Changes to MK Wishes dessert party-Same Day Reservations

[PrincessWithABlaster]

So after thinking about it a bit, I'm going to jump in and defend the mouse. Just a little.

it is true the Desert Parties sell out, and fast. Whether they are are good value or not, they sell out and it's hard to get reservations for them even at 180 days (or however long out you can get them). So there's a demand. And it seems reasonable for Disney, if there is an unmet demand, to try to cater to that demand.

What we're basically arguing here is that Disney should deny people the chance to pay for something they want, so people who have already established they do not want to pay have no negative consequence. That's like saying a restaurant that has patio seating should allow people who are not eating there to take up al their tables -- heck, why don't they just let everyone into CP for the character parade. Or let everyone in BOG to meet the Beast and look around. They've established that certain experiences at the park cost more, and we all sign up with that understanding in mind. So maybe this isn't the money grab as much as it is about letting some people buy something they want.

The thing is, there is an effect on non-dessert party (but still paying) customers. They took anyway the fast passes for Wishes. So something that used to be included is now not. Hey, more power to Disney - they make more money now. But the premise that other guests who don't want to pay more are not being negatively affected is false. I'm sure off sight guests felt that way when EMH were first introduced, and people who knew about the Terrace before it was a dessert party felt that way, etc, etc, etc. That doesn't mean it's wrong for Disney to do it. Their perogative, but there are negative consequences too.

 

[whiporee]

The thing is, there is an effect on non-dessert party (but still paying) customers. They took anyway the fast passes for Wishes. So something that used to be included is now not. Hey, more power to Disney - they make more money now. But the premise that other guests who don't want to pay more are not being negatively affected is false. I'm sure off sight guests felt that way when EMH were first introduced, and people who knew about the Terrace before it was a dessert party felt that way, etc, etc, etc. That doesn't mean it's wrong for Disney to do it. Their perogative, but there are negative consequences too.

I'm not saying there aren't negative consequences. What i am saying is that I think Disney's actions are justifiable, and not just from a it's-their-park-they-can-do-what-they-want perspective. And I'm saying it seems like the argument against anything that Disney does is based on resentment that something that used to be free isn't free anymore (though I'd argue whether using one of three FPs on a spot is, "free" because it limits opportunity, but that's semantics) and that people had plan that now have to be changed. Disney has decided to charge for one of its many viewing fireworks viewing areas, just like they made a previously "open" area closed for those without FPs. That's all they did

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think it was kind of crummy to have those areas be FP-only and then to take them away so quickly. People really seemed to enjoy those FPs. Maybe if they had never put FP on it?

There is another issue too about how this is going to affect the people who already made ADRs for the party in advance, will the dessert area be more crowded, that kind of thing. They've already taken away the assigned seating, not sure if it is related to this.

 

[TLSnell1981]

This was barely worth $29 with a reserved table. I balked at the $49 price BEFORE Disney's latest "enhancement". Although, we've booked this numerous times, it's no longer on my radar.

 

[lovethattink]

I think it was kind of crummy to have those areas be FP-only and then to take them away so quickly. People really seemed to enjoy those FPs. Maybe if they had never put FP on it?

There is another issue too about how this is going to affect the people who already made ADRs for the party in advance, will the dessert area be more crowded, that kind of thing. They've already taken away the assigned seating, not sure if it is related to this.

I'd hope they open up the other dining section spread people out. Though didn't it say no seating? Or was that for firework viewing?

 

[Planogirl]

I'm not saying there aren't negative consequences. What i am saying is that I think Disney's actions are justifiable, and not just from a it's-their-park-they-can-do-what-they-want perspective. And I'm saying it seems like the argument against anything that Disney does is based on resentment that something that used to be free isn't free anymore (though I'd argue whether using one of three FPs on a spot is, "free" because it limits opportunity, but that's semantics) and that people had plan that now have to be changed. Disney has decided to charge for one of its many viewing fireworks viewing areas, just like they made a previously "open" area closed for those without FPs. That's all they did

They are also in effect potentially jamming way more people into a limited size area unless they somehow expand and not necessarily only on the terrace. It appears that many of those who sign up for this early would love to move to the hub area for a better view after they have their desserts. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out with the number of people that this sells to.

 

[horse11]

Good, from the Tomorrowland Terrace.
Excellent, from the Hub (former) FP+ areas.

I see they have Celebrate the Magic at two different times for our trip. One 15 minutes before the 10:00pm Wishes and one at 10:35. How crowded will the second show be?

 

[Robo]

I see they have Celebrate the Magic at two different times for our trip. One 15 minutes before the 10:00pm Wishes and one at 10:35.

How crowded will the second show be?

Three weeks from now...
Not crowded.

If you were there on July 3 or 4th, well...

 

[kj2mom]

We actually stumbled across the second CTM on July 4th last year. We had watched the MSEP towards the end of the route and then headed toward the monorail, as we were walking through the hub we realized something was happening. We found a safe place to stop, not in the run of traffic, and watched CTM with almost no one there. The park had cleared out tremendously but to be completely on the up and up here, the weather was not great. There had been some pretty torrential rains during the day and it was raining a little during the parade. My guess is a huge majority cleared out after the 4th of July fireworks while we decided to get something to eat, watch the parade then exit. Watching CTM was a huge bonus for us because we actually hadn't planned on watching it until our last night (this was our first night of our trip) when we had our Wishes FP.

 

[horse11]

Three weeks from now...
Not crowded.

If you were there on July 3 or 4th, well...

Yeah!! I think I have a plan!!!

 

[ashleyrm]

Hoping we can get some first hand reports on what the "First come, First served" area is like. I'm thinking it may be like it has been at the MVMCP and MNSSHP parties where people don't know it's openly available so it might be easy to grab some a square of hub grass.

 

[Robo]

Yeah!! I think I have a plan!!!

I suggest that if you want to see the second CtM that you grab a snack or drink and sit in one of the outside tables in front of The Plaza Restaurant or Casey's Hot Dogs and enjoy CtM from there.

 

[CarrieR]

If you want no sardines/little waiting, I'd show up around the old Dumbo location about ten minutes before Wishes, watch it, then loop around the front of the castle towards the hub and stand for CTM. You can walk up immediately before any post-Wishes CTM and find a great spot, no problem - even on the busiest days of the year.

(At least that's been our experience when we're there, including on those uber-busy days.)

 

[Mikie]

Sooooo. . . New dessert party was last night - any reports from attendees?

 

[elmoandzoey]

And now I would like to know how they control access to that area or if they just leave it open as is.....

 

[Cluelyss]

Sooooo. . . New dessert party was last night - any reports from attendees?

Tonight is the last night for regular Wishes FP.

 

[beesly]

Tonight is the last night for regular Wishes FP.

I thought the 18th was the last Wishes FP night? The Hub info that @yulilin3 posted at the start of this thread says that the "expanded" dessert party was to begin on the 19th.

 

[Cluelyss]

I thought the 18th was the last Wishes FP night? The Hub info that @yulilin3 posted at the start of this thread says that the "expanded" dessert party was to begin on the 19th.

It's still showing as a FP selection for today, nothing tomorrow or beyond.

 

[kcpinwdw]

I thought the 18th was the last Wishes FP night? The Hub info that @yulilin3 posted at the start of this thread says that the "expanded" dessert party was to begin on the 19th.

I think it's weird that it would have started without any official word from Disney on the blogs or website though.

 

[HopperFan]

And now I would like to know how they control access to that area or if they just leave it open as is.....

It is completely surrounded by fences and planters with openings where the FP scanners were. I would assume Dessert Party guests will get a wristband or ticket (like they have for Fantasmic) that they will have to show to go into the garden area.