Reception Site Help

[sarcasticblonde]

So, we wanted to book the Napa room at California Grill, but it says that it only accommodates 50 people, which would be fine, but we also want a dance floor and DJ, so that will drastically cut down on the space.

We thought about renting out the Sonoma Room too...but my question is this: Are the Napa and Sonoma room connected? Like, is there a divider that they push back to make it one big room? If it's just two separate rooms, I'm afraid that will not feel as connected.

Our other option is to consider the Whitehall at GF. My only issue with that is, what is the menu option? Does GF offer menus? Or do you have to use the standard Disney catering packages (i.e. "The Cinderella", "The Fairy Godmother", etc.)

Thanks a lot!

 

[KellyJo18]

I had asked about using both rooms when we were originally looking at spaces because we were expecting about 80 people. I was told that they are across the hall from each other. I have never seen them in person though and I could be remembering wrong.

Any location you pick will allow you to make your own custom menu. You can mix and match different items or completely make up your own. I found Disney to be very willing to accommodate when it came to the menus. I believe you do get to see different menus for the different catering teams. We're having our reception at the Living Seas and were given the Epcot Catering Group menus.

Good luck Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong about any of that

 

[sarcasticblonde]

I've been reading around a lot on here that Whitehall is not terribly large and that most people are using it as the Cocktail Hour location and then moving to another ballroom in the GF. How does that work with your Food and Bev minimum, having 2 locations for the reception? Is there a fee to book to rooms in the same venue?

 

[CM1972]

Ask your planner about the availability of the Carneros room. It is really the entire right side of the restaurant (The former lounge) and can be set up with a dance floor. It actually has a better view of the MK than the smaller rooms.
Hope this helps. And congratulations.

 

[Tink21]

My parents were just in WDW for vacation a couple of weeks ago, and I had them and my sister (my Maid of Honor) tour a couple of facilities for me with Diane Mahoney (my contact at WDWFTW). I am expecting a total of 30 guests, and they had suggested we look at Whitehall. My mother and sister both said that it is EXTREMELY small and not that attractive of a room. They looked at the St. Augustine Ballroom at the GF and took lots of pictures for me. We all fell in love with it. They just divide the ballroom into smaller salons, and they bring in a dance floor. There is no cost for the dance floor. The atmospheric lighting includes the castle, fireworks, your initials or a combination to be diplayed as a backdrop on the wall of the room. It is a very elegant venue.

 

[audisight]

DF and I originally were going to book the Napa room for our wedding reception. I loved the room, but it is a bit small, there is no way to fit 50 guests and have a dance floor. The Sonoma room is across the hall from the Napa room.
We just decided to do a morning wedding at EPCOT, so now we plan on having a lunch reception in the California Grills main room. Since the reception will take place before the restaurant opens we will have the whole thing to ourselves.
I was able to see the Whitehall during our site visit and I did not like it very much. However I’m sure with the right décor it can be a beautiful place for a reception. As for the menus my sales rep Kristi told me that the California Grill is not to flexible with their menus, but the locations at GF are.
I hope this helps!