Dessert Party at Morocco....

[seaprincess]

Hi everyone, I found out today that Intimates only have a choice of two locations for a dessert party...I know this topic has been saturated, but there is one thing that concerns me.

Our party will have 15-20 people. I recently saw pictures posted by tazfoto.com of Morocco being set up for a party with table and chairs. I was told today, by my Coordinator that we would not be able to have chairs set up at Morocco. Only the "tall boy" tables (aka cocktail tables) and my guests would have to stand. My Dad is diabetic and he has a bad knee and can not stand for long periods of time. She said there is a ledge that is contained within the area that is roped off but it just seems tacky. If we are spending that much money I would hope that we could sit down and enjoy our desserts and the fireworks.

Has anyone else hosted a party in Morocco or been told otherwise? How did this set-up work for you??

Thanks for your help!

 

[starseed]

We have booked Morocco and was just today that we are not allowed the table and chair set-up. Even though we were originally told that we would be allowed.

Apparently, there are benches in the area which will provide some seating.

I'm beginning to get tired of fighting for these details!

 

[ItGirl753]

I know I saw some pics posted where you can see the benches, although I know that doesn't help your problem since it's not enough seating for everyone.

 

[Doodles13]

Can someone explain to me what these Desert parties are? Can we have one if there is just the 2 of us or do you have to have a certain number of guests?

 

[ItGirl753]

Sorry, I guess it was just the picture of Morocco at the DFTW website. Here's the link if you want to see it. http://disneyweddings.go.com/site/wed/cus/rec/location/themepark/index.jsp?styleName=style09

 

[starseed]

Can someone explain to me what these Desert parties are? Can we have one if there is just the 2 of us or do you have to have a certain number of guests?

Hi Doodles13!

If you do a search on dessert parties, there are a ton of information here. But in a nutshell, there are reservable areas within Epcot's World Showcase that are roped off for private dessert parties.

There are fees attached to it, like the venue fee, and the small party fee (for parties under 20 guests), the minimum per person price and etc. It would be quite a costly thing for two people.

For the two of you looking to have a view of the fireworks, dinner at California Grill sounds like a good option - where you can dine in your wedding attire. Or I also understand that dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table in the evening can be very romantic and I think there is a view of Wishes, too. But at CRT or in any of the parks, your wedding attire will not be allowed.

HTH!

 

[disgirl88]

Why will they not allow tables and chairs?? This just seems ridiculous to me. You are paying so much money and they are making you stand?

 

[seaprincess]

Believe me I know!! It seems crazy that Custom Weddings can have seating at dessert parties and Intimates can not. I don't even mind paying a set-up fee to have the chairs. I have several guests, my parents especially, who because of health conditions can not stand for long periods of time. I truly do not want to direct them to a bench after spending close to $1000. The revenue is going to Disney's pocketbook, it really bugs me!!

 

[Skylarr29]

Believe me I know!! It seems crazy that Custom Weddings can have seating at dessert parties and Intimates can not. I don't even mind paying a set-up fee to have the chairs. I have several guests, my parents especially, who because of health conditions can not stand for long periods of time. I truly do not want to direct them to a bench after spending close to $1000. The revenue is going to Disney's pocketbook, it really bugs me!!

Anyway you can "stretch" your number to 25 people if you know what I mean Then you can use the lower UK and have seating. For the extra $150.00 for "5 extra guests" you can have what you want and then act like they didn't show up at the last min.

 

[seaprincess]

Skylarr,

You are a genious...in all my stressing I never thought about increasing my number beyond 20 people!! I guess the extra guests just "could not show up". Anyone want to come to a dessert party!!

Thanks!!

 

[ItGirl753]

CAStitch was kind enough to PM me with the threads I was searching for. these have more pics of Morocco, in case anyone wants to see them.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1178894

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1186736

 

[hmp2z]

We have booked Morocco and was just today that we are not allowed the table and chair set-up. Even though we were originally told that we would be allowed.

Sounds like bait & switch. If I were you (and other intimate brides that want to book a fireworks viewing location with seating), I would call & speak to your EM's manager. Just work your way up the chain until you find someone who has the power to help you get what you want. The problem is that many intimate brides just allow DFTW to treat them as second-class citizens.

You know that if IBM walked in & said they wanted a small fireworks gathering for 10 execs at Morocco, the Disney meetings dept would let them have seating there in a heartbeat. For some reason, the intimate department often doesn't have the same "customer delight" attitude, and that needs to be changed, but can only be changed through intimate brides stressing their displeasure to someone who has the power to make changes. Not your EM, but the head of DFTW.

Believe me, they definitely do read letters you write. We wrote to Jeff Reagan after our wedding and got an individualized response from him a few weeks later. If enough brides show there is a demand for something, DFTW will yield because, after all, they are in the money-making business, as well as the dreams-making business.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[Skylarr29]

Skylarr,

You are a genious...in all my stressing I never thought about increasing my number beyond 20 people!! I guess the extra guests just "could not show up". Anyone want to come to a dessert party!!

Thanks!!

Thank you lol!! And I live in FLorida if you need help filling up dessert party space lol...it's a tough job but somebody has to do it!!

 

[LilyStar]

Someone mentioned that Intimate brides have only 2 places to choose from for dessert receptions.... Morocco is one, what's the other? Just curious!

 

[Skylarr29]

Someone mentioned that Intimate brides have only 2 places to choose from for dessert receptions.... Morocco is one, what's the other? Just curious!

Japan.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

I'm not sure that it is "Intimates" so much that only have two places to choose from for dessert parties. Anyone can book an Illuminations Dessert Party and Disney books the locations based on the number of guests who will attend.

Since intimates have a maximum of 18 guests plus the bride and groom, they are given the smaller locations as choices. If your dessert party is larger than your wedding/vow renewal (say if you invited friends from the DIS who will be vacationing at the same time!!! then you would be offerred the bigger locations. (Which I think someone mentioned above.) So, my thought would be to tell your EM you are inviting 25 people at your dessert party (or however many the next level needs) and be prepared to pay for the extra "guests" that may or may not attend. If you truly don't invite other guests, take along some zip lock bags or decorated boxes so that your guests can take the extra desserts back to their rooms with them.

 

[Skylarr29]

I just wanted to add that techinically you are not allowed to remove food from your dessert party as they are very strict on food and health regulations.... that being said, don't ask, just take.. no one will stop you Don;y risk being told no lol... you paid a heck of a lot of money for those treats!

 

[ead79]

I'm not sure that it is "Intimates" so much that only have two places to choose from for dessert parties. Anyone can book an Illuminations Dessert Party and Disney books the locations based on the number of guests who will attend.

You're definitely right about this. It's not that Disney is trying to short-change Intimate brides. They just have fewer locations for small groups than they do for large groups. Also, the locations for large groups are often already being used for corporate events and custom weddings. I am just pleased that they offer these smaller locations because back when I was planning my wedding (in 2002 and 2003), I don't think that Intimate brides really had the ability to host Illuminations parties for the most part. As "harsh" as it sounds, I think it's important to keep in mind that Disney is a business. If they can rent the Italy Isola for 100 people for a corporate event, they are probably making upwards of $6,000 on that event. It makes sense for them to do that rather than use it for a smaller event that generates so much less revenue for them.

 

[Boo0105]

I am an Intimate Bride and am having a Dessert Party on the 28th at UK Lower for 20 people with tables and chairs set up. I was told that if I had less than 20 then I would have to choose between Morocco & Japan, but if I had 20 or more I could also have UK Lower and a few other locations. Maybe the rules have changed since I booked.

 

[Skylarr29]

I am an Intimate Bride and am having a Dessert Party on the 28th at UK Lower for 20 people with tables and chairs set up. I was told that if I had less than 20 then I would have to choose between Morocco & Japan, but if I had 20 or more I could also have UK Lower and a few other locations. Maybe the rules have changed since I booked.

One of the joys of workign with DFTW.....10 people can ask the same question and get a completly different answer.