Frequently Asked Questions

Event Logistics

When is the anniversary celebration happening? When should I arrive?

Mark your calendars for Monday, May 17, 2027! That's the date of the main brunch, although there will be activities both informal and ad hoc, as well as pre-planned, over the course of the weekend.

We were married on a Monday 25 years ago, so we are duplicating that timing.

So, as long as you are around on Monday, May 17, you will be able to attend the main events: the brunch and the dessert party. And in fact, if you only come for the brunch and the dessert party, you won't even need a park ticket.

We understand that for some folks this will be a quick, easy, fast trip, while others may want to make this part of a longer, extended holiday. People have jobs, kids have school, we completely understand.

We also understand that all our guests have different interests and goals -- for some this will be a Disney trip with kids or grandkids; for others a romantic weekend getaway. Make this work for you!

As noted above, the main "can't miss" events will be on Monday, May 17, starting with a brunch in the morning, followed by a break (on your own--I will be napping!), and concluding in the evening with a dessert party and viewing of the Epcot fireworks show.

That said, with people coming in from all over, this is a great time to reconnect with family and friends, so we are taking advantage of that by scheduling "drop-by" events that people can choose to attend or not.

For those who may want to make a long weekend of it, we will start with a gathering on Friday, May 14.

Tom and I will be at Typhoon Lagoon for a day at the water park (this is Tom's favorite thing). If you are around, please feel free to join us (I will share the information as to our "home base" at that park). This ticket is on you -- but note that Disney has run a promotion in the past that offers a free theme park visit on the first day of a multi-day ticket.

Saturday afternoon, May 15, we will be barbecuing at our Treehouse Villa (at the Saratoga Springs resort) and anyone interested can stop by for food and drinks (bring your suit because we may take a dip in the pool as well). Guests staying in Disney resorts can take a bus from their hotel to Disney Springs, and at Disney Springs take a water shuttle to the Treehouse Villas--there is a dock there. Or on-site guests can drive to Disney Springs, park there, and take the water shuttle.

Unfortunately, Disney is cracking down and not allowing off-site guests to use Disney transportation, so if you are staying off-site just coordinate with us to meet at the gate and we can bring you in.

By popular demand, Sunday afternoon, May 16, Tom and I will be "Sipping and Snacking" across Epcot, starting at 11 a.m. in Mexico and working our way around. If you are interested, you can join us at any time. Sipping and snacking is at your discretion -- I will provide lanyards and pens so we can keep track of our progress.

Tom and I will probably be staying in the area from May 1, through May 19--you are welcome to hang out with us at any time!

Come for a day. Come for a week. Whatever works for you and your crew!

Where exactly will the events be held?

Everything we are planning will take place on the Walt Disney World property.

The main Anniversary Brunch will be at The Living Seas Salon in Epcot. This is the second largest aquarium in the U.S. and there are viewing areas in our venue.

That night we will hold a private Epcot Dessert Party for an evening fireworks viewing .

Our informal gathering and barbecue at our Treehouse Villa at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort starting around 3 or 4 p.m. Saturday, May 15, and ending ..... whenever the food and drink and company run out!

We will be sipping and snacking around Epcot on Sunday, May 16.

What is the suggested dress code for the weekend?

Our main interest is that our guests will be comfortable and happy. So wear what you want!

If you truly desire suggestions or inspiration, for the Monday Anniversary Brunch you may want to go with "Florida brunch" attire--tropical and festive. Think breezy fabrics, sundresses, "Miami Vice"-vibes, and ocean-inspired colors to match our "Under the Sea" theme while staying comfortable in the Florida sun. Sarah and Tom are planning to wear aqua and blue cocktail-y attire.

We will have a professional photographer on board at the brunch (just like 25 years ago), so this will be a great time for you and your Mouseketeers to look sharp and capture some wonderful images.

The Helfrich family photo from 2002 is now iconic, so of course we want to duplicate that.

For the dessert party, we'll be outside in the theme park, so casual will be the way to go for sure.

For other events, Casual and comfortable will be on target!

Who is invited to join the celebration?

Are kids welcome to attend? Will the events be family friendly?

Does Mickey love Minnie? Is Donald a duck?

YES YES and YES!

Kids of all ages are definitely invited and welcome. This is Disney World, so kids should have a great time. We hope to have a family friendly and fun weekend.

The brunch shouldn't be stuffy and there should be plenty for kids to do and see, as well as some possible surprises (no spoilers here).

The other, informal events will be kid-friendly as well. Even the "sipping and snacking" afternoon will be in the middle of a theme park! (And there is a wide variety of things to sip and snack for all ages.)

That said, our hope is that this is a good time for the adults too!

We know that our guests will have their own Disney plans and expectations, so please make a schedule that works for you and your Mouseketeers.

Who is invited to join the celebration?

Friends and family, old and new, are welcome to join us. We are taking a "the more the merrier" approach with this party.

Of course, everyone who joined us for our original celebration 25 years ago is warmly welcome!

Folks who were invited last time but couldn't make it then are more than welcome to correct that by attending this time. And new friends are also invited--we can't wait to share this with you as well.

Please consider joining the party to help us mark this milestone.

And let us know if you have a family member who didn't get our Save the Date form. We don't have all the addresses for everyone who was there originally or invited then, and we are still trying to track down everyone.

Do you have suggestions for where to get information and tips on a Disney trip in general?

We hope to make this site the first stop to help you, and we will soon put together a regular (but not intrusive!) email blast that will contain the latest updated information, so keep an eye out for that.

Also, we have some favorite places that we turn to for hints, tips, inspiration, and information. You might find them helpful as well.

Mousesavers: Probably our favorite source for discounts, deals, and ideas on how to visit Disney World in an economical manner.

Touring Plans: A great source of information on projected crowds, this site also has sample touring plans that help you make the most of a day in the parks, and are customized for the ages and interests of those visiting.

Disney Tourist Blog is also a great site for basic info and help on planning so you can get the most out of your trip.

Undercover Tourist is a reputable discount reseller of Disney tickets as well as tickets to Universal and other theme parks. We've used them many times with great success over more than a decade. Note that their site pricing includes taxes (which the Disney site doesn't) so take that into account when comparing prices.

Disney Food Blog has information on more than just food -- it also can help with info on character meals and special events. And of course it is the definitive source on Disney World food in general too.

Mouse Dining: Our favorite Disney Dining Alert service. If you can't get your desired restaurant reservation the traditional way, this service works in the background and then alerts you if what you want becomes available. You can set up six alerts for free. It has helped us snag some deeply desired, highly popular reservations.

And of course, don't forget about MyDisneyExperience and the Disney Parks Blog, as those "official" Disney sites are helpful as well.

Have a question we didn't cover? Please feel free to reach out to us at sarahste@gmail.com (email) or 301-792-6071 (voice or text) and we'll be happy to help!

How do I share my interest?

Please use the 'Tell Us Your Interest' form on the home page to let us know if you're considering joining the magic.

Feel free to use this to update your response as well if your plans change.

Once the printed invitations go out the form on this site will change to an actual RSVP.

How do I update an interest response?

If your plans change, simply fill out the form again with the new info, or email us at sarahste@gmail.com and we will update your status manually.

After the print invitations go out, the form on this site will change to an actual RSVP form.

Tickets & RSVP

Will I get an actual invitation?

Yes, we will be sending out actual printed invitations closer to the event--we plan to mail those around Jan. 1, 2027, so make sure we have your updated mailing address and keep an eye out!

When is the final RSVP due?

A formal RSVP will be requested when we send out the print invitations around Jan. 1, 2027.

We will likely need a final response for the brunch and dessert party no later than April 15, 2027.

Will I need a ticket for Epcot to attend the brunch?

The Brunch and Dessert Party include venue access to Epcot. No need for a park ticket for either of those events--we'll be taking care of that for all attendees.

If you wish to stay in Epcot between those two parties, I'm told that the Disney overlords will require you to have a ticket.

You will need a ticket for the other informal gatherings if you choose to attend those.

Can I get discounted tickets?

Unfortunately, Disney Celebrations is not offering discounted tickets to event guests at this time

Your best option for discounted tickets would be Undercover Tourist, which I have used for many years.

Should I stay on-site at a Disney Resort or off-site?

Staying on-site offers the best proximity to our celebration at Epcot. Disney Resort guests also enjoy early park entry and complimentary transportation.

That said, there are a lot of great options off the property and some of those can often provide more space and flexibility, especially for family groups.

In any event, you don't have to stay on the property to attend our events. Make the choice that works best for you and your gang.

We sometimes stay on site; sometimes we stay off the property. Check our Accommodation Options page for more details. There is also a link there to a detailed article from the Disney Tourist Blog that compares and contrasts the pros and cons of staying on Disney property or off.

Are there discounted rates available for our group?

Yes! We are coordinating a block of rooms at 1-3 Disney on-property resorts with a special celebration rate. More information will be shared in the Accommodation Options sections once we line them up.

When is the best time to book my lodging?

Disney resorts book up quickly. Once we line up a room block, we recommend making a reservation. If you plan to stay off the property, making reservations early often provides the best selection and lowest rates, especially if you book fully refundable accommodations, so you have that flexibility if you need it.

How do I get to Epcot for the Anniversary Brunch?

If you are staying at a Disney Skyliner or Monorail resort, transport to Epcot is simple! For those at other Disney resorts, Disney buses or Minnie Vans are excellent choices.

Guests staying off the Disney property will just need to get to Epcot (drive or taxi/rideshare), where there is a massive parking lot and a taxi/rideshare drop-off area. Note that there is a cost to park in the theme park lots for guests staying off the property (payment for one day covers the entire day at all the theme parks). Let us know if you are staying off the property and will need parking and we will reimburse you for the cost of parking for the May 17 events.

Detailed arrival instructions to get to The Living Seas Salon for the brunch and the French Island for the dessert party will be provided closer to the event date.

Guests will likely meet at a set time and location outside the Epcot gate, and will be escorted by a Disney host to each venue. We will update this page once we pin this down.

Arrival instructions for other events will also be shared here as those plans develop and are finalized.

Disney Magic Basics

What do I need to know about park tickets?

You won't need a park ticket for the May 17 parties (we will be handling admission for our guests) but if you also plan to tour the parks either before or after the 17th, or between the parties on the 17th, you may probably want to get a ticket.

Unfortunately, we cannot get discounted park tickets through our event planners. However, Undercover Tourist (noted above) is a reputable source of discounted Disney World (and Universal and elsewhere) tickets.

The ticket you want will depend on your plans and expectations -- will this visit be part of a longer visit, especially a visit with family or friends? Is this a quick stop in for just the parties? Will you want to explore the Magic Kingdom, the Studios, or the Animal Kingdom as well?

Note that in recent years Disney has offered guests a free water park visit on their check-in day if they are staying for multiple days on-site. We don't know if that promotion will be in effect in May 2027, but we will monitor that and keep everyone informed.

Will the May 17 parties occupy my entire day?

Not at all! After our brunch you are on your own until the Dessert Party. You can go back to your resort or other accommodation to relax, hit the pool, etc. (I for one will be taking a nap, I'm sure.)

If you prefer, you can explore Epcot or go over to another theme park -- although please note that if you choose to do so you will need to have a valid park pass.

We'll gather together again later for the Dessert Party (perhaps around 7 p.m. at the Epcot gate), and that party should start around 8 p.m. in Epcot.

Still have a wish the Genie hasn't granted? Reach out to us at sarahste@gmail.com (email) or

301-792-6071 (voice or text) for anything else!