If you could attend just one dessert party...

[Momtomouselover]

Which dessert party would you choose if you can only attend one? Symphony in the Stars at HS, illuminations at Epcot or Wishes at MK? Would you choose one at all? All pics, comments, etc. welcome! Thanks! I just can't decide. Right now we are leaning towards The Symphony in the Stars but not entirely decided.

 

[TeamSy]

Epcot for sure! I held a private one for my husbands birthday this year during our trip and it was beyond amazing! Those fireworks are hard to beat. I swear deep down I want to like wishes more but I just can't. It's illuminations.

 

[georgina]

Which dessert party would you choose if you can only attend one? Symphony in the Stars at HS, illuminations at Epcot or Wishes at MK? Would you choose one at all? All pics, comments, etc. welcome! Thanks! I just can't decide. Right now we are leaning towards The Symphony in the Stars but not entirely decided.

I would not do any of them. My cheapskate side thinks they are too much money for what you get.

 

[Raeven]

.

 

[CarrieR]

I've done Wishes a few times and except for crazy-crowded days like NYE, I'd say skip them all. They've doubled the price and reduced the offerings. It's just not worth it anymore.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

The wishes one was too busy for me. I would never do another dessert party until they offered an adults only version.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Wishes. Illuminations action moved their's to the side opening the prime spot for FP.

 

[davedmaine]

All of them are a terrible value (even by Disney standards)

 

[karrit2000]

My personal choice in order:
1) Symphony in the Stars
2) Illuminations
3) Wishes

The first two include alcoholic beverages but the Wishes one does not. I don't care for the viewing area or vantage point for the Wishes Dessert Party and even though it seems to have the biggest variety of desserts to choose from to me the others have better tasting choices and with the inclusion of the alcoholic beverages are a better deal IMO. If you want seating the only one that includes it is Wishes as the other two are Standing tables. Illuminations had always been my favorite fireworks other than Hallowishes but Symphony in the Stars is absolutely awesome and my new favorite. I enjoy Wishes but I don't find it enjoyable from the dessert party location as you can't see the fireworks or castle projections as well as from many other vantage points throughout the park. I didn't find it worth the money once they started raising the price and definitely wouldn't book it at the current price. To me the full effects for Wishes are best observed from anywhere on Main Street and up through the hub area. Tomorrowland Terrace is too far off to the side. My other two viewing areas of choice if I don't stake out a spot in front of the Castle hub area are either near the entrance to BOG or the boardwalk along the river in Frontierland (unfortunately part of this location is now a smoking area) but you miss the castle projections & Tinkerbell.

 

[soniam]

My personal choice in order:
1) Symphony in the Stars
2) Illuminations
3) Wishes

My ordering as well. In full disclosure, I haven't done the Symphony in the Stars one yet. We will do it in March. However, I have seen a lot of the pics and heard excellent reviews. Plus, I am a Star Wars fan. I wouldn't do the Wishes one again, even at the old prices. I would do Illuminations again though.

 

[hamilkm]

We actually really enjoyed the Wishes dessert party. Mainly because my mom hates being in the throng of people on Main Street watching the fireworks. She doesn't get in to the evening shows like I do. This way she has a place to sit, and I can enjoy Wishes. I haven't done the other parties because of no seating. I know mom would still complain about standing and waiting on the fireworks!

 

[saturn5]

My personal choice in order:
1) Symphony in the Stars
2) Illuminations
3) Wishes

I would have to agree on this as well. Since I haven't done the Symphony in the Stars yet, can't say much. When I did Illuminations November of 2014, it was enjoyable, and Illuminations is my least favorite of the shows. The desserts, viewing, and the alcohol made the price well worth it. Right now, the price for Wishes Dessert party is outrageously expensive, and the dessert options really aren't the best. Being a Star Wars fan, you can't go wrong with those fireworks from the Star Wars Weekends, Disney did good there. I just hope they didn't lack on that dessert party as well.

If you are just doing it to get a good spot for the fireworks, I would say it isn't worth the money. You could go spend that somewhere else and have a decent meal with it.

 

[Momtomouselover]

Thanks for the info. I have read all the reviews I can find. I'm going to look into the Symphony in the Stars but I decided the other two are a no go. I'm not 100% sure yet of the Symphony in the Stars one either though. Can you buy Star Wars cupcakes and cocktails at the park outside of the party? I might consider doing that and then find a spot to watch from outside of the party.

 

[karrit2000]

Thanks for the info. I have read all the reviews I can find. I'm going to look into the Symphony in the Stars but I decided the other two are a no go. I'm not 100% sure yet of the Symphony in the Stars one either though. Can you buy Star Wars cupcakes and cocktails at the park outside of the party? I might consider doing that and then find a spot to watch from outside of the party.

You should be able to get the cupcakes at various locations in the park. Not sure about the specialty drinks but during SWW they did have bars set up near some of the restaurants where you could buy SW themed beverages. Check at the entrances to Prime Time, Sci -Fi, the bar off the side by Studio Catering, near Mama Melrose and Backlot Express as those are where the Alcoholic drinks were sold during SWW as well as in Watto's Grotto. It's been reported the the Chewie Stein is available for purchase as is the BB-8 sipper at some snack locations. I haven't done Symphony in the Stars party yet but I really enjoyed the SWW dessert party so I have it booked for my trip later this week. You can usually get the cupcakes & drink cups at Starring Rolls but they normally close fairly early in the afternoon.

 

[CoasterAddict]

What we loved about the Star Wars party is that not all the food was sweet. There was cheese, and some amazing cheese-3PO crackers. The Chewbacca "stein" was also a fun perk. And Symphony in the Stars is my new favorite fireworks. Great score, and the choreography of the fireworks really helps tell the story.

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

You don't have it listed but the Wishes Ferrytale Cruise is really nice I'd put that right behind Symphony in the Stars. The Star Wars fireworks are amazing!

1). Symphony in the Stars
2). Wishes Ferrytale Cruise
3). Wishes dessert party

 

[loves to dive]

I've done the one at the MK before the price went up and even then was not thrilled with the view or the desserts so that would be a big ole no for me. As far as the others, I'm not a fan of the one at Epcot, I can't even remember the last time I watched it and we stay at YC/BC all the time. I've not seen the one at HS but I would just grab a drink to go from Prime Time and a cupcake if you must (I don't like cupcakes and am not coordinated enough to carry two items any way) and stake out a spot somewhere else.

 

[snowybelle]

They seem like a terrible value to me (for Wishes, I'd just as soon try to book CRT and watch Wishes from inside the castle and eat a full meal!) — but if I had to choose one, I'd choose Symphony in the Stars. Saw it two weeks ago and definitely my new favorite nighttime show!

 

[Momtomouselover]

Well I had decided to go for Symphony in the Stars dessert party but I guess if you snooze you lose! We can only do 3/19 and now it is showing no times available (when I asked about this earlier there was availability). Perhaps an opening will come but if not we will definitely show up for the firework show