Warning:FYI On Dessert Parties

[sbggirl]

Just an FYI...I am having a custom wedding and planned to have a dessert party for about 80 guests the night before my wedding...when I got my budget in addition to food cost there was a $75 setup fee for chairs/tables, which is fine and the $12.50 charge pp for "tickets." However, what I had never seen before and not heard about on this forum was a $500 site fee which as apparently recently taken the place of charging for a guide. It also covers "technical fees" which I assume to be lighting or something? This was sort of sprung on us and I am thinking of not doing the party just based on principle because I am annoyed. Has anyone had this fee and do you know exactly what it covers?

 

[Moonbeams]

I'm sure the sudden fee is sickening. But don't let it ruin your experience. You'll have rather had the dessert party when it's all said and done versus the money you saved. My .02 ...

But I totally hear you on the surprise fees. But don't feel alone on an island. They seem happen to most of us somewhere in the mix!

Berry

 

[JonetteA]

All of the estimates I have had had not had that fee. Argh!

 

[Jillybean626]

it seems almost sickening that it has the name Disney attached to it, huh? I'm not sure if I would do it, at least not the night before my wedding, maybe if it went towards my minimum ... maybe you should do it the night of ... at least that way you could have everyone enjoy the show and not feel so violated

 

[Mary626]

What were the prices listed in your contract?, or did you add it on after your contract? We're having the Fantasmic! Dessert party, which in the contract I learned, has a $200.00 fee, a $12.00 per person viewing fee, a need for two hosts per 47 guests at 90 plus tax per host, a charter bus at 82/hour for 47 guests, plus at least 750 in food. I was kind of assuming that since it is in my contract those prices are locked in, or am I wrong?

A few things I have to ask the lady are, if there are a minimum number of hours for the bus (like there is on your wedding day), and if you need the 12.00 pp if they have tickets. I am guessing this is going to add up to at least 2,000 but I am absolutely excited for it. I hope it doesn't go past 3,000 though. Anyone had any experiences with the fantasmic party?

 

[Laurafoster]

Im hoping to have an illuminations dessert party on the day before my wedding as a kind of welcome party. Can anyone give me an idea of what this would cost? It will be for 30 people (who all have the passes!)

Also we are all going to be staying on the boardwalk so will i need to pay for transportation?

 

[Snow_White]

On our estimated event budget, our price estimate for a 29 person Illuminations dessert party is $1552.79, but that does not include the $12.50pp viewing fee, because a lot of us have passes so Disney is just going to bill us based on how many people have passes and how many need park admission on the night of the event.

Jennifer

 

[sbggirl]

I know in the scheme of the wedding that $500 is not really that much, but it annoys me! I guess that it is a rental fee for Italy Isola so for all who are not using that venue then you are probably safe from a rental fee (I hope!). I think I was just fired up at not ever seeing that fee before and then having it dropped in on me like they were hoping I wouldn't notice it. Oh well, we will probably still do it, but for those estimating budgets, make sure they include ALL misc. fees in your budget so you can plan properly.

 

[twojo21]

sbggirl maybe its a small party fee? the isola requires 100 people they might be charging you a fee if youre under that.

i know on our contract/estimate theres no mention of a site fee for our illuminations dp at uk lower.

 

[FranP]

DD had an illuminations party the nite before her wedding and we alsk threw one for her choir when she brought them to WDW two years ago - there was no "site fee" but there were fees for set up, bartenders and guides which probably added up to $500 when all was said and done so I don't think this is an "extra" but rather like a combinations of all the other fees that were imposed before lumped into one figure to make it easier to add up - Disney probably makes a little extra money on the parties that need only one guide/bartender and a little less on the parties that need more. Good luck!!!

 

[pixie08]

sbggirl maybe its a small party fee? the isola requires 100 people they might be charging you a fee if youre under that.

i know on our contract/estimate theres no mention of a site fee for our illuminations dp at uk lower.

I am not sure either but what twojo21 said sounds right. there is a 100 person min and maybe they did not mention that to you and just charged you instead! Are you just having dessert or are you doing food and cocktails because as someone else said because if so it could be for the bartenders/servers!

 

[Rustyflwr3]

Do they only charge the viewing fee if the guests do not have passes? So, if all of my guests had passes, I wouldn't be charged that viewing fee?

Thanks!

 

[Codie]

Im hoping to have an illuminations dessert party on the day before my wedding as a kind of welcome party. Can anyone give me an idea of what this would cost? It will be for 30 people (who all have the passes!)

Also we are all going to be staying on the boardwalk so will i need to pay for transportation?

when I asked these questions I was told you don't need to pay for transportation if you are on the boardwalk and want to walk...You do have to pay for the hosts. If they all have passes you would just need to pay for the food (minimums i think of $17.50?) and any decorations you choose and beverages...

 

[J&L Love Disney]

I am not aware of the $500 fee. I am having an Illuminations Dessert Party for December Vow Renewal. I was told that we would only pay extra $12.50 fee for those without tickets (we all have them) and that we aren't paying for transportation because we are coming from the Boardwalk. Someone did mention a bartender fee (which we are not having). This fee is not in my contract, but I am checking on it. Thanks for mentioning.

 

[penlanspice]

The fee is something new, when we had our site visit in May we we're told about the charges then. Epcot has now put charges on all it's locations. I'm having my reception at the Living seas and it's $500 and the desert party at the Lower UK and that's $275. price varies by location this is something new for 2006.

Sam