Another Dessert Party commentary

[GADisneyDad14]

OP - I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the HEA dessert party, but thank you for sharing your experience and perspective.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Thanks for your review. I'm seriously considering canceling our Christmas night Plaza Garden Dessert Party.

As others have said I would not cancel this. The only reason we booked the dessert party is because we are going Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I know MK is going to be a madhouse then, so I imagine it would be worse on Christmas.

 

[MaC410]

Even the ice cream and chocolate covered strawberries were bad? I feel like it's kind of hard to screw up things like that.

 

[Elle23]

Even the ice cream and chocolate covered strawberries were bad? I feel like it's kind of hard to screw up things like that.

Since I could eat my weight in chocolate covered strawberries, it may be worth it for me.

 

[AngiTN]

We actually really enjoy the HEA dessert party desserts. Not all of them but I found most of them wonderful. HS has better parties though, no question about that. Both food offered and having alcohol.
OP's favorite, the macrons, are not one of our favorites though. They were ok. There were a few duds there though. We also ate quite a bit of fruit and cheese too
Beverages could really stand to be improved. Water is tap and awful. I never drink coffee at Disney outside of breakfast, too hot out for that

That was two souvenir gifts ago, it's now the BB8 Sipper.

Well, you just sold me on keeping our New Years Day party reservation for HS! I probably need to go read up on changes

 

[AngiTN]

Even the ice cream and chocolate covered strawberries were bad? I feel like it's kind of hard to screw up things like that.

I suspect they were both great. And the strawberries are so cute!
Check out ours

 

[Happy_2_B]

We have booked the Star Wars Galactic dessert party for our upcoming trip, to the tune of almost $400 for a family of five, for the sole reason of providing my Star Wars loving 12 year old who uses a wheelchair a clear (I hope) view

You can find a lot of info about how disabilities are handled here and elsewhere. This perspective is from a disabled vet who is in a chair during times when things are acute (acting up), but able to walk the parks when things are calmer (hope that makes sense). Anyways, in my experience, the CMs do everything they can to make the experience in a chair as enjoyable as possible. I haven't personally done this dessert party- but would imagine this has been thoroughly worked through so that guests in a chair have a decent view. With that said, if you don't have tickets to a special event- do not expect to be treated differently than any other guest during parades/fireworks, etc. They have special areas for chairs at most things, but don't plan to get there at the last minute and expect everything to work out- because it won't- nor should there be an expectation that it will. Plan ahead, get places early- and things will mostly work out. Should you decide to arrive late to whatever experience it may be- expect the same results as any other guest- a crappy place with limited or no views to whatever it is you are attending. My expectations are to be treated like any other guest when I am in a chair, but also to plan in advance- discuss things with the WDW disability line where needed, and speak to the CMs working whatever attraction/event we attend so that things run as smoothly as possible. My suggestion would be to call the disability services line listed on the WDW contact pages and see how they handle this party so you know in advance rather than guessing or relying on opinion. My 2 cents.

 

[Lightsoutx12]

I have only attended the Star Wars dessert party and my parents attended the Illuminations one. I would say that the Star Wars one is worth it since it offers savory and sweet options as well as alcohol of course. My parents said the Illuminations party was great and they would do it again so I may have to try that one. I have always been skeptical about doing the dessert party at MK because of all the mixed reviews.

 

[AngiTN]

I have only attended the Star Wars dessert party and my parents attended the Illuminations one. I would say that the Star Wars one is worth it since it offers savory and sweet options as well as alcohol of course. My parents said the Illuminations party was great and they would do it again so I may have to try that one. I have always been skeptical about doing the dessert party at MK because of all the mixed reviews.

I don't know if this is the still case but we did the Illuminations party (old version before it became Frozen Dessert Party) and commented to the CM while cleaning up that we loved it a lot, that it was so much better than the one at MK, and a lot like the special LE Frozen and Star Wars parties that HS did (before they started year round versions). She told me that the came special events group did the menus at HS and Epcot, a different one does MK. Which I assume is why HS and Epcot have better options in general. And now that some alcohol is in MK, it would be nice to see a bit added to HEA too. Though I suspect we won't see that, it would be nice.

 

[IncredibleboysMom]

You can find a lot of info about how disabilities are handled here and elsewhere. This perspective is from a disabled vet who is in a chair during times when things are acute (acting up), but able to walk the parks when things are calmer (hope that makes sense). Anyways, in my experience, the CMs do everything they can to make the experience in a chair as enjoyable as possible. I haven't personally done this dessert party- but would imagine this has been thoroughly worked through so that guests in a chair have a decent view. With that said, if you don't have tickets to a special event- do not expect to be treated differently than any other guest during parades/fireworks, etc. They have special areas for chairs at most things, but don't plan to get there at the last minute and expect everything to work out- because it won't- nor should there be an expectation that it will. Plan ahead, get places early- and things will mostly work out. Should you decide to arrive late to whatever experience it may be- expect the same results as any other guest- a crappy place with limited or no views to whatever it is you are attending. My expectations are to be treated like any other guest when I am in a chair, but also to plan in advance- discuss things with the WDW disability line where needed, and speak to the CMs working whatever attraction/event we attend so that things run as smoothly as possible. My suggestion would be to call the disability services line listed on the WDW contact pages and see how they handle this party so you know in advance rather than guessing or relying on opinion. My 2 cents.

I completely agree with you. Disney DOES do a wonderful job for those with disabilities....except for the projection shows and fireworks as there is not a disabled viewing area for these. We used to love being able to get a FP for Wishes as that allowed a better (free) view for my son. Otherwise, no matter how early we arrive for fireworks and projection shows, my son always ends up with a view of people's butts! Our expectation, and motivation for shelling out $$ for this party is that he will have a better view. We are loyal Disney patrons BECAUSE of their disability awareness, I just wish they would address this issue.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We really liked the HEA party. The show was fantastic. So for the first time, we found it worth it

I agree that you have to just see it as a reserved spot. The desserts are not great. And how much can you eat of that anyway?

My DD perhaps put it best....She very innocently asked..."Why do they call this a party?" LOL

 

[Lightsoutx12]

I don't know if this is the still case but we did the Illuminations party (old version before it became Frozen Dessert Party) and commented to the CM while cleaning up that we loved it a lot, that it was so much better than the one at MK, and a lot like the special LE Frozen and Star Wars parties that HS did (before they started year round versions). She told me that the came special events group did the menus at HS and Epcot, a different one does MK. Which I assume is why HS and Epcot have better options in general. And now that some alcohol is in MK, it would be nice to see a bit added to HEA too. Though I suspect we won't see that, it would be nice.

I agree completely I see no reason why they don't add anything to the HEA parties, at least wine or champagne would be nice.

 

[FastPasser.]

Well, you just sold me on keeping our New Years Day party reservation for HS! I probably need to go read up on changes

That's all it took, maybe they should have switched sooner.

She told me that the same special events group did the menus at HS and Epcot

Also at AK, and not just the menus, almost everything else associated with the event.

a different one does MK.

That's correct, for some reason unknown to me, MK facilitates their own dessert parties. The FEA, SW and JBJB dessert parties, plus just about every other party held at Epcot, DHS and AK is handled by another group. Being just a little bit biased, and because that's all they do, IMO the other group does it better.

Which I assume is why HS and Epcot have better options in general.

I would agree, of course.

 

[Traveliz]

Thanks for the review -- I agree the atmosphere of the dessert party is a bit sterile but I was ok with the desserts. Loved the garden viewing area.

We did this actually on Christmas Day a few years ago (when everything was at Tomorrowland Terrace including the viewing and for the poster thinking about canceling...if you are going to be in the park that day anyway keep it! We are APs and only came to the park for the dessert party and fireworks that night and the crowds walking to and from the dessert party were HORRENDOUS and enough for us a locals to say never again. The dessert party and fireworks though were great as it was a small contained area with a limited number of people.

Liz

 

[Gehrig1B]

We have never considered the ridiculously overpriced dessert parties until this year. The rest of the family insisted on MK for NYE as we have always avoided for obvious crowd issues. I decided to book the NYE fireworks dessert party. If the desserts are even just a bit edible I presume we will be happy with this decision.

 

[Shoshana]

Thanks for the review -- I agree the atmosphere of the dessert party is a bit sterile but I was ok with the desserts. Loved the garden viewing area.

We did this actually on Christmas Day a few years ago (when everything was at Tomorrowland Terrace including the viewing and for the poster thinking about canceling...if you are going to be in the park that day anyway keep it! We are APs and only came to the park for the dessert party and fireworks that night and the crowds walking to and from the dessert party were HORRENDOUS and enough for us a locals to say never again. The dessert party and fireworks though were great as it was a small contained area with a limited number of people.

Liz

My daughter will be in a wheelchair. It sounds like most people think keeping the reservation is worth it, but seeing the photo, I wonder if we should risk the crowds. It's so much harder to move in a crowd like that when pushing a wheelchair.

 

[JJ2017]

By any chance, are the ingredients listed for the desserts at this party? I'm lactose intolerant and usually can figure out what I should or shouldn't eat, but I don't want to go overboard.

 

[deedubb]

The shoulder kids kill me. Do the parents seriously not care that they are completely blocking the view of the people behind them?!

ETA...And it’s impossible to predict who is going to be so thoughtless until it happens! So you can choose the perfect spot, wait forever and think everything is a-ok, then *boom* you can’t see a thing.

Yup, happens all the time. Some are oblivious, some just don't care. I will carry my daughter so that her head is at the same height as mine, but I would never put her on my shoulders. So annoying!

 

[randumb0]

The 3d Dessert Discovery at F&W was $55 and included wine and liquor. They no longer offer it though

 

[DisneyFive]

Never understood the draw of these dessert parties considering the cost.

If you stake out an area in front of the castle about an hour before the show, you get get a fantastic view anyway. Same goes for the Star Wars spectacular

Dan