anyone going to July 3 - Independence Day Dessert Party at CR?

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think I'm just really confused. I remember last year there was definitely some extra cost event at TOTWL. Maybe I'm thinking of New Year's Eve? And then maybe I assumed it would apply to July 3rd and 4th because those dates were typically listed as "block out" dates...? So, maybe that's what I was thinking. But I don't really know what they mean by "block out", maybe they mean guests who aren't staying at BLT?

I don't really want to spend extra money for the dessert party (trying to spend less in general), but it overall it sounds fun/festive, and it would be a guaranteed spot to see the fireworks. I do really love the view from TOTWL. Oh, well, either way I'm sure it would be good. Maybe do the party this year, and next year try to do TOTWL, maybe I can ask around at the front desk or TOTWL check-in desk and see what they say.

The black out dates at TOTWL (July 3 & 4 and Dec 30 & 31) mean only that it is required that you be staying at BLT on points in order to access the lounge on those nights. That differs from the requirement the rest of the year that any DVC member can access it when staying anywhere onsite whether cash or points.

I don't recall any extra cost event at TOTWL but certainly might have happened. They do use the lounge at other times of the day for other events though and from what I've heard even continue to do new member breakfasts there at times.

 

[brertoad]

Thanks KAT, that makes more sense.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think I'm just really confused. I remember last year there was definitely some extra cost event at TOTWL. Maybe I'm thinking of New Year's Eve? And then maybe I assumed it would apply to July 3rd and 4th because those dates were typically listed as "block out" dates...? So, maybe that's what I was thinking. But I don't really know what they mean by "block out", maybe they mean guests who aren't staying at BLT?

I don't really want to spend extra money for the dessert party (trying to spend less in general), but it overall it sounds fun/festive, and it would be a guaranteed spot to see the fireworks. I do really love the view from TOTWL. Oh, well, either way I'm sure it would be good. Maybe do the party this year, and next year try to do TOTWL, maybe I can ask around at the front desk or TOTWL check-in desk and see what they say.

We were at TOTWL this past Dec 30&31. It was fun to see those fireworks because they are shot from many locations. When we saw them from the MK another year, I kept turning around to take it all in! We're going up this July 3rd, staying at BLT just so we could go up there!


Bobbi

 

[brertoad]

We were at TOTWL this past Dec 30&31. It was fun to see those fireworks because they are shot from many locations. When we saw them from the MK another year, I kept turning around to take it all in! We're going up this July 3rd, staying at BLT just so we could go up there!


Bobbi

Looks like we're doing the party this year, got the reservation. Although I originally just planned on going up to TOTWL to watch the fireworks (and booked Bay Lake so we could try to do that this year); we all got excited about doing this party, if it wasn't for this thread I wouldn't have even known about it. I'm sure we'll have a great time. I'll be interested in hearing about how crowded TOTWL will be on the day.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Looks like we're doing the party this year, got the reservation. Although I originally just planned on going up to TOTWL to watch the fireworks (and booked Bay Lake so we could try to do that this year); we all got excited about doing this party, if it wasn't for this thread I wouldn't have even known about it. I'm sure we'll have a great time. I'll be interested in hearing about how crowded TOTWL will be on the day.

I think it will be fun! Be sure to report on it! I'll let you know just how crowded the lounge is on the 3rd.

We did the 3rd of July fireworks from the Tomorrow Land dessert party one year. I'll bet you have a better view than that was.

 

[brertoad]

I think it will be fun! Be sure to report on it! I'll let you know just how crowded the lounge is on the 3rd.

That's a deal. I'll let you know how the party goes.

 

[ascardino]

I booked the party today for our family. It looks fun and more entertaining for my kids than sitting in the lounge which we have done and enjoyed. Maybe we will do that another night

We always look for something new to experience and it looks fun and not over priced as the other park dessert parties have become. Glad we did that a couple of times when they were first introduced.

 

[Savagekids]

So it is inside or outside? Or both? How is the fireworks view from there?

 

[Laderer]

I'm really considering it! It would be our first DVC exclusive event.. But we want to watch Illuminations at Epcot at 9. We're staying at the Poly so we will probably just head to the beach whenever we get back from Epcot to watch them at 10. The dessert event is definitely something I'd like to do eventually!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I just noticed that the member website actually had a picture of the view of the fireworks from the CR convention center porte cochere:

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So it is inside or outside? Or both? How is the fireworks view from there?

While I couldn't find any pictures I had taken of the fireworks from the location I did find my picture of the location. You can see that there are several larger entrances to the porte cochere so it's covered but not enclosed. I remember a fairly decent wind blowing thru on one of the occasions we had that space during a convention and few people were out there for anytime other than to watch the fireworks as our group also had the ballroom. That was always in January though so the wind had much more of a chill than you would get in July!:

 

[dahwolf]

We will be there. We booked it yesterday. We watched the July 3rd fireworks in 2014 and 2015 from California Grill. We ran into Members last year that had done the event and said they loved it. We figured the cost wasn't to bad compared to other dessert parties they have.

 

[Savagekids]

I just noticed that the member website actually had a picture of the view of the fireworks from the CR convention center porte cochere:

Oh wow, based on the fireworks picture above I wish had booked this. I managed to snag July 3rd at BLT yesterday. It will mean a split stay for one night, which husband hates. But it will also mean air conditioning for baby immediately before/after and no fighting traffic after fireworks so the big kids (and I) get to bed earlier.

 

[supersnoop]

Oh wow, based on the fireworks picture above I wish had booked this. I managed to snag July 3rd at BLT yesterday. It will mean a split stay for one night, which husband hates. But it will also mean air conditioning for baby immediately before/after and no fighting traffic after fireworks so the big kids (and I) get to bed earlier.

Do you need another night? I'm about to release a standard view studio for July 2nd.

 

[Savagekids]

Do you need another night? I'm about to release a standard view studio for July 2nd.

That's super sweet of you to offer. I would take it but our July 3rd night is in a Lake View. Husband would never go back if I made him stay in three different rooms in one week.

 

[famy27]

Did anyone do this last year? I'm interested in any reviews. Is the music piped in? I have reservation at Narcoosee's, but I am considering cancelling to do this instead. I think my DDs would like this more, but I want to make sure that the fireworks experience will still be good.