To all the brides with a Cali Grill reception..

[HolyCowImADisneyBrde]

I've tried to do a search on this but haven't come up with much. DF has started looking into the Napa Room at CG rather than the LSS just for a different vibe because we won't be having a ton of people (around 40) and he doesn't want the LSS to look empty with us in there. Anyway, I know that they won't let you customize the menu a whole lot, but I'm just wondering to what extent you may have been able to change it. I love the location, just not too sure how goat cheese raviolli and some of the other dishes would go over with our group.
Thanks for any help!

 

[JaxTeach]

We're having our dinner at the CG Sonoma Room. The menu we selected doesn't have the goat cheese ravioli. We are okay with everything else on our menu since it doesn't have the ravioli. We have not asked for any substitutions, but we have asked to remove things from our menu. We are not having the flatbreads or dessert. This lowered our dinner price by $20 per person. Hopefully someone will have info on altering the menu for you!

 

[Skylarr29]

They are pretty strict on changes, while you can remove and possibly swap things around they are not so willing to change/customize things. Also you do not receive a tasting when holding events there (although some very persistent brides have managed it) they just tell you to make a dinner reservation and eat there. Have you ever had the goat cheese ravioli? It really is sooooo good and I am a very picky eater.

 

[HolyCowImADisneyBrde]

I would be fine with having things left off of the menu, that would probably work. I was just thinking maybe we could have some of the things they had on the normal restaraunt menu rather than some of the things on their catering menu.. so I don't know how big of an issue that'd be. I haven't tried to goat cheese raviolli, I've actually never eaten at CG at all, believe it or not. I've just heard wonderful things about it, and I showed my BM the Napa room and we thought it'd be really cool to have our reception with such a great view of MK. but a lot of people in the group are really picky so, I just want to be prepared. I'd hate to decide to have our reception there versus somewhere else and be stuck with 3K or more worth of food no one cares for. Maybe I'll have to go try the raviolli our next trip.


Another question, maybe one of you can answer.. are the bar packages the same for a reception at CG as they are for a reception anywhere else?
Thanks for all of you guys' help

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Holycowimadisneybrde,

I was trying to decide between LSS and Napa room as well! Thank you so much for asking this question because I had no idea that CG would be so strict as far as the food goes.

I really wanted to be able to taste the food before decided what would be served at the wedding and if having it at CG means I won't be able to might mean I should go with LSS. I'm having around 30-50 guests as well. Do you really think LSS would look empty? I really like that location because its so unique. (Just by seeing pictures, I haven't actually been there) Then again Napa Room has a beautiful view of MK. I'm so confused .

 

[HolyCowImADisneyBrde]

BaBeeCee, I am so with you on everything you just said! Great minds think alike, I guess! I haven't been to either of them either, and it's really hard planning on just pictures. We originally wanted the LSS because it is unique and we really want to give our guests something memorable (hence, no just-as-pricey Seattle wedding) so we knew going into this we didn't want a ballroom location. It was actually no question that that was where we were going with until 2 days ago. I'm not sure that it'll look empty - it's really hard to say because it seems so big in there! I figured we could do the pre-reception in one area and the rest in another, but we aren't having dancing or a DJ or anything (well, there most likely will be dancing after a few drinks, but no DJ, just an iPod ) and so DF began to get concerned about this. Then he found the Napa room and the view of MK is just so cool, the room is a lot smaller so it would be much cozier with less people, and things wouldn't need to be so spread out. There are pros and cons for both. The main thing that concerns me with CG is the menu (and also, in case you weren't aware, the price of the cake does not go towards your food and bev minimum here). The thing with Living Seas is that its big and also, we're only inviting 40-45 people, and since we all primarily live in WA, there could be a chance a few people wouldn't be able to make it, I'm worried it'll be less than 30 and then we'll have to change location anyway, which would absolutely bum me out if it came to that (i tend to worry too much at times..). DF is calling DFTW to get more information as soon as he gets home this morning so I'll let you know if I find out anymore info. Sorry for the super long post! It is definitely a tough decision and I'm so torn, so I totally know how you're feeling!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

i was also torn on the idea of cali grill/lss and ultimately chose lss...i wanted our guests to have something at our wedding that they couldn't get on their normal trip to disney. since df and i were both cast members, i wanted them to see backstage and be in a "special" place. we are going to have dinner the night before at cali grill!

 

[BaBeeCee14]

The cake doesn't go towards the minimum if held at CG? What is the reason behind that ? CG is beginning to look less and less appealing to me. I'm planning an October 2008 wedding and with a $20,000 minimum I need every penny possible to count towards the minimum.

Holycowimadisneybride,

Its so funny we have a lot of things in common - we are not planning on having dancing either. I still want music to be played during the reception so we will probably bring our ipod. I thought I read somewhere that LSS doesn't have a sound system so you would have to rent one. I'm not sure if thats true, did you get to talk to anyone about that? Also, since there won't be dancing, I'm trying to see what else we can do to keep our guests entertained. I know another disbride hired a few caracaturists (sp?) but I wanted to see what other options there were. I really hope I will be able to get a site visit in. Somtimes you know if its right by just standing in the room.

 

[JaxTeach]

The cake doesn't go towards the minimum if held at CG? What is the reason behind that ? CG is beginning to look less and less appealing to me. I'm planning an October 2008 wedding and with a $20,000 minimum I need every penny possible to count towards the minimum.

I believe the cake goes towards your wedding minimum (the $20K) but not the food & beverage minimum for CG. We are an intimate wedding so we don't have a per person minimum to deal with, but you'll definitely hit the $100 minimum easily once you add enhancements and a bar package.

Another question, maybe one of you can answer.. are the bar packages the same for a reception at CG as they are for a reception anywhere else?
Thanks for all of you guys' help

Yes, the bar packages are the same from what I can tell. We are paying $17.50 per person for 3.5 hours of soda & water service. One thing that we are able to do (and again, we're Intimate so I don't know how Customs work exactly) is order bottles of wine in addition to our bar service. I'm really happy about that because most of our families do not drink. So we are able to order a couple of bottles for the few that do.

 

[BaBeeCee14]

I believe the cake goes towards your wedding minimum (the $20K) but not the food & beverage minimum for CG. We are an intimate wedding so we don't have a per person minimum to deal with, but you'll definitely hit the $100 minimum easily once you add enhancements and a bar package.

ok, let me make sure I understand this correctly. There is the overall minimum(20K) and then there is also a food & beverage minimum. But, does the food & beverage charges go towards the 20K minimum? Or is that on top of the 20K minimum? Now I'm getting nervous...

 

[audisight]

ok, let me make sure I understand this correctly. There is the overall minimum(20K) and then there is also a food & beverage minimum. But, does the food & beverage charges go towards the 20K minimum? Or is that on top of the 20K minimum? Now I'm getting nervous...

Don't worry your food and beverage goes towards the overall minimum. Your wedding cake does not count for the food and beverage minimum.

Example: The wedding minimum is 20K. Your food minimun is 3K. You spend the 3K on food and drink so now you have 17K left to spend.

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Thanks for clearing that up for me . I was beginning to worry that I won't have enough money.

 

[DisBride2007]

Our wedding cake DID count toward our food & beverage minimum.

In regard to the Living Seas looking empty, we had 33 guests at our wedding (including us!) and this was NOT an issue. They keep you in one part during the pre-reception, and this is where we had our buffet set up. Then we moved into the main part of the room for the lunch and cake cutting. They can spread the tables out for you. I would definitely not give up on LS for that reason. We were able to completely customize our meal, not to mention have the unique experience of going through backstage Epcot. Our guests also enjoyed the fact that we had the whole place to ourselves and it really seemed private.

 

[Skylarr29]

Cake does not go towards the food and beverage minimum that the Napa room has (3K) but it does go toward the DFTW overall minimum. The reasoning behind this is that the cake would be made at the Grand Floridian Bakery and not at Cali Grill.

 

[WineGalTina]

Does anyone have a copy of the Cali Grill catering menu and food and bar pricing? I was thinking about doing the smaller private room for our intimate reception but I would be really interested in seeing specific options if anyone has it handy.

 

[Skylarr29]

Does anyone have a copy of the Cali Grill catering menu and food and bar pricing? I was thinking about doing the smaller private room for our intimate reception but I would be really interested in seeing specific options if anyone has it handy.

If you give me your email address either here or through pm I will email you them as they are in pdf format.

 

[HolyCowImADisneyBrde]

Its so funny we have a lot of things in common - we are not planning on having dancing either. I still want music to be played during the reception so we will probably bring our ipod. I thought I read somewhere that LSS doesn't have a sound system so you would have to rent one. I'm not sure if thats true, did you get to talk to anyone about that? Also, since there won't be dancing, I'm trying to see what else we can do to keep our guests entertained. I know another disbride hired a few caracaturists (sp?) but I wanted to see what other options there were. I really hope I will be able to get a site visit in. Somtimes you know if its right by just standing in the room.

Yeah, I've also heard the LSS doesn't have a sound system, so you either have to bring your own speakers or dock for your iPod, or you can rent one from Disney for $70 (I got this info off caryndisneydiva's planning journal, maybe she knows more details). I'm not sure what other options there are besides the characturist. I know that since we knew right away we didn't want to have a DJ or dancing, we decided to have a dessert party following the dinner reception so there'd still be a big special ending for everyone for the night. So as of right now, our plans are 2:30 wedding, reception at either location, and then dessert party at Lower UK and we're just hoping at this point that playing music and having cocktails and mingling with everyone along with dinner will keep everyone entertained until it's time for the dessert party. I would really love to get a site visit in too for that same reason - I want to be able to just walk in and know, ya know? But I don't see that as being an option for us, unfortunately. I do think it's cool that we have so many ideas in common though, gives me someone to share ideas with

Also, DisBride2007, I'm so relieved to hear that it didn't look empty! I really really love the location. As caryndisneydiva said, it's something you can't just do on any old trip to Disneyworld, which is totally what we want for our guests. I'm just so torn on which one to choose! Atleast I have until the first week of December to decide.. maybe I'll just leave it up to DF!

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Holycowimadisneybrde,

I called Disney yesterday and booked 2:30 WP, LSS, and lower UK dessert party. Looks like we will have the same wedding schedule...we almost, if you decide to go with LSS. I was talking to some family members to get their opinions on which location to have the reception and one of the good points that came up was LSS isn't a place you can just go to anytime. Its a private room for special events. But, CG is a restaurant and you can pretty much eat there anytime you want. So with that said, I decided to go with LSS. Just because it might be my only chance I will ever have to be in there. Still...I think both places are gorgeous and I'm sure you will love which ever one you decide to go with. Good luck and let me know what you decide!

 

[HolyCowImADisneyBrde]

Well BaBeeCee, it looks as though you and I are having twin weddings! DF is still kind of back and forth but I think he really wants LSS, and I think I do too, simply for the once in a lifetime chance, and we're also having Lower UK for our dessert party! How exciting!

 

[DisBride2007]

The Living Seas DOES have a sound system. I don't know about bringing your iPod, but we burned a couple of CD's worth of our favorite songs and gave them to our coordinator before the wedding. There wasn't an extra charge for a sound system. HTH!