Epcot Dessert Party Timeline

[jenna77]

We are booking an IllumiNations dessert party for our wedding next year. It will start at 8:30. I would like to wear my wedding dress and since we'll be at the Boardwalk already, I would like to meet our escort at the International Gateway (although my coordinator is trying to push a motorcoach on me). I am trying to figure out the timeline for everything, and I am wondering what time we will need to meet the escort. 8:00? Thanks!

[themagicofdisney]

I'm wondering about the timeline too. My reception goes until 830 at the Grand Floridian, but my dessert party begins at 830 in Epcot. We were told you have to use Disney Transportation to have a Dessert Party in Epcot.

[lurkyloo]

Our party started at 8:30pm. We walked in through the International Gateway for our DP and met an escort at 8pm. It turned out to be a little too early cuz we had lots of time to kill until our guests got there, but it gave us time to snatch up all the good desserts and also just enjoy being alone in our fabulous DP location (UK Lochside).

themagicofdisney - It depends on where in Epcot your DP is. Some of the locations are close enough to the International Gateway that they will let you walk in wearing your wedding attire if you have an escort. Others require you to come in from backstage if you want to wear your wedding attire, which means you need to charter transportation.

I'm not sure why they have your reception lasting til 8:30 at the GF if your dessert party starts at 8:30 - everyone will be late!

[jenna77]

I was told that transportation is entirely optional, but a must if you want to wear your wedding dress. I am hoping my coordinator will agree that meeting an escort at the gateway is ok.

[leelee9878]

I know that this probably varies a lot but I am just curious as to how much a dessert party at Epcot typically costs?

[jenna77]

This is the information I was given:

Dessert Buffet Menu $22 minimum per person
(Buffets range from $22 to 34 per person and there are many add-ons as well)

There is a $75 outdoor setup fee for tables and chairs

$250 venue rental fee

$12.95 per person viewing fee for those without a park ticket

A mini-motor coach (optional) is $436.

If you wish to wear wedding attire, you must utilize transportation.

And 21% service charge and 6.5% sales tax on top of all that

[adisneygal]

This is the information I was given:

Dessert Buffet Menu $22 minimum per person
(Buffets range from $22 to 34 per person and there are many add-ons as well)

There is a $75 outdoor setup fee for tables and chairs

$250 venue rental fee

$12.95 per person viewing fee for those without a park ticket

A mini-motor coach (optional) is $436.

If you wish to wear wedding attire, you must utilize transportation.

And 21% service charge and 6.5% sales tax on top of all that


I am not using transportation for my dessert party and I AM wearing my dress. I am in the lower UK. We are meeting a guide at International Gateway. If you are close enough to International Gateway, you don't have to utilize transportation if you get it cleared with your planner.

[leelee9878]

This is the information I was given:

Dessert Buffet Menu $22 minimum per person
(Buffets range from $22 to 34 per person and there are many add-ons as well)

There is a $75 outdoor setup fee for tables and chairs

$250 venue rental fee

$12.95 per person viewing fee for those without a park ticket

A mini-motor coach (optional) is $436.

If you wish to wear wedding attire, you must utilize transportation.

And 21% service charge and 6.5% sales tax on top of all that

Thanks! I definitley want to do this when I have my Disney wedding, I just wanted an idea of what to expect with costs, etc.

[lpizzuro123]

We are entering throught the International Gateway and I am wearing my dress. We are having 50 people for our Dessert party and we will be in the UK Lower. Around 40 of our guests are staying at POFQ. We are having them take regular Disney Transportation over to Epcot and they will be meeting a hostess there to escort them in. The rest of us are staying at The Boardwalk or Beach and Yacht Club. We will be meeting a hostess at the International Gateway and walking in. The ones at the front of Epcot are meeting at 8:00 and the ones at the International Gateway are meeting at 8:15. It is costing us an additional $90.00 for two hostesses but better then paying for private transportation.

Linda

[Alec'sPrincess]

This is the information I was given:

Dessert Buffet Menu $22 minimum per person
(Buffets range from $22 to 34 per person and there are many add-ons as well)

There is a $75 outdoor setup fee for tables and chairs

$250 venue rental fee

$12.95 per person viewing fee for those without a park ticket

A mini-motor coach (optional) is $436.

If you wish to wear wedding attire, you must utilize transportation.

And 21% service charge and 6.5% sales tax on top of all that

Just a question for anyone who knows. My planner does not know a lot so I am relying on you guys for help :hug: This $250 rental fee for all locations? I am at UK Lochside and my planner hasn't told me what this cost.

[Caribbean_Chrissy]

This is the information I was given:

Dessert Buffet Menu $22 minimum per person
(Buffets range from $22 to 34 per person and there are many add-ons as well)

There is a $75 outdoor setup fee for tables and chairs

$250 venue rental fee

$12.95 per person viewing fee for those without a park ticket

A mini-motor coach (optional) is $436.

If you wish to wear wedding attire, you must utilize transportation.

And 21% service charge and 6.5% sales tax on top of all that


Thank you, Jenna! This is very helpful! LOVE the fact that guests can get in to the park for $12.50 if they don't have a park ticket.

Without seeing this, I never would have considered having a party in a theme park. Now I just may!

Not to be a debbie downer, but what happens if it rains?

[Lorelei528]

Alec's Princess-
Yes, the $250 is for all locations as far as I know.



Just some info on locations besides UK...

Morocco (mostly for Escape brides I guess)....

You will need to use transportation and enter through "backstage" because it is too far from IG. However, if your guests have park tickets, they can enter through International Gateway.

In that case, you wouldn't have to rent a charter bus thingy.

You would only have to worry about yourself and your groom... :)

[lurkyloo]

Just a question for anyone who knows. My planner does not know a lot so I am relying on you guys for help :hug: This $250 rental fee for all locations? I am at UK Lochside and my planner hasn't told me what this cost.

The rental fees vary by location. UK Lochside is $325. UK Terrace is $250. Italy Isola is $575. Morocco is $275. French Island Upper and French Island Lower are each $325.

[Alec'sPrincess]

Great! Thanks so much lurkyloo!

[honey2741]

I was told in order to have my DP in Epcot and wear my wedding dress, I HAD to have WDW Transporation. I personally rather just walk. I'm having an Escape wedding and they are putting us over in Morocco. They said based on our guest size this was the best location. Does anyone have any pictures what a dessert party looks like from that location? Thanks!

[jenna77]

I was told the same thing about the transportation. I gave you a link to Morocco pics in your thread about it.

[Lorelei528]

[QUOTE=Lorelei528;28339962]Alec's Princess-
Yes, the $250 is for all locations as far as I know.
QUOTE]



OOPS!!! sorry.....i'm am idiot....:guilty:

[lurkyloo]

No you aren't! :hug: I just happened to have the venue pricing at my fingertips...

[OoDeLally]

jenna77 could you send me the link to the Morocco desert party pictures as well. Even though I am thinking of going custom I will probably only have 20 guests worst case, and 35 best case scenario. There doesn't seem to be a lot of options for small group desert parties. Morocco seemed like it might be an exotic, romantic place to have one.

[jenna77]

PM'd you!

[OoDeLally]

I don't have enough posts to PM you back so I'll write it here. Thank you for the link to the photos and the tip about the view. Morocco looks really great. It's so exotic, and I think it would add something to that special day. Especially for the friends and family that haven't traveled out of state, or seen Disney. I love the atmosphere from the photos, but I'd hate to have the view blocked. Ohhhh choices, choices. :Pinkbounc I can see why people spend months and years planning a wedding. Thinking of all the options is so much fun though.