Why hello there Alexandra, and welcome back to planDisney!
It's so wonderful to look back to when you came to us at planDisney ahead of your very first trip to Walt Disney World Resort last year, and you're now looking forward to saying "I do" at the Most Magical Place on Earth in 2025! I actually
had a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding of my own this year and I too had similar questions about whether and when we'd be able to do a menu tasting while we were planning. Now in recent years the process and experience has changed and may evolve again without prior notice for future Disney Brides and Grooms, but here's some helpful information so that you can plan ahead for what to expect:
- During my Disney Wedding planning, there were a number of dates that were available to us with at least two to three different options each month that also tended to coincide with the Venue Tour or Open House dates. Following a morning exploring the grounds of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and getting a feel for what it would be like to walk down the aisle at Disney's Wedding Pavilion to the sounds of Adam the exceptionally talented organist, we were then directed to meet later in the afternoon for our tasting in a ballroom at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort.
- At the present time, these group menu tastings are only offered by invitation through your Disney Wedding Planning team, or Wedding Event Manager and depend on the venues you have chosen (for example, a menu tasting is not currently available for couples who choose to host their reception at California Grill), and whether you'll be having a full seated reception as opposed to a shorter celebration like a Dessert Party.
- A Cast Member from Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings team confirmed that invitations to these events are currently sent out within several months of your wedding date, and the brides and grooms we were seated with at our tasting were all about three to four months out from their big day at similar venue locations. We were grateful for the opportunity to not only try all of the menu options from appetizers through dessert, but also speak with Disney's Grand Floridian Bakery team about our cake and see some beautiful floral and decor inspiration as well as some entertainment experiences that we ended up adding afterward!
At the time, there was no charge to attend the event and bring two additional guests with us (unlike the
cake tasting kits that have a fee for additional options), but there is no guarantee that any couple will receive an invitation. I highly recommend speaking with your Disney Wedding Planner to ask whether your wedding might make you eligible to attend and in the meantime, I found it useful to check out wedding planning groups for fellow DisBrides and DisGrooms online where couples have posted photos of the tasting experience and their reviews of each item.
Come on back to planDisney again for any wedding planning tips over the next year, I'm always happy to help research and share tips! You might find it as handy as we did to stay tuned to the
Ever After Blog and Disney Wedding Podcast for all of the latest updates and experiences from real Disney Wedding couples.
Hope you get to taste some wonderful wedding food on your upcoming visit!
Prince