toward the head table if you so choose. It's quite grand.

The food we had was buffet, and it was glorious. The salmon was perfectly cooked and all of the accompaniments were top-notch. As well, the couple was told that if what they had ordered for food wasn't appealing to them that day, they only needed to ask and anything they wanted would be brought from the kitchen.

Are you getting married IN the park? Or somewhere around it? Last I heard, ceremonies in the parks had to be done before the park opened in the morning, which was why my friends got married at 9:30 in the morning (prep started at 4am and pictures started at 7:30, but sunrise at Epcot over the World Showcase is absolutely glorious, no matter how big the bags under your eyes, let me tell you!)

Do see about the Atlantic Dance Hall. It's a beautiful venue and we had 73 people there, which was just right. It will hold many more, but our tables would have been more distant and the seating chart would have been more complicated.