Dessert Party Questions... weighing all options

[TiggerificSox]

Hollywood Studios-How is the Fantasmic viewing area? Is the party for the early or late show? Or can you pick? What time do you get there? And leave? What happens if it rains?? What is the viewing cost for those without tickets? How much do desserts cost? And how much is the decor?

Epcot-What are the viewing options for a group between 35 and 75 (not sure on numbers yet!)? What time do you get there? And leave? What happens if it rains?? What is the viewing cost for those without tickets? How much do desserts cost? And how much is the decor?

Wishes- Are there any Magic Kingdom dessert party areas? Or just the hotel beaches? And is it beaches? Or just the Grand Floridian? What time do you get there? And leave? What happens if it rains?? How much do desserts cost? And how much is the decor?

Any pics would help too!!!

 

[Skylarr29]

Hollywood Studios-How is the Fantasmic viewing area? Is the party for the early or late show? Or can you pick? What time do you get there? And leave? What happens if it rains?? What is the viewing cost for those without tickets? How much do desserts cost? And how much is the decor?

Epcot-What are the viewing options for a group between 35 and 75 (not sure on numbers yet!)? What time do you get there? And leave? What happens if it rains?? What is the viewing cost for those without tickets? How much do desserts cost? And how much is the decor?

Wishes- Are there any Magic Kingdom dessert party areas? Or just the hotel beaches? And is it beaches? Or just the Grand Floridian? What time do you get there? And leave? What happens if it rains?? How much do desserts cost? And how much is the decor?

Any pics would help too!!!

Epcot: For your size probably French Upper which has a minimum of 50 guests. If you ended up at 37 probably UK terraces. You get there about 8pm, leave around 9:30 or so. If it rains your BEO will state your back up location and you will be moved inside. Some of the inside locations are the American Adventure parlor and Norway. Viewing fee is 12.50 per person. Black or white linens, black chairs, and dessert table clothes and decor is included in the rental fee. We added silk table clothes, chair covers, and our centerpieces were about $30 each I think. Desserts were $33 or so a person but I think the minimum expenditure is $22.00.


Wishes: There are no longer any MK viewing areas for private parties. The Grand Floridian Marina is the only location. You can ask about the beach but I am not sure it would work. If it rains I would think you would be stuck inside with no view of the fireworks. Not sure about the rest but Wishes is at different times depending on the season (where Illuminations is the same time every night except for when the Candlelight processional is taking place)

 

[B714210]

My Daughter just booked the Marina for her DP. If it rains, the back up is the Gasparilla ? Grill. There is also another location that you can view Wishes at the GF- I think it's Whitehall? If you look down a few threads, I posted a question about the pros and cons of a DP there, which a couple of wonderful people responded to.

 

[Skylarr29]

The Whitehall Room is lovely, that is where we had our reception. You can not see fireworks from the room its self but you would be able to see the highest fireworks from the patio where part of the castle is viewable. I know the room only holds 50 for a reception but it is probably different for a dessert party because you can have a bunch of cocktail tables. No idea about Gasparilla's as I have never been there. Wishes is a beautiful show, you just don't get as close to the fireworks as you do with Illuminations. We had a private dinner long ago at the marina and the view was lovely but it wasn't the same as being in the park and hearing the music etc.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Hollywood Studios-How is the Fantasmic viewing area? Is the party for the early or late show? Or can you pick? What time do you get there? And leave? What happens if it rains?? What is the viewing cost for those without tickets? How much do desserts cost? And how much is the decor?

We had a Fantasmic cocktail hour as part of our wedding reception and it was awesome! There was only one showing of Fantasmic that evening so we didn't have a choice between shows. We arrived about 30 minutes before the show began and were escorted into the viewing area. We left after the show AFTER all the park guests left as we had some guests in electric scooters and we were going on to another in park location (RnR courtyard) and wanted to make sure our group stayed together.

I believe the viewing fees then were 12.50 per person and the food prices were similar to the Epcot parties. Because ours was part of our wedding reception we had a custom menu.

We did not add a lot of decor to our party as we used the black linens (free - yay) and added the gel vases with glow cubes.

 

[lurkyloo]

Hollywood Studios-How is the Fantasmic viewing area? Is the party for the early or late show? Or can you pick? What time do you get there? And leave? What happens if it rains?? What is the viewing cost for those without tickets? How much do desserts cost? And how much is the decor?

One thing to remember about Fantasmic! is that it's only shown twice a week now - I believe it's on Tuesdays and Thursdays - except for in high season.

Fantasmic! has a food and beverage minimum of $750 and a venue-rental fee of $250 for each of the two patios. One holds up to 40 people, the other holds 40-100 people. Fantasmic! has a higher likelihood of being cancelled due to bad weather, and the backup is one of the indoor event facilities.

Epcot has venue rental fees ranging from $275-$575 depending on the location you pick. The only food and beverage minimum is $22/person. IllumiNations is almost never canceled due to weather. If it rains, you will have your dessert at an indoor event space and then be given ponchos and umbrellas to go out and see the fireworks.

Both parks have a $12.95 viewing fee for each person who doesn't have park admission. There is also a $75 setup fee for sites at both parks, except the upper UK patio in Epcot.

There are a ton of threads on the board about all the options and with plenty of pictures. If the DIS search function doesn't turn up anything for you, try using Google with this phrase after your search terms:

site:disboards.com

Happy planning!