Dessert Party lover...disappointed this trip.

[theyoungs07]

I've attended the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert party 3 times now (maybe 4?) and last week helped me realize that I won't be very sad once they jack up the price. They are now cramming more people into it than there should be, and construction is currently blocking the castle.

I was extremely disappointed when I noticed that you could see less than half the castle due to construction walls, I know this is temporary but it kind of negates the reason for the dessert party.

In years past, we were able to enjoy desserts and then go to the rail when the show started, well this year there were so many people jammed into the balcony that they started staking claims on the rail 45 minutes before Wishes. I started booking this party because I wanted to enjoy Wishes with my family without having to jockey for position or camp out...that is now gone. We were 3-4 deep along the whole rail and there were several people who gave up and decided to only see the sky part of the show so they sat back at their tables. I had a party of 11 that was crammed on a traditionally "8-top" table and there was about 2 feet between us and the next table that was equally crammed.

This was a nice family tradition that I'll be sad to see go. I understand Disney needs to make money, so I can't fault them for that...but if they continue to pack it that tight, and almost double the price then I won't feel bad not going again.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Sorry to hear. I do both each trip now. This was our favorite. I guess we'll see in September when we're there when the price is higher whether they scale back the number of people.

 

[Jen731]

The dessert party was one of the highlights of our family's trip 4 years ago, but there's no way I will pay $200+ for us to go this time around. Such a shame. I'm so sorry to hear you had a bad experience.

 

[kenny]

We have done the pact two trips and enjoyed both times. However will not be going back with the new price hike

Don't see the value anymore for the price. At least epcot serves alcohol. Not sure that an Olaf cupcake is worth double the price.

For close to $100 for family of 4 it was worth the expense. But can't say the same for $200.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I've attended the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert party 3 times now (maybe 4?) and last week helped me realize that I won't be very sad once they jack up the price. They are now cramming more people into it than there should be, and construction is currently blocking the castle.

I was extremely disappointed when I noticed that you could see less than half the castle due to construction walls, I know this is temporary but it kind of negates the reason for the dessert party.

In years past, we were able to enjoy desserts and then go to the rail when the show started, well this year there were so many people jammed into the balcony that they started staking claims on the rail 45 minutes before Wishes. I started booking this party because I wanted to enjoy Wishes with my family without having to jockey for position or camp out...that is now gone. We were 3-4 deep along the whole rail and there were several people who gave up and decided to only see the sky part of the show so they sat back at their tables. I had a party of 11 that was crammed on a traditionally "8-top" table and there was about 2 feet between us and the next table that was equally crammed.

This was a nice family tradition that I'll be sad to see go. I understand Disney needs to make money, so I can't fault them for that...but if they continue to pack it that tight, and almost double the price then I won't feel bad not going again.

Wow, how disappointing to hear especially about the crowds. That is the main point of the Dessert Party, to get a break from the crowds. We've gone a few times and we would only get up once it started and we were single-row for most of the railing. And tons of space between the tables.

I have this booked for our trip in August (even at the new price ) but I am going to see how the reviews are, especially once it switches to the "Wishes Dessert Party" after July 4th, and see if I want to keep it or not.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Can you post a picture of the crowds. I'd like to see how bad it is now.

 

[cakebaker]

We have this planned next month, I sure hope yours was not the new normal. Sorry to hear it wasn't good for you.

I've read a lot of reviews on this due to this being the first time we've tried it. I've read positive and negatives, but yours is by far the worst report. Most all of them I've read do say people stand at the balcony, but only 15 minutes or so in advance.

Hopefully we'll get additional input from other people following your experience. I wouldn't hesitate to go to guest services for a refund if I experience what you did. That is not how it is supposed to be at all.

 

[Princess Olivia]

I've attended the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert party 3 times now (maybe 4?) and last week helped me realize that I won't be very sad once they jack up the price. They are now cramming more people into it than there should be, and construction is currently blocking the castle.

I was extremely disappointed when I noticed that you could see less than half the castle due to construction walls, I know this is temporary but it kind of negates the reason for the dessert party.

In years past, we were able to enjoy desserts and then go to the rail when the show started, well this year there were so many people jammed into the balcony that they started staking claims on the rail 45 minutes before Wishes. I started booking this party because I wanted to enjoy Wishes with my family without having to jockey for position or camp out...that is now gone. We were 3-4 deep along the whole rail and there were several people who gave up and decided to only see the sky part of the show so they sat back at their tables. I had a party of 11 that was crammed on a traditionally "8-top" table and there was about 2 feet between us and the next table that was equally crammed.

This was a nice family tradition that I'll be sad to see go. I understand Disney needs to make money, so I can't fault them for that...but if they continue to pack it that tight, and almost double the price then I won't feel bad not going again.

We have reservations next week. There are 8 in our party. Our two littlest are on the autism spectrum. Was hoping for a little less crowding and at least a good view. Do you think we should cancel?

 

[ArwenMarie]

We have reservations next week. There are 8 in our party. Our two littlest are on the autism spectrum. Was hoping for a little less crowding and at least a good view. Do you think we should cancel?

I'm not the OP but if you have never been and since you got in at the old price, I would just keep it. You'll never get it for that price again.

 

[laura_<3]

We went back in 2012 and it wasn't crowded at all.

We have it booked for August this year at the higher price, mainly because we have a lot of first timers coming with us for our wedding. We wanted to do something a little special with them all. I'm hoping it isn't crowded

 

[theyoungs07]

I don't have pics of the crowd, they definitely weren't at the level that you see on Main Street or the Hub.

I don't like having to tell my kids to not move from their spot on the rail, or else they lose it. For kids that can't handle crowds, they can probably find a spot behind the group and see most of the show in peace.

Some of the crowding could also have been due to the construction wall blocking so many vantage points, we still had half of the castle blocked but some were worse.

Viewing was more crowded, not like Main Street, the tables were much more crowded, my wife even woke our 6 month old baby up from his stroller because so many people were swinging hot cups of coffee over his head and she was worried he'd get spilled on. If your children can handle normal disney dining crowded tables, then they would probably be ok for eating.

It's ok that we won't do this again, it frees up some of the budget to do a dinner elsewhere. I now know that I'll be using a FP for semi-peaceful Wishes viewing from now on.

 

[cakebaker]

We have reservations next week. There are 8 in our party. Our two littlest are on the autism spectrum. Was hoping for a little less crowding and at least a good view. Do you think we should cancel?

I'm not the OP either, but while it's good to get these reports in, I wouldn't base my decision on 1 negative one anymore than I would 1 positive one. If you just do a search for dessert buffet, you'll get many other reports, some of them recently on what it's like. I'd read them all, then decide.

And the other poster is correct, this is the last time you'll get it at this price. I've never experienced it so I can't give an opinion on what it will really be like, but I still think it has to be better than being out in that huge mass of people. Hopefully, this was just an isolated incident. We plan on keeping ours, but as I said, if ours turns out to be as bad as the OP describes, we'll be asking for a refund.

 

[emilymad]

When we went in 2013 we had the same experience has the OP. I had been in other years when the dessert party had been great. The last time we went people immediately went to the rails to hold their spot. Maybe it is just luck of the drawl in terms of who else is booked that day, large parties, etc.

 

[Kbee]

We went back in 2013 and it wasn't super crowded. There was plenty of space at the railing for everyone. The lines for the desserts moved pretty fast too. We really enjoyed it, but due to the price increase we will not be doing it again this trip.

 

[cakebaker]

I agree, it would take a strange turn of events for me to pay the increased price, although I'm sure it will book up just like it always did. I'd have to really be impressed to pay double the current price.

 

[GillianP1301]

This is a disappointing review to read. We've been 3 times over the last 3 years, our last trip was last August and it was certainly not as packed in as what OP is describing. That sounds pretty miserable really. I can't even imagine them putting in that many more tables then when we were there though, there just physically wasn't room, unless they've started to just leave no space between them at all.

I'll still keep my booking for this summer. I'm interested to see the difference with the increase price. Hopefully it won't be unpleasantly crowded.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

What is the new price? We went when they first started offering and it was a great experience. Went again in 2013 and thought it was already more crowded than the first time and that the quality had decreased. Not sure we'd go again at this point especially if much more expensive.

 

[ArwenMarie]

What is the new price? We went when they first started offering and it was a great experience. Went again in 2013 and thought it was already more crowded than the first time and that the quality had decreased. Not sure we'd go again at this point especially if much more expensive.

$53 for adults and $31 for children
Old price was $25 and $13

 

[ArwenMarie]

I agree, it would take a strange turn of events for me to pay the increased price, although I'm sure it will book up just like it always did. I'd have to really be impressed to pay double the current price.

I just looked for a party of 4 from August 1 to August 10 and every night is available.

 

[Kbee]

Its really sad, the fact that they more than doubled the price and appear to be cramming more and more people in there just makes it seem like a big money grab for them. I get they are a business and its their job to make money but that amount of an increase is just obscene.