FINAL Illuminations Dessert Arrangements - UPDATED POST #1 8/8/06

[TiffJ]

Hi Rhonda!
Sorry I didnt get in this weekend, but I was out of town.

Sunday-4 (maybe 6 if my parents want to come)

Monday-0 we have to leave Monday a.m.

as long as there is chocolate , I'm good with the dessert selection

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

Tiff - no problem adding you in at this point

I called Disney today but had to leave a message. Since I didn't receive a call back today I am expecting to talk to someone tomorrow. I'll post here with what I find out!

If anyone else is still considering joining us, please let me know asap so we can add you to our list!

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

Still going through the process. I received a call back from my initial contact. She left a message saying she was forwarding my information to a different person who was better suited to handle this project. I then waited until today to hear back from that contact (she apparently called previously but didn't want to leave a message). After speaking with her and again explaining the situation, I was told that the information would again be forwarded to another contact. That person is supposed to get back to me tomorrow or early next week.

So......as soon as I actually know something I'll post here and let you all know!

 

[wtpclc]

Thanks for doing this Rhonda!!! Sounds liek a bit of a headache!!!

 

[keenercam]

Thanks for taking care of this Rhonda. Sorry they are not making it easy for you.

 

[kareneast]

Rhonda - If it is not too late, John (DH) & I would like to join in.

Sunday - (2) probably yes (Sean(DS) will be flying home on Sunday for classes on Monday. We haven't gotten his airline tix yet so don't know what time we will have to drive him to the airport)

Monday - (2) yes

Dessert Choices:
For The Child In You
Old World Classics in Miniature
Build Your Own Desserts

Thank you for all your hard work on this!

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

Karen - we can still add you since, as I noted, the process is dragging out a bit at this point We are glad to have you joining the fun!

So, this mornong I received a call from the catering manager at WDW about our party. She was very nice and helpful and has already sent me an email with additional information. She has also reserved the lower UK terrace for us on 1/7/07 for our event!! This is a FANTASTIC location and should be just perfect for our group. I am very excited we were able to get this location as I have been told it is one of the best ones in terms of view etc. We had this location for the last one I organized and it was wonderful!

She also included the dessert list we already had along with a few extras I did not know about. So, I thought I should share the information in case there is enough interest in any of them. It seems that these options can either be "enhancements" (add-ons to one of the menus) or stand-alones at a higher-price. So, let me know what y'all think and we'll see. Personally I love the idea of chocolate fondue

ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS:

Champagne Toasts
Billed on Consumption, according to brand.
Prices range from $35.00++ per bottle and up

Bananas Foster
Bananas Sautéed with Rum Sauce
Vanilla Ice Cream
$15.00++ per person (25 person minimum)
(Add to any existing dessert party menu for $9.00 ++ per person)

Crepes Suzette
Crepes Flamed with a Grand Marnier Butter Sauce
$15.00++ per person (25 person minimum)
(Add to any existing dessert party menu for $9.00++ per person)

Flaming Cherries Jubilee
With Vanilla Ice Cream
$15.00++ per person (25 person minimum)
(Add to any existing dessert party menu for $9. ++ per person)

Chocolate Fondue Station
White and Dark Chocolate Fondue
Angel Food Cake, Pound Cake, Pretzels, Strawberries,
Pineapple, Honeydew, Cantaloupe and Marshmallows
$15.00++ per person (25 person minimum)
(Add to any existing dessert party menu for $9.00 ++ per person)

(All the above items are based on a 25-person minimum and 1 Hour of service)

I am still waiting on a few other details and will post when I have them.

Thank you all for sticking with me through all of this!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Rhonda- this is sounding like such a fun event!!! The chocolate fondue station does sound like a lot of fun (and yummy too). One of my DW's favorite deserts is bananas foster too, but I won't push for that if we're the only one interested.

Thanks again for putting all this together. I just need to keep up all my training so I can make it to this event!

 

[Maherae]

Oh, Rhonda!!! How luscious it all sounds!!! However, we may be pricing some people out of the ballpark..or UK terrace. It's about $35 per person now with Old World Miniatures, right? I love the idea of Cherries Jubilee, though...siiigghhhhhh...

It is absolutely fantastic that we got the UK terrace!!! You are so right, the view will be awesome! I'm so glad that after all of the forwarding on to other people, you got someone who could really make this happen!! Thanks so much for taking this on!! Anne

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Oh, Rhonda!!! How luscious it all sounds!!! However, we may be pricing some people out of the ballpark..or UK terrace. It's about $35 per person now with Old World Miniatures, right? I love the idea of Cherries Jubilee, though...siiigghhhhhh...

It is absolutely fantastic that we got the UK terrace!!! You are so right, the view will be awesome! I'm so glad that after all of the forwarding on to other people, you got someone who could really make this happen!! Thanks so much for taking this on!! Anne

I do have to agree with Anne on this one. The $185 for my party of 5 is going to be pretty steep for dessert, but it will be worth it for the location and friends.

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

Ann - I agree about the pricing and don't want to end up making it so $$$$ that people can't attend. There is the option of choosing one of the "enhancements" as a stand-alone (I am waiting to find out what the cost of adding the coffee/tea etc. would be) and that would keep the cost lower but would also lower the variety a bit.

The catering manager did say we could always ask about a "custom" menu and they could get us a price quote for that. Didn't know if that would prove just too difficult to get a consensus on though.

Any other thoughts?

 

[wtpclc]

I'd stick with what we have the most votes on already. Finding a consensus on more options at this point seems liek a lot of work. JMO. Thanks for all you're doing!

 

[solotraveler]

I'd stick with what we have the most votes on already. Finding a consensus on more options at this point seems liek a lot of work. JMO. Thanks for all you're doing!

That's kind of my thought too. As much as I love bananas foster and chocolate fondue, I would hate for this to be so expensive people decide to pass AND more work for you.

I can't believe we got the UK terrace....how cool!!

Kevin

 

[RedSonya]

Thanks Rhonda! I'm so excited to be having dessert with WISH friends at UK. I'm a chocolate freak so the fondue sounds terrific, but ditto others, I'd hate to have anyone not be able to enjoy the night if it is to costly.

Sonya

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

Thank you all for your input. I think too that at this point adding more options will only make it more complicated.

So, let's plan on sticking with the OLD WORLD CLASSICS IN MINIATURE option as that one has the most votes. I am going to request that we receive hot chocolate in addition to the coffee and tea (they did this last time at no additional charge) since it will be cold and we will have kids (and adults) who may prefer it. If you have any other suggestions, let me know and I'll look into them.

I did verify the tax and gratuity amounts (6.5% and 20% respectively) and these numbers are the ones I used in the calculations in my estimated prices in my earlier post. Therefore you can use the price chart in my other post to know how much your total will be.

The catering manager did give me the information on payment details and they are as follows. We can reserve at this point and let her know our food choices etc. She'll send out the contract within the next few weeks and I'll fill out the paperwork etc. The final payment must be made by 45 days prior to the event which will be November 17, 2006. We already have the location booked for us - now we just have to fill out the paperwork and pay for it!

So, after everyone has had a chance to look over this information, we can start talking about payments etc. I'll be happy to wait until quite close to the due date for payments a I know for some larger groups particularly it is a lot of $$$. If you all have any questions or suggestions, please let me know and I"ll discuss them with our event planner.

FYI - we now have 45-55 people signed up for this event (the difference represents those groups who were not sure how many would attend). That is an outstanding turnout and it should prove to be a truly memorable event!

 

[wtpclc]

 

[Jen117]

Rhonda, does the price drop if you have more people? I know you said there was a minimum of 25, but if you reach 50 does the price change at all? Just curious. This is going to be a great event!

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

Jen - the price is slightly affected by the number of people because of the venue fee. The venue fee is $200 regardless of the number of attendees. So, if we have 20 people, it would be $10/person but with 40 it is only $5/person. I figured the costs in my "price list" using 40 attendees since I am guessing we may have a few people who end up not being able to attend although they have signed up at this point. If we were to end up with 50 people, it would bring the cost down $1/person but it seemed to safer to go with 40 and work out the cents after the fact

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Thanks again Rhonda for organizing this. It is going to be fantastic. Please let me know when I can pay ASAP. I don't want to leave you hanging for all this money at all.

 

[TiffJ]

This is going to be so much fun!!!

Rhonda-I have talked to my mom & they do want to come. So my total will be 6. Thanks so much for doing this. It will definately be something to remember.

And everyone has to wear their medals too!!