Easter week Wishes questions - or tips...

[TheFloatingBear]

I'm planning a trip with my two sisters, one of whom hasn't been to Disney since the mid-90's. She doesn't travel much, so she's really excited. Unfortunately, she's a teacher so her break is the week after Easter 2017, and we only have four nights. I have traveled in April during moderate crowds, but I have never traveled Easter week (or any holiday/peak week).

My biggest concern crowd-wise is Wishes. My sister really wants to experience it from inside the park, so that knocks out other resorts and boat trips. I'm not a huge fan of dessert parties (just too much dessert), but I thought it might be worth it for the reserved seating, but only the Tomorrowland Terrace party seems available, not the Plaza Garden viewing, which I would prefer view-wise. I've seen Robo's awesome maps, so I'm familiar with the ideal viewing areas, but here are my questions...

Is the Terrace dessert party the only option during holiday/peak times? (just to confirm)
The description on the website isn't clear - for the Terrace dessert party, is it currently first come/first serve for tables, or reserved upon booking?
How early would people recommend to find a spot in the Hub area Easter week?
Has the lack of an evening parade and the change in timing of the projection show (now after Wishes, correct?) affected traffic patterns/crowds?
Given the crowds, should we consider watching Wishes from a less than ideal but less crowded spot, then move closer to castle for the projection show, or would that not work?

Any tips or suggestions to my long-winded questions appreciated - thanks!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

As far as I know it is still first come first serve for seating which opens an hour before Wishes. So now to get better seating you have to line up an hour before it opens, meaning 2 hours before Wishes. Killed it for us.


If she really wants to do it then I would FP+ it. I know this means that it would be almost impossible to get a fourth FP+ but during Easter Week it is too crowded to get the fourth one anyway.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

As far as I know it is still first come first serve for seating which opens an hour before Wishes. So now to get better seating you have to line up an hour before it opens, meaning 2 hours before Wishes. Killed it for us.


If she really wants to do it then I would FP+ it. I know this means that it would be almost impossible to get a fourth FP+ but during Easter Week it is too crowded to get the fourth one anyway.

Good to know about the dessert party! That does detract from the allure of it for us. Unfortunately, I don't think they have FP for Wishes anymore or I would definitely do it - it would be worth it that week! We did it last year and it was great, but I think they've been discontinued...thanks!

 

[JJZMgailey]

When I attended the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party a little over a year ago, the tables were reserved. We checked in for the Party as soon as we were allowed to and we were shown to our table.

I don't believe that anything has changed with regards to that.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

That seems like it would definitely be better - or at least less stressful - thanks for the info, @WebmasterJackie! How did you like the view? I feel like I'd definitely prefer the more direct view of the castle, but maybe worth it during a holiday week. Are people encouraged to sit or do they stand by the rail?

 

[beesly]

We attended the dessert party at the Terrace during Easter week about a year and a half ago. On our way to the Terrace, tons of people were already seated in the Hub waiting for Wishes, so I was glad that we were going to have somewhere comfortable to sit. At that time, dessert party seating was reserved and we had only booked a few weeks in advance, so we had a table with a pretty terrible view, especially once so many people got up to stand at the rail. We went up to the rail just before CtM started, and my DD (who was 5 at the time) ended up falling asleep just as Wishes was starting. Unfortunately, we didn't take a stroller (rookie mistake), so my DH and I had to take turns holding her. We quickly decided to just head back to the room at that point so that we could at least beat the crowd out of the park.

Since then, Disney has stopped assigning tables and I've also read reports that tables are now set up against the rail so there is no place for people to stand up against them. I think I would prefer this to the experience we had before, so that I could stay seated at my table during the show without having to worry about someone standing in front of me. I've also read that it's more or less acceptable for one person to hold a party's place in line until check-in, which I'd be willing to do so that we could get a table closer to the railing.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Hi @beesly !

It seems illogical that people would pay a premium to have a seat for Wishes, and then they'd let people stand at the rail and block the view, so probably good that they put tables at the rail! Still not sure if tables are reserved or not at this point, mixed responses - maybe I'll call. I emailed my TA about it, but haven't heard back...if I'm camping at either place, not sure it's worth it...

I've been there with the holding the sleeping princess, or sleeping sack of potatoes as the soon become! Exhausting!