what reception locations can be booked privately?

[Sarah84]

So due to this new stupid rule of needing to spend $7500 min if booking a private dinning event through DFTW my idea of booking the Napa room at California Grill for a lunch reception is out of the question and im trying to keep costs down so don't want to (well cant) to find other ways to make up the min, so...
...what locations that can be used for a private reception can be booked another way either through the restaurant itself, or is there an events booking at Disney?
I ideally want something private which is why i'm not really keen making a normal ADR

 

[girli565]

I think the only way to get around the new minimums for escape private events is by making an ADR for the earliest (5pm) or latest (9pm) dinners at onsite restaurants. Many of them have semiprivate rooms or areas where you can feel like you're alone.

But if u want completely private and it's outside of a restaurants normal business hours you'll have t go through DFTWs. It sucks but that's how they catch you.

Have you looked into swan/dolphin weddings? They are very affordable and don't have the same minimums to meet like DFTWs do.

 

[lurkyloo]

There are plenty of other ways to have a private event without booking a catered meal through DFTW, and they are perfectly "legal" and have been used for years.

Citricos has a private room with a food and beverage minimum of $650 and a maximum capacity of 12. You can book it through the restaurant directly - it's totally separate from the weddings department.

The Wave has a private room that seats up to 50. You would book that by calling the restaurant directly too.

Also, many of the restaurants at Downtown Disney have private or semi-private rooms you can book, including Fulton's, Wolfgang Puck, Portabello, and Raglan Road.

Il Mulino, Shula's, and bluezoo at the Swan & Dolphon have private rooms too.

 

[Sarah84]

There are plenty of other ways to have a private event without booking a catered meal through DFTW, and they are perfectly "legal" and have been used for years.

Citricos has a private room with a food and beverage minimum of $650 and a maximum capacity of 12. You can book it through the restaurant directly - it's totally separate from the weddings department.

The Wave has a private room that seats up to 50. You would book that by calling the restaurant directly too.

Also, many of the restaurants at Downtown Disney have private or semi-private rooms you can book, including Fulton's, Wolfgang Puck, Portabello, and Raglan Road.

Il Mulino, Shula's, and bluezoo at the Swan & Dolphon have private rooms too.

Thank you, i love the look of the room at Bluezoo but not keen on the look of the menu

Also just looking at the Yachtsman steakhouse which has a semi private section but would they allow us any table decor?

Just wish California grill let you book their rooms direct


Do you know any more info on The Wave? F&B mins? what times can be used?
Thanks for the help. Do you know with the $7500 escape min if booking a catered event if the 21% & 6.5& tax for Cali grill rooms which is added to the F&B minimum would be included or would it be $7500 (or what ever total) plus the room tax?

 

[girli565]

Carrie, you are a WDW wedding guru! I didn't know those restaurants had private rooms. Are they available only when the restaurant is open or anytime?

 

[lurkyloo]

Also just looking at the Yachtsman steakhouse which has a semi private section but would they allow us any table decor?

Yes - you can work with the manager to have place cards and things set out, and the WDW Florist can do floral arrangements if you want.

Do you know with the $7500 escape min if booking a catered event if the 21% & 6.5& tax for Cali grill rooms which is added to the F&B minimum would be included or would it be $7500 (or what ever total) plus the room tax?

Tax and service charge don't count toward any DFTW minimum expenditures, unfortunately - it's a bummer, cuz they can really add up!

Carrie, you are a WDW wedding guru! I didn't know those restaurants had private rooms. Are they available only when the restaurant is open or anytime?

It's amazing how many restaurants are on property - I had no idea of the options til I started researching for my book!

The rooms I listed are only open during restaurant operating hours, however many of those restaurants are open all day - the non-Disney-owned places in particular, but also The Wave.

 

[Sarah84]

Yes - you can work with the manager to have place cards and things set out, and the WDW Florist can do floral arrangements if you want.

Ooh this sounds like a possible option then
thanks for answering my million and 1 questions you are so wonderfully helpful and done a fantastic job with your book

 

[lurkyloo]

No problem! I had a million and one questions when I was planning, too!