Dessert Party Black Out dates for April 2010

[SarahSs]

So, I just got a call from my wedding planner that started like this " I need to tell you something, and it is NOT good news." YIKES!!
EPCOT is blacking out the entire weekend of my wedding for dessert parties! She said it is because of the flower and garden festival and they are expecting high crowd levels. I can't even believe it. I was almost more excited about the dessert party than the ceremony.
Now I need some suggestions for a group of about 20 ppl. What is the best alternate site for a dessert party?? Any advice, or pics would be majorly helpful because I am trying not to be bridezilla, but I am freaking out here!!
Thanks
Sarah

 

[Chilly]

You can have a Wishes DP at Sago Cay, or a Fantasmic DP at DHS.

 

[DznyGal]

Did the happen to give you a list of black out dates?

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Here is a thread on Sago Cay with pics

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2177083

 

[emilymad]

Yikes! I have no suggestions but I am freaking out for you!

Is it just the one weekend in April? Our wedding is in May during Flower and Garden so I hope they don't extend the blackout date.

 

[copper4]

I can't believe they would do that after it was already booked- just goes to show that weddings aren't as important to Disney as catering to the regular park crowds- that is awful! I woud be really angry too! That said, Fantasmic is a good show- just a little different if people are expecting normal fireworks. Sago Cay may be your best option...so sorry they did that to you!

 

[Tenacious K]

Seriously?? I have to wait a few days before I officially get a wedding coordinator. What dates were blacked out?

 

[SarahSs]

Our wedding is Saturday April 24th she said Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th are blacked out due to "Large crowds" expected for flower and garden show. I never thought flowers would be such a draw, (food and wine maybe) but what do I know. I was told Thursday and Sunday are available but thats not my wedding day so it is just not the same.

 

[PrincessShea]

When I was considering changing from escape to wishes, I had to change the day of the week from Friday to something else because the wishes minimums are higher on Fridays...and I had the same issue. Except mine was just a random Wednesday in June that was blacked out Yet the Friday I ended up having my wedding on was not blacked out.

 

[disprincessatheart]

Our wedding is Saturday April 24th she said Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th are blacked out due to "Large crowds" expected for flower and garden show. I never thought flowers would be such a draw, (food and wine maybe) but what do I know. I was told Thursday and Sunday are available but thats not my wedding day so it is just not the same.

Our wedding was April 29th, originally planned for th 24th, so I've been a couple times at that time of year. They do a lot of private parties in the DP spaces those nights - the ones i've seen looked a lot more like corporate events than weddings. As we all have seen, conventions take priority over weddings, so it may be more something like that. ALSO, that may be one of the grad night weekends. If it is DHS closes early - they may be expecting the MK and EPCOT to be busier those nights because of DHS being closed.

 

[SarahSs]

Thank you everyone for your responses and suggestions. After sleeping on it I am leaning toward a Fantasmic dessert party if it is available. Any dis brides who have done this I would love to know your opinion of it. Also, is the pricing different from the Epcot dessert parties? I have emailed my planner, but no response yet. I am at work all afternoon so no real chance of putting a call in to her Hopefully she responds soon to let me know what is available for that night. I'm just worried that if a lot of brides were displaced from their dessert parties getting a new venue will be very time sensitive. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything will work out!!

 

[lurkyloo]

Here's a thread where I posted pictures of the two Fantasmic venues, the view, and all the pricing info.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2197487

 

[SarahSs]

OK soo...My planner basically told me Fantasmic is not recommended because it is easily canceled due to weather rain/wind etc. After hearing that DF said he only wants Sago Cay because he does not want the chance of it being canceled. And today it finally clicked why there are black out dates...ITS GRAD NIGHTS!!!!

Now my question becomes: Are there even fireworks that we can see during grad nights? Has anyone ever had a MK dessert party during grad nights? What time are fireworks if the park closes at 7???

Just when I thought I had everything planned I feel like I have to start all over again.
One other thought...Is there a way to do a dessert party or some other unique celebration at the Boardwalk Hotel (that is where we are staying) ?
Thanks
Sarah

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

OK soo...My planner basically told me Fantasmic is not recommended because it is easily canceled due to weather rain/wind etc. After hearing that DF said he only wants Sago Cay because he does not want the chance of it being canceled. And today it finally clicked why there are black out dates...ITS GRAD NIGHTS!!!!

Now my question becomes: Are there even fireworks that we can see during grad nights? Has anyone ever had a MK dessert party during grad nights? What time are fireworks if the park closes at 7???

Just when I thought I had everything planned I feel like I have to start all over again.
One other thought...Is there a way to do a dessert party or some other unique celebration at the Boardwalk Hotel (that is where we are staying) ?
Thanks
Sarah

The park hours and fireworks are listed for next April on the disney site. Can you move your date? We had originally planned on getting married later, and when I found it it was grad night, we moved everything to to day before it starts (which is the 15th).

 

[disprincessatheart]

OK soo...My planner basically told me Fantasmic is not recommended because it is easily canceled due to weather rain/wind etc. After hearing that DF said he only wants Sago Cay because he does not want the chance of it being canceled. And today it finally clicked why there are black out dates...ITS GRAD NIGHTS!!!!

Now my question becomes: Are there even fireworks that we can see during grad nights? Has anyone ever had a MK dessert party during grad nights? What time are fireworks if the park closes at 7???

Just when I thought I had everything planned I feel like I have to start all over again.
One other thought...Is there a way to do a dessert party or some other unique celebration at the Boardwalk Hotel (that is where we are staying) ?
Thanks
Sarah

I believe last year they moved grad nights to DHS - which would mean no option for a fantasmic DP anyway. If grad night is at MK, there are no fireworks. Your planner should be able to find the grad nights info.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

I believe last year they moved grad nights to DHS - which would mean no option for a fantasmic DP anyway. If grad night is at MK, there are no fireworks. Your planner should be able to find the grad nights info.

I think it is at MK. I was told I could not do bridal portraits after the 15th due to grad day set ups.

 

[SarahSs]

Can you move your date? We had originally planned on getting married later, and when I found it it was grad night, we moved everything to to day before it starts (which is the 15th).

I reallly don't want to move my date. Only because we have already done it once. We were originally booked in December and then my sister found out she is pregnant and due at Christmas. We postponed our date to make sure everyone could be there. All of my guests have been really great about making new plans, but I just couldn't ask them to do it again. Not to mention, DF and I have been dating 10 loooong years and I'm really tired of waiting for this day!!lol

 

[disprincessatheart]

I think it is at MK. I was told I could not do bridal portraits after the 15th due to grad day set ups.

From the hours posted on disneyworld.com, it does look like grad nights are at MK again this year. In that case, no MK fireworks the nights the park closes at 7pm.

 

[SarahSs]

I am at a loss for what to do. I really liked that the dessert party was something very unique to Disney, you really can't see that anywhere else. I am going to have to brainstorm and come up with something cool for our group to do. Its Disney-there's gotta be some other option out there!!

 

[girli565]

I chaperone Grad Nite every year and, yes, last year it was at DHS but it has been moved back to MK this year. In 2008, the last year Grad Nite was at MK there were fireworks on at 9 or 10pm but they are just fireworks, no Wishes soundtrack or story told with them. It's just a fireworks display so I don't think you would be as happy with them. They are also shorter than the Wishes display, at least I thought so. We barely sat down to watch when they were over.