Desserty Party/Special Boats, etc

[aelliott123]

Hi there!

We are not getting married, but have my whole family traveling to WDW....what are the rules for these types of fancy extras that you are adding to your DFTW???

We would LOVE to do something special for our family and give it as our Christmas gift........

Who do I contact? Or do we have to be doing a wedding???

Thanks in advance for your help!

I am a big fan of Disney weddings.....my husband, not so much! Oh well, maybe our daughter will love the idea in about 20 years! This will be her first trip, she's 16 months!

 

[VVFF]

Hi there!

We are not getting married, but have my whole family traveling to WDW....what are the rules for these types of fancy extras that you are adding to your DFTW???

We would LOVE to do something special for our family and give it as our Christmas gift........

Who do I contact? Or do we have to be doing a wedding???

Thanks in advance for your help!

I am a big fan of Disney weddings.....my husband, not so much! Oh well, maybe our daughter will love the idea in about 20 years! This will be her first trip, she's 16 months!

You could book a fireworks cruise. They can be booked 90 days out(and need to be generally booked within the first hours of 90 days out). You can take either a Wishes of Illumination cruise depending on which you like better or which is more appropriate for what you are celebrating. You can get more info on this from wdwinfo.com or allears.net

 

[lurkyloo]

If you check out the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board, there's a sticky at the top called "IllumiNations Cruises... what they are.." that gives all the details of booking one and also can help you find another family to share one and split the cost:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=560160

You can also book Wishes Cruises by calling the same number - they are not as popular as IllumiNations cruises, so thye're easier to get.

If you are traveling with more than 8 people, you can do a Grand Gathering - they have four different special events for Grand Gathering groups. So it isn't completely private, but it's only open to other GG groups.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Grandgathering.htm

And if you want to book a dessert party, call Walt Disney World’s Catering and Convention Services team at 407-828-3200.

 

[aelliott123]

Thanks for your help!

I read your whole planning journal and report of your beautiful wedding!!!

AND because I loved your photos so much....we called your friends the Roots to do a family picture of us while we were there...I thought it would be SO cool to have fun family pics instead of the boring....stand here by this tree pic...or the let's all wear brown shirts and jeans pic.....anyway...they declined....so sad!

We will look into these cruises....I think it would be a cool thing to do!

 

[aelliott123]

We are taking the "specialty cruise" in January from the Polynesian after dinner at O'Hana (sp)!

This is going to be so fun!

Thanks for your help!

 

[lurkyloo]

Congratulations!

 

[dhay]

If you check out the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board, there's a sticky at the top called "IllumiNations Cruises... what they are.." that gives all the details of booking one and also can help you find another family to share one and split the cost:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=560160

You can also book Wishes Cruises by calling the same number - they are not as popular as IllumiNations cruises, so thye're easier to get.

If you are traveling with more than 8 people, you can do a Grand Gathering - they have four different special events for Grand Gathering groups. So it isn't completely private, but it's only open to other GG groups.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Grandgathering.htm

And if you want to book a dessert party, call Walt Disney World’s Catering and Convention Services team at 407-828-3200.

Carrie- why aren't the Wishes ones as popular? It was all I could get as a surprise for my DF as his present so I am cursious. I thought they had more boats which is why they are more available.

TIA!

 

[lurkyloo]

You're right - I should have said they are easier to get because there are more boats. But I will say that, if you go on the Parks board, there are way more people asking about and trying to get IllumiNations cruises than Wishes cruises!

 

[dhay]

You're right - I should have said they are easier to get because there are more boats. But I will say that, if you go on the Parks board, there are way more people asking about and trying to get IllumiNations cruises than Wishes cruises!

Yeah i wanted Illuminations Are the wishes ones nice though?

 

[disprincessatheart]

Yeah i wanted Illuminations Are the wishes ones nice though?

They're fantastic! I think the lack of boats is the reason you see so many trying to get the illuminations cruises. Also, with illuminations you;re on a boat in the park really, where with WIshes you're out in the 7 seas lagoon. We really enjoyed the different view (why pay for something you can see the same in the park?) and liked that we were parked directly lined up with the castle - we never do that in the park - too crowded. They pipe in the music and you don't have to fight for curb space like you do in the park - what could be better? You'll love it!

Oh -and they do a "tour" of the 7 seas lagoon and bay lake before the show, and stay for the electric water pagent after. It's great! Dh and I would do it again in a second!

 

[lurkyloo]

(why pay for something you can see the same in the park?)

I agree! We were pretty underwhelmed by our IllumiNations cruise...

 

[padisneyfour]

We really enjoyed ours for our anniversary. we ordered a cake. Would def. do again!

 

[aelliott123]

We really enjoyed ours for our anniversary. we ordered a cake. Would def. do again!

They said they provide drinks.....but cake sure would jazz up just about anything!!!!

 

[lurkyloo]

To order a cake for a Wishes cruise, you need to call private dining at the Grand Floridian: 407-824-2578 or 407-824-2474