Wedding Dinner

[graeme99]

Hello

We are going to Florida at the end of October 06 to get Married.:D We are looking for somewhere nice to have a dinner after the wedding around 1:00pm. After looking at various Disney restaurants like the Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian we found that none of them are serving at this time of day.:sigh:

Does anybody know of a nice restaurant on or off of Disney that they would recommend for a wedding meal at around this time of day? Nothing too casual as my Fiancee will be wearing a big Wedding dress.

We would also like to go on some type of boat trip or cruise on the disney lakes but the boats are either unsuitable for the occasion, ie a pontoon boat or far too expensive like the Grand One at the Grand Floridian. Anybody have any recommendations?

Any other ideas appreciated.

Regards

Graeme

[AlecK]

At 1pm you would have to have a lunch at a resort restaurant as you're not permitted to enter a park in weding attire - so the best best onsite would probably be the Grand Floridian Cafe, a nice setting but only the lunch menu would be on offer which may or may not be suitable for what you have in mind.

One option may be to combine your ideas and stretch to the Grand One for an afternoon cruise and have some light buffet food served onboard. How many guests are eating and/or cruising with you?

[graeme99]

Hello Alec

There will be the two of us and our 3 children age 5 to 13.
We were looking at the Grand Floridian Cafe as an option but then wasn't sure as the Grand Floridian is Disneys wedding hotel and we were not sure if we would be allowed in the same area as a Disney wedding. (We are getting married at Cypress Grove and not staying at a Disney hotel). Do you think this is the case?

Graeme

[AlecK]

I'm not sure about entering the GF in the wedding attire. I think you would be OK because I've only read about about it not being permitted in theme parks - I'm sure we've had other members have wedding dinners at the GF hopefully one of them will be along soon and help :thumbs:

[Rosie0610]

I got married at the Swan which isn't technically a disney resort and I went to Ohannas with my veil and white dress on. No one said anything or asked which resort we got married at.

[tazfoto]

Hello Alec

There will be the two of us and our 3 children age 5 to 13.
We were looking at the Grand Floridian Cafe as an option but then wasn't sure as the Grand Floridian is Disneys wedding hotel and we were not sure if we would be allowed in the same area as a Disney wedding. (We are getting married at Cypress Grove and not staying at a Disney hotel). Do you think this is the case?

Graeme
Spend an hour with your guests around the resorts and have tea at 2pm at the GF. Otherwise, the GF cafe as suggested is good, the Kona Cafe at the Polynesian is an option. You can also plan something at Spoodles at the Boardwalk and have a boat ride on the Breathless.

You will be fine wearing your dress on Disney resorts properties after your wedding. Two things that one should not do:

1. Try to go into a park in wedding attires.
2. Have someone "perform" or pose as an officiant for photos if you are not getting married at Disney. This will attract attention especially at popular wedding locations (yc, wp etc..). Photos of the couple is fine.

Otherwise, Disney is cool about it.

Just one note: If you are at the GF in your wedding dress and there is another bride there. You may be ask to wait a few minutes before entering. This is because they want each bride to feel special and not have two or three in the main lobby at the same time. It is not a problem at all for you, just a little wait. They are very good and discreet about it...:)

Ask if you have questions.

[graeme99]

Thank you for the info. Very helpful.:thumbs:

Graeme

[babybelle]

We got married at Cypress Grove at 11am then later went to Park Fare in the early evening for the character buffet. I was allowed in there in my wedding dress - just felt a bit weird beign so overdressed :D

We chose this for my DD's who were age 3 & 5 at the time, it made my day when a lady commented how kind it was of us to think of the children for the wedding meal. TBH I also love my wedding pics with Fairy Godmother, Cinderella etc.

[graeme99]

Tazfoto


I see you have been on the Grand 1 cruise. What did you think of it?
We are considering it for an hour cruise around the lakes.

Thanks

Graeme

[graeme99]

Hello Babybelle

We have requested 11:00am for our wedding as well. Did you request the time or was you given it? As they say they won't confirm the time until we are in Florida which is not helping our planning much.

We are looking for things to do between the lunch time meal and the evening meal. Possibly a cruise. What type of things did you do in the middle of the day?


Graeme

[tazfoto]

Tazfoto


I see you have been on the Grand 1 cruise. What did you think of it?
We are considering it for an hour cruise around the lakes.

Thanks

Graeme

Hi,

It was very nice and elegant. We had private butler who served us dinner and dessert. It was ordered through GF private dining. We loved the slipper dessert!

Close to the fireworks time, you go up and to the front of the yacht with seating for two and watched the fireworks.

The butler was a long time Disney employee (20+ years) and knew a lot about Disney. He made it really interesting and we learned a lot about the history of WDW and the Orlando area.

It was really nice and we would do it again for special occasions.

If your desire is to be on the water and see the water while cruising then the pontoon will offer that. The Grand I is a cabin really meant for cozyness and dining.

We also have done the Illuminations on the "Breathless" and pontoon for Wishes.

If you want to see pictures of the Grand I, go here http://www.tazfoto.com/webhtml/grandI.htm

Hope this helped.

[graeme99]

Nice website, very useful.

It looks like we will go for the GF Cafe for lunch and then would like to go on a cruise of the lakes in the afternoon.

Having seen your photos of the grand I, there doesn't look to be much room at the back to sit us and 3 kids. Is this the case?
How well can you see out of the cabin windows sitting down?


We have not looked at pontoon boats as the name just suggests they are very basic. But after your response we see that they may be suitable. We have found out that you can hire them from various places but we can't find anywhere where we can book in advance to reserve a boat. Only the wishes fireworks cruises.
Do you know how we could do this. Also do you have a pic of a pontoon boat as we can only find decent pictures of non Disney pontoon boats.

Thanks

Graeme

[Debbie2]

We stayed at the GF this summer and saw a wedding party in their wedding attire in the GF cafe. There were about 12 of them and they seemed to be having a great time.

[forestangel]

hi graeme99

dont worry about being in disney resorts in your wedding attire i had the same worry as my dress is big:oops: and was worried we wouldnt be welcome especially as we plan to go the grand floridian lounge for high tea after our 11.30 wedding at cypress grove. In the end i emailed disney and they said your more than welcome and they would love to help us celebrate:D .

I more than appreciate your concerns concerning your wedding reception we went thru them too, many restaurants dont open for lunch and those that do are seemed too casual. I loved the idea of booking the grand 1 but DH2B just wouldnt consider it at $400 an hour plus the catering costs:confused: . Our next choice was the GF cafe but the latest adr we could get was 1.40 which was cutting it fine as we dont leave cypress grove till 1pm. In the end we went for the GF garden lounge because of all the super reviews it gets saying what an elegant occasion it was we are going to order the Grand Tea as it comes with a glass of champagne:wiggle: . The portions are dainty thou even by US standards so we intend ordering the slipper dessert thru private dining and maybe even another wedding cake from the GF bakery.

good luck with your planning and wedding but if you do decide on a disney resort you had better be quick and make an adr

keep us posted

sue

[tazfoto]

Nice website, very useful.

It looks like we will go for the GF Cafe for lunch and then would like to go on a cruise of the lakes in the afternoon.

Having seen your photos of the grand I, there doesn't look to be much room at the back to sit us and 3 kids. Is this the case?
How well can you see out of the cabin windows sitting down?


We have not looked at pontoon boats as the name just suggests they are very basic. But after your response we see that they may be suitable. We have found out that you can hire them from various places but we can't find anywhere where we can book in advance to reserve a boat. Only the wishes fireworks cruises.
Do you know how we could do this. Also do you have a pic of a pontoon boat as we can only find decent pictures of non Disney pontoon boats.

Thanks

Graeme
Hi Graeme,

I have updated the Grand I pictures for you and added the pictures of pontoons for you as well. Take a look

http://www.tazfoto.com/webhtml/wdw_locations.htm

The new photos shows the interior of the Grand I. As you can see, it will comfortably sit about 8-10 adults for a cruise. You cannot see out the windows while sitting down. To view the fireworks, you will have to go up and to the front of the ship or ask them to park the ship with the rear facing the MK.

The pontoon can be rented during the day by guests or visitors to the resorts and you can drive it yourself as well. However, when the night falls, guests and visitors are not allowed to drive any boats or pontoons to see the fireworks. This is for safety reasons. A driver will drive for the fireworks cruises. I don't know if you can reserve in advance a pontoon for a day cruise. But every time that we have gone to one of the departing locations, there were several available. The departing locations for Seven Seas Lagoon are GF Marina, WL Marina, Contemporary Marina and WL Marina. You may want to call +1 407 WDW-PLAY on the day that you want the pontoon.

Hope this helps.

[Pepper]

Hi Graeme

Just wanted to say, we didn't know the time our wedding was and Virgin said that they would give us the time when we got to resort, but really that doesn't help for easy planning (we have guests that are staying off site)

We contacted the Disney Co-ordinator who told us the time of our wedding, maybe you should contact them direct.

[graeme99]

Hello Taz

Thanks very much for the photos of the Grand I, Pontoon boat and Floridian Cafe. This has been a great help in our decision making. Much appreciated.

Graeme

[tazfoto]

Hi Graeme

You are welcome. Have fun planning and have a wonderful trip!!! :)