Aulani to WDW: The Lurkyloos' Anniversary Vow Renewal: THRILLING CONCLUSION 8/5!

[lurkyloo]

The Walt Disney World Florist had four table mockups scattered around the room. These ended up acting as overflow seating for David Tutera's appearance. My Photobucket slideshows aren't working on the DIS, so you'll have to click these links if you're interested:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DFTW Bridal Showcase 2013/5cee6db8.pbw

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DFTW Bridal Showcase 2013/98e063c2.pbw

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DFTW Bridal Showcase 2013/4b3b5815.pbw

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DFTW Bridal Showcase 2013/d6be13aa.pbw

The new, Disney-owned Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian had a table with photos and a signup sheet for more information.

Sephora was there doing mini makeovers and manicures using products from Disney's new Jasmine collection of cosmetics.

This first photo was taken at the end of the event, so you'll have to just imagine the HORDES of people lined up for my favorite area of the room, the cake tables.

Pastry chefs from the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary were on hand to pass out cake samples and do live demos. At first I thought the huge line was for the the cake samples, but when I got to the front, it turned out to be for free sugar flowers that the chefs were decorating and handing out.

It turns out Chef Richard here created our amazing first anniversary cake, which was inspired by our wedding cake but came with a completely original fondant topper he dreamed up. So of course I had to get a picture with Chef Richard!

 

[lurkyloo]

Cake slideshow: http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DFTW Bridal Showcase 2013/3aaf04d4.pbw


FAVORITE!

At the next table, a pastry chef was hand-painting some of the various white chocolate Disney characters you can get on or around a cake.

They had small samples of various cake and filling combinations, all weird and fruity except some chocolate ruined by hazlenut or mint. There were also cake pops (ruined by raspberry) and truffley thingies (more fruit). About all I could eat were the red velvet half-spheres with goat cheese cream cheese frosting. They were OK.

Oreo Mint Shots

Deconstructed Chocolate-covered Strawberries

Hazelnut Cake with Cappuccino Mousse, Banana Chip Cake with Salted Caramel Mousse & Coconut Cake with Tropical Mousse

Red Velvet Cake with Goat Cheese Mousse

Something That I Don't Know What It Was

They couldn't keep these white- and dark-chocolate strawberry pops in stock!

Down at the Contemporary pastry team's table, we finally got to meet Chef Brian in person. Not only did he create our wedding cake, he did Nate & Jensey's adorable Christmas anniversary cake and that gorgeous 5th anniversary cake we'd had the night before. So of course I wanted to get a photo with him too!

 

[lurkyloo]

The cake he's best known for on the DIS is an elaborate Haunted Mansion-themed anniversary cake that people have been asking him to re-create for years now. At the showcase, he and his team debuted a new Haunted Mansion wedding cake design that was a hit with my Twitter pals!

They'd also assembled mockups of all but one of the Escape Collection wedding cakes you can choose from, including the one I like to call "Everything But the Kitchen Sink"...

Escape Cake Slideshow: http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DFTW Bridal Showcase 2013/9500073c.pbw

On the opposite side of the room were booths for sampling food, plus a table full of appetizers.

My favorite was the Coffee & Porcini Dusted Pork Tenderloin with Dark Rum Demi over Creamy Herb Polenta, because you couldn't actually taste the coffee or the rum!

The scallops in spoons looked like they'd be fantastic but turned out to be kinda rubbery and bland. But they sure looked cool in a sorta steampunk/Dalek way...

There was also a Poached Pear & Smoked Gouda Salad that tasted like one of Hot Dog On A Stick's fried cheese sticks.

Last was the vegetarian option, which they called Pan-Seared Bean "Cake," Swiss Chard with Spicy Charred Tomato Sauce (the scare quotes were so that Lurkyloo wouldn't gobble them all up thinking they were real cake). Patrick, who will eat and enjoy just about anything, said this was pretty dreadful, so I stayed away.

There were also two signature cocktails, one real and one mock, called "Something Blue" and "Something Almost Blue."

<img alt=" photo P1120026.jpg" src="http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DFTW%20Bridal%20Showcase%202013/P1120026.jpg[/IMG]

Next to that was a table for Disney's Vero Beach Resort, which also hosts weddings and seems to function independently of Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings.

They were handing out cute little bags of graham cracker sand with chocolate turtles and slightly creepy fondant turtle eggs (I dunno why I had no qualms about biting off a turtle's head, yet eating the poor thing's eggs just sketched me out!).

Disney Event Photography had dozens of sample albums and photobooks on display, plus portraits.

 

[lurkyloo]

I was surprised that Bruno White, the vendor that does Disney's videography, didn't have big screens showing their videos at their booth, just a laptop.

Oh yes, and this DVD case.

Disney had a setup where you could have a portrait taken by Disney Event photographer.

What the...?! REX!!!!

Not sure what the connection was for Disney Golf... things for the groom to do with his buddies before the big day? At any rate, their booth gave Patrick a chance to ham it up with the freaky Mickey golf cart—that thing's scarier than the clown at BoardWalk Inn's Luna Park pool!

Aiyeeeeeeeeeeeee!

When we later had trouble finding seats for David Tutera's presentation, I wanted to watch from the golf cart, but Patrick wouldn't let me...

Whatta view, whatta VIEW!

Kingdom Magic Travel got to be the only one of the dozens of Disney-focused travel agencies that had a booth at the showcase.

There was also a booth for Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings' other stationer, the one that's not Impressions. I think she probably got really tired of people coming up and asking her where Shelly from Impressions was...

I don't even remember the music at the last bridal showcase, but I thought it was a great idea to have a DJ spinning party tunes this time. It made the event feel much more energetic (although it also gave Patrick an opportunity to bust out a very bad approximation of Gangnam Style).

DJ Charles Miles

And then we spotted this girl's AMAZING Snow White shoes!

Somehow, Patrick managed to find us two seats for the David Tutera show at the last minute. All of the empty ones you see here were being saved.

The mother-of-the-bride character from the last bridal showcase turned up as the warmup act for Tutera. She was up to her usual tricks—namely, embarrassing grooms-to-be.

And then... David Tutera happened! He may actually have been lowered in from the ceiling on a trapeze, or perhaps he spontaneously materialized onstage. I don't know because all I could see was this:

 

[lurkyloo]

Ah! There he is!

Tutera spent 15 or 20 minutes promoting his brands and then turned things over to the audience for Q&A. It was interesting to hear the kinds of questions brides and grooms had. Lots of family stuff, and a few situations so similar that answering them was like Magic 8-Ball.

"Signs point to yes."

"Mmmmm.... reply hazy. Try again."

Just like on reality TV, there was one question that had Tutera looking deep into a weepy bride's eyes and dramatically offering support, plus a confrontation with and public shaming of some poor mom who wasn't familiar with the practice of daytime wedding ceremonies. Oh, and plenty of hugs for everyone!

I was particularly interested in his answer to a question about brides and grooms seeing each other before the ceremony for a private "first look" to facilitate photography. According to Tutera, 80% of grooms aren't even looking when the bride starts down the aisle, so nothing is missed by doing a first look—and something is gained!

At the end, he helped the mother-in-law draw the name of the contest winner, who scored a 5-night Walt Disney World honeymoon.

Tutera was whisked offstage before the Hug Brigade could corner him, and most of the audience took that as their cue to leave. The last hour of the event was much mellower and a great time for snapping people-free pics. I got to meet several members of the DIS brides Facebook group, and it was fun to hear their wedding plans and impressions of the event.

The Verdict: Some of the brides who hadn't been to Disney's 2011 showcase felt this one didn't have enough to do, while those of us who'd been before thought this one was an improvement over the first one. I'd say that if you live within driving distance or happen to be at Disney during one of these, it would be fun to go. But if you're seriously considering a Disney wedding, you'd probably be better off saving your pennies for a site visit and/or planning session than making an extra trip for the showcase. And if you'd like to hear a 30-minute version of this paragraph with opinions from 3 brides and me, check out the podcast I did on the event!


Up Next: First Time Boating to Downtown Disney + Private Anniversary Party at IllumiNations!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Ok, so I'm a guy, and my idea of wedding planning is to plan to let the bride do it. That being said...

I was interested to see this R2D2 mini cake, which appeared to be a direct response to the dreadful R2D2 groom's cake the Grand Floridian made for a DISer a few years ago that ended up on CakeWrecks... Interestingly, everyone who's called them up since the showcase to request this mini cake has been told they can't actually make it due to licensing issues...

FAVORITE!

That cake and the Haunted Mansion cake are pretty darn awesome.

It was a nice example of some of the types of furniture you can bring in for an event, including (inexplicably but awesomely) FIRE!

Like bacon and cheese, fire makes everything better.

Not sure what the connection was for Disney Golf... things for the groom to do with his buddies before the big day?

I would imagine the grooms-to-be wandering the show and thinking, "Flowers, dresses...blah blah blah...cake...blah blah...hey! Golf! Is there beer in the cart?"

 

[blabbermouth]

Yes, Ok, Best in Show will happen ASAP.

I figure someone would have compiled all of the lights in Disney World, but MK does the trick! Neat how a lot of them are used in different lands, and yet they still work.

 

[MEK]

I know I have a lot of catching up to do, but just wanted to say that your anniversary cake is super cool.

I really enjoyed the bridal expo shots and review. What a cool idea for brides who want to plan a Disney wedding. I especially loved all the cake shots, although I will admit that some of those flavors are a little...uhmmm...different, shall we say.

Great update. Glad Patrick went with you to take all those great pics.

 

[wiigirl]

Great pics!

 

[lurkyloo]

Like bacon and cheese, fire makes everything better.

I've never thought of it that way, but bacon, cheese and fire really DO make everything better, don't they!

Yes, Ok, Best in Show will happen ASAP.

... Now I'm gonna be in the doghouse if you hate it...

I really enjoyed the bridal expo shots and review. What a cool idea for brides who want to plan a Disney wedding. I especially loved all the cake shots, although I will admit that some of those flavors are a little...uhmmm...different, shall we say.

Yeah, I know they're trying to be all fancy and modern, but I would be willing to bet that 95% of wedding guests prefer basic cake flavors to the highfalutin ones that are all the rage these days.

Great pics!

Thanks!

 

[aboveH20]

Holy Hannah. The Disney's Fairy Tale Wedding extravaganza (with your photos, of course) is amazing. I honestly don't know what to say other than I'm so glad I own Disney stock (which has been doing well lately) because I don't expect to ever go to a Disney wedding.

 

[eandesmom]

Those are some seriously weird cake flavor combinations. There is such a thing as more interesting than delicious...I wish chef's would remember that sometimes, most people will take delicious every day.

Completely agree with you on the favorite cake.

That Mickey Golf cart IS creepy!

 

[librarygeek]

Argh! That's the worst! But that's great that you enjoyed New Fantasyland! I can see how nifty it would be for a big Beauty & the Beast fan to see environments from their favorite story in real life. So, of the four times you did Enchanted Tales, did you ever get to be in the show? I'm trying to think what would be the best part to get....

I did, the first time actually! I was Mrs. Potts

 

[librarygeek]

And thanks for sharing your pictures from the wedding expo! I love seeing all of the food/dessert pictures, but especially all those amazing cakes!

 

[lurkyloo]

Holy Hannah. The Disney's Fairy Tale Wedding extravaganza (with your photos, of course) is amazing. I honestly don't know what to say other than I'm so glad I own Disney stock (which has been doing well lately) because I don't expect to ever go to a Disney wedding.

Love it!

Those are some seriously weird cake flavor combinations. There is such a thing as more interesting than delicious...I wish chef's would remember that sometimes, most people will take delicious every day.

I guess the chefs prolly get bored with doing the same basic chocolate and vanilla all the time, so I shouldn't begrudge them their wacky combos. But surely there coulda been ONE boring combo for the rest of us.

I did, the first time actually! I was Mrs. Potts

I'll bet that's a really fun part!

 

[lurkyloo]

I'm sorry to report that there will be no trip report update this week, on account of Comic Con. But if you'd like to see all the cool Disney-related panels and merchandise we saw at the Con, check out my Twitter feed!

We attended the Roger Rabbit 25th Anniversary panel and the Disney Afternoon panel, plus we got to meet Lilo & Stitch writer/co-director Dean DeBlois at a "How to Train Your Dragon" poster signing (with Drew Struzan!). I was also sure to snap pix of all the neat Disney collectibles we encountered. Hope that kinda makes up for the missing update...

Here's a rare shot of Robert Zemeckis with Charles Fleischer in the costume used for reference on the set of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. (Overheard in the studio cafeteria, "Have you seen that guy's rabbit costume? This movie is gonna be TERRIBLE!")

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I think your Comic Con Twitter report more than makes up for missing an update this week! Visiting San Diego during the weekend of Comic Con is one of the things I hope to experience in the next few years. In fact, after religiously following Entertainment Weekly's report and updates from Comic Con, I was just telling DW last night that we should try to make this happen in a couple of years when the kids are a bit older!

I hadn't thought about Disney's representation (and I mean non-Marvel and non-Star Wards rep) at the Con but it makes total sense and now I have extra incentive to try to make this happen (not that I didn't have enough to start off with.) Hope you had a great time!

 

[aboveH20]

Love it!

Oh, good. After I posted I was trying to decide if it sounded snarky. (Humor doesn't always type well.)

I've spent some cold, rainy February days at Disney World and my only consolation is walking through the gift shops willing people to spend money.

 

[lurkyloo]

I hadn't thought about Disney's representation (and I mean non-Marvel and non-Star Wards rep) at the Con but it makes total sense and now I have extra incentive to try to make this happen (not that I didn't have enough to start off with.) Hope you had a great time!

I was sorta blasé about it before we got there, but of course we ended up having a ton of fun. I was surprised how many Disney-related things there were to tweet about. I hope you guys get to go soon—I think you'll have a blast!

Oh, good. After I posted I was trying to decide if it sounded snarky. (Humor doesn't always type well.)

I've spent some cold, rainy February days at Disney World and my only consolation is walking through the gift shops willing people to spend money.

OK, maybe I'd better buy some stock too. It sounds like it could change my whole perspective on the parks!

 

[lurkyloo]

After the bridal showcase, we dashed back to our room to freshen up and then headed out to Old Key West for our first-ever boat ride to Downtown Disney, something Patrick had been wanting to try for ages cuz he’s so curious about the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs.

I love all the leftover reminders that Old Key West used to be THE Disney Vacation Club Resort—like, there weren’t any others and there never would be. Who knew that one day that would be all Disney built?

Don’t even THINK about racing this girl in a ferry. She will SMOKE you!

We had a pleasant-enough trip, but I think maybe we should have taken the ferry from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney instead for a better view of the Treehouse Villas. Patrick was bummed that this was all we could see.

The back side of Downtown Disney