Can we talk dessert party?

[katyringo]

So touring plans posted a recap of the treats and sweets package and uhhhh..no matter how touring plans wants to spin it there were trees directly in the way of the projections.

so with the other two options: the pre and post dessert party what are the views like?

 

[teachmedis]

I did the garden view pre-covid and the view was great. I'm interested to see what people think of the garden view now that the show spreads down Main Street.

 

[leannak]

Any more info on this? We are debating the pre- seats or treats and seats. Thank you , thank you for any advice!!!

 

[coolbrook]

We really like the view from the garden area, so we are doing the pre-party with garden viewing.

 

[Jonathan Friedman]

We did the pre party with garden view this week. Horrible. Fewer non dessert options and the garden was PACKED vs pre Covid. When the fireworks were going off we had no more space than those who didn’t do the party. Not worth it at all.

 

[katyringo]

Living with Disney did the pre party tonight abs posted about it on Instagram. She did not reccomend it. Check in says 630 and that's is when she arrived but they had let folks in at 6 and the desserts were picked over. The. The garden viewing was quite packed. She usually leans positive so I would take her review into account.

 

[glocon]

Although the view is not optimal, it sounds like the terrace party is the way to go to not be in the crowds. We’ve only ever done the MK party once, the after party with the garden viewing in Jul/Aug 2019). It wasn’t super crowded in the viewing area, especially compared to the masses outside of it, but still for covid times it would feel crowded to us.

 

[emily nicole]

We wanted to do the treats and seats, but as we are staying off-site and don't have access to 60+ reservations, we were unable to get that one. (60 days out exactly apparently isn't enough!).

So I booked the after-party instead. I hope we don't regret it. It seems that maybe After party guests would have earlier access to the garden? What time do they let guests into the garden?

 

[Brett Wyman]

We have done the HEA desert party 4 times, all pre-parties, 3 Garden View and once Terrace(seated). Unless you have mobility issues Garden View is the way to go 100%.

1. The view is nowhere near as good from the terrace. I cant emphasize this enough. if view matters to you, the terrace will disappoint.
2. The CMs keep a completely clear path to the Garden viewing area. No crowds to deal with. You are escorted over with a flashlight holding CM and another CM opens the gate into the garden area.
3. Again, unless you have mobility issues, the seated garden area has plenty of rooms for the amount of tickets sold.
4. The deserts are the same, obviously.
5. Garden view is CHEAPER!
6. THE VIEW!!!!!!

 

[kmrobins03]

We have done the HEA desert party 4 times, all pre-parties, 3 Garden View and once Terrace(seated). Unless you have mobility issues Garden View is the way to go 100%.

1. The view is nowhere near as good from the terrace. I cant emphasize this enough. if view matters to you, the terrace will disappoint.
2. The CMs keep a completely clear path to the Garden viewing area. No crowds to deal with. You are escorted over with a flashlight holding CM and another CM opens the gate into the garden area.
3. Again, unless you have mobility issues, the seated garden area has plenty of rooms for the amount of tickets sold.
4. The deserts are the same, obviously.
5. Garden view is CHEAPER!
6. THE VIEW!!!!!!

Agree. If your goal is to have the best view, go with the garden view. If you would prefer to have a real chair to sit in and watch fireworks (with a blocked view), go with the terrace.
I read somewhere that the post party attendees get first access to the garden. We are trying the pre party in Dec. for HEA, we usually do the terrace (because we like the chairs)

 

[DIS Lifer]

We did the treats and seats Saturday and really enjoyed it. Desserts were replenished regularly as were the drinks. We felt the view was great and could see the castle projections fine. Obviously we couldn’t see the Main Street projections but I didn’t feel like we missed out by not seeing those. It was nice to be able to sit somewhere separate from the throngs of people. Also, it was really nice that when it was over we walked basically right down the ramp to the back exit and avoided the crowds leaving MK.

 

[chimoe]

We've been to the HEA party a few times before.

I was watching a review of the new dessert party and noticed that the menu was drastically reduced?

It appears Disney removed the following?
ooey gooey toffee cake w/ Ice cream
roasted marshmallows station
build your own cupcake station
cookies and brownies area
seems to be a few less selection of desserts also.

non-dessert foods removed?
cheeseburger eggrolls
Spanish dip

So it looks like Disney removed a ton of items, and increased the price!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

We've been to the HEA party a few times before.

I was watching a review of the new dessert party and noticed that the menu was drastically reduced?

It appears Disney removed the following?
ooey gooey toffee cake w/ Ice cream
roasted marshmallows station
build your own cupcake station
cookies and brownies area
seems to be a few less selection of desserts also.

non-dessert foods removed?
cheeseburger eggrolls
Spanish dip

So it looks like Disney removed a ton of items, and increased the price!

Basically, yes

 

[OhBother1984]

We did the pre party with garden view this week. Horrible. Fewer non dessert options and the garden was PACKED vs pre Covid. When the fireworks were going off we had no more space than those who didn’t do the party. Not worth it at all.

But you also then didn't have to stack out a spot an hour or so earlier to watch to just have people last minute jam in on top off you and shove you aside. Disney doesn't say the party guaranteed you space to move just a guaranteed viewing area.

 

[Lydia S]

The reduction in menu is the primary reason why we decided not to book a Dessert Party reservation for our trip this year. We've been 2x before and loved both the items offered on the menu and the reserved spot in the Garden which wasn't that crowded. We last went in December 2019, and back then, they had both the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls and the Toffee cake.

I'm surprised that with the amount they are charging for this, the menu is so limited, with so many sweets. The only savory items they seem to be offering now is cheese, right? At least before, you could skip dinner, and eat your fill of springrolls and such.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

We did the treats and seats Saturday and really enjoyed it. Desserts were replenished regularly as were the drinks. We felt the view was great and could see the castle projections fine. Obviously we couldn’t see the Main Street projections but I didn’t feel like we missed out by not seeing those. It was nice to be able to sit somewhere separate from the throngs of people. Also, it was really nice that when it was over we walked basically right down the ramp to the back exit and avoided the crowds leaving MK.

Thank you for this review. I have reservations Thanksgiving week and the reviews haven't been great. Glad to hear something positive. We aren't super concerned with the view, I mostly booked it because our MK time is limited on this trip so I don't want to spend hours staking out a spot.

I'm surprised that with the amount they are charging for this, the menu is so limited, with so many sweets. The only savory items they seem to be offering now is cheese, right? At least before, you could skip dinner, and eat your fill of springrolls and such.

Yep, just cheese and crackers

 

[OhBother1984]

I guess the limited menu doesn't bother me, sounds like more than enough can only eat so much. Plus we have only done the frozen dessert party years ago and two partys at DL. Both of the DL was a set plate of items and that was it and it wasn't a ton but you could never eat it all.

 

[PaladinButters]

So I booked the after-party instead. I hope we don't regret it. It seems that maybe After party guests would have earlier access to the garden? What time do they let guests into the garden?

Same question. It's listed on the site as check-in starting 1 hr before show but obviously no indication of how close to show you can still check-in. (Pre-party says 90 mins before but it sounds like they escort you all at the same time?) If I have to be there an hour before show I might as well save $200 bucks and stake out my spot for an hour with a mickey pretzel? I was thinking after party sounds nicer so we'll be having desserts during the post-show exodus rush but now I'm not so sure - if there's going to be so much "waiting around" time - we would be waiting around for Disney busses anyway so nothing really saved. That's a lot of money for cupcakes if it doesn't also save me any time/stress.

I guess the limited menu doesn't bother me, sounds like more than enough can only eat so much. Plus we have only done the frozen dessert party years ago and two partys at DL. Both of the DL was a set plate of items and that was it and it wasn't a ton but you could never eat it all.

We did a WoC dessert party at DL with the fixed plates and it was for sure enough to be a whole dinner and dessert.

 

[OhBother1984]

Same question. It's listed on the site as check-in starting 1 hr before show but obviously no indication of how close to show you can still check-in. (Pre-party says 90 mins before but it sounds like they escort you all at the same time?) If I have to be there an hour before show I might as well save $200 bucks and stake out my spot for an hour with a mickey pretzel? I was thinking after party sounds nicer so we'll be having desserts during the post-show exodus rush but now I'm not so sure - if there's going to be so much "waiting around" time - we would be waiting around for Disney busses anyway so nothing really saved. That's a lot of money for cupcakes if it doesn't also save me any time/stress.



We did a WoC dessert party at DL with the fixed plates and it was for sure enough to be a whole dinner and dessert.

We did woc one and I disagree. Def not dinner for us more appetizer and dessert but there were things we didn’t like that we were stuck with , vs getting multiple of what was liked , especially for the kids.

 

[leannak]

Are treats & seats tables assigned ahead of time, or would we need to arrive early to get a good table?