DCL Party Planning Thread (combined threads)

[barney4liz]

Rum cake - yummmm.....

Thanks for the recipe!

My pleasure! I'll be making that today as soon as the liquor store opens and I can get some dark rum. Hope there is some left for my guests on Saturday.

 

[DVCLaurie05]

I don't know about the rest of you but I'm getting excited for this party! Some of the items I ordered arrived last week and hopefully, my Oriental Trading order will be here on Monday or Tuesday.

Has anyone received their Disney Cruise package yet? I don't know what color the Disney napkins will be. I need to purchase 2 table cloths and some additional table wear but want everything to match so I'll need to make at least one more trip to the local party store.

Stopped at Marshalls today and they only had one or two H2O products but a lot of other spa products on clearance so I picked up a bunch to use in my guest gift bags.

http://houseparty.com/party/44473

Ok - So I have to tell you - originally, I was like - yeah, ok - I'll do this party, but I am NOT going crazy! LOL - well, my party instincts kicked in and I am off and running w/this! LOL

Still no package, but as far as solids, I went w/Red, Black, White, Yellow. I got a great small sandpail in the party store to put forks/spoons in - that is yellow w/a red handle, thought that was cute.

I am running today for the gift bags - I am going to check marshalls too - do you mind me asking how much the H2O products are? I really don't want to spend too much.

I started out invited just a few relatives - now, I am at around 35 people - and I am getting excited, because of all the hype here on the boards!

So, this is my 'plan of action' - simple, but I think it's OK!

'Picky' Food:
chips/dip
soft pretzel tray w/dips
cheese, pepperoni/crackers
veggies/dip
party mix
asst. snacks
I also have cocktail franks and pizza bagels that I didn't uses on New Years- maybe I'll break those out if need be.

Desserts:
Mickey Head Rice Krispie Treats
Sand (the pudding/nilla wafers,etc. - served in sandpail)
Blue jello - served in small cups w/ swedish fish in them! SO cute!
Fruit
Cupcakes - for the kids - I did see a recipe for pina colada cupcakes, was thinking of trying that one - or just regular - no need to get fancy! LOL
Cookies - possible, mickey heads if I get ambitious!!

We'll have beer, sangria, some frozen concotion - haven't decided if I will do pina coladas or margaritas, oh, and I got Capri Sun 'tropical fruit' juice bags for the kids - AND - I might do a punch IF I can find the punch bowl!

So - nothing fancy - but, we are starting at 7 - so, I didn't think I need to do like a 'meal' - ya know?

Then.................... I put all of our DCL pics up on the mantle - (I had them down in the basement when I had all the Christmas stuff up) - I printed off some other pics from our last cruise (9/06) - I bought one of the 2006 photobooks onboard, and NEVER printed out the pics - so I did that!

My son and I are going to make a posterboard saying "Welcome Aboard" - and we are going to put a few pics of the boats - and I have a pic of the welcome aboard sign - it's a bit blurry - but it'll work -

The guest bags, that is where I am stuck - I am going out today - with a few ideas in my head - first off - I did the CDs - how do I post a pic on here? I can send it - it actually came out pretty good - I went to Staples and got the cases that fit 2 CDs, made a cover for them, and one for each of the CDs - not 100% the way I hoped they turned out - but, they are pretty good!! - SO - I will put that in the bag, I am guessing with one of the planning kits they give, they only give 8, right? - but, I have a few families coming that have cruised before, so, they won't need that - I can give it to the ones who haven't - then, I was thinking of heading over to AC Moore today- and getting the magnetic fridge pads, they always have such cute designs, was hoping to find a tropical or maybe pirate one, and then I was going to go to Bath and Body Works to see if they have some kind of tropical soap scent - but, first I am going to check marshalls and see about the H2O stuff.

As far as decorations, my house is a Disney house to begin with, so, decorations are not necessary - I have the framed pics, and photoalbums out, I will do whatever w/the balloons, and I will collect my Disney stuff around the house to put around in the 'party area'...

Who is doing games w/prizes?? What are you playing and using for prizes? We were going to set up the Disney pictionary - we got it for Christmas and haven't played yet, going to check it out tonight and see what it's all aobut.

So, sorry this was so long - But, I am in full swing over here - I have A LOT of running around to do today - and of course the kids are home.... So, it ought to be interesting to see how much I get done!!

I am working Tuesday and Thursday - so, I have today, wednesday and friday to finish up!

Enough of my rambling - can you tell I am excited!

 

[miatamel]

Well, I feel like I'm driving y'all crazy with all the questions and wanting help, but can anyone share the recipe/how to for the Mickey Mouse head Rice Krispies treats? I tried googling, but didn't see anything.
Thanks yet again,
Melanie
Oh, and we're starting at 6, so I gotta do "meal" food. I have alot of work to do!!

 

[DVCLaurie05]

Well, I feel like I'm driving y'all crazy with all the questions and wanting help, but can anyone share the recipe/how to for the Mickey Mouse head Rice Krispies treats? I tried googling, but didn't see anything.
Thanks yet again,
Melanie
Oh, and we're starting at 6, so I gotta do "meal" food. I have alot of work to do!!

The recipe is on a box of Kellogg's Rice Krispies, I think the kraft mini-marshmallows have it too! I have to go out and get my HUGE box at BJs - I have a Mickey head cookie cutter, so that is what I am using to make the shape.. it is HARD to do these things ya know - and a bit messy! We actually made them for my sister's bridal shower - she had a Disney Fairytale Wedding, so, I thought they were a great idea! Anyway, very time consuming! LOL

http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/recipedetail.htm?recipe_id=56923

Try to copy and paste the link - I found it on the kraft food site... Good luck!

Hope that helps!

 

[miatamel]

Sigh. I feel like I'm at such a disadvantage! (Yes, I'm having a small pity party before "THE" party!) I live in a dry town and have to drive almost 20 miles just to get alcohol, so I can't start up with the rum cake just yet. I live 40 miles to the nearest mall or warehouse type club, so no access to "party" foods I don't have to make from scratch and no access to stuff like Mickey Mouse cookie cutters or H2O products. So I'm not even going to try and add to goodie bags, I will just have to make do with what they send. I hope to have enough food so maybe that will make people happy! I don't know, I guess I didn't manage my time well enough so I could schedule a trip to the big city. But with one in school from 9-12 and then another out at three, and b'day party this afternoon, art class tomorrow, ballet & cheerleading Thursday, it's hard to work it time wise. And it's darn cold for Mississippi these past days so I didn't even WANT to get out! And not to mention I think some of the people of my guest list are suspicious of all this--I think they think they are going to be hit with some kind of time share or pyramid scheme when they show up! I think I will send out an email from the site reassuring them that it's NOT the case. My "regulars" are coming but I was hoping for some new folks and new friends. Maybe it's just my strange, small, cliqueish town but it sure is hard to get people to come to things around here.
AND, then there's the dialup thing where I have to go to town (wireless access) to do house party stuff and download favors and blech, see what I mean? it just makes trying to do this party stuff that much more time consuming and difficult.
Sorry for the pity party. I want it to be GREAT and fun and right now I think I'm just finding it tiring!! Maybe the box will come today and perk me up.....

 

[DVCLaurie05]

Miatamel - you poor thing... It is hard to get things done when you are not close to a lot of stores...

I know what you mean about the friends thinking you are 'up to' something. But, I called each of my guest to tell them what was going on before I sent them the e-vite. I told them, no pressure, just a good time w/a bit of information and maybe some booze!

I actually got the cookie cutter at WDW a WHILE ago - but, I bought the egg poacher/pancake maker mickey the other day (on eBay), they are a little bit smaller. So, I have to work on those this week - whenever it comes!

Now - I MUST share this - my guest bags are DONE - that is, IF they ever get here!!!

I went to The Christmas Tree Shop - I got these candle things, they were 50 cents each - there are two styles, they are both ducks one has a life preserver on his neck, the other one is sailing in his life preserver - that is the cuter of the two, but, they only had 5 of them, so I did 5 and 5. THEN I went to AC Moore - and got the magnetic pad for the fridge, they were $1 each - they have 3 tropical drinks along the top, and lines on them for lists w/the tropical background.. THEN - I also got in AC Moore, miniphoto albums, they too were $1 each - but, they have palm leaves on them, and a palm tree centered on the front.

SO - I am hoping the bags are like the 'gift' bags w/the handle - like a small shopping bag - I saw some of those on the HP site for the other parties - mine will have:
The duck candle
Magnetic list pad thing
photo album
party cd -
D O N E!

Oh, and whatever Disney might send in that BOX!! UGHHHHHH I want that box!

I really wanted to go to Bath and Body Works for some tropical scented soap or something, but - I did ok - only spent 2.50 for the goodies in the bag, plus the cds - and charged those supplies to work! LOL And I never made it to Marshalls - so, I am happy w/what I got!

Hope everyone is WARM - it's bitter out here in NJ!

 

[BethA]

someone on the national site posted they got their box, but didn't tell the contents---I can't believe no one here has theirs yet

 

[lillygator]

no one has their box yet? I hope mine is on my doorstep.

 

[InstImpres]

UPS has come and gone...lots of things for me but no party box!

 

[Soccer Princess]

If you want to track it on UPS the reference is: DCL Hosts
It said mine will arrive on 1/23 (Wed) and it is a 16lb. package. The suspense is killing me!

They also said the character plush is pretty big -- around 20" or so. I have heard some reports of Minnie and others of Mickey, so it might be random on who you get. I have seen where some people had Mickey ears pirate bandanas and others have Goofy?

 

[barney4liz]

My box is here! Came all the way from Orlando -- could have driven there and picked it up faster!

Contents: very nice "Dreams" plush Minnie, 5 "Goofy ear" pirate bandanas, 5 P of C eyepatch/earring sets, 2 CC/DCL posters, coloring sheets, recipe cards, cocktail napkins (sort of looks like they took a handful off the bar and tossed them in the box! ), a pretty Mickey photo album, the ltd. edition sketch/print, cardboard Peter Pan character masks (4), 10 shopping-bag style gift bags, 10 (yes 10!) vacation planners, the Castaway Club CD w/pics, the new kids' DVD, balloons, the code for the host OBC (for new bookings only). Oh, and the iron-on t-shirt transfer, Family Fun magazines, pack of "party point". I may be leaving out a few things. I did not see the 3 party posters (for Studio Sea, Serenity Bay, and Oceaneer Club), though they are mentioned on the Welcome Letter.

The info about the guest cruise sweepstakes is a bit cryptic: "But before your guests leave, it gets better. We're going to give each and every guest the chance to win a 4-night Bahamian cruise for a family of four. . . . Check out houseparty.com/disneycruise for details."

That's it for now -- watch for your boxes!

 

[Soccer Princess]

What is the sketch of? What colors did they use for the napkins/balloons? Thanks!

 

[barney4liz]

What is the sketch of? What colors did they use for the napkins/balloons? Thanks!

Sorry meant to post that! The gift bags are royal blue, the balloons are royal blue and white, and the napkins are the DCL royal blue and red logo on white.

The sketch is of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy having their own DCL House Party. It is like a sketch for an animation cell -- black with pale blue pencil (pen?) on off-white paper with the DCL logo in blue at the bottom and the date. I'm going to display it on an easel for the party.

 

[Tikihula]

I just stepped into the front yard a few minutes ago and the UPS man drove up. I raced to the gate and he handed me a fairly heavy box. I slit the top open with a knife but I haven't opened it yet - I'm going to do that now, so you can all follow along as I open it and inspect the contents. Here we go:

* A list of Party Pack Items was on top inside the box.
* Thank you letter for Disney Cruise Line host. The $50 onboard credit is mentioned in this letter, and how to redeem it.
* A list of Frequently Asked Questions
And now the fun stuff:
* OH WOW! A stuffed Mickey, about 12" tall, dressed in a formal blue and sparkly silver Year of a Million Dreams Tuxedo. I'm keeping this guy!!! He still has a price tag on him - $28.00 retail.
* Four cool red and white striped pirate head scarves with black plush Mickey ears attached. They look small but they stretch enough to fit adults. AARRRRRR!!! They are nicer than the thin pirate neckerchiefs you get on the cruise.
* 25 (I might have miscounted, too excited to go back and do it again) white cocktail napkins with the red and blue DCL logo on them. These were not protected, just placed in the box amongst the other stuff so mine have a slight wrinkle in one corner.
* Four Peter Pan masks - heavy paper masks with an adjustable strip that goes around your head to fasten them. There's the Croc, Tinkerbell, CAPT Hook and Peter Pan. Kids will love 'em. Again, just placed in the box so a couple wrinkles on the long strip.
* OH WOW AGAIN! Just came across the goody bags. 10 Royal Blue heavy duty glossed paper bags with cord handles and white DCL logo across them.
* Another batch of 12 DCL napkins as described above
* 2 small sheets of Peter Pan/Pirate stickers
* 4 POC eyepatches and earrings
* 1 Castaway Club music CD (YAYYY!)
* The new DCL House Party DVD stamped For Kids Only. Oh boy - I gotta watch it as soon as I finish unpacking - I might be on the video!
* A small pad of DCL Party Points. Each piece of paper is marked with 1 Point, and I guess you give these out to game winners, in case you want to award prizes to the person(s) having the most points after you finish your games.
* 10 recipe cards, 2-sided, with the same recipes available at the House Party site.
* 9 Booklets, DCL's Where Will Your Dreams Take You with 8 pages of pictures taken around the ship, Castaway Cay, etc. (Why only 9?)
* 6 copies of Family Fun magazine, Feb 08 issue
* Photo Album - about 7"x8" with green and purple cover with Tinkerbells embossed on it. Front & back covers tie with a ribbon, inside are about 23 pages with slots for photos and a lined column for writing in a description. this will make a nice little door prize.
* 10 copies of the DCL Vacation Guide for 2008-2009, with the planning CD that comes with each book. These will go in my goody bags for guests.
* Package of 6 white and 6 blue balloons with DCL logo on them.
* About 12 double sided coloring sheets with Peter Pan, Ratatouille, and one Cinderella. Tucked in the middle was the iron-on transfer with DCL logo and Official Cruise Director January 2008 on it.
* Two large posters (24"x36") of Mickey & Minnie on the deck of a ship. These came folded up.
* Large colorful posters (24"x16") of Studio Sea, Oceaneers Lab, and Serenity Bay. These are printed on heavy stock glossy paper and came rolled up.
* A very nice 11"x14" sketch of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald signed by Don "Ducky" Williams, noted Disney artist, with a thank you note and the party date along the bottom. That's a keeper!

So - that's the contents of the box I received. I am so excited!! Now just waiting on my box from Oriental Trading Company with my rubber duckies (one for each goody bag) and other things so I can start stuffing the bags.

I guess we'll need to divvy up the goodies into the bags as we see fit. There won't be any kids at my party, but adults can take the kids' stuff home with them for their grandkids or whatever. It's too bad Disney couldn't have provided 10 of everything so the goody bags would be the same, but I've got other stuff I can fill them with.

Gotta go watch that video now. Hope I didn't ruin the surprise for anyone by listing the ingredients in the box. Happy Party Planning!!

 

[Soccer Princess]

Awesome!!! It sounds like the photo albums are also different. Hmm.. Thanks for giving us the details everyone!!

 

[Tikihula]

By the time I had typed out the list, other DISers had posted that they received their party package.
One correction - the stuffed Mickey is about 20" tall from the top of his ears to the bottom of his feet. I wrote 12" on my previous post.

Looks like they are sending different things to different people, probably depends on what they had in stock.

 

[lillygator]

wow!!

What does the obc say?

 

[DVCLaurie05]

OMG - the boxes are out there - I can't wait to get mine - Of course I was toying w/using black or blue, I used black, and now the napkins are blue - Oh well! LOL

Thanks for letting us know what's in there.. I haven't seen UPS pass yet today, but I am guessing if it only hit parts of FL, no WAY it is going to make NJ today!

Laurie

 

[Soccer Princess]

Does it say if the OBC can be combined with other offers (Disney Visa, online booking, etc.) ?

 

[DVCLaurie05]

If you want to track it on UPS the reference is: DCL Hosts
It said mine will arrive on 1/23 (Wed) and it is a 16lb. package. The suspense is killing me!

They also said the character plush is pretty big -- around 20" or so. I have heard some reports of Minnie and others of Mickey, so it might be random on who you get. I have seen where some people had Mickey ears pirate bandanas and others have Goofy?

Where do you go to track it? UPS.com or the HP site? HELP! I am dying to know when mine will be here!

Busy on the boards today - now I am REALLY excited!!!