MK "Happily Ever After" Dessert Party (Parties) Discussion

[cosmicmommy]

There may not be availability to switch. I wouldn't worry about losing time in the park if you keep the after party. After the fireworks, you can't really get anywhere quickly so you might as well enjoy desserts while waiting form the fireworks crowd to disperse.

This is kinda what I was thinking, but I'm torn...

 

[Starbucks&PixieDust]

Did our first before party on 12/10. Would absolutely do it again! Part of our group that did not had horror stories and to be expected because it was pretty busy that night. I am so glad we did the before party due to avoiding the rush of people after fireworks and mostly because we have a 3 year old that knocked out right after the firework show.

Checked in at 7:15pm for 9pm Fireworks and were seated right away. We were done eating by 8pm so headed over to garden area around 8:10pm and got a spot on the back rail. Still plenty of open space. By 8:20 the amount of people had almost doubled but still plenty of good spots. It was a pretty cold night so I had mostly egg rolls and hot coffee to warm up but the desserts were good. You definitely get your moneys worth with the viewing area though. Overall, I'd recommend! No way I'd fight that crazy crowd again.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Well I'm back in on this one. We haven't seen HEA since January and we decided to cancel all ADRs but one, so we can do this. We booked the before party and I'll be glad to post a review after March 3rd!

Now to catch up on this thread and familiarize myself with the "new" party

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Well I'm back in on this one. We haven't seen HEA since January and we decided to cancel all ADRs but one, so we can do this. We booked the before party and I'll be glad to post a review after March 3rd!

Now to catch up on this thread and familiarize myself with the "new" party

back!

 

[marylizcat]

If we do the terrace seated party, is there a risk of people standing in front of us when the fireworks start? Or does everybody remain seated?

 

[shoreward]

If we do the terrace seated party, is there a risk of people standing in front of us when the fireworks start? Or does everybody remain seated?

There are tables set up at the railing (mostly for two, a few larger). If you sit there, there is no room for anyone to stand in front of your table. Larger tables are in back of the first row, with enough open space to walk around the area. Unless your table is at a viewing angle and someone squeezes between two tables to get to the railing (which I've never seen), the first row is unobstructed. I have yet to see anyone blocking another's view - especially at the railing.

Many of the low projections will not be visible, but most projections and fireworks can be seen (as well as Tinkerbell flying overhead).

The tables are reserved, as people are seated. The earlier you arrive, the better the selection of tables.

 

[marylizcat]

Thank you. That sounds OK then!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Just a heads up that the July 3rd and 4th dessert parties are available to book!

We are doing the after party on July 3rd!

 

[mom2shayleeandlogan]

There are tables set up at the railing (mostly for two, a few larger). If you sit there, there is no room for anyone to stand in front of your table. Larger tables are in back of the first row, with enough open space to walk around the area. Unless your table is at a viewing angle and someone squeezes between two tables to get to the railing (which I've never seen), the first row is unobstructed. I have yet to see anyone blocking another's view - especially at the railing.

Many of the low projections will not be visible, but most projections and fireworks can be seen (as well as Tinkerbell flying overhead).

The tables are reserved, as people are seated. The earlier you arrive, the better the selection of tables.

What time for terrace seating should we arrive?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Just a heads up that the July 3rd and 4th dessert parties are available to book!

We are doing the after party on July 3rd!

Well I certainly hope they aren't sold out when I can book on Jan 5. Our check in day is July 4.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

What time for terrace seating should we arrive?

We were at the Terrace Party on the 26th and arrived about a half an hour earlier. Once we checked in, we were bought to our table.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

This was my view from my iPhone camera (partly zoomed) on 12/26 for the terrace party. We were seated at a table for two by the railing once we arrived at check in (about half an hour before reservation time). It did not seem like it was first come, first serve but assigned tables. We had a great table I thought that had an unobstructed view of the castle. Our table was closer to Tomorrowland and pretty far from the hostess booth. Some tables I noticed had trees and shrubs blocking some of the higher castle views. A table behind us (third row in) was not very pleased with their placement because they felt they couldn’t see very well with the awning hanging over. They were a party of three. Tables of two definitely had the best possibility of getting a nicer table IMO. Food was the same as the ones from the Garden View party I went to in June but we got a little extra present from the CMs in the form of a bag of Ghirardelli squares.

 

[shoreward]

What time for terrace seating should we arrive?

This was my view from my iPhone camera (partly zoomed) on 12/26 for the terrace party. We were seated at a table for two by the railing once we arrived at check in (about half an hour before reservation time). It did not seem like it was first come, first serve but assigned tables. I went to in June but we got a little extra present from the CMs in the form of a bag of Ghirardelli squares.

When I last went in late fall, I arrived about 45 minutes before reservation time, and there were already about 12 people in line ahead of me. The CM who escorted me gave me a choice of table. At that time, most tables were open. Some CMs will ask if you have a table preference, while others will just show you to a table.

Besides the seating, the other major difference between the parties is that the Tomorrowland Terrace party guests receive the bag of chocolates as a thank you gift.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

This was my view from my iPhone camera (partly zoomed) on 12/26 for the terrace party. We were seated at a table for two by the railing once we arrived at check in (about half an hour before reservation time). It did not seem like it was first come, first serve but assigned tables. We had a great table I thought that had an unobstructed view of the castle. Our table was closer to Tomorrowland and pretty far from the hostess booth. Some tables I noticed had trees and shrubs blocking some of the higher castle views. A table behind us (third row in) was not very pleased with their placement because they felt they couldn’t see very well with the awning hanging over. They were a party of three. Tables of two definitely had the best possibility of getting a nicer table IMO. Food was the same as the ones from the Garden View party I went to in June but we got a little extra present from the CMs in the form of a bag of Ghirardelli squares.

And this is why I now always get Plaza Garden View. We are never a party of 2, lol. Imho, the Terrace view is nowhere near as good as the garden view.

 

[anneboleyn]

Well I did the Dessert Party with Plaza Garden view during my trip in September, and it was amazing. It was so nice to get to relax and spread out and watch the moshpit slowly form on Main St. My life also has never been the same since those cheeseburger eggrolls.

DD11 and I weren’t planning on returning to Disney until the 50th, but the lure of Free Dining was too strong and before I knew it, I booked us for this September. Now I get to stalk the Dessert Party thread and keep an eye out for September dates to open up! Ahh I do love the sport that is Disney Vacation Planning...makes me feel alive lol

 

[eagle1992]

I'm reading a lot of differing opinion on the terrace view vs. the garden view...we are a party of four...are we destined to be in the second or third row if we book the terrace and just better off booking plaza view? We are booking one of the two for sure...and would love to just be at a table...but if the view is going to leave a bad taste in our mouths I'm starting to think the plaza view would be better...would love to hear from anyone who has done both...

For the record we are doing this April 10th...

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

I'm reading a lot of differing opinion on the terrace view vs. the garden view...we are a party of four...are we destined to be in the second or third row if we book the terrace and just better off booking plaza view? We are booking one of the two for sure...and would love to just be at a table...but if the view is going to leave a bad taste in our mouths I'm starting to think the plaza view would be better...would love to hear from anyone who has done both...

For the record we are doing this April 10th...

We've done both, admittedly Terrace was maybe 4 - 5 years ago. I really like the Garden View ALOT better. You have a better view all around, imho...

 

[amiskell28]

I'm reading a lot of differing opinion on the terrace view vs. the garden view...we are a party of four...are we destined to be in the second or third row if we book the terrace and just better off booking plaza view? We are booking one of the two for sure...and would love to just be at a table...but if the view is going to leave a bad taste in our mouths I'm starting to think the plaza view would be better...would love to hear from anyone who has done both...

For the record we are doing this April 10th...

Everything I've read says to do the plaza for the view, terrace if you want/need a table. We're doing Plaza.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just checking in with a report from the 12/30 early show (6:30pm) special fireworks and the Plaza Garden Viewing dessert party. I did this same party/time in 2017 as well and jumped on the opportunity when reservations opened this year, which was at 180 days out if my memory is correct.

For those that don't know, they do a special fireworks show at MK on 12/30 & 12/31, 6:30pm and 11:50pm. It's the same "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks show with a new years countdown at the end for all four shows. My kids are younger, so the 6:30pm show works perfectly for us.

There are Plaza Garden and Tomorrowland Terrace dessert parties for all four shows. There was no After Party offered for any show.

Check-in time for the 6:30pm dessert party was the standard 1.5 hours pre-show, so 5pm. I don't like to show up early or even on time for the Plaza Garden party, but the MK was pretty darn crowded and we found ourselves wanting to go ahead and relax for a bit. We arrived at 4:56pm, at which point they had already seated folks in 100% of the "middle" tier of the Tomorrowland Terrace and maybe 10-15% of the upper terrace. Always amazes me how many people show up so early.

Check-in was uneventful and we were quickly given a tour of the offerings, then escorted to our table. We were a party of two and had this primo "corner" spot... like we were in trouble of something.



Food/beverage offerings were the standard MK dessert party items. My opinion of the current state of the food/dessert offerings at the MK dessert parties is a bit negative, but we've also done these things on/off for a few years now so familiarity has bred contempt to some extent - someone doing the dessert party for the first time, or not having done one in awhile, may very well fully enjoy the offerings.

But I was a bit bummed they didn't have anything specially themed for new years. Heck, the chocolate covered strawberries had the Happily Ever After logo on them. Not that the party on 12/30 and 12/31 costs any more, just thought it'd be nice to maybe have 'something' for the occasion.

Anyways... I don't 'really' do these for the food anyway... for me it's all about the convenience of the view. We headed over to the garden at 5:19pm (reminder, 6:30pm showtime). Situation in the garden at that moment. Sorry for the edits - I don't like to post pics of strangers.



You see two security guards in the pic above. From what I saw, security was very visible and active in the garden all night. Lots of eyeballs from security and CMs on wristbands. This was good to see.

I settled in to my personal favorite spot - back rail, towards the left (if facing the castle). View at 5:20pm while sitting.


We relaxed, played some rock-paper-scissors, chatted with some neighbors, etc, etc.

A Frozen Holiday Wish was at 6pm, so a nice pre-show for the fireworks. This was the scene at 5:55pm below. Pics don't really tell you how the garden feels as crowds build in. To me, these pics 'look' worse than it felt. Outside the garden at this point is jam packed... everyone in the garden is mostly sitting and enjoying themselves. I was surprised to see so much green left. It didn't change much from here until showtime. There were materially more people in the garden last time we did this party (After Party back in Oct), almost to the point of being too much. This evening was downright pleasant from my perspective.




The Plaza Garden is a bit too far to fully appreciate the stage portion of A Frozen Holiday Wish, but it's good enough for me and they play the audio throughout the Hub. Everyone pretty much stood for the show, you couldn't really stay seated and see much of anything.



I didn't get a chance to visit MK for any of the holiday festivities this year, so better late than never! Pic is 6:12pm.



After A Frozen Holiday Wish, they turn the music up/turn the dance lights on and the MK becomes a New Years party. I love classic MK of course, but I also love when they do unique/fun things on 12/30 & 12/31... great music, great vibe. It's just plain fun. Having the garden for my son to do a little dancing/get out the wiggles was great.

Like clockwork, I had the "daddy, I have to go" notice around 6:18pm. That's 12 minutes before fireworks, mind you. Wow, that trek 100 feet back to the Tomorrowland Terrace bathrooms was epic... but we made it. If you have little ones that may not be able to hold it for longer waits like waiting for fireworks, having the garden as a reserved spot with pretty easy access to the bathroom is a real benefit.

So for fireworks time, everyone stood again, but that was OK.

From here on out, I was living my best back row life.















So TLDR.....
Overall experience - A-
Food/beverage - C+/B-
Event vibe in the Tomorrowland Terrace - C
Convenience - A+
View - A+
Length of the show - C; HEA at a solid 18 minutes leaves these shorter shows like Fantasy in the Sky (10 mins) feeling light

Happy to answer any questions! Thanks for reading.

 

[amiskell28]

I settled in to my personal favorite spot - back rail, towards the left (if facing the garden).

Thank you! I've read this alot... back left of the plaza. Can I assume that means as you are facing the castle, correct? Doing the After Party on 2/6 - first time ever seeing any fireworks at WDW!