Private Dining Events vs. Fireworks Dessert Party

[ConnorsMama]

I need help.

We were just assigned our planner (yay), Kristin Kimberlin, and are starting talks about a private dining event. She sent me information recommending the St. James Hall & Patio at The Boardwalk, for a brunch following our event. It looks lovely, but I'm just not sure if it is right for us. We can probably swing either a private dining event or a dessert party, but not both.

So, I need help walking through the scenarios.

Since the price at St. James does not include any decor, I'm leaning towards booking an ADR for our party for brunch following our ceremony, which should be over around 11:30. I would do Cape May (I think that would be fun), but they aren't open for lunch, and neither is Yachtsman Steakhouse, which leaves Captain's Grill as our only option in that area.

We could also take our limo back to Animal Kingdom Lodge and book an ADR for Sanaa. Since this is where we are staying it would be easy to change clothes and head to the parks after lunch. A lot of the nicer resort restaurants don't serve lunch, so our options are limited.

We could do an ADR for dinner instead too, and just let everyone go their separate ways after the cake and champagne reception.

Then there is the dessert party. If we don't do the catered brunch we would do a dessert party; probably Illuminations. I wanted to see about the UK Pubside location, but can't find any information about it anywhere except in Lurkyloo's reports and website. If not this option we would probably look at a Wishes Fireworks cruise.

Is there anywhere we I can see a larger assortment of the options available for private dining and dessert parties? I think part of my issue is just not being able to compare options and ideas.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Lin

 

[lurkyloo]

Hi Lin!

Since the price at St. James does not include any decor, I'm leaning towards booking an ADR for our party for brunch following our ceremony, which should be over around 11:30. I would do Cape May (I think that would be fun), but they aren't open for lunch, and neither is Yachtsman Steakhouse, which leaves Captain's Grill as our only option in that area.

What about Garden Grove at the Swan? They're open for lunch and have Disney characters. Big River Grille at the BoardWalk also serves lunch.

We could do an ADR for dinner instead too, and just let everyone go their separate ways after the cake and champagne reception.

How early is your ceremony? Sometimes guests get grumpy if they're dragged outta bed for an AM wedding and don't get food afterward.

Then there is the dessert party. If we don't do the catered brunch we would do a dessert party; probably Illuminations. I wanted to see about the UK Pubside location, but can't find any information about it anywhere except in Lurkyloo's reports and website.

UK Pubside only accommodates 10. How big is your party? It has a special status in the Disney booking system that sometimes makes planners tell you it's not available for private events, but plenty of people have had them there, usually by insisting and pointing out that they've seen other people have events there.

Is there anywhere we I can see a larger assortment of the options available for private dining and dessert parties? I think part of my issue is just not being able to compare options and ideas.

This page on my blog lists all the private event spaces at the resorts and in the parks, with photos. If you have the PassPorter, all the pricing for each location is in the Wishes chapter (and some is duplicated in the "Additional Events" chapter). Otherwise, let me know which spaces you're considering and I can look up the pricing.

 

[ConnorsMama]

What about Garden Grove at the Swan? They're open for lunch and have Disney characters. Big River Grille at the BoardWalk also serves lunch.

I'll check on that. Not necessarily needing characters, just something a bit more casual than the formal brunch. Thanks for the suggestions!

How early is your ceremony? Sometimes guests get grumpy if they're dragged outta bed for an AM wedding and don't get food afterward.

Our ceremony time is at 10AM (maybe 10:30...). And that is exactly my issue. I'm afraid they will want/expect food as well! My only other thought on that is to have them all do a really early ADR at Cape May's for breakfast and then walk over the site.

UK Pubside only accommodates 10. How big is your party? It has a special status in the Disney booking system that sometimes makes planners tell you it's not available for private events, but plenty of people have had them there, usually by insisting and pointing out that they've seen other people have events there.

Right now there are only 8 of us, and one will be two years old. If my brother-in-law and his family decide to come they would put us over 10, but three of those attending would be under 3. I know for Fantasmic under 3 does not count towards your total, but this may be different.

This page on my blog lists all the private event spaces at the resorts and in the parks, with photos. If you have the PassPorter, all the pricing for each location is in the Wishes chapter (and some is duplicated in the "Additional Events" chapter). Otherwise, let me know which spaces you're considering and I can look up the pricing.

Thank you! I knew that page was on there somewhere! I got too caught up in reading your Tower of Terror Event and wishing I could do that one! LOL!

By the way, I really enjoy reading your blog on a regular basis. You have a great writing style!

 

[lurkyloo]

Hey, thanks! Under 3s should not affect your guest count, so hopefully if you do decide on UK Pubside, they won't give you too much of the runaround.

 

[aristocatz]

Have you considered Fresh Mediterranean at the Dolphin? They are open for breakfast and lunch. It's a really pretty restaurant and their prices are reasonable. They even do a buffet at breakfast.

Here are their menus:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/dolphin-hotel/fresh-mediterranean-market/menus/breakfast/

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/dolphin-hotel/fresh-mediterranean-market/menus/lunch/

 

[ConnorsMama]

So many resort restaurants are not open for lunch!

LurkyLoo, do you know the price difference between The Attic and St. James Place? St. James Place seems really large from the pictures I was sent, and the decor is a lot more formal than we like. I really liked your pictures of The Attic, and with so few of us it seems like it might be a better choice?

If we can't find a more fitting and affordable brunch location we are going to have everyone head back to Animal Kingdom Kidani for lunch at Sanaa, which is actually open for lunch. Sadly, both restaurants at Swan & Dophin are closed for lunch, as is Yachtsman.

We sent an email to our planner regarding UK Pubside. Hoping she can get us the information we want for that location. It was tough to find information on the available options online.

 

[lurkyloo]

LurkyLoo, do you know the price difference between The Attic and St. James Place? St. James Place seems really large from the pictures I was sent, and the decor is a lot more formal than we like. I really liked your pictures of The Attic, and with so few of us it seems like it might be a better choice?

St. James Room & Patio is just a ballroom, though it does have a nice patio. They can give you half the room if the whole thing feels too large, but then you can't use the patio. The cheapest they'll let you have it for is $450 (6-person minimum at $75/person) for half the room or $750 (6-person minimum at $125/person) for the whole room, and the price goes up depending on how many people you have.

But the Attic is my favorite reception location so I think you should do that! It has a flat $1,000 food and beverage minimum for events ending before 5pm and $2,500 for events ending after.

Sadly, both restaurants at Swan & Dophin are closed for lunch, as is Yachtsman.

FRESH is open from 11:30am-2pm on weekdays and 12pm-2pm on weekends. Garden Grove is open from 11:30am-2pm every day of the week.

 

[ConnorsMama]

St. James Room & Patio is just a ballroom, though it does have a nice patio. They can give you half the room if the whole thing feels too large, but then you can't use the patio. The cheapest they'll let you have it for is $450 (6-person minimum at $75/person) for half the room or $750 (6-person minimum at $125/person) for the whole room, and the price goes up depending on how many people you have.

I just got an email back from our planner that they will do half of the hall for $610, not excluding tax and service charge. But, the menu pricing I was given all states a minimum of 25 people. We are looking at having between 8 & 10 I think, so color me confused.

But the Attic is my favorite reception location so I think you should do that! It has a flat $1,000 food and beverage minimum for events ending before 5pm and $2,500 for events ending after.

Definitely going to ask about it.

FRESH is open from 11:30am-2pm on weekdays and 12pm-2pm on weekends. Garden Grove is open from 11:30am-2pm every day of the week.

I hadn't noticed FRESH before, that is an option. On mydisneyexperience it lists Garden Grove as only being open for dinner beginning at 5:00, and won't let me make a reservation for any earlier. I'll have to call.

Now the sad news.

Because of the holiday week they have suspended Illuminations Dessert Parties from 11-26 through 11-20. I would do the 25th, but my sister and her family don't yet know if they will be arriving the 25th or 26th.

They offered a Wishes Dessert Party to be held at Contemporary's West Rotunda Courtyard, but it would not feature Wishes music unless we could pay $500 on top of our food and beverage cost for music. There are many things I might pay $500 for...but I don't think Wishes music is one of them. The music cost is higher than the dessert party cost.

So, I'm still right where I started, and feeling like there won't be much we can do to make our day special or thank our family for attending.

 

[lurkyloo]

I just got an email back from our planner that they will do half of the hall for $610, not excluding tax and service charge. But, the menu pricing I was given all states a minimum of 25 people. We are looking at having between 8 & 10 I think, so color me confused.

The menus all say 25-person minimum but you can use them anyway. And any menu can be customized, whether it's swapping for things on a different menu or requesting they re-create your favorite dish.

I hadn't noticed FRESH before, that is an option. On mydisneyexperience it lists Garden Grove as only being open for dinner beginning at 5:00, and won't let me make a reservation for any earlier. I'll have to call.

You'll get a lot more info if you call the Swan & Dolphin directly: 1-407-934-1609

So, I'm still right where I started, and feeling like there won't be much we can do to make our day special or thank our family for attending.

What if you had your reception in the evening in a place where you can see IllumiNations or Wishes? Like the Attic or California Grill's Napa Room?

 

[ConnorsMama]

The menus all say 25-person minimum but you can use them anyway. And any menu can be customized, whether it's swapping for things on a different menu or requesting they re-create your favorite dish.

You'll get a lot more info if you call the Swan & Dolphin directly: 1-407-934-1609

What if you had your reception in the evening in a place where you can see IllumiNations or Wishes? Like the Attic or California Grill's Napa Room?

Can I just thank you for being so helpful all of the time? Seriously! You are so generous with your advice!

I think the brunch in half of St. James might work out after all. Playing with numbers right now (and by that I mean trying to get a feel for who all is actually going to show up for this shindig).

Still not sure what we will do that evening, and it may just come down to who all is coming.

 

[lurkyloo]

I'm glad to be able to help!

 

[lthiesfeld07]

I love this thread!

Planning an Escape Wedding before you're allowed to talk to Disney is so stressful!

I love the idea of the Napa or Sonoma Room for a private dinner, so we can watch Wishes from the top of The Contemporary.

 

[ConnorsMama]

I love this thread!

Planning an Escape Wedding before you're allowed to talk to Disney is so stressful!

I love the idea of the Napa or Sonoma Room for a private dinner, so we can watch Wishes from the top of The Contemporary.

Thanks!

It is, isn't it! We started planning our vow renewal last July but couldn't even contact anyone until April of this year!

I went to a Bridal Luncheon in either the Napa or Sonoma Room a few years ago and it was beautiful!