Honestly, I think us older folks would be happy to pay the price just for the security of a seat, food or no food, drink or no drink, but I think it is a space issue mostly. Those seats we had for the old Christmas tour were a type of collapsible bleachers and while sitting there at Small World last week, I was trying to picture where they had been because that area is all tiered now with landscaping.
A dessert party is labor intensive and I'm sure they have all the data on what the profit point is. I think they figure they are doing just fine providing a nice comfortable sidewalk right now and when people stop buying those spots, they might have to change but until then...bring your old Blue Bayou Fantasmic cushion (like I do)