GuardMusic
Castaway Club Platinum
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2005
- Messages
- 1,183
Good evening! We returned home just 2 hrs ago! Knowing the DISsers need up to date info, I'm here to help! 
This event was a gift to celebrate BFF's b-day (which yes, was actually the day of the event) and a work colleague who I brought for her first ever visit to WDW (Let's just say she didn't have a typical experience!) We arrived at opening and had ZERO WAIT for nearly every ride we went on! 
Last night we headed toward the "Special Event" building between Canada & UK. We quickly discover there is a check-in line across the way (on lake side) for 3D Dessert. We were about 40th in line, but luckily is moved quickly. Each of us was "wristbanded" and directed to the building. We were also told we would be guided to the viewing area later. We were given the "3D glasses"
and didn't think much about them.
We stood just inside the building in front of a plane white curtain. The area was signed with bright fushia & other happy colored lights. An announcement was made and the curtain was pulled back to reveal the actual area. There were spirals hanging from the ceiling, event lighting playing off of them, small seated and standing tables covered in lame (metallic) fabric, and a bassist, accordion player, & violinist were performing tango music!
It was just wonderful.
Now, my apologies, as BFF took all the photos, which I don't have to post yet.
There were two complete food/drink areas that were the same on both sides of the room. For drinks there was lemonade, tea, & coffee. From what I recall, the food was divided into Mini-pastries, Warm desserts, Chocolate, Doughnuts, & Truffles. (I think there was a 6th section I've forgotten.) Each food table has a description of the offerings on a sign at the end of the table.
Each food table had a paired alcoholic drink table; each of these had a flat-screen TV describing the drink offerings. I saw vodka, whiskey, bourbon, champagne, and more.
Amazingly, the descriptions at the Chocolate table didn't really call my name!
I was most amazed at the Doughnut table. They were FLAMBEING cinnamon doughnuts!!! 
The doughnut went in a large coffee cup that you could have topped with either coffee ice cream or ice cream infused with Red Stag bourbon! 
and then topped with FLAMBEED hot fudge!
On another table were a variety of soft, lovely tea-sized cookies and then a variety of truffles.... Truffles that they were making right in front of us!
I felt like it was a celebratory party at Food Network! 
We got to meet a "chef" for whom this event was the first time he was serving guests. The conversation went like this:
Me: So I hear this is your first night serving guests.
Him: (nervously) Yes.
Me: Are you nervous?
Him: A little.
Me: Don't worry. As long as you keep the food coming, we won't bite.
We also sat at a table with an elderly woman, who had been a Cast Member at MouseGear, and her children - who were delightful.
Around 8:20pm, we started to wonder when they would lead us away, so we headed out on our own. The poor cast members were having to keep out the drunks from the F&W Festival. We realized, like another special event we'd been to, we were to get there on our own - just to follow the right color glow-sticks. So we took off as fast as we could in the crush of F&W crowds to the area between the two shops at the front of World Showcase.
We were by no means the first people there, so we didn't get "front row". (We did have to show our wristbands in order to gain entry to the viewing area.) It worked out best because they ended up opening an even more front area between the shrubs and actual lake railing. Instead we found a spot at the back of the viewing area with other shrubs behind us. This was nice, as it was on an incline and we could see over others. Everyone was sitting on the cement.
I feared being smashed in there, but there was actually plenty of room for us to stretch out (unlike the public areas that were crushing
). As Illuminations began, we IMMEDIATELY learned what was so special about the 3D glasses . I won't ruin the surprise, so PM (private message) me if you really want to know! 
We usually watch Illuminations from the back (America), but we soon realized how much better it is at the front. We sang along & really enjoyed it.
At the conclusion, we hung out in the private area to allow the crowds to go by. We were able to speak with the Event Manager, Nicole, who was asking us if we were local, had APs, and most importantly if we felt it was an acceptable price-point and if it was worth it. Our response? We absolutely felt it was worth it, but not so much for the food. For us it was the "private" party, live music, and the viewing area. We don't normally like crowds, so the crowds for F&W would have forced us from the park without the 3D Dessert Reception.
Hope to have photos yet this week. Happy to answer any questions you might have &/or ask BFF to fill in the blanks for what I might not remember. And FYI, BFF said this was her BEST birthday EVER, & work friend said the 3D Dessert Reception was her favorite part of the trip!
Gayle
This event was a gift to celebrate BFF's b-day (which yes, was actually the day of the event) and a work colleague who I brought for her first ever visit to WDW (Let's just say she didn't have a typical experience!) We arrived at opening and had ZERO WAIT for nearly every ride we went on! Last night we headed toward the "Special Event" building between Canada & UK. We quickly discover there is a check-in line across the way (on lake side) for 3D Dessert. We were about 40th in line, but luckily is moved quickly. Each of us was "wristbanded" and directed to the building. We were also told we would be guided to the viewing area later. We were given the "3D glasses"
and didn't think much about them.We stood just inside the building in front of a plane white curtain. The area was signed with bright fushia & other happy colored lights. An announcement was made and the curtain was pulled back to reveal the actual area. There were spirals hanging from the ceiling, event lighting playing off of them, small seated and standing tables covered in lame (metallic) fabric, and a bassist, accordion player, & violinist were performing tango music!
It was just wonderful.Now, my apologies, as BFF took all the photos, which I don't have to post yet.
There were two complete food/drink areas that were the same on both sides of the room. For drinks there was lemonade, tea, & coffee. From what I recall, the food was divided into Mini-pastries, Warm desserts, Chocolate, Doughnuts, & Truffles. (I think there was a 6th section I've forgotten.) Each food table has a description of the offerings on a sign at the end of the table. Each food table had a paired alcoholic drink table; each of these had a flat-screen TV describing the drink offerings. I saw vodka, whiskey, bourbon, champagne, and more.
Amazingly, the descriptions at the Chocolate table didn't really call my name!
I was most amazed at the Doughnut table. They were FLAMBEING cinnamon doughnuts!!! The doughnut went in a large coffee cup that you could have topped with either coffee ice cream or ice cream infused with Red Stag bourbon! and then topped with FLAMBEED hot fudge! On another table were a variety of soft, lovely tea-sized cookies and then a variety of truffles.... Truffles that they were making right in front of us!
I felt like it was a celebratory party at Food Network! We got to meet a "chef" for whom this event was the first time he was serving guests. The conversation went like this:
Me: So I hear this is your first night serving guests.
Him: (nervously) Yes.
Me: Are you nervous?
Him: A little.
Me: Don't worry. As long as you keep the food coming, we won't bite.
We also sat at a table with an elderly woman, who had been a Cast Member at MouseGear, and her children - who were delightful.
Around 8:20pm, we started to wonder when they would lead us away, so we headed out on our own. The poor cast members were having to keep out the drunks from the F&W Festival.
We realized, like another special event we'd been to, we were to get there on our own - just to follow the right color glow-sticks. So we took off as fast as we could in the crush of F&W crowds to the area between the two shops at the front of World Showcase.We were by no means the first people there, so we didn't get "front row". (We did have to show our wristbands in order to gain entry to the viewing area.) It worked out best because they ended up opening an even more front area between the shrubs and actual lake railing. Instead we found a spot at the back of the viewing area with other shrubs behind us. This was nice, as it was on an incline and we could see over others. Everyone was sitting on the cement.
I feared being smashed in there, but there was actually plenty of room for us to stretch out (unlike the public areas that were crushing
). As Illuminations began, we IMMEDIATELY learned what was so special about the 3D glasses . I won't ruin the surprise, so PM (private message) me if you really want to know! We usually watch Illuminations from the back (America), but we soon realized how much better it is at the front. We sang along & really enjoyed it.
At the conclusion, we hung out in the private area to allow the crowds to go by. We were able to speak with the Event Manager, Nicole, who was asking us if we were local, had APs, and most importantly if we felt it was an acceptable price-point and if it was worth it. Our response? We absolutely felt it was worth it, but not so much for the food. For us it was the "private" party, live music, and the viewing area. We don't normally like crowds, so the crowds for F&W would have forced us from the park without the 3D Dessert Reception.
Hope to have photos yet this week. Happy to answer any questions you might have &/or ask BFF to fill in the blanks for what I might not remember. And FYI, BFF said this was her BEST birthday EVER, & work friend said the 3D Dessert Reception was her favorite part of the trip!
Gayle
