Theme Park Dessert Party vs. Resort (grand floridian) Dessert Party

[kaitrex93]

Having a debate with the Fiance about which would be more fun
I've really only read about people doing the desert party in Epcot for Illuminations, but
I've personally never seen that so idk if I would choose that over seeing the fireworks at Magic Kingdom from across the lake at the Grand Floridian from either Sage Cay Pointe or the Marina
WOULD LOVE OPINIONS/EXPERIENCES PLEASE

 

[justme0729]

Both would be great! I think it is more about what show you like best- Happily Ever After or Illuminations but I think Illuminations is being replaced later this year. And the in park one you could add a ride mix-in to it for not too expensive.

 

[lurkyloo]

I have done five or six dessert parties inside Epcot now for IllumiNations. No one knows yet what the replacement show will be like when it opens later this year, but the in-park experience just feels more special to guests. You get escorted in from backstage. You are right up close to the show. And, as mentioned above, you can add on a ride mix-in after the show that lets you and your guests be escorted to the front of the line for the last ride of the night.

A dessert party at the Grand Floridian has a much more distant view of the show, and if you're at Sago Cay, you have to pay a fee to have the music piped in, starting at $676.

Here are photos of every wedding reception venue at Walt Disney World. If you compare the fireworks photos at the Epcot locations to those at the Marina and Sago Cay, you'll see the difference: https://fairytaleweddingsguide.com/wdw-venues/

 

[kaitrex93]

Both would be great! I think it is more about what show you like best- Happily Ever After or Illuminations but I think Illuminations is being replaced later this year. And the in park one you could add a ride mix-in to it for not too expensive.

I Loved the idea of being able to have a ride mix-in which is something that is drawing me to illuminations or whatever it turns into later this year! I just love Happily Ever After so much, and thought it would possibly be less expensive in the long run, but I'm thinking that isn't actually the case.

 

[kaitrex93]

I have done five or six dessert parties inside Epcot now for IllumiNations. No one knows yet what the replacement show will be like when it opens later this year, but the in-park experience just feels more special to guests. You get escorted in from backstage. You are right up close to the show. And, as mentioned above, you can add on a ride mix-in after the show that lets you and your guests be escorted to the front of the line for the last ride of the night.

A dessert party at the Grand Floridian has a much more distant view of the show, and if you're at Sago Cay, you have to pay a fee to have the music piped in, starting at $676.

Here are photos of every wedding reception venue at Walt Disney World. If you compare the fireworks photos at the Epcot locations to those at the Marina and Sago Cay, you'll see the difference: https://fairytaleweddingsguide.com/wdw-venues/

I Loved the thought of it being like a VIP experience for our guests as a welcome party for the weekend's festivities! Thank you for the photos that made it much easier to see, I'm thinking I'm definitely leaning towards Epcot now for the dessert party

 

[Traveliz]

My daughter had the Dessert Party at the GF. She choose that over Epcot for several reasons. First she and her husband work at Epcot and didn’t want that feel of wedding event at work. Next with her wedding at the pavilion and a number of guests all ready staying there it kept all the activities in one area. There were hours between but guests either went back to their hotels, visited the lounges and a few went to the park. It is true that we had to pay for the music but we did not have the motor coach expense of taking the guests to Epcot. I do think a ride mix in would be fun though.

Liz

 

[kaitrex93]

My daughter had the Dessert Party at the GF. She choose that over Epcot for several reasons. First she and her husband work at Epcot and didn’t want that feel of wedding event at work. Next with her wedding at the pavilion and a number of guests all ready staying there it kept all the activities in one area. There were hours between but guests either went back to their hotels, visited the lounges and a few went to the park. It is true that we had to pay for the music but we did not have the motor coach expense of taking the guests to Epcot. I do think a ride mix in would be fun though.

Liz

not needing transportation for the GF was the main reason that I was leaning towards it, but i'm hoping that I can ask about meeting a guide at the gates for the party instead of having to get transportation, since I've read sometimes that is doable, a ride mix-in would be really fun, I love test track or Soarin' definitely !

 

[justme0729]

I Loved the idea of being able to have a ride mix-in which is something that is drawing me to illuminations or whatever it turns into later this year! I just love Happily Ever After so much, and thought it would possibly be less expensive in the long run, but I'm thinking that isn't actually the case.

I love Happily Ever After too... we had our reception at California Grill Napa Room so we could watch them during our reception. Having the MK fireworks be part of our wedding was my number 1 priority because I don't really care for illuminations but the in park experience part is very cool for guests I would think. I just prefer the MK fireworks

 

[Traveliz]

not needing transportation for the GF was the main reason that I was leaning towards it, but i'm hoping that I can ask about meeting a guide at the gates for the party instead of having to get transportation, since I've read sometimes that is doable, a ride mix-in would be really fun, I love test track or Soarin' definitely !

I haven’t heard of a guide meeting you at the gate. Let us know what you learn. It would have made me nervous hoping everyone would be able to find their way over there on time to meet a guide. Probably a silly thought but corralling over a 100 people can be a job. I didn’t want anyone to miss anything or have to be responsible for figuring out how to get multiple places.

 

[kaitrex93]

I haven’t heard of a guide meeting you at the gate. Let us know what you learn. It would have made me nervous hoping everyone would be able to find their way over there on time to meet a guide. Probably a silly thought but corralling over a 100 people can be a job. I didn’t want anyone to miss anything or have to be responsible for figuring out how to get multiple places.

I feel like i've read somewhere that people have been able to do that, but I would imagine if it is possible that it would be dependent on the size of the group. I don't anticipate mine to go over 65-ish and i would say 80% of those people are disney people, so i'm not too worried about them getting lost. we will see, i hope that would be doable, it would save QUITEa bit of money lol if not I'll probably just do a couple of the vans to transport.

 

[Erzengel]

I have done five or six dessert parties inside Epcot now for IllumiNations. No one knows yet what the replacement show will be like when it opens later this year, but the in-park experience just feels more special to guests. You get escorted in from backstage. You are right up close to the show. And, as mentioned above, you can add on a ride mix-in after the show that lets you and your guests be escorted to the front of the line for the last ride of the night.

A dessert party at the Grand Floridian has a much more distant view of the show, and if you're at Sago Cay, you have to pay a fee to have the music piped in, starting at $676.

Here are photos of every wedding reception venue at Walt Disney World. If you compare the fireworks photos at the Epcot locations to those at the Marina and Sago Cay, you'll see the difference: https://fairytaleweddingsguide.com/wdw-venues/

I agree with lurkyloo.

I'm glad with did the dessert party at Epcot and I'm saddened that IllumiNations is going to be ending. However, even a show that's half as good as Illuminations is going to be better than a more distant view of the show.

 

[StacyFun]

What dessert parties are likely to be around for the 4th of July?

 

[FSU Girl]

I haven’t heard of a guide meeting you at the gate. Let us know what you learn. It would have made me nervous hoping everyone would be able to find their way over there on time to meet a guide. Probably a silly thought but corralling over a 100 people can be a job. I didn’t want anyone to miss anything or have to be responsible for figuring out how to get multiple places.

I don't know about Epcot, but for my Fantasmic Welcome dinner we met a guide at the gate who walked my guests to our area.

For the debate between Epcot or GF, I loved having my dessert party at Epcot. The firework pictures are stunning and my guests were wowed by the private area. It really was a highlight of the day. We also used Cinderella's Carriage as an exit inside Epcot, which was amazing.