Dessert Party Alternative?

[huskies90]

One of our top priorities is an Epcot dessert party. What an awesome event to incorporate into the day!! Our original plan is a morning ceremony and brunch with the dessert party capping off the day.

My question: since $$ spent at the dessert party no longer goes toward the food and beverage minimum, we were thinking of switching to to an evening ceremony, cocktail hour at an Epcot dessert party location and then dinner. While the food and beverage minimum increases $50, we were thinking the cocktail hour would replace the dessert party and the $$ would be a wash. Is this a logical assumption? Am I missing anything like would there be something you would get at a dessert party that you would not get at a cocktail hour?

Second Question: assuming the above alternative makes sense, would it be possible to have the ceremony at SBP, do the cocktail hour at Epcot then have the dinner at a boardwalk location like ADH so we could add a DJ etc? Would they allow that?

 

[aristocatz]

One of our top priorities is an Epcot dessert party. What an awesome event to incorporate into the day!! Our original plan is a morning ceremony and brunch with the dessert party capping off the day.

My question: since $$ spent at the dessert party no longer goes toward the food and beverage minimum, we were thinking of switching to to an evening ceremony, cocktail hour at an Epcot dessert party location and then dinner. While the food and beverage minimum increases $50, we were thinking the cocktail hour would replace the dessert party and the $$ would be a wash. Is this a logical assumption? Am I missing anything like would there be something you would get at a dessert party that you would not get at a cocktail hour?

Second Question: assuming the above alternative makes sense, would it be possible to have the ceremony at SBP, do the cocktail hour at Epcot then have the dinner at a boardwalk location like ADH so we could add a DJ etc? Would they allow that?

Not sure if they will allow it, but I just wanted to say that the fireworks are not usually until 9-9:30pm, so that might be kinda late for a cocktail hour. If you had them then transition to a Boardwalk location for dinner, you are looking at your guests eating dinner anytime between 10:30-11:30 at night, given the amount of time to transition & get settled. Might be kinda late for your guests, depending on how late they are able to stay up & wait to eat.

 

[huskies90]

Might be kinda late for your guests, depending on how late they are able to stay up & wait to eat.

Hmmmm...good point and this is a concern. Any suggestions? Has anyone done this before? I know some people have done it inclusively at epcot locations - like cocktail hour in Italy Isola for illuminations and then reception after at the AA pavilion. Illuminations is over by about 9:15 so how does it all work out?

 

[aristocatz]

Hmmmm...good point and this is a concern. Any suggestions? Has anyone done this before? I know some people have done it inclusively at epcot locations - like cocktail hour in Italy Isola for illuminations and then reception after at the AA pavilion. Illuminations is over by about 9:15 so how does it all work out?

Maybe you could do the entire reception at Italy Isola & time it so dessert happens during the fireworks? It would make for a cool finale to your evening!

 

[lurkyloo]

Yeah, I think that if you want a DJ and a more traditional reception, which you can't do if you have your reception outdoors at one of the fireworks viewing locations, and you don't want to be eating dinner super-late, you might be better off sticking with the original plan and just having the DP not count toward the minimums. The food and beverage minimum for a DP is only $23/person, vs. that $50/person extra you'd spend on your reception if you had it later.

 

[Lorelei528]

Just curious since when does a DP not count towards the mins?

I thought all stuff happening on your wedding day went towards your mins?

I realize that might be older info at this point...

 

[huskies90]

Yeah, I think that if you want a DJ and a more traditional reception, which you can't do if you have your reception outdoors at one of the fireworks viewing locations, and you don't want to be eating dinner super-late, you might be better off sticking with the original plan and just having the DP not count toward the minimums. The food and beverage minimum for a DP is only $23/person, vs. that $50/person extra you'd spend on your reception if you had it later.

Actually, we weren't really planning for a "traditional" reception in the first place which is why we were orignally going with a brunch and DP - mainly to save $$. But since the $$ is about the same, I thought it would make sense to trade off a laid back brunch with a dinner and a more of a party. If we do a brunch, it would be no dj or entertainment (maybe a solo guitarist). Is there an inside location in Epcot with a short trek from a fireworks spot to dinner that would make this idea work?

 

[lurkyloo]

Just curious since when does a DP not count towards the mins?

I thought all stuff happening on your wedding day went towards your mins?

I realize that might be older info at this point...

Since October 2013, but only for people who are getting married in 2015 or who were not already working with DFTW in October 2013..

Actually, we weren't really planning for a "traditional" reception in the first place which is why we were orignally going with a brunch and DP - mainly to save $$. But since the $$ is about the same, I thought it would make sense to trade off a laid back brunch with a dinner and a more of a party. If we do a brunch, it would be no dj or entertainment (maybe a solo guitarist). Is there an inside location in Epcot with a short trek from a fireworks spot to dinner that would make this idea work?

Living Seas Salon, China Pavilion, American Adventure Rotunda, The Odyssey, Norway Loft, Wonders Lounge. (Some treks are shorter than others). But as Aristocatz mentioned, if you want to have dinner *after* the fireworks, you're looking at a 9:30pm or 10pm start time, which I thought you said you didn't want. If it were me, I'd just do an outdoor reception someplace like Italy, France or the UK. Then people can be eating dinner before or during the fireworks.

 

[tashka87]

Why don't your serve dinner during fireworks and than take guests for party?
For the party you may only need some drinks and DJ. The great location will be ADH