Fireworks Dessert Party

[WGCFV]

Wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. On our Anniversary, April 4th, my wife and I booked the dessert party, garden plaza view. The first part of the experience was great, the second part, not so much. When we were in the reserved plaza area section, people continuously jumped over the small gates and "slipped" into the reserved area. There was no Disney cast member assigned to "keep watch" As we paid over 250 for our family to have this experience it was highly disappointing. I had a large family that hoped the fence, then stood up in front of us( we were sitting on the grass). I confronted them, asked them to move, but they either did not, or pretended not to speak English. I eventually flagged down a cast member who was working crowd control outside the plaza area who escorted them out, suddenly they somehow understood English at this point. Anyway, dozens of people jumped the fence, many complained, and one cast member was assigned to "watch" the area. Which was actually quite overwhelming for him, and asked if people in the front area could help "keep watch" and let him know as people "snuck in". Anyway, this was probably my worst Disney experience, we are annual pass-holders and very frequent guests. Hopefully Disney spends a bit more money to staff cast members properly for such events in the future.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. On our Anniversary, April 4th, my wife and I booked the dessert party, garden plaza view. The first part of the experience was great, the second part, not so much. When we were in the reserved plaza area section, people continuously jumped over the small gates and "slipped" into the reserved area. There was no Disney cast member assigned to "keep watch" As we paid over 250 for our family to have this experience it was highly disappointing. I had a large family that hoped the fence, then stood up in front of us( we were sitting on the grass). I confronted them, asked them to move, but they either did not, or pretended not to speak English. I eventually flagged down a cast member who was working crowd control outside the plaza area who escorted them out, suddenly they somehow understood English at this point. Anyway, dozens of people jumped the fence, many complained, and one cast member was assigned to "watch" the area. Which was actually quite overwhelming for him, and asked if people in the front area could help "keep watch" and let him know as people "snuck in". Anyway, this was probably my worst Disney experience, we are annual pass-holders and very frequent guests. Hopefully Disney spends a bit more money to staff cast members properly for such events in the future.

The last time I did a dessert party was long before they re-did the hub area, so it was at Tomorrowland Terrace. But I wanted to stop in, and say I am SO sorry this happened to you! It irritates the heck out of me when people "forget" their manners (my thinking is they never HAD them!) and do something they KNOW is not right, they are NOT entitled to, and did NOT pay for.

 

[yaya74]

Wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. On our Anniversary, April 4th, my wife and I booked the dessert party, garden plaza view. The first part of the experience was great, the second part, not so much. When we were in the reserved plaza area section, people continuously jumped over the small gates and "slipped" into the reserved area. There was no Disney cast member assigned to "keep watch" As we paid over 250 for our family to have this experience it was highly disappointing. I had a large family that hoped the fence, then stood up in front of us( we were sitting on the grass). I confronted them, asked them to move, but they either did not, or pretended not to speak English. I eventually flagged down a cast member who was working crowd control outside the plaza area who escorted them out, suddenly they somehow understood English at this point. Anyway, dozens of people jumped the fence, many complained, and one cast member was assigned to "watch" the area. Which was actually quite overwhelming for him, and asked if people in the front area could help "keep watch" and let him know as people "snuck in". Anyway, this was probably my worst Disney experience, we are annual pass-holders and very frequent guests. Hopefully Disney spends a bit more money to staff cast members properly for such events in the future.

I am sorry that you had to experience that. Unfortunately rule breakers are everywhere!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. On our Anniversary, April 4th, my wife and I booked the dessert party, garden plaza view. The first part of the experience was great, the second part, not so much. When we were in the reserved plaza area section, people continuously jumped over the small gates and "slipped" into the reserved area. There was no Disney cast member assigned to "keep watch" As we paid over 250 for our family to have this experience it was highly disappointing. I had a large family that hoped the fence, then stood up in front of us( we were sitting on the grass). I confronted them, asked them to move, but they either did not, or pretended not to speak English. I eventually flagged down a cast member who was working crowd control outside the plaza area who escorted them out, suddenly they somehow understood English at this point. Anyway, dozens of people jumped the fence, many complained, and one cast member was assigned to "watch" the area. Which was actually quite overwhelming for him, and asked if people in the front area could help "keep watch" and let him know as people "snuck in". Anyway, this was probably my worst Disney experience, we are annual pass-holders and very frequent guests. Hopefully Disney spends a bit more money to staff cast members properly for such events in the future.

Wow that unfortunate and sorry you had to experience. I will never understand people like that who see no issue in actions like that. They didn’t pay for that experience so they are stealing.

Glad at least Disney tried to do something and had the CM kick people out, etc but definitely should have more people to support - it is just so crowded there must be hard but nobody forced them to charge people to be uncertain areas so it is on Disney to provide the promised experience

 

[MaryAnne220]

Although it's been awhile, I'd let WDW know. Not that you want anything, but if people who pay for it start to complain...perhaps they will staff it better.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I had that happen for the Fantasy Parade Package. We suffered through Tony's for lunch (chicken parm was inedible) and then came back in searing heat to stand in the sun mid afternoon. It wasn't an enjoyable enjoyable experience although the parade was awesome. Won't be doing that again. A couple went over the ropes just as the parade started and she was crowding my space. The area wasn't crowded at all so why shehadtostandthisclose I don't know. And she was holding her phone and moving it around in my field of vision. If I had been alone, I would have called a CM over but my family hates when I do stuff like that. Whenever we step onto Pirates my family says in unison "No Flash Photography" because I barked it really loud years ago when some woman turn and blinded me with her flash.

I have done the Fireworks Plaza view a few times already but it was during crowded times of the year so it was well worth the money and I would do it again. There were several CM's policing the area but it may have been because they were holidays they were better staffed. I wouldn't say the area was full but we were standing right along the front edge and that was shoulder to shoulder so it would have been impossible to hop the fence in the front. The CM who kept the walkway clear right in front of the area was super busy keeping it open and people standing within the white tape. It was rather entertaining to watch.

 

[goofy kc]

Disney has so many 'up charge' experiences now but they don't seem to care about the experience after they have collected the money. I would ask for a refund. You paid for an experience (a tidy sum btw) and they did not deliver. If you are paying $150 for an hour of guaranteed viewing space and $10 worth of desserts (that's a generous figure) they need to find a few more CMs to monitor the space. Reading what they pay CMs and College Program CMs you have more than 'chipped in' for an extra helper.

 

[BradChristian]

We did the party during spring break because I didn't want to fight the crowds for a spot... It was my first time at HEA too.

Perhaps it was because it was spring break that they were better staffed. Seems like I remember a family going over the rails and they were immediately stopped.