I am not sure where I found this thread but this is what it said(I copied it into an e-mail that I sent to my family)
Anyway - the official new name for this dinner (as it reads on my souvenir
menu) is the INTERNATIONAL DINNER AND ILLUMINATIONS DESSERT RECEPTION.
(Notice the story book part is gone - as is Sleeping Beauty!) (from what I
have read, the characters are rotating so that you could do this more than
once and your experience will never be the same.)
We arrived at the Oddessy - which is not open to the general public - at
around 7:20 (the time it starts is 7:30). We checked in at the podium in
front and waited about 10 minutes. At 7:30 the waiters came out and called
for their tables (each table or group had their own waiter) and took us in
and seated us. Inside reminded me of a wedding reception - there were about
12 to 16 round tables set up very fancy each with another pin at the place
setting. (Ours were all either the cancer or aquarius zodiac sign.) On the
stage area a band was playing throughout dinner - I can't for the life of me
remember what they played - I think it was various ethnic type music. They
were a little too loud for dinner music in my opinion (and I'm only 32) but
we were seated at the first table in front closest to the stage. That said -
they were a very good group.
DINNER!!! I will give you the menu as it appears on what I brought home.
Unfortunately I didn't get to try half of the items listed here - but
according to my family these items were there.
CHINA -
Pork Dumplings in Soy Ginger Glaze ~ Vege Spring Rolls w/ Vietnamese chili
sauce ~ BBQ Pork Spare Ribs ~ Vege Fried Rice
MOROCCO-
Baby Greens w/ Marinated Roasted Vege ~ Tabouleh ~ Vege Couscous ~ Tangine
Chicken
GERMANY-
Chicken Schnitzel ~ Carved Sauerbraten w/ Spatzle ~ Bratwurst w/ Wein Kraut
~ Potato Salad
ITALY-
Penne Pasta Alfredo ~ Garden Vege Lasagna ~ 3 cheese Ravioli w/ Marinara ~
Romaine Romano Salad
KIDS-
Mac and Cheese ~ Chicken Tenders ~ P B & J Sandwiches ~ Fries
Soda, Coffee, Tea, MIlk, Apple Juice
Extra charge for select Wine and Beer
We had an MC who was wonderful - a very warm, fun woman who had a name that
escapes me (Auntie ...?) but she was a hoot and great with the children. She
gathered them together on the dance floor when she thought most of them were
done dinner and read them a story that required them to play along.
Then after their practice she did the whole story again for us parents to
see with the children acting out parts throughout. This was really cute. She
then put a newlywed couple on the spot and had them get out and dance
together - this was also very sweet. We then got word that two very special
guests were in the building and could they come in and say hello? Of course
they could - and in comes Minnie and Goofy! The kids went nuts and ran to
the dance floor to say hello. There were lots of pictures and autographs and
then they turned up the music! Minnie and Goofy danced along with the kids
and had a great old time! Then we all did the CONGA! With Goofy in the lead
I was holding on to Minnie at one point and we all were just dancing around
the whole room! During this Minnie went and gushed over my 16 year old
stepson - we got a few great pictures of his red face! Then Auntie suggested
we slow it down and let the Mom's and Dad's dance together - of course the
kids wouldn't budge off the dance floor! One of the best moments of the
night was watching Minne make her way across the dance floor to our table
(knowing full well what was about to happen!) and come up to my son and very
sweetly pull him to his feet!!!! I can not wait to get my pictures back!!!
Watching this 16 year old tough football guy dance with Minnie Mouse was
priceless!!!!
At this point it was time to get moving and they were trying to get everyone
to get their pictures taken and get to the special seating area for
Illuminations. We were just about the last to get out of the dinning area
and get a picture taken. Minnie and Goofy were still hanging around and we
tried to get them in our family picture and they would not let us? I still
don't understand but they said they couldn't! So, we took their professional
picture and then got a cast member to take a picture of all of us with
Minnie and Goofy on our own cameras. WHATEVER!! (BY the way we did not buy
their picture of us - it was horrible!! And you could not pick it up until
the next day.)
So off we went following the cast members' red flashing light saber lights
to our special viewing area. OH, BOY!!!!
This is what I was talking about!!! I have seen Illuminations a handful of
times but NEVER like this! (And it's better than it used to be!) Our special
area was right across from the American Pavilion - so it was front and
center! They roped off an area in front of one of the gift shops when you
first enter the world showcase (main entrance). This area was so close it
was amazing! They had a scrumptious feast set up! Cookies and cakes and
parfaits and so many sweets! They also had coffee and hot choc. The only
cold drink was lemonade - which was a bit weird.
Illuminations was awesome! Seeing it from this vantage point was worth the
money itself! MY only complaints were that I felt rushed during dinner. I
didn't get to eat nearly enough - I would have liked to sample a bit of each
food but I only got to China and Morocco (what I tried was very good). The
rest of my group did not feel the same. They got plenty to eat and while
they would have liked more time they didn't feel rushed. I figure it was
because I was getting food for my 7 yr old plus my 1 yr old and I was taking
all the pictures and doing the Conga! MY other complaint is "Where was
Sleeping Beauty?" When I booked this dinner I was told it was the Storybook
dinner and that Sleeping Beauty would appear. That is what I told my
daughter and she kept asking me when Sleeping Beauty would come. Now that
it's over she said she liked Goofy and Minnie better!!! So at least she
wasn't disappointed - but it could have been ugly!
All said and done - I would do it again in a heartbeat!!! Illuminations was
amazing! The food was very good as was the entertainment. I would have asked
my husband and MIL for help getting food for the kids so I could have just
done pictures and maybe half a CONGA!
but it seems like you get a lot of entertainment and food for the price. I am hoping that I can talk my group into one of these
