Dessert party which night or not at all?

[shannon006]

We have a 5 night trip in October. There are only 2 nights that there is NOT a MNSSHP during our trip. We want to see the new HEA. The 2 nights showing are Wednesday October 4 (EMH 9-11)( we are staying on property) and Saturday October 7. I am driving myself crazy here trying to decide if we should A, do the dessert party(thinking we could go into the garden area in front of Caseys about an hour and a half before it starts instead of the dessert party), and B, which night should we watch the show. My breakdown for reasons are as follows.
Wednesay, not see it, watch the fireworks in TL or FL and take advantage of perhaps lower wait times on the rides and stay for EMH.
Saturday, either dessert party or stake out our spot in the garden area in front of Caseys an hour and a half prior to it starting. That is our last night, and I'm thinking it may be nice to have a magical farewell evening.

I appreciate your thoughts

 

[jaysmom4285]

If MNSSHP is anything like MVMCP (we've been to the Christmas party but not the Halloween party), the Hub area is absolutely mobbed for the fireworks on any night there isn't a party. I mean wall to wall humanity over an hour before. Staking out a spot is time consuming, unpleasant, and exhausting. For those reasons, I sprang for a Plaza View dessert party last December on a non-party night. I'm not quite sure what you're saying about going to the garden area instead of the dessert party - you will have paid good money for all those desserts, and I wouldn't want to miss them! At any rate, we found the experience to be worth it, as a special treat for that time of year. Any other time, it isn't hard to get a viewing spot shortly before the fireworks, and the crowds are manageable. We got to enjoy the desserts at our leisure while comfortably seated at a table, and we were escorted to the viewing area a few minutes before the show started, so standing time was minimal. The reserved viewing area isn't crowded, and there's plenty of room to move around and get a good spot. If you want a magical farewell evening, this may help assure it. I hope this helps.

 

[Daniela Rose]

Sat dessert party. You'd want to be close to the castle for the projections and not have to stake out your turf.

Wednesday would very crowded with emh.

 

[poetz]

By all the reports I've read, the non-party days are very crowded. Your Saturday is the beginning of Columbus Day weekend, so it runs the risk of being even more crowded due to school breaks. I booked a party for October 18 because I like the peace of mind knowing that I have a guaranteed spot that I won't have to stake out an hour in advance and, by all accounts, is less packed than the packed that can happen in the garden in front of Casey's. I did the sit down party last year with Wishes, having seen those fireworks countless times, and loved relaxing with some desserts before the show and then not having to fight the crowds during or after.

It is a lot of money though, so I understand not wanting to spend the extra. For me it's worth it not to worry about when to get there and will I find a good spot.

 

[mrp4352]

I can't help with the dessert party or not issue - but I would recommend planning on seeing the fireworks early, rather than later in your trip. If the weather is bad the first night, you've got a second shot at the fireworks.

 

[shannon006]

Thanks for all of your comments. Im pretty sure I will do the dessert party. Now to decide Wednesday or Saturday

 

[jaysmom4285]

I can't help with the dessert party or not issue - but I would recommend planning on seeing the fireworks early, rather than later in your trip. If the weather is bad the first night, you've got a second shot at the fireworks.

This is a good point If HEA, with or without the dessert party, is a must-see for you and your party, schedule it earlier in your vacation. That way, you'll have a second shot at it if circumstances get in your way.

 

[MommaBerd]

I have it booked for DH and I (going in September), and I'm still debating. We don't *love* the desserts - they are good, but definitely not $100+ good. Essentially, I did it so that we don't have to camp out for our spot...but then it's difficult to rationalize spending that kind of money for a reserved viewing location. I realized, too, that they changed the cancellation policy from 24 hours in advance to 5 days in advance. So, no longer can you look at the weather for the next day and decide to cancel or not (which is, I'm sure, why they changed it). Right now, I'm glad I booked it because at least I have the option to cancel as opposed to not booking and wishing I could.

 

[GillianP1301]

Although I love the idea of ending the vacation with a Dessert Party and fireworks, the advise to mitigate risk of weather being an issue then Wednesday would be the safer bet. Fireworks are rarely cancelled, but it does happen and you are travelling during hurricane season, so erring on the side of caution can't hurt.