Reception ideas for Intimates... Cruises? Private dinners?

[mermaidbride1108]

Again, here's another question.

I'll be having 18 people total for my intimate wedding - I'd really like to do some kind of small get together with them. Where would be a good place to hold a private dinner? Any ideas? It doesn't exactly have to be so private... just a little so it feels like tis a party for us.

I really like the idea of going on a wishes or illuminations cruise .. very hard to get I heard but thought that would be just get and I read somewhere you could order dinner too? But if I'm having 18... not sure yet, Is there any fireworks cruises that can hold more than 10?

Ok, that should be all my questions for tonight going to bed now

 

[yearbook50]

What my fiance and I are doing is renting out the private room at Victoria and Albert's. Its $1750 for 10 people + 115 for each person over that. It can hold a max of 22 guests. Corkage fee is $25 if you want to bring in your own menu. Only thing you really have to do is choose an entree that you know everyone would like because with groups that big they like to have everyone having the same (except in cases of allergies or diets)

 

[twoDISNEYfans]

Hi! We had 23 at our intimate(including infants) and we had a big dinner the night before at Ohanas, beacuse we had a noon wedding the next day and of course the cake, champagne, and we also got the bride and groom chocolate covered strawberries. We thought to do dinner the night before since 1. our wedding was early in the day, and 2.we thought our guests could spend the rest of the day in the parks- everyone loved Ohanas, its a great price for all the food and entertainment, and if you time it right like we did, they pipe in the music for wishes and you get to see the fireworks and the end of dinner! Thier staff is just amazing too! We couldnt have asked for a better beginning to our celebration! Hope that helps!

 

[mermaidbride1108]

I just wanted to say thanks for posting a reply to my questions! your help goes a long way!

 

[TinkBride]

Just a bit of advice, because it was a problem I ran into during my planning. For large groups you have to make your ressies at any disney resturant for early or late seating, (generally 5:00 or 9:00). We tried to book at 'Ohana's for a 7:30 ressie and were refused for 17 people.

Just something to think about.

We ended up booking ressies at Mangino's at SOG, because all of our guests are staying there anyways, and they had no restrictions on times to book.

 

[luna99]

my plan is this:

get married at 10 am .. give everyone the afternoon to do whatever they want... relax, swim at the resort, shower, nap, etc..

then get back together around 3 or 4 for an early dinner at ohanas...

then I want to do the fireworks cruise that leaves from the Contemporary in the evening.... that's going to be a surprise for everyone.. I think it's a perfect way to end the day.. out on the water with everyone, watching the fireworks!

good luck!

 

[*MissNorway*]

We're having a 5pm wedding followed by dinner and drinksfrom 6.30-11pm in the Sonoma Room at California Grill.

I think there's a 2.000$ food and bev minimum and a maximum capacity of 20 guests.

We have a plated dinner for our guests and then a package bar for the 4 hours we're there..... We've arranged for table decorations (floral) from Disney Floral....

I can not wait!

 

[DisneyFairy19]

I love the Intimate Dinner idea at Victoria and Alberts.. Its soooo romantic there... I have heard some brides have an intimate dinner in their room or on their balcony...

 

[hisprincess]

I really love the idea of the fireworks cruise, or even the dessert partys during fireworks. I plan on eating at Ohana's after seeing the great comments on it, but after that I would like to do the fireworks cruise. Does Ohana's allow ADRs for a group of 10 (one will be a child)? As for the wishes cruise, how much is it, and how many people can go on it? I will have about 10 and am just wondering what my options are with this.

 

[dee slack]

I really love the idea of the fireworks cruise, or even the dessert partys during fireworks. I plan on eating at Ohana's after seeing the great comments on it, but after that I would like to do the fireworks cruise. Does Ohana's allow ADRs for a group of 10 (one will be a child)? As for the wishes cruise, how much is it, and how many people can go on it? I will have about 10 and am just wondering what my options are with this.

MAGIC KINGDOM WISHES CRUISE BASIC PLAN -

21' Tracker Pontoon

-$225.00, tax included for up to 8 guests. Price includes pontoon boat, driver, water, soda and bagged snacks

-Guests may order Private Dining to be delivered to the cruise

MAGIC KINGDOM WISHES PREMIUM CRUISE

25' Tracker Pontoon

-$275.00 tax included for up to 10 guests. Price includes pontoon boat, driver, water, soda, bagged snacks and AUDIO FEED

-Guests may order Private Dining to be delivered to the cruise

MAGIC KINGDOM WISHES CELEBRATION CRUISE -

Same as Basic Plan plus decorations

-$250.00, tax included for the 21' Tracker Pontoon, up to 8 guests

-$300.00, tax included for the 25' Tracker Pontoon, up to 10 guests and includes audio feed

-Guests may order Private Dining to be delivered to the cruise

 

[ChocolateMouse]

then I want to do the fireworks cruise that leaves from the Contemporary in the evening.... that's going to be a surprise for everyone.. I think it's a perfect way to end the day.. out on the water with everyone, watching the fireworks!

The cruise can pick you up from any marina. What made you choose to start at the Contemporary location instead of right at Polynesian?

I'm chartering two boats for the Wishes cruise and also making it a surprise for my guests. One real nuisance about the cruise is we have a head count of 21, including a one year old toddler. He doesn't count towards the Intimate guest count or cost anything to get into the theme park, but does count as a person for the cruise. As a result, we had to charter one pontoon plus charter the Grand 1 instead of just two pontoons.

The Disney people have told me the large pontoons can hold 15 adults. They used to restrict it to either ten adults or 12 passengers if there are children. Now it's just a head count of ten regardless of age. My biggest problem now is choosing who gets to cruise on the Grand 1 and who "settles" for the pontoon. I'm hoping it's still the perfect way to end the evening and not a cause of bad feelings. I was also told they don't follow the same schedule for the Wishes cruise, so we have different departure and finish times.

 

[alauniira]

Has anyone ordered dining on the cruises? What does that cost? Can you just get champagne or something like that?

 

[Gina Loves Disney]

How many adults can fit on the Grand 1? I forgot?

 

[CharlotteQL]

I was thinking about doing the same thing for a small reception (at California Grill private room Sonoma or Napa).. few questions:

Can you have music?
Can you have a dance floor?
How much can you decorating the room?

 

[*MissNorway*]

I know people have had a dancefloor and music in the Napa Room - I think the Sonomo room is too small.....(but I might be wrong).

Don't really know abour decorations as we only wanted flowers for the dinner table.

(I never actually checked to see if dancing was possible in the Sonoma Room as we didn't want dancing.....+ I seem to remember someone saying it was too small...)

 

[karentan]

I was thinking about doing the same thing for a small reception (at California Grill private room Sonoma or Napa).. few questions:

Can you have music?
Can you have a dance floor?
How much can you decorating the room?

if youre having an intimate please bear in mind that if the DFTW people find out youre having a proper "reception" they will probably cancel it. janine had this happen to her.

 

[*MissNorway*]

if youre having an intimate please bear in mind that if the DFTW people find out youre having a proper "reception" they will probably cancel it. janine had this happen to her.

Why would they do that? They make lots of money off us too?!

My planner is the one who has booked and arranged everything for me at CG! She had me contact Rosie for floral and has been helping me with CG all the way....menus, bar and all...or were you maybe talking about the dancing part spesifically? Cause our arrangement/reception ends at 11pm and no dancing..just drinner and bar/drinks....

 

[mermaidbride1108]

if youre having an intimate please bear in mind that if the DFTW people find out youre having a proper "reception" they will probably cancel it. janine had this happen to her.

That's rude! What's considered a 'Proper' Reception? Dinner & Dancing?

What was their justification for canceling it?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

How many adults can fit on the Grand 1? I forgot?

I'm pretty sure it's 13. I think if you get catering and a butler comes aboard, that reduces the count to 12.

 

[karentan]

Why would they do that? They make lots of money off us too?!

My planner is the one who has booked and arranged everything for me at CG! She had me contact Rosie for floral and has been helping me with CG all the way....menus, bar and all...or were you maybe talking about the dancing part spesifically? Cause our arrangement/reception ends at 11pm and no dancing..just drinner and bar/drinks....

from what i gather, if you have a "reception" booked with the consent of your WP you'll be ok. but i have heard in the past about brides who booked their own events through private dining and who had their events cancelled. janine had this happen to her, hopefully she'll come along soon