Dessert Parties on crowd level 10 days. Worth it?

[JakeAZ]

I've been on the fence about these for quite awhile.

$70-$100pp for some desserts and a place to watch a 15 minute show? Am I missing something?

Yes, I will be there during Spring Break, so it will be crowded, but I just can't get to the point of pulling the trigger on one of these.

Has anyone done one and felt the cost was completely justified? I know a lot of things at Disney are a money grab, but these seem "extra".

For a little bit more, you can get an After Hours ticket and get much more over a longer period of time.

Thanks

Edited: They are also prepaid, non-refundable? Wow, nothing says money grab like locking people into an impulse buy! haha

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

For most dessert parties the cancellation period isn't super long (you need to verify for each individual party but usually 24 to 48 hours.) Yeah they're prepaid but if you're going in a super busy time like Christmas or spring break --- they may be worth it to book to have in your pocket and assess as you get closer and see true crowd levels and weather forecasts. This is a super subjective thing, but we usually book as soon as we can and then assess based on crowds/weather/etc... and decide what we want to keep/eject once we see reliable crowd/weather forecasts.

Now that DS is in high school we will not pull him out of school for a disney holiday --- in elementary/middle school we did to go in early December. Now we go at peak time and having a bit of downtime at a dessert party/event in a crazy busy park time with a guaranteed view of the night-time show is something we'll pay for. YMMV.

I will say that spring break seemed nowhere as busy as true Christmas week though....

For us we enjoyed the Savor the Savannah tour because it was an experience you wouldn't get otherwise and we felt there was value. (Would suggest the later time as we felt seeing the savannah at night was very impressive.)

 

[tjmw2727]

We do the Frozen Dessert party at Epcot every trip and find it well worth the cost - seated view for Illuminations, great food both savory and sweet, open bar and then a post closing ride on FEA. We have done the MK dessert parties but would not choose them again.

On trips when Fantasmic is a must do I find that dessert party also worth the cost, great selection of desserts and a reserved section for the show.

IIRC they are prepaid but they are refundable; just check the time frame for each individual party to be sure of the policies.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We did the dessert party at Tomorrowland Terrace this past NYE. As you can imagine, it was beyond crowded. We were there for the 10:45 pm show and the NYE fireworks. There were plenty of treats to choose from. They kept it well stocked & it was out for the entire time. For a special occasion like NYE, it was worth it.

 

[JakeAZ]

We did the dessert party at Tomorrowland Terrace this past NYE. As you can imagine, it was beyond crowded. We were there for the 10:45 pm show and the NYE fireworks. There were plenty of treats to choose from. They kept it well stocked & it was out for the entire time. For a special occasion like NYE, it was worth it.

I can absolutely see a night like NYE or Fourth of July being worth it. That's what you're there for and anything to help with crowds is probably worth it.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

We do the Frozen Dessert party at Epcot every trip and find it well worth the cost - seated view for Illuminations, great food both savory and sweet, open bar and then a post closing ride on FEA. We have done the MK dessert parties but would not choose them again.

On trips when Fantasmic is a must do I find that dessert party also worth the cost, great selection of desserts and a reserved section for the show.

IIRC they are prepaid but they are refundable; just check the time frame for each individual party to be sure of the policies.

We definitely enjoy the Frozen Dessert party as the view is awesome, the food/drinks/view offerings are good, plus the guaranteed ride is totally worth it in a busy time since we don't want to waste an extra FP for Frozen while at Epcot.

You'll definitely see lots of feedback that says paying for any extra event isn't worth it.... so it's all totally subjective. If you have X number of days to do what you want at WDW and want to do Y number of things... figure out what you need to do and what you're willing to spend to do it.

If you decide to do extra events look for something that speaks to you (Savor the Savannah is a go to for us) and do that during a super busy time. Basically understanding that you can pick a few things that will make you feel something special (a tour, an event, a boat ride (we also love the Epcot FW cruise which usually gives you great views of both EP and DS shows and we have done it a few times) in the midst of crazy crowds will be something you can look at and see if the cost/value is worth it. To be honest a VIP tour of rides is of less value to us than the tours or dessert parties because they allow us to enjoy the overall experience.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I believe the MK party is worth it during peak season. The crowds on Main St. during Thanksgiving made my little corner of the garden extremely valuable.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Yes, 100x yes! If you care to watch the show without standing around on your feet an hour or more in advance and dealing with people pushing you or sneaking in last minute when you waited a long time for your spot. I think it's a little less with it now that they increased the price (and added alcohol) because I personally don't drink much especially that late while on vacation when I get up early the next day. But if you want to see the show without stress, it's worth the price.

We did not go on a 10 day, but it was incredibly busy because there were multiple MVMCPs that week and MK closed at 4:30 one day for a CM event, so the evening we saw HEA was packed. It was also evening EMH which probably made it worse. The hub was filled by an hour before start, obviously you could squeeze in but it would not be pleasant at all with a group of more than two.

The garden viewing had plenty of extra room and we sat down and spread out up until the show literally started. No claustrophobic crowds and no tired feet. You'll risk bad weather but usually they just delay and hardly cancel since I believe fireworks do need to be released once they are loaded. I think the cancellation policy is five days in advance but I might be wrong.

Our meal at California Grill was about the same cost as the party and I preferred the dessert party, it was just a lot more "fun" and you feel so VIP. You can have a light dinner and just fill up on treats. We did the after party so we didn't have to stress about eating fast and then finding a good spot.

 

[holden]

If it’s important to you to see the fireworks, then I think it’s worth it during a peak time like Christmas/NYE/Spring Break. We did the Star Wars dessert party, and while it was fun I wouldn’t do it again. I’m not a dessert eater at all and there wasn’t enough variety of savory options to justify the cost IMHO. It is a DESSERT party after all. Just not my thing I guess.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We won't watch HEA or the Star Wars fireworks unless we've booked a dessert party. It's a guaranteed good view without the crush of a crowd (particularly after HEA - getting down Main St. can be outright scary IMHO). For seated shows (ROL and Fantasmic), I, personally don't feel the need for a party. For EP Forever, same. There are a ton of spots around the lagoon and, due to the set-up with people circling the lagoon and not standing in a mob, the crowd-crush factor really isn't the same.

 

[texasgingerbread]

Ditto @DisneyWishes14. No need to have it for Fantasmic or Epcot but well worth the chaos on Main Street in MK. The seating for Star Wars is behind the crowd though but allows firework projections to be seen better. Although I don't believe you have to have it the SW dessert party was the most fun. Jawas tried trading for outlr cell phones and lots of cool interactions.

 

[disneygirlsng]

We did it on New Years day for HEA 2 years ago. That day was insane as HEA hadn't shown for over a week as they did the Christmas show or the new years one up until that day. It was a good experience, but I likely wouldn't do it again. Mostly because I've had no trouble getting a fantastic view showing up 15-20 min before the show the last 5-6 times I've watched it, even at crowded times.

 

[robinb]

I've been on the fence about these for quite awhile.

$70-$100pp for some desserts and a place to watch a 15 minute show? Am I missing something?

Yes, I will be there during Spring Break, so it will be crowded, but I just can't get to the point of pulling the trigger on one of these.

Has anyone done one and felt the cost was completely justified? I know a lot of things at Disney are a money grab, but these seem "extra".

For a little bit more, you can get an After Hours ticket and get much more over a longer period of time.

Thanks

Edited: They are also prepaid, non-refundable? Wow, nothing says money grab like locking people into an impulse buy! haha

I attended the MK Plaza Dessert Party for 12/30 (midnight fireworks) twice. It was worth every single penny not to be in the 10++++ crowd. There is no alcohol and the food is substandard, but you have your own space.

 

[FastPasser.]

Just curious if the Op was expecting the responses that have been posted? They agree with the face to face feedback I heard from hundreds of dessert party Guests over the years. The dessert parties are a nice option for those who wish to experience a unique Disney experience, but they are not required in order to watch any of the night time shows and they are not for most WDW visitors. And although I have been at hundreds and hundreds of dessert parties held at all the WDW parks, I have no interest in ever being a Guest, they're not for me. However, I like the fact that they're available to those who want to do them for whatever reason.

 

[JakeAZ]

Just curious if the Op was expecting the responses that have been posted? They agree with the face to face feedback I heard from hundreds of dessert party Guests over the years. The dessert parties are a nice option for those who wish to experience a unique Disney experience, but they are not required in order to watch any of the night time shows and they are not for most WDW visitors. And although I have been at hundreds and hundreds of dessert parties held at all the WDW parks, I have no interest in ever being a Guest, they're not for me. However, I like the fact that they're available to those who want to do them for whatever reason.

OP here. Yes, I made my feelings known in the post, but I was actually looking for feedback on if people felt it was worth it. It's obvious people do and Disney wouldn't offer them if there wasn't a demand.

For me, I decided not to pull the trigger. We used those funds and booked a AH event at MK. I feel 3 hours in the park with lower crowds is a better use for our family.

Honestly, I think I would feel the event was "worth it" during the show, but immediately after, feel it wasn't. I know it's hard to explain, but we most likely wouldn't eat much of the desserts, so that amount of money for just the show, is just too much. For us.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I've been on the fence about these for quite awhile.

$70-$100pp for some desserts and a place to watch a 15 minute show? Am I missing something?

Yes, I will be there during Spring Break, so it will be crowded, but I just can't get to the point of pulling the trigger on one of these.

Has anyone done one and felt the cost was completely justified? I know a lot of things at Disney are a money grab, but these seem "extra".

For a little bit more, you can get an After Hours ticket and get much more over a longer period of time.

Thanks

Edited: They are also prepaid, non-refundable? Wow, nothing says money grab like locking people into an impulse buy! haha

the way you ask the question indicates you are approaching it with a strong bias and looking to justify your position. That’s fine. One mans trash is another’s treasure. Nonetheless I will give you an honest answer.

I personally do not see it as a money grab. I have done all of them, but the frozen at Epcot is my personal favorite. Tomorrowland terrace which although has seats which is nice after standing is not a great view of the castle. I’ve not been a fan of the garden view which still ends up with a slightly unfriendly view.

i went to the HS ones early on and mid. Haven’t been recently. Last time I went you had to sit on the cement so close to the fireworks they shot up your nose. (It used to be in the back, and that was better).

Still... I have not once regretted buying the desert party. Any of them.

The view is ok. The snacks are ok. Not having to fight the crowds and knowing you won’t be behind the hulk carrying his family on his shoulders blocking your view entirely while people with no sense of personal barriers squeeze you on all sides is invaluable.

 

[JakeAZ]

the way you ask the question indicates you are approaching it with a strong bias and looking to justify your position. That’s fine. One mans trash is another’s treasure. Nonetheless I will give you an honest answer.

I personally do not see it as a money grab. I have done all of them, but the frozen at Epcot is my personal favorite. Tomorrowland terrace which although has seats which is nice after standing is not a great view of the castle. I’ve not been a fan of the garden view which still ends up with a slightly unfriendly view.

i went to the HS ones early on and mid. Haven’t been recently. Last time I went you had to sit on the cement so close to the fireworks they shot up your nose. (It used to be in the back, and that was better).

Still... I have not once regretted buying the desert party. Any of them.

The view is ok. The snacks are ok. Not having to fight the crowds and knowing you won’t be behind the hulk carrying his family on his shoulders blocking your view entirely while people with no sense of personal barriers squeeze you on all sides is invaluable.

I appreciate the honest answer and can 100% see your point about not having to worry about space.

I am all for paying for convenience.
We have 4 Character meals booked (so we don't have to wait in those lines in the parks)
3 of the meals also have preferred seating for shows (F!, FOF and ROL) but we are on the dining plan, so I feel those are a great value for one meal credit
We also booked MK AH and will add HS AH, if they start doing those again

On the dessert party, I'm just not there. I'm sure it will be a madhouse, but I look at it this way. If I'm in the middle of that mass, would I hand someone $250 to be able to sit / stand somewhere less crowded for the 15-20 minute show? I don't think I would. Maybe I'll regret the decision. We'll see.

Thanks again for your info and I'm glad they work for you.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I appreciate the honest answer and can 100% see your point about not having to worry about space.

I am all for paying for convenience.
We have 4 Character meals booked (so we don't have to wait in those lines in the parks)
3 of the meals also have preferred seating for shows (F!, FOF and ROL) but we are on the dining plan, so I feel those are a great value for one meal credit
We also booked MK AH and will add HS AH, if they start doing those again

On the dessert party, I'm just not there. I'm sure it will be a madhouse, but I look at it this way. If I'm in the middle of that mass, would I hand someone $250 to be able to sit / stand somewhere less crowded for the 15-20 minute show? I don't think I would. Maybe I'll regret the decision. We'll see.

Thanks again for your info and I'm glad they work for you.

they are 100% a personal choice and I would never tell someone they were recommended to enjoy your time. On a budget, they are luxury and to be skipped.

they serve a purpose. I like them because I get claustrophobic when in thick crowds.

given what you have said and indicated, it sounds like you are making the correct choice for your situation.