Dessert Party at UK Lower - no tables/chairs? HELP!

[KellyJo18]

During our planning session our EM told us that the United Kingdom Lower Terrace, with the amount of people we are having at our dessert party (~65 people), they wouldn't be able to set up any tables or chairs. I've really been concerned about this and am wondering if it is even worth still doing the dessert party. I do not want to make our guests stand around trying to balance their food and drinks while mingling and watching IllumiNations. Has anyone had a party this size at this location? Was it crowded?
We've already told everyone that we are having a dessert party so I would hate to cancel it but it is a lot of money for people to be uncomfortable . I know that there are benches and we estimated that maybe 30 people would fit on those but it seems like that still leaves a lot of people standing around. I don't necessary think there needs to be seating for everyone but I would at least like to have a few tables set up for some of the older guests who are attending. Thanks for the help!

 

[Belle1981]

I see your point about the standing around. My parents had a DP as part of a magical gathering and combined there was about 60 people and we had to BEG to get even two chairs ( for the grandmothers) While we had an AMAZING TIME it was a bit of a challenge to stand and eat and drink. You can always have it as an optional activity either the night before or the night after and maybe not all you guests will be up to it. I am not too sure if that helps! We are hosting a magical gathering (which includes the DP) as our farewell dinner so whoever wants to will come. Good luck!

 

[pooh98378]

I'm kind of worried now -- we are also having a DP at UK Lower and they mentioned nothing about this to me. Did they say a number that was allowable to have tables/chairs?

In my opinion, I would still say that I would try to have a DP if at all possible. I think it will be an unforgettable experience. I would just try to really make sure that the people who need chairs have them. Have you asked if you could change locations to where there is more room?

 

[KellyJo18]

I see your point about the standing around. My parents had a DP as part of a magical gathering and combined there was about 60 people and we had to BEG to get even two chairs ( for the grandmothers) While we had an AMAZING TIME it was a bit of a challenge to stand and eat and drink. You can always have it as an optional activity either the night before or the night after and maybe not all you guests will be up to it. I am not too sure if that helps! We are hosting a magical gathering (which includes the DP) as our farewell dinner so whoever wants to will come. Good luck!

I guess I was kind of hoping my EM was mistaken and you all would tell me to check again. Although, I am glad to hear you still had a great time. If you don't mind me asking, where was their DP held?

I'm kind of worried now -- we are also having a DP at UK Lower and they mentioned nothing about this to me. Did they say a number that was allowable to have tables/chairs?

In my opinion, I would still say that I would try to have a DP if at all possible. I think it will be an unforgettable experience. I would just try to really make sure that the people who need chairs have them. Have you asked if you could change locations to where there is more room?

Sorry to worry you!! They didn't mention it to me at all either until I requested the charge for tables to be put in our BEO and my EM then said it wasn't possible. I think we will still go ahead and have the dessert party since the information was included in our newsletter and our formal invitations. I did ask my EM to look into other locations but I do remember there not being many choices left when I booked it back in November. I heard from my EM tonight about some other details and sent an email back asking about what the maximum party size can be at this location when using tables. I will let you know what she says when I hear back from her, she's typically pretty prompt.

 

[pooh98378]

I heard from my EM tonight about some other details and sent an email back asking about what the maximum party size can be at this location when using tables. I will let you know what she says when I hear back from her, she's typically pretty prompt.

Thank you so much!!!!

 

[Skylarr29]

Is there anyway you can check ASAP and see if another location is available? For example the French terraces (at least the upper) has a minimum of 50 people where as the Lower UK is a minimum of 25... they probably can't do the table/chairs because of lack of space. I think if you had a lower number you would be able to get them. I would see what your options for moving are because Disney won't really budge if there isn't enough room. Good luck!

 

[Laurafoster]

I agree with Skylarr - we had a DP in the lower UK in Dec with 30 people and we had chairs and tables and just enough space!

The reason you probably can have tables is more than likely because there would be no room with that amount of people! Cant you move to a larger location? Like the French Island or Italy? You could probably have tables there?

Also the benches - there are only a few - no where near enough to seat 30!

 

[PinkCindere11a]

Does anyone know how much it is to rent the chairs and tables?

Thanks

 

[pooh98378]

FYI, DF just informed me that places are required to allow wheelchairs. So, if you have lots of older people, you might want to try renting them wheelchairs instead of the benches and then there will be extra room for others to sit. Disney might frown upon this, though...

 

[KellyJo18]

Is there anyway you can check ASAP and see if another location is available? For example the French terraces (at least the upper) has a minimum of 50 people where as the Lower UK is a minimum of 25... they probably can't do the table/chairs because of lack of space. I think if you had a lower number you would be able to get them. I would see what your options for moving are because Disney won't really budge if there isn't enough room. Good luck!

I agree with Skylarr - we had a DP in the lower UK in Dec with 30 people and we had chairs and tables and just enough space!

The reason you probably can have tables is more than likely because there would be no room with that amount of people! Cant you move to a larger location? Like the French Island or Italy? You could probably have tables there?

Also the benches - there are only a few - no where near enough to seat 30!

Thanks for the help! After seeing everyone's notes here I decided to call. I got an out of office reply from my EM so I talked with one of her assistants. She told me that I would have to wait to talk to my EM about what other locations might be available. She did inform me though that with our current guest count we should be allowed to have 5 cocktail tables with four chairs each or 4 tall boy tables. I was shocked by this since my EM said that no additional seating would be possible. I'm curious to see what my EM says about it when I hear from her. I am extremely tempted to see if UK Upper is available that night and just rent both locations since UK Upper already has existing tables. At our planning session my EM mentioned that moving the entire DP to Upper might be an option but I would hate to not have the view from lower at all.

When I was in Epcot last week I walked over to the location and they had quite a few benches out. I figured maybe four people to a bench. Although from seeing the picture in your signature I see they move the benches back from the fence along the water. I'm going to guess that they probably remove some of them when they are moved.

They had benches all the way from the left side to the right side.

FYI, DF just informed me that places are required to allow wheelchairs. So, if you have lots of older people, you might want to try renting them wheelchairs instead of the benches and then there will be extra room for others to sit. Disney might frown upon this, though...

DF's grandmother is in a wheelchair and, you're right, it might be good to get a couple more for our other grandparents just to have seats. Thanks for the idea I know that some of the other larger locations for DP's are not wheelchair accessible which is also limiting us to changing venues.


Thanks everyone for the help!! I'll let you know how it turns out .

 

[Laurafoster]

Prehaps they just moved them from mine as i ahd the tables?!

The tables and chairs didnt cost me any extra except for the set up fee which i think was around $75?! I just had the standard white linens.

Like i said we had 26 and were comfortable - too many more and it would be cramped. You can add wheelchairs as Disney do have to allow them but bear in mind this will restrict the space for others and they may be limited as to waht view they get if you have tables.

 

[Luvndisney]

we originally had UK Lower but outgrew it, but when we were planning we were told not chairs or tables for our group of 80. Its the space contraints. BUT we were told we could add "hihg-boys" which was those high bar tyupe tables - no chairs - for people to rest their drinks and food on. We were going to add a bunch along the gate area.

 

[KellyJo18]

Our EM is currently looking into different options for us - if it is changing locations completely or just adding on the additional location of UK upper along with UK lower. She did inform me that her assistant gave me the wrong information on the phone this afternoon about being able to add high boys (which I had posted here earlier). Apparently the general guidelines allow for five tables and chairs with a minimum of 25 guests and you do lose tables and chairs as your count increases (and we are way over 25 guests). I wish they would have given us this information when we booked in November. When they say the venue holds 100 people I would assume 60 could fit very comfortably!