A Special Celebration

[ThunderSnow]

Good day all! Help! We’re celebrating my daughter’s Sweet 16 this July in Disney and my wife and I wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary. We were thinking of possibly renting some space to have a small snack/dessert reception. The problem is, we’ve been getting the runaround for over 6 months and the time is drawing near. We’ve tried Disney, DVC Member Services, Beach Club lobby (where we’ll be staying), Dining, the restaurants where we’re eating, Disney Special Events, Conventions/Weddings. Always the runaround. At this point there's no magic to be had, and I'd go elsewhere if there was another game in town. The best we got (and almost all the others directed us this way) was Disney Conventions/Catering. But numerous (dozens) of emails/calls have received promises of being returns without actually being returned. Any ideas? Its for about 20-25 people. Thanks so much!

 

[chris31997]

Have you tried talking to a restraunt directly? I know that some of them at the GF overlook the fireworks at MK. That might be a possiblity

Sorry you are getting the run around and no Hopefully, the restraunt will be able to give you some

 

[ThunderSnow]

Chris, thank you, we tried that too. Grand Floridian said they couldn't fit our party size at the time for Wishes. We tried some of the EPCOT restaurants with the same result for Illuminations and as for outside they said we had to talk to Events/Conventions/Catering who never gets back to you.

 

[lov2b@disney]

We had an anniversary dessert party at Epcot a few years ago and I have friends that have had them as well...organized it throught the catering/convention... I didnt have any problem contacting them...I hope you can get in touch with them...it was alot of fun.

 

[Niki in NJ]

We had an anniversary dessert party at Epcot a few years ago and I have friends that have had them as well...organized it throught the catering/convention... I didnt have any problem contacting them...I hope you can get in touch with them...it was alot of fun.

I was going to suggest the same thing. You can rent a space in Epcot in one of the countries overlooking the lake and have an Illuminations dessert party. It should be catering/conventions as lov2b@disney noted. Not sure if you can do a private dessert party in MK for wishes, but I am pretty sure you can have a Fantasmic dessert party, as well. Good luck!

 

[billfatora]

There is a thread similar to this on the next page....
The recommendation there was to try "Gifts of a Lifetime". I was very interested in it, so I did a "search" for it on the "net", and found an option of "Gifts Of A Lifetime Disney", and I went to their website.
IMHO, it's may be exactly what you are looking for !
I checked it out myself (pre-pre-planning for Dec. 2012 !) and actually filled out a "questionnaire" and submitted it.
From what I've found about it (them) I couldn't find a single "negative".... As far as I'm concerned, that speaks volumes ! Good Luck !

 

[stazmatic]

There is a thread similar to this on the next page....
The recommendation there was to try "Gifts of a Lifetime". I was very interested in it, so I did a "search" for it on the "net", and found an option of "Gifts Of A Lifetime Disney", and I went to their website.
IMHO, it's may be exactly what you are looking for !
I checked it out myself (pre-pre-planning for Dec. 2012 !) and actually filled out a "questionnaire" and submitted it.
From what I've found about it (them) I couldn't find a single "negative".... As far as I'm concerned, that speaks volumes ! Good Luck !

I just booked an event through Gifts of a Lifetime for my daughters Sweet 16 in June. I will be happy to report back after. Like the PP I could not find one negative review and so far planning with them has been tons of fun. I am really looking forward to it! It sounds like they can do almost anything your budget allows so I would contact them.

 

[ThunderSnow]

Gifts said they couldn't help me with a dessert party? We've tried catering/conventions soooooo many times and no one gets back to us. Does anyone have a reliable contact? Thanks!

 

[baler31]

Gifts said they couldn't help me with a dessert party? We've tried catering/conventions soooooo many times and no one gets back to us. Does anyone have a reliable contact? Thanks!

The initial calls go to a call center and then you are generally assigned to a rep based on your resort. Call back and insist on speaking to someone immediately and explain how many contact attempts you have made with no return of service.

There are standard dessert parties for Illuminations and Fantasmic and breakfast events at Animal Kingdom. GF also has private dinner parties. In our experience they are not very creative and cannot think outside the box, what they have as stock events are pretty much it. I have heard some of the Beach Club reps are more willing to go the extra mile.

 

[Jilian]

Diseny catered events should book it for you. You can do a dessert party at the grand floridian's sago cay or one @ epcot. Head on over to the wedding forum for more info on booking a private event. Lots of them have booked rehersal dinners and dessert parties.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Gifts of a Lifetime does not have a food license.
. . . they can do decorations
. . . they can do baskets
. . . they cannot do anything that has food, even candy in baskets
2) If "conventions" can't help, try to book a room at ANY eatery.
. . . do not be picky about which eatery, this is late in the game
. . . at this late date, that might be impossible
. . . you probably won't get a view of any fireworks
. . . you could have enough time to eat, but not throw a party
3) You still might be able to get a dessert party in Epcot.
. . . the spots are few
. . . they are normally rented well in advance
. . . but, the exact day you want might be open - who knows

 

[ThunderSnow]

We're eating at Tutto Italia in Italy, we made reservation in advance for our entire party. We are really planners, just shocked we're not getting cooperation (or didn't get it) from catering. I agree, its late in the game. At this point we're planning on getting cake and assorteds from Boardwalk Bakery and just having our own reception poolside at one of the quiet pools by just taking up X number of tables. Thank to all of you for your generous help!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We're eating at Tutto Italia in Italy, we made reservation in advance for our entire party. We are really planners, just shocked we're not getting cooperation (or didn't get it) from catering. I agree, its late in the game. At this point we're planning on getting cake and assorteds from Boardwalk Bakery and just having our own reception poolside at one of the quiet pools by just taking up X number of tables. Thank to all of you for your generous help!

Excuse me, but why would you think you could monopolize one of the pools? There are other guests at the resort you plan on overtaking. Especially if it is the BCV pool. There are lots of members who prefer that pool to Stormalong Bay.

Are all your 20-25 guests staying at BCV? If not, they are not permitted to be at the pool.

 

[4orm]

You can most definitely book many specialty places in and around the parks. Check out some of Lurkyloo's posts. She even has a blog where she has done cost breakdowns for the various private events she's held at WDW. They're beautiful and not as expense as you might think. She might even be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[ThunderSnow]

Deb, and if we're all guests its ok, or is that monopolizing? I love the assumptions. I'm not trying to take 'your' pool, I'm trying to work through Disney for space, they're not working with me. Thanks for not helping.

4orm, thank you very much, very helpful, that's exactly what I need.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Deb, and if we're all guests its ok, or is that monopolizing? I love the assumptions. I'm not trying to take 'your' pool, I'm trying to work through Disney for space, they're not working with me. Thanks for not helping.

4orm, thank you very much, very helpful, that's exactly what I need.

No, it's still monopolizing the pool. Everyone staying at that resort has the same right to use the pool. If you take up all the tables (or most of them), none of the other guests will have the opportunity to use that pool.

It's not my pool. It belongs to the guests staying at that resort. Not the guests of the guests.

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

Thundersnow...you are staying at the Beach Club? I know the general manager and can't imagine they won't do anything for you there.....Call the hotel direct and ask to speak to the manager on duty....they are incredible there and have always done even the smallest things for me....If you don't get a reply within 2 days, call back and ask to speak to the general manager or her assistant....if you are polite and persistent with your phone calls, they will do something for you..they are amazing...
But call the hotel DIRECT..not a call center...and when you call,make sure it is the direct hotel phone.
Hope you find something....