Need some help - got bumped from our venue but there's a silver lining

[happylalagirl]

Hi guys!! So, I got a call from our SM today and she told me a convention of 400 people had just been booked surrounding the French Upper Island we had chosen for our Illuminations Dessert party. She said we weren't bumped but the convention had booked the Lower French island and the French Arm as well as the UK upper and lower... which means we'd be surrounded by an extremely large group of unknown people. However, here is the silver lining.... The convention manager offered to pay for our venue site fee if we moved to the UK lower and he would take the French upper instead. Now, Kristi says the UK lower can hold from 20 -100 people and we are looking at about 80 as of now. The pics I've seen of it seem narrow and long and not so pretty. However, Kristi says she thinks it has a better view. My DF really liked the French upper - the pics I've seen of the UK lower don't really give it justice. I was wondering if anyone has any pics of the UK lower set up for a dessert party? We are going to Disney in Aug. but she needs an answer before that, so we won't even be able to see it before we make a decision. I'm willing to move if it's nice but DF is a little hesitant. I don't really want 400 strangers surrounding us especially at my fairy tale wedding... Help...

 

[JonetteA]

Would they pay to move you to the Isola? I think that this is a starting position with Disney for negotiation. What about the "West Wing" The UK lower is tiny. I am not sure how you would put that many people there without being VERY cramped! Ask them to show you on a CAD how they are going to get everyone in there with tables and chairs. There are also benches bolted to the ground that can not be removed.

 

[happylalagirl]

I thought it looked small and I was wondering about those benches. I just e-mailed Kristi to see if the Isola was an option... that would be cool to have that all to ourselves... Thanks for the suggestions. Where's the west wing???

Di

 

[wendy46001]

I'd ask about italy as well...the UK lower is small I can see fitting 50 but if you want tables etc it will be tight.....and while 400 people does sound loud...Its not like the park is empty...if they (the convention) didnt book it then park guests would fill the space anyway...Just dont let them talk you into China (that location has an island in the way)....

 

[ItGirl753]

Happylala --
Did you see the pictures on disney wedding website? You can clearly see the benches and how narrow it is. Here is a link to the pictures. Make sure you click on the "photos and more" to see another view. I think that should do it. Good luck with your decision.

http://disneyweddings.go.com/site/wed/cus/rec/location/themepark/index.jsp?styleName=style09

 

[twojo21]

this also happened to me with my march wedding i was booked at france & got bumped by a convention, kristi was also my sales manager & recommended uk lower (the italy isola was already booked with the same convention) so uk lower is where we had our dessert party march 21st after our wedding reception with 50 guests, it was comfortable for 50 but i think any more ie 80 would feel crowded. we had tables set up & guests also sat on the benches. uk lower is a nice venue though & has a great view of the fireworks & lake. the dessert party was a huge hit with our guests & was great memories & photos for us.

 

[dsnyfan6/18]

We were originally booked on the French Arm. I guess about two months prior, Karen, our EM called and said that a group was interested in France, and asked if we would mind moving to the Isola. We were only 30 people, so we had this huge isola, for only 35 people. we were so happy being moved to Italy, she agreed not to charge us any extra than we were paying for France and she waived the minimum number. I'd try for that first before you agree to the UK.

 

[KT27]

I agree with the above posters 80 in Lower UK would be a tight squeeze. I had 35 and it was comfotable. The lower UK is a great view & quite private but with that many people I don't see it working....you can take a look at my link below & see how they had it set up. The benches are not moveable as they are bolted to the ground.

 

[happylalagirl]

Hey everyone!! Thanks for all your responses. I don't know how they would fit up to 120 people in the UK lower... Anyway, since we weren't officially bumped out (it was suggested that we could move), my DF decided he liked the French Upper and since that's one of the things HE chose, I agreed with him. Kristi said no problem. Someone said that even though it's a large convention, if there wasn't any convention, people in the park would still be there, so it's kind of the same. And they're all doctors, how bad could it be... We did ask about the isola, but she said we had to have a minimum of 100 people . SHe had already looked into it for us... I guess if this manager decides he REALLY wants the French uppper, then they'll have to work with us on something else, but for now, we are still in the French Upper Island and looking forward to it.

 

[JonetteA]

We had the french lower. You are going LOVE it.