Rehearsal dinner suggestions??

[MissCass609]

My fiancé and I are getting married on Tuesday, June 9th 2015 (we're less than a year away now!!!) at the Wedding Pavilion. When we first discussed rehearsal dinner options, my knee-jerk reaction was to have it at one of my favorite restaurants, the Coral Reef in Epcot. However, the more I thought about it, I decided that since just attending the wedding is going to be an expense for all my guests, I didn't want to require anyone to pay for a whole day on a park pass just to have a meal. So I am hoping that some of you will be able to share your experience of hosting or attending a rehearsal dinner at a restaurant on Disney property but not in one of the four theme parks. In other words, either in Downtown Disney or at one of the resorts. There will be about 45 people, and we are looking for something moderately priced (Not the Landscape of Flavors at the Art of Animation, but not Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian either..somewhere in between!) All suggestions are welcome, like I said as long as they don't require an admission ticket too get too. Please share any negative experiences you may have had as well! Thanks in advance

 

[alyaki]

I know several people have used Big River Grill with that size of a group. Their menu looks wonderful and really affordable, if I remember the pricing I've seen on it - I want to say I it was between $31.95-$37.95pp for the meal (with tea, water, and maybe one other drink included). The people I know who have used them have all said it was really good.

Another one I hear of people doing often (and really enjoying) is 'Ohanas. That should be between $46-$52pp, and it's family style and all you can eat. Whispering Canyon is also one that a lot of people talk about and mention enjoying, and depending on the time of day you'd have the meal, it can be really cheap (and they also have something of a family style, all you can eat option). I can't remember the price on it, but I know dinner is the same price or less than 'Ohanas. Also, you may be able to do something like Cape May Cafe for around the same price, and I think they have a semi-private area they seat the large groups in. It's buffet, so, again, plenty for people to eat, and pretty much everything included.

For something different, several people have also done The Spirit of Aloha dinner show and said it turned out awesome. I think the least expensive seats are around $68pp, but it includes the show, meal, and I think some drinks (not sure that it includes any alcoholic ones). There is also Hoop-de-Doo, which is another dinner show (again, fun, just haven't heard of it used as often as the first).

Hope this helps!

 

[MrsDuck]

DH & I paid for our rehearsal dinner ourselves and wanted to have it somewhere fun. We opted for TREX Cafe at DTD. My husband loves the restaurant and it was super affordable - $25 per person!

 

[MissCass609]

DH & I paid for our rehearsal dinner ourselves and wanted to have it somewhere fun. We opted for TREX Cafe at DTD. My husband loves the restaurant and it was super affordable - $25 per person!

My fiancé and I considered TRex or the Rainforest, but we were afraid that it might be too noisy and everything. You didn't feel this way?

 

[MissCass609]

I know several people have used Big River Grill with that size of a group. Their menu looks wonderful and really affordable, if I remember the pricing I've seen on it - I want to say I it was between $31.95-$37.95pp for the meal (with tea, water, and maybe one other drink included). The people I know who have used them have all said it was really good. Another one I hear of people doing often (and really enjoying) is 'Ohanas. That should be between $46-$52pp, and it's family style and all you can eat. Whispering Canyon is also one that a lot of people talk about and mention enjoying, and depending on the time of day you'd have the meal, it can be really cheap (and they also have something of a family style, all you can eat option). I can't remember the price on it, but I know dinner is the same price or less than 'Ohanas. Also, you may be able to do something like Cape May Cafe for around the same price, and I think they have a semi-private area they seat the large groups in. It's buffet, so, again, plenty for people to eat, and pretty much everything included. For something different, several people have also done The Spirit of Aloha dinner show and said it turned out awesome. I think the least expensive seats are around $68pp, but it includes the show, meal, and I think some drinks (not sure that it includes any alcoholic ones). There is also Hoop-de-Doo, which is another dinner show (again, fun, just haven't heard of it used as often as the first). Hope this helps!

We considered Cape May, but since we are having a buffet at our reception we kind of wanted something where everyone could stay seated. So Ohana's, Spirit of Aloha and Whispering Canyon are family style and not a buffet? For some reason I thought they were buffets. Family style could work. Where are Big River Grille and Whispering Canyon? It's funny- I've been to WDW probably 50 times in my life, but my family is all about tradition so we pretty much eat at the same 6-7 restaurants that we love every time we go, so there are still so many places I haven't gone!

 

[lovin'fl]

Boatwrights at POR...we had dinner there many years ago and it was a nice and somewhat quiet meal. It's not too popular so might have plenty of space.

The Wave at the CR might be good...not too popular so plenty of space.

The Boardwalk area...Big River or one of the places at Swan-Dolphin.

Downtown Disney...I'd do House of Blues as we also just ate there and it was really good and not badly priced. Can go when music is there or look for a more quiet time. Portobella...never been but I know it's an easier one to get last minute so might have tons of space for you.

Ohana may be tough to seat you all together and get a decent resie. Whispering Canyon has a bit of a shtick that may not appeal to some of your guests and just doesn't say wedding rehearsal dinner to me. Raglan Road (at DtD) is loud so that might not be good. I'd suggest Sanaa at AKV but #1- it's small and #2- the food may not appeal to all your guests. Kona is another option (at Poly) but I think that's kinda small too...don't know (haven't been there yet). And Cape May (at BC)...BLECH!!!!

 

[Disney_Alli]

We considered Cape May, but since we are having a buffet at our reception we kind of wanted something where everyone could stay seated. So Ohana's, Spirit of Aloha and Whispering Canyon are family style and not a buffet? For some reason I thought they were buffets. Family style could work. Where are Big River Grille and Whispering Canyon? It's funny- I've been to WDW probably 50 times in my life, but my family is all about tradition so we pretty much eat at the same 6-7 restaurants that we love every time we go, so there are still so many places I haven't gone!

Yes all those restaurants are family style or served meals.
Big River Grille is on the Boardwalk and Whispering Canyon Cafe is at The Wilderness Lodge

HTH

 

[asunnysideup]

We had our rehearsal dinner at Fulton's - it was amazing! I highly recommend.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Have you considered having a private event at the Living Seas Salon? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think your guests would be able to enter without park tickets if you were to book a catered meal there. That way you could still have the Coral Reef vibe without asking your guests to buy park tickets, plus you'll have a quieter, private space.

We had our rehearsal dinner at the Cabana Bar at the Dolphin, and our guests loved it. They can accommodate groups of all sizes, and they sectioned off an area just for our party, so it felt like we had the place to ourselves. The food was wonderful, and I thought the menus were priced reasonably too (they range from about $25-45 per person, and ours was right in the middle of that).

 

[elphie101]

We're doing a private catered meal at Ariel's at the Beach Club, mostly because of our guest size (70 people). Now if you wanted to do a plated meal, the minimum there (according to the planner) is $2,500 so for 45 people it'd be a minimum of $55pp, but if you were open to a buffet style (which we're doing) the minimum drops to $1,800, or for you at least $40pp.

I've heard really great things about Big River Grille & Fulton's!

 

[MissCass609]

Boatwrights at POR...we had dinner there many years ago and it was a nice and somewhat quiet meal. It's not too popular so might have plenty of space.

The Wave at the CR might be good...not too popular so plenty of space.

The Boardwalk area...Big River or one of the places at Swan-Dolphin.

Downtown Disney...I'd do House of Blues as we also just ate there and it was really good and not badly priced. Can go when music is there or look for a more quiet time. Portobella...never been but I know it's an easier one to get last minute so might have tons of space for you.

Ohana may be tough to seat you all together and get a decent resie. Whispering Canyon has a bit of a shtick that may not appeal to some of your guests and just doesn't say wedding rehearsal dinner to me. Raglan Road (at DtD) is loud so that might not be good. I'd suggest Sanaa at AKV but #1- it's small and #2- the food may not appeal to all your guests. Kona is another option (at Poly) but I think that's kinda small too...don't know (haven't been there yet). And Cape May (at BC)...BLECH!!!!

Thanks for all the great suggestions...we ended up looking into all of them and I think we're going to go with Big River!

 

[MissCass609]

We're doing a private catered meal at Ariel's at the Beach Club, mostly because of our guest size (70 people). Now if you wanted to do a plated meal, the minimum there (according to the planner) is $2,500 so for 45 people it'd be a minimum of $55pp, but if you were open to a buffet style (which we're doing) the minimum drops to $1,800, or for you at least $40pp.

I've heard really great things about Big River Grille & Fulton's!

Well we're trying to stay away from buffets since we are having a buffet the next night at our reception, but $2,500 is a little more than we were hoping to spend. Thanks for the insight though! I appreciate the help. I think we are going to go with Big River!

 

[MissCass609]

Yes all those restaurants are family style or served meals.
Big River Grille is on the Boardwalk and Whispering Canyon Cafe is at The Wilderness Lodge

HTH

Thanks for all your help! We looked into Big River and I think that's gonna be the place

 

[MissCass609]

We had our rehearsal dinner at Fulton's - it was amazing! I highly recommend.

My uncle used to work at Fulton's and the few times I was there it was delicious. If you don't mind me asking, was the price reasonable? We're looking to stay $40 a person or less.

 

[MissCass609]

Have you considered having a private event at the Living Seas Salon? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think your guests would be able to enter without park tickets if you were to book a catered meal there. That way you could still have the Coral Reef vibe without asking your guests to buy park tickets, plus you'll have a quieter, private space.

We had our rehearsal dinner at the Cabana Bar at the Dolphin, and our guests loved it. They can accommodate groups of all sizes, and they sectioned off an area just for our party, so it felt like we had the place to ourselves. The food was wonderful, and I thought the menus were priced reasonably too (they range from about $25-45 per person, and ours was right in the middle of that).

I'll definitely have to email my wedding consultant about the Living Seas Salon and getting in without having to pay park admission because that would be perfect, and that's still my first choice. I'm going to look into the Cabana Bar at the Dolphin as well though. That's exactly the price range that my fiance and I were looking for.

 

[bigr3ddog]

I'll definitely have to email my wedding consultant about the Living Seas Salon and getting in without having to pay park admission because that would be perfect, and that's still my first choice. I'm going to look into the Cabana Bar at the Dolphin as well though. That's exactly the price range that my fiance and I were looking for.

I'm fairly certain you won't need park admission, but the food and beverage minimum for events ending after 4 pm at living seas salon is $4500, which works out to $100/person for your party.

 

[Capt. Minnie]

We had our rehearsal dinner at The Hoop-De-Doo review in For Wilderness. It included beer and sangria & all food was served family style. Some of our guests ended taking part in the show, we bought a group picture of that night and even were singled out bc we were getting married the next day! Our actual rehearsal was at the Contemporary even though our ceremony was at the wedding pavilion. Our group loved the show, laughed and was so relaxed. Our guests still talk about it and want to do it again for our 10 year anniversary. We also were able to catch the boat parade from the campground beach afterwards and took the boat back to the Contemporary to watch Wishes. It was a truly magical night which many of our guests had never done before!