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

[Clawdius]

I stalked and stalked and never saw them. We sat in one of the party areas on the 3rd and they never sent us away. Was it just at the tomorrow land terrace or did they do plaza garden too?

I attended the dessert party last year on July 3 at the Tomorrowland Terrace, and I remember when I was booking that the plaza garden area was not offered. I had wanted to do the garden area because it is a lower cost, but it wasn't available.

Like others have said, the reservations for the 3rd and 4th were not available until late. I booked our reservation June 25th. Also, it had a 5 day cancellation policy. I know for most restaurant reservation it is just a one day cancellation policy. Do all the dessert parties have a 5 day cancellation window, or was it just because of the holiday?

 

[22Tink]

I attended the dessert party last year on July 3 at the Tomorrowland Terrace, and I remember when I was booking that the plaza garden area was not offered. I had wanted to do the garden area because it is a lower cost, but it wasn't available.

Like others have said, the reservations for the 3rd and 4th were not available until late. I booked our reservation June 25th. Also, it had a 5 day cancellation policy. I know for most restaurant reservation it is just a one day cancellation policy. Do all the dessert parties have a 5 day cancellation window, or was it just because of the holiday?

I have this booked for April 3rd and it says 5 days to cancel.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I attended the dessert party last year on July 3 at the Tomorrowland Terrace, and I remember when I was booking that the plaza garden area was not offered. I had wanted to do the garden area because it is a lower cost, but it wasn't available.

Like others have said, the reservations for the 3rd and 4th were not available until late. I booked our reservation June 25th. Also, it had a 5 day cancellation policy. I know for most restaurant reservation it is just a one day cancellation policy. Do all the dessert parties have a 5 day cancellation window, or was it just because of the holiday?

Yes, as PP notes, they all have a 5 day cancellation policy.

 

[ktate82]

I attended the dessert party last year on July 3 at the Tomorrowland Terrace, and I remember when I was booking that the plaza garden area was not offered. I had wanted to do the garden area because it is a lower cost, but it wasn't available.

Like others have said, the reservations for the 3rd and 4th were not available until late. I booked our reservation June 25th. Also, it had a 5 day cancellation policy. I know for most restaurant reservation it is just a one day cancellation policy. Do all the dessert parties have a 5 day cancellation window, or was it just because of the holiday?

We were already down at Disney by then. I figured if they hadn't offered it by then, they weren't going to. We ended up in a good spot though. This year, I will watch even up to the day. Before when we had booked it, it had the same day before cancellation policy, so I wonder when they changed it.

 

[Lady Hiss]

I'm just about ready to pull the trigger and make a reservation for the HEA Dessert Party with Plaza Garden viewing for a spring trip. I'm sure the answer is somewhere on these boards, but I can't find it:
What happens if the fireworks are cancelled due to the weather? Will my money be refunded or will I just end up paying a fortune for dessert, some lemonade and table? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm just about ready to pull the trigger and make a reservation for the HEA Dessert Party with Plaza Garden viewing for a spring trip. I'm sure the answer is somewhere on these boards, but I can't find it:
What happens if the fireworks are cancelled due to the weather? Will my money be refunded or will I just end up paying a fortune for dessert, some lemonade and table? Thanks in advance for your help.

I'll start with the positive. MK fireworks are very rarely cancelled. Like very, very rare. You're more likely to see a delay than an all-out cancellation. So the odds are in your favor.

We had a long delay earlier this year... having the Tomorrowland Terrace covered area to retreat to was actually a blessing (it was raining upside down and sideways at the time).

Technically, the event is non-refundable and the fine print says fireworks may be cancelled, changed, etc, etc. Buyer beware.

Unofficially, in the rare case that fireworks were to be cancelled, it's probably not a bad idea to stop by Guest Relations to have a quick conversation about it. YMMV at that point.

Hope that helps.

 

[Lady Hiss]

Many thanks for the quick reply. I guess I'll roll the dice and hope the weather cooperates!

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Still waiting for the June dates to drop. C'mon already!!

 

[ml sumner]

I'm right there with you!

 

[Chanth]

I’m doing almost the exact same day a little later in May (EMM, BOG, and fireworks dessert, just no SC). I figured since we’d be eating breakfast closer to 10am, I’d make BOG lunch for closer to 1, and then play dinner by ear. If you’re able to push your BOG lunch off to another day, maybe plan on snacks instead of a full lunch meal, so that you can take advantage of SC? Or just eat a light lunch at BOG?

I have been that poor wife pregnant at Disney, and now am going with an 8 month old, so this sounds like such a nice trip you’re planning

Hey Everyone!

Looking for advice if this is too much... My wife and I are going to end of April, and our first MK day is a Sunday. Touring Plans park crowd is 6... This is that small time between Spring Break and Summer Crowds.

This is our first adult trip... My poor wife has always been pregnant or has a 9 month old anytime we have been to Disney together, so I'm looking to show her the more relaxed adult side of Disney. We are staying on site at POP.

I've booked Extra Morning Magic that day... Expensive, but practically gives me 6 fastpasses for the day.
Breakfast at PVH is included in that at around 9:30am
I also have a BOG lunch at 11:30am (looking to cancel this if I can get BOG for lunch our second MK day)
Skipper Canteen Dinner at 6:35pm
This would be at 7:30ish with a 9pm HEA

Is this just going to be too much, or does this force us to sit down and take it slow and experience a 'premium' Disney Day... I love the idea of not having to fight for a spot for HEA - this is our first time seeing it. Debating if people are still going to be fighting to see this in May now that the show will be a year old and shown nightly for many months now that we are out of party season.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I was on the fence about the dessert party as we are going to be on the DxDP and will already have more than enough food. We were there last May for the last Wishes (I have NEVER cried so much at WDW as I did that night, it was UGLY!). We also saw the first or 2nd showing of HEA. It was awful, we were pushed and shoved, I couldn't see much of anything projection wise and I was just over all disappointed.
Yesterday I read on another forum/chat of a woman having her cotton candy stolen and being hit in the face when she confronted the person. Other people posted about shouting matches and yelling. Nope, that was enough for me, I booked the Garden view party this morning. I admit that I'm excited to get to have the reserved viewing spot and I think it will be worth it with these kinds of reports.

Is it really that bad now?

 

[BradChristian]

I’m doing almost the exact same day a little later in May (EMM, BOG, and fireworks dessert, just no SC). I figured since we’d be eating breakfast closer to 10am, I’d make BOG lunch for closer to 1, and then play dinner by ear. If you’re able to push your BOG lunch off to another day, maybe plan on snacks instead of a full lunch meal, so that you can take advantage of SC? Or just eat a light lunch at BOG?

I have been that poor wife pregnant at Disney, and now am going with an 8 month old, so this sounds like such a nice trip you’re planning

I fortunately got a BOG reservation for later in the trip, so we will definitely be dong snacks or a fast QS in between the late breakfast at SC... Still haven't pulled the trigger on Fireworks yet...

 

[Meglen]

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz still waiting on june!!!

 

[Disneytam]

Just booked a party for two for March 5. Was kinda surprised when they showed availability today when my husband asked about it. Did we just get lucky with a cancelation or maybe the crowds will be low that week? We were last at the MK the first week of November and the HEA crowd was down right scary which is the reason I thought to look up the party for our semi last minute trip. So if anyone is looking there are still openings.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just booked a party for two for March 5. Was kinda surprised when they showed availability today when my husband asked about it. Did we just get lucky with a cancelation or maybe the crowds will be low that week? We were last at the MK the first week of November and the HEA crowd was down right scary which is the reason I thought to look up the party for our semi last minute trip. So if anyone is looking there are still openings.

Hi @Disneytam!!

While it can and does sell out, the Plaza Garden typically has relatively decent availability, even sometimes pretty close to the date. The capacity is rather large so it can accommodate a lot of folks.

The seated Tomorrowland Terrace version is a much smaller guest count and is much harder to get a reservation (generally speaking).

Hope you have a great time!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

And meanwhile we continue to wait for 5/28+ dates.....

Waiting...

Waiting...

 

[jaysmom4285]

I was on the fence about the dessert party as we are going to be on the DxDP and will already have more than enough food. We were there last May for the last Wishes (I have NEVER cried so much at WDW as I did that night, it was UGLY!). We also saw the first or 2nd showing of HEA. It was awful, we were pushed and shoved, I couldn't see much of anything projection wise and I was just over all disappointed.
Yesterday I read on another forum/chat of a woman having her cotton candy stolen and being hit in the face when she confronted the person. Other people posted about shouting matches and yelling. Nope, that was enough for me, I booked the Garden view party this morning. I admit that I'm excited to get to have the reserved viewing spot and I think it will be worth it with these kinds of reports.

Is it really that bad now?

I don't know if it's that bad all the time now - I suspect not quite. There was an excessive amount of hype for HEA when it first debuted, and it has probably died down a little. It is still horrendously crowded during times when there is an evening party, like MNSSHP or MVMCP, four nights of the week, leaving only three nights for the general admission guests to see HEA. On those three nights of the week, it is about like you described - incredible crowds, a lot of pushing and jockeying for spots, frayed tempers, etc. That's why we always do the Plaza dessert party during those times, because we don't do the special ticket evening events. You get to sit and enjoy a nice spread of desserts and drinks, and, when you're ready, you're escorted to a reserved spot that has plenty of room with a perfect view of the fireworks and castle projections. I agree that it's a bit expensive, and no one can reasonably eat $59 worth of desserts. But I look at it as paying to reserve a prime, uncrowded viewing spot, with some nice desserts thrown in. And if Once Upon a Time is happening after HEA, you can just stay in the same spot to enjoy that. The area isn't reserved any more, but most people leave, and only a few come in. It's also a nice place to wait out the exiting crowds after HEA. We just hang out for a bit until the solid rushing tide of people has mostly dissipated.

 

[3family]

I was there in August and we got a great spot about 30 mins before the show. No pushing, no fighting.

I’m not suggesting others haven’t had problems but it certainly isn’t everybody, every night

We’re planning on booking for this August just to do something a little different. A nice relaxed view with some desserts? That’s good enough for me

 

[Disneytam]

Hi @Disneytam!!

While it can and does sell out, the Plaza Garden typically has relatively decent availability, even sometimes pretty close to the date. The capacity is rather large so it can accommodate a lot of folks.

The seated Tomorrowland Terrace version is a much smaller guest count and is much harder to get a reservation (generally speaking).

Hope you have a great time!

GADisneyDad- I was just really happy to see it show up when I checked! That crowd on main street was a little to "close" for my comfort in November. Just wanted to say thanks for all that you do for people on the boards, you rock. When are you planning on trying out my favorite CL, the BWI? I really want to see a write up from you on the BWI CL. Have a good one.

 

[CJK]

I'm reading conflicting information about the sit down version of the party. Are the tables currently assigned or first come, first serve? If it's first come, first serve, how early should we arrive? We're a party of 7.