Anyone else eagerly awaiting reviews of the "improved" Wishes Dessert Party?

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

And in September 2014 when we went. My mom pretty much got her money back just in the chocolate covered strawberries she ate. lol

 

[jenjersnap]

And in September 2014 when we went. My mom pretty much got her money back just in the chocolate covered strawberries she ate. lol

So did my kids in 2013 which is why it was disappointing they didn't have them last time we went.

I just shifted my dates a bit to incorporate Osborne Lights. If they do the Frozen party there again, I am replacing the Wishes dessert party with it. I think.

 

[jenjersnap]

Oh paging @whamma! Hope you are enjoying your vacation and enjoyed the dessert party the other night!

 

[whamma]

I'm back!!! Sorry to keep you all in suspense for so long. Just returned from vacation last night and wanted to make sure I was on my "real" computer (vs. iPad) before posting here.

When you arrive you enter at the ramp that leads from the Tomorrowland Terrace area to Tomorrowland. Everyone in your party receives a wristband and a plastic flute of sparkling apple juice. A CM escorts you to your table and the CM offers a “toast” to everyone at the table. Food and drinks are set up in the area closest to the walkway that leads from the Tomorrowland Terrace area to The Plaza Restaurant/Main Street USA. Ice cream is on a rolling cart and is manned by a CM all evening.

Here's the menu:
Cannoli
Mini Cupcakes (2 kinds--a green "Tinkerbell"ish cupcake and a blue "Frozen" theme cupcake)
Chocolate dipped strawberries
Chocolate peanut butter tart
Oreo Mickey Mouse
Panna cotta
Tiramisu
Ghirardelli chocolate chip cheesecake brownie
Rice crispy treats (dipped in chocolate on one end with Mickey sprinkles)
Fruit Plate (watermelon, honeydew, pineapple, grapes)
Cheese(3 kinds cubed) and dried fruit plate
Ice cream sundaes with chocolate sauce, Mickey sprinkles or regular sprinkles and whipped cream

Drinks:
Water,
Strawberry lemonade
“Spa” water (water with fresh fruit)
Milk
Sweetened tea
Lemonade
Coffee
Hot water to make tea or hot chocolate
Sipping chocolate

When the castle show started everyone moved to the railings—as they have done in the past. I didn't see anyone pull up chairs to the railing though—which I've seen at past parties. The view is obviously the same as it's always been but we seemed to think that with the hub revision there is actually a new tree that blocks the view of the castle from this vantage point that we didn't remember being there before (but we could be mistaken).

I took some photos and hopefully will figure out how to post them since I haven't posted photos since the DisBoards were revised.


So, here's my overall feeling about the "new" event--not worth the new price. Sorry gang. As I mentioned earlier, it's been a couple of years since I attended the party but have done it 2-3 times in the past. Aside from the tablecloths, lanterns and sparkling cider--not much felt "new" to me. I certainly didn't feel like I got $20 per person “more” than I did at parties in the past. It's nice but not THAT nice. Any specific questions? Ask away!

 

[goofy4prez]

I'm back!!! Sorry to keep you all in suspense for so long. Just returned from vacation last night and wanted to make sure I was on my "real" computer (vs. iPad) before posting here.

When you arrive you enter at the ramp that leads from the Tomorrowland Terrace area to Tomorrowland. Everyone in your party receives a wristband and a plastic flute of sparkling apple juice. A CM escorts you to your table and the CM offers a “toast” to everyone at the table. Food and drinks are set up in the area closest to the walkway that leads from the Tomorrowland Terrace area to The Plaza Restaurant/Main Street USA. Ice cream is on a rolling cart and is manned by a CM all evening.

Here's the menu:
Cannoli
Mini Cupcakes (2 kinds--a green "Tinkerbell"ish cupcake and a blue "Frozen" theme cupcake)
Chocolate dipped strawberries
Chocolate peanut butter tart
Panna cotta
Tiramisu
Ghirardelli chocolate chip cheesecake brownie
Rice crispy treats (dipped in chocolate on one end with Mickey sprinkles)
Fruit Plate (watermelon, honeydew, pineapple, grapes)
Cheese(3 kinds cubed) and dried fruit plate
Ice cream sundaes with chocolate sauce, Mickey sprinkles or regular sprinkles and whipped cream

Drinks:
Water,
Strawberry lemonade
“Spa” water (water with fresh fruit)
Milk
Sweetened tea
Lemonade
Coffee
Hot water to make tea or hot chocolate
Sipping chocolate

When the castle show started everyone moved to the railings—as they have done in the past. I didn't see anyone pull up chairs to the railing though—which I've seen at past parties. The view is obviously the same as it's always been but we seemed to think that with the hub revision there is actually a new tree that blocks the view of the castle from this vantage point that we didn't remember being there before (but we could be mistaken).

I took some photos and hopefully will figure out how to post them since I haven't posted photos since the DisBoards were revised.

So, here's my overall feeling about the "new" event--not worth the new price. Sorry gang. As I mentioned earlier, it's been a couple of years since I attended the party but have done it 2-3 times in the past. Aside from the tablecloths, lanterns and sparkling cider--not much felt "new" to me. I certainly didn't feel like I got $20 per person “more” than I did at parties in the past. It's nice but not THAT nice. Any specific questions? Ask away![/QU

Thanks for the reply. You were able to confirm what many of us doubting naysayers expected. Other than some bubbly apple juice, tablecloths and a lantern it was nothing more than Disney extracting more $$$$$$$$$$$$$ for the same experience. Love Disney, but as I have said before, I will be allowing others the opportunity to wake up at the crack of dawn and frantically try and book their ADR for this event; With me (and others) out, perhaps it will be a little easier to get for those who want to pay double. So glad I was able to do it a few weeks ago. The old Dessert Party wasn't worth it for the desserts alone, but for the convenience and the view along with some very average desserts at best made it worth it for me. Now? No Way!

 

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

Thank you so much for the review! I know you said it's been a couple of years, but did it feel to you like there were the same amount of party goers let in or a smaller crowd or bigger crowd? Thanks!

 

[SnowWhite2000]

Welcome back, whamma! Thanks so much for the feedback. Now we have some tough decisions...to cancel or not to cancel. Regardless, thanks!

 

[whamma]

I'm working on the photos. Have to resize them to post. As far as crowd size, probably about the same as before. Definitely not bigger.

 

[22Tink]

Thanks for the review! I'm on the fence now whether or not to keep our ressie. Other than the tree, how was your view? Was there enough room for everyone to see or was there a lot of 'squishing' to fit everyone in? Thanks!!!

 

[LivingforDisney]

Thanks for the review.
We are visiting from Australia and will be at WDW Dec 20th till 3rd Jan.
I have booked this for my daughters birthday on 27th, I just thought it would be nice to see the castle show and fireworks without the hassle of getting a position with the Xmas crowds.
So even though it is costly I am going to keep the reservation and then one of our other nights at MK we can do rides instead of watching the fireworks.

 

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

I'm working on the photos. Have to resize them to post. As far as crowd size, probably about the same as before. Definitely not bigger.

Thank you so much for the info!

 

[whamma]

Thanks for the review! I'm on the fence now whether or not to keep our ressie. Other than the tree, how was your view? Was there enough room for everyone to see or was there a lot of 'squishing' to fit everyone in? Thanks!!!

I was getting more desserts right before the castle show and my husband said that one person walked up to the railing and then--bam! Everyone was standing at the railing. It wasn't too "squished" but everyone cannot fit at the railing. You do have to stand behind people to get out from under the overhang. I think part of my problem is that I really like a "straight on" castle view for the fireworks. I'd rather stand in the middle of Main Street USA (by Casey's) to see that view than to be off to the side.

 

[jenjersnap]

Thank you so much for such a detailed review, @whamma! Hope you had an amazing vacation otherwise!

My first impression from your list is that they have improved the dessert selection slightly...at least from our 2014 experience. The options are much more similar to the party we attended in 2013. Sad that they doubled the price to reinstate it the way it used to be!

From the description it sounds like the desserts are in a different place than they used to be? They used to be tucked into the back corner of the terrace, an area that was, honestly, too small for the crowd. I would love if it was in a more accessible spot! And, rolling ice cream cart...yay!

I am still on the fence too. It seems improved the absolute bare minimum for me to consider keeping my ADR. Going to wait to see what other special events (F&W, etc) are announced before deciding.

 

[whamma]

From the description it sounds like the desserts are in a different place than they used to be? They used to be tucked into the back corner of the terrace, an area that was, honestly, too small for the crowd. I would love if it was in a more accessible spot!

The area they are in is pretty tight--it may actually be where you are thinking. Once I post the pics hopefully you can see. I think they've tried different locations for the food over the years.

 

[whamma]

Pictures! (I have had a time getting them resized to post!)
I'll post in two posts.

 

[whamma]

I figure gigantic pics are better than thumbnails, right?[/ATTACH]

 

[soniam]

That looks about like ours last March. Some of the desserts are the same, but some are different. There was fruit but no cheese then. When we went, they also had POG, the juice they serve at the character breakfast buffets, which I really like, although Disney seems to water it down a bit from when I have had it in Hawaii and elsewhere. I think that's the same location for the dessert tables. It also looks like about the same number of people, which seems pretty packed in.

The thing I didn't like is that people got really hoggy with the railing even before the castle show started. If it had just been kids being pains, I wouldn't have minded, but there were adults crowding out children It felt almost as bad as being in the crowds on the streets. People were even eating at the railing instead of their tables, even before any of the shows started. I think it varies from night to night and possibly season to season. Spring Break may have just been a really stressful, crowded time, and it was raining.

 

[jenjersnap]

You rock, whamma! Those pics are great. They did a fair job of making it look more upscale (I doubted the table cloths and lanterns were going to actually materialize). I do think that is a different place for the buffet than we experienced our two times.

 

[jenjersnap]

That looks about like ours last March. Some of the desserts are the same, but some are different. There was fruit but no cheese then. When we went, they also had POG, the juice they serve at the character breakfast buffets, which I really like, although Disney seems to water it down a bit from when I have had it in Hawaii and elsewhere. I think that's the same location for the dessert tables. It also looks like about the same number of people, which seems pretty packed in.

The thing I didn't like is that people got really hoggy with the railing even before the castle show started. If it had just been kids being pains, I wouldn't have minded, but there were adults crowding out children It felt almost as bad as being in the crowds on the streets. People were even eating at the railing instead of their tables, even before any of the shows started. I think it varies from night to night and possibly season to season. Spring Break may have just been a really stressful, crowded time, and it was raining.

Our first time, a man at the railing put his kid on his shoulders well before the show and totally blocked our view and that of about 30 other people. My 6-year-old never did see much so our return was a redo for him. We had a great experience with the view the second time, but the desserts were fewer and lower quality. So, we have never yet had a truly great experience with this party.

 

[aretha30]

Great review and thanks for the pictures! We are going to keep our reservation this year but since there doesn't seem to be much of a change, for the price increase we may just book Pirates and Pals for next year. We've thought about it but it was so much more expensive than the dessert party, now they are comparable in price and I've heard great things.