Marathon Weekend Illuminations Dessert Party - Who Is Interested?

[akasleepingbeauty]

After mentioning this on the meets thread, I decided it needed a thread of its own

I would like to find out how many people would be interested in attending an Illuminations Dessert Party at Epcot during Marathon "weekend". It is a wonderful event with a lovely view of Illuminations and yummy desserts as well as nice opportunity to mingle with our WISH friends.

The event requires a minimum of 20 people but can accommodate many more if we are lucky to have that many. The final price is determined by the type of menu we select and I will list them as provided by Disney so you can see the options. Once the menu is selected, you add 20% gratuity and 6.5% tax as well as a venue fee of $200 (this is divided by the total number of attendees so it will vary depending on our final head count). This means we are looking at a minimum of $35/person (give or take a little because of aforementioned venue fee) and a maximum of $60/person based on the lowest-priced and highest-priced menu options.

So, please let me know which night(s) you would be available to attend and which dessert option you would most prefer. That way we can get a better idea of whether this is a feasible proposal.

Let me know if you have any questions!
Rhonda


DESSERT MENU OPTIONS:

For the Child in You
Florida Lemon Bars, Double Chocolate Brownies
White Chocolate Chip with Macadamia Nut Cookies and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Chewy Rice Crispy Treats and Chocolate Marshmallow Squares
Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Tea and Lemonade

$19.50++ per person
(Based on 1 hour of service, 20 Person Minimum)

Old World Classics in Miniature
Pastries in Miniature to include:
Chocolate and Pistachio Cannoli
Fresh Fruit Tartlet, Vanilla Cream Filled Pastry Horns
Chocolate Éclairs, Orange Marmalade Roulade
Italian Style Ricotta Cheesecake, Chocolate Pecan Pies
Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Tea and Lemonade

$24.50++ per person
(Based on 1 hour of service, 20 Person Minimum)

Build your own Desserts
Freshly Baked Shortcake, Vanilla Ice Cream, Seasonal Berries and Fresh Fruits
Fruit Sauces, Whipped Cream and White and Dark Chocolate Sauce
Chopped Nuts, Crushed Cookies, Colorful Sprinkles and Broken Candies
Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Tea and Lemonade

$27.00++ per person
(Based on 1 hour of service, 50 Person Minimum)

Deluxe
Stemware Glasses Filled with Classic Tiramisu,
English Trifle, Fresh Fruit and Berries
Pastry Selections in Miniature to include:
Fresh Fruit Tartlet, Vanilla Cream Filled Pastry Horns, Chocolate Éclairs
Chocolate and Pistachio Cannoli
Orange Marmalade Roulade
Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Tea and Lemonade

$29.50++ per person
(Based on 1 hour of service, 20 Person Minimum)

Supreme
Classic Tortes to include:
Sacher, Dobos, Strawberry and Chambord
Stemware Glasses Filled with Classic Tiramisu,
English Trifle, Fresh Fruit and Berries
Pastry Selections in Miniature to include:
Chocolate and Pistachio Cannoli, Fresh Fruit Tartlet
Vanilla Cream Filled Pastry Horns
Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Tea and Lemonade

$39.50++ per person
(Based on 1 Hour of service, 20 Person Minimum)

 

[Maherae]

Hello, Rhonda!! So nice to see you back. This is a wonderful thing!! My vote is for Sunday night and any of it looks great! If I had to vote for just one (and they alll look so yummy!!), I would probably say the Deluxe. Other family members can join us, right? There would be 3 or 4 in our party. Thanks for doing this! Anne

 

[keenercam]

Hi, Rhonda, sweetie!
Howard and I would be interested, though I think we'd prefer Monday night, in case I can't walk Sunday and also because if I can walk, we'd like to go to DTD.

I am very undecided about the desserts, though build your own and old world classics sound wonderful!

Thanks for looking in to this for all of us!

 

[TiffJ]

OHHHhHHH I am so interested in this!!!! I vote for Old World Classics or Deluxe. There are 6 in my family that will be there but I'm not sure if my parents would want to come so for now I will say 4.

 

[WDWFAN9]

DD21 and I are definitely interested. I'd prefer to avoid Sunday night so I don't have to spend a days park admission. By time I get done walking the full, get back to Pop to get cleaned up, and take a short nap most of the day will be gone. And I am frugal enough to not want to use an entire day's pass on just a few hours. I might though decide to get an AP since I am hoping to return in May for the Minnie Marathon, but Monday or Tuesday would still be better for us. The menu option doesn't matter....it all looks good

 

[escape]

I'd be interested in going. It may just be me attending or I might have 3 others with me. I'll know a little more when the time gets closer.

As for the night, Monday might be a better night for me.

Thanks for gathering this information, Rhonda!

 

[wtpclc]

Scott and I would be in for Monday or Tuesday (voted Monday).

 

[andromedaslove]

I am definately in on this one!! I have always wanted to do one of these!! I voted for Monday night for one reason only, I am not so sure that I am going to want to go out at ALL on Sunday night!!

 

[solotraveler]

I could definately be up for this. Monday night would work the best for me, but I could probably hobble there on Sunday night as well. Whatever everyone wants to do in terms of menu if fine by me!

Kevin

 

[Jen117]

DH and I would love to do this, but I have to admit that the more costly it gets, the less likely we could do it. We would leave the kids with the grandparents and it would be just the two of us. The Old World one looks good to me.

 

[RedSonya]

I voted for Tuesday night, but I am really flexible so any day would probably work. It will be me and DH. All of the menues look great so I didn't vote for any of them. Sounds like a lot of fun any night and with any dessert!

Sonya

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

Things are looking good - seems we're up to at least 20 already!! So, I'll let this run a bit longer to give a few more people a chance to chime in.

It looks like for now that Sunday and Monday are getting the most votes - this is what I expected and what I imagine we'll end up choosing between. I am a bit concerned with Sunday only because I am afraid I'll be sore/tired from the race that will only have ended a few hours earlier for me Anyway, let's just see how it all plays out and we'll make our final decisions at that point.

When it comes to deciding on the dessert option, keep in mind that it will be January and at night so it is likely to be chilly. That may, or may not, influence your decision (say for the ice cream option). When I organized this before it was also in January and pretty cold. Disney was nice enough to include hot chocolate with the drink options as well - it was just packets with hot water but it was tasty just the same

 

[plutosmyfav]

This sounds like fun but I'm not ready to commit. I'd most likely have to do Sunday night as we will probably leave Monday. If we do it, it would be Dx and me.

But I have to admit, I already have visions of the Kitchen Sink in my post Goofy plans. I'm not sure I could do both. I'm much more of an ice cream lover than any of the menus offered. So I'm torn!!!!!

For those of you worried about moving on Sunday night, I highly recommend forcing yourself out to walk. Its terrible at first, but it speeds long-term recovery. Last year I showered, went straight to the pool with DS and then Dx left on the ME and I took DS to MK and we stayed until closing. Each ride got a little easier to get on and off. Plus, you'll want maximum visibility of your medal on that night!!!!!!! Wear it with pride.

Sunny

 

[DianeL]

Kitchen Sink Woohoo Sunny! Actually we were talking about attempting it again this January especially now that Cathy has signed up for Donald. Perhaps with the 4 of us we can finish it off and not leave a puddle of ice cream in our wake LOL

I'm sending Susan the link to this thread to see if I can get any commitments out of the rest of the party. Dessert and our fave night show might be an easy tempation for them LOL

 

[Kristi1357]

Honestly, I can't really commit now either - $$$ is kinda tight since DH's freelance hours were few and far between this spring. I really want to though - so I am going to start eBaying my butt off this weekend!

BUT, assuming we can attend, I voted for Monday night. That way those without annual passes won't 'waste' a park day. It would be me, DH & DS3. And in my opinion, the cheapest option works. I would be there for the view and the DIS friends, not the un-weight-watchers-friendly (but wonderful) desserts. I would be willing to do whatever though if eBay is good to me this summer.

And from the responses, I am beginning to think there should be a kitchen sink(s) meet sometime!

 

[getnthinr]

Hummmm.... Lovely view of Illuminations?!?!? I'm there!

That would be just one for now (though I might be able to talk my family into joining me, depending on the cost -- which would add 2 more)

Just curious -- Where do they hold these "custom" things? Thanks for doing the groundwork, Rhonda!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hi, I just found this thread. Boy, I really need to look at the forum more. I stick on our training thread, and never see these other posts. I'm very interested in this. I voted for Sunday because I'm not sure if we're staying through Monday, but I'd like to stay on Monday. There would be 5 in our party - me, DW, cool Aunt, DD5 and DD9 (by then) .

Rhonda - thanks so much for looking into this. Could I ask you to post it on the training thread too. There might be others like me who just follow the training thread, and don't see these other posts.

 

[WDWFAN9]

I was just wondering when a decision is going to be made on the day for this gathering. Inquiring minds want to know......

I can't help it - I am one of those compulsive planners!!

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

Please come post on the "final arrangements" thread found here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=13668428#post13668428