What is Illuminations Dinner & Dessert Party?

[sheriowaso]

We're going to WDW next week (yay!) and have this scheduled for 10/5. My husband won this trip from the McDonalds Magic for 8 sweepstakes, and we picked the Illuminations Dinner and Dessert party without really knowing what it is. Thanks.

Sheri

 

[twojo21]

per disney's site, International Dinner and IllumiNations Dessert Reception
Indulge yourself in Epcot® with international delights and tantalizing cuisine from around the world. Share the magic of live entertainment that's sure to please your whole gathering. Then enjoy a delicious dessert buffet along with VIP viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Theme park admission is required.

how cool winning a trip. wish i did, but were going in november anyways. illuminations fireworks, music & fire, show is awesome, you're going to love it!

 

[Puffy2]

I've done this once with a group (had to pay about 35$ a person) - an area by Great Britian was roped off near the water (at Epcot, obviously) - there are benches there to sit down, and a dessert buffet was set up (they had mostly mini pastries, cookies, etc...) and beverages - coffee, maybe cocoa and some other things). I wasn't impressed with the dessert selection and the viewing of Illuminations WAS close but it was also close enough to get ashes from the fireworks blowing in your face (not so great).

All in all, if it was offered to me FREE again - sure! You'll feel like a VIP. But I won't pay $35 a person for it again.

 

[goofy4tink]

We did a Dessert Party in June as a DIS group. It was wonderful. Also, $35 pp. No dinner though, just wonderful desserts. We were placed in the lower tier in front of France, just past the bridge. It was a great spot. We were lucky that night since the wind (more like a breeze) was going in the other direction, but I have had those ashes in my face before..on an IllumiNations cruise no less!!!
We enjoyed our desserts but really enjoyed the company. Met some terrific people and made new friends. My dd still thinks of that night as a high point in our trip. Expensive? Yep, a bit. But, I would do it again. And a whole dinner, plus dessert??? Oh yeh...where do I sign up!!!

 

[Crazy Hakim]

.....and the viewing of Illuminations WAS close but it was also close enough to get ashes from the fireworks blowing in your face (not so great).

That's not ashes, it's "Pixie Dust!"

sometimes you just have to make a positive from any negative.

 

[d4est]

We're going to WDW next week (yay!) and have this scheduled for 10/5. My husband won this trip from the McDonalds Magic for 8 sweepstakes, and we picked the Illuminations Dinner and Dessert party without really knowing what it is. Thanks.

Sheri

I don't know a thing about it, but wanted to say congrats! How awesome to win a dream vacation!

 

[Puffy2]

That's not ashes, it's "Pixie Dust!"

sometimes you just have to make a positive from any negative.

Good grief. "Pixie Dust" that burns your eyes and gets up your nose.

Reminds me about what we were taught in retailing - it's not the "real value" it's the "preceived value" and you can wrap ANYTHING (they said a bad word, but I won't) up in gold paper and people will buy it.

All that being said - the dessert party was nice but it just wasn't worth $35 a person in my opinion. If it's free - go for it! and have a great time.

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

We have this scheduled for our Grand Gathering in Dec. I posted a few days ago to get some recent reviews (I got no responses). We have done the Magical Fireworks Cruise and the Safari Dinner and both were great. I am hoping that this event will be a good experience too! The cost is $59 per adult, it includes an international dinner with a character interaction and then dessert is offered outside in a private fireworks viewing area. The food was really good at the Safari Dinner (and I'm a picky eater), so I hope our experience is good this time, too. Have fun and congratulations!

 

[sheriowaso]

Thank you for the responses. This sounds great, it's something my family would never be able to pay for so it will be a treat for us.

We're so excited to go, we found out about winning it 9 months ago so we can't believe it's finally time. It's a trip for 8, so it's my family of 4, and we're taking my 2 sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law and my niece. It's funny, I was reading a thread about what Not to do at WDW, and it was mentioned several times - do not travel with extended family,lol. I know we'll have a great time though.

Thanks again.

Sheri

 

[sheriowaso]

I meant to ask this earlier and forgot, is the dinner and dessert party casual? We wouldn't go directly from the park to the dinner, but if it's more than just capris and sandals I'd need to let my family members know what to pack. Thanks!

Sheri

 

[mrscoobs]

Nothing really is more than casual for Disney (unless a really schmancy meal). I wore slacks just since it was an evening in January when we went, and Jeans in May when we went with a polo shirt. Others in our group wore khaki shorts and polo shirts and Capris and button down blouses or summer dresses, but we have members that just like to dress sometimes. Others were similar that we noticed, but we were rather clique-ish in our Gathering

 

[hmgolden]

It can be as casual or as formal as your group wants - entirely up to you. Enjoy, its a great only in Disney thing to do!

 

[Allycat1]

Hey Sheri!

We won the Magic For Eight Trip too!! We're traveling with me, dh, dd and ds and my sister and her family (dh, dniece & dnephew). We are going the beginning of Dec. We also chose the Illuminations Dinner/Dessert Buffet. I can't seem to find any info on it either! So I look forward to your post when you return home to see how it went ! Hope you have a magical trip!!