Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Holiday Dessert Party Seating?

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I see that there will be banquet-style seating with parties potentially seated with other parties. Party outdoors.

1st Question: Is the seating assigned ahead of time, or is this one where we should line up earlier to get a "good" table?

2nd Question: Are some tables really better than others, or does it not much matter for this offering?

 

[Best Aunt]

My understanding is that where you eat is different from where you watch the show. So I'm not sure why you care where you sit to eat. Is your understanding different?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

My understanding is that where you eat is different from where you watch the show. So I'm not sure why you care where you sit to eat. Is your understanding different?

Is it? Honestly, I don't know!! This one is a first for us!

So do we eat one place and watch the show from another?? I thought when it said it was outdoors, that it was more like the SW fireworks dessert party used to be years ago, where you ate and viewed from the same location. Total assumption on my part.

Would love to know from people who have done this party what to expect.

 

[Best Aunt]

I saw this from last year and it talks about being escorted to a special viewing area.

http://land.allears.net/blogs/guestblog/2016/11/jingle_bell_jingle_bam_dessert_1.html

 

[Best Aunt]

Also this from last year:

http://www.mousesteps.com/denises-c...-bell-jingle-bam-holiday-dessert-party-review

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thanks for sharing those, @Best Aunt! Wonder if anything has changed for this year... ...??

 

[rpb718]

We were escorted to the viewing area prior to the show last year. The party was held next to the GMR (rip) building. The reserved viewing area is much smaller than the area used for the dessert party. Also, I don't believe there was any seating - just the high tables - but I could be wrong.

 

[karrit2000]

We attended the Party Sunday night. The seating is in the courtyard in front of the Chinese Theater where all the handprints are. Prior to Movie Magic they escorted us to the private viewing area which is what's left of the raised area where the Sorcerer's Hat used to be directly in front of the theater. For the dessert portion there were about 75 small tables for 4 set up with chairs for everyone in the courtyard area. Some were moved together for larger parties. We were a party of 2 & had a table to ourselves with 4 seats. Our Party wasn't sold out so it seemed that each party attending got their own table. The tables were pre-assigned so no need to arrive early to choose a spot. When we checked in around 5:40PM we were told to come back right after 6PM to get our photos with Goofy rather than waiting for our pre-assigned later time slot during the actual party so we were able to get our photos before the party began, then find & our seats hit the food & drink spots before everyone else got there. Party was scheduled to start at 6:30PM. As for some tables being better than others, the area is closed off to everyone else and there were 2 Dessert Stations, 2 Savory Stations, A Bar, the Nitro Truffle Station and a non-alcoholic beverage station with canned sodas, Coffee, Tea & some other pre-mixed sweet alcohol free drinks. Not sure if there was cocoa available there but there were some flavored syrups for the coffee. There was Cocoa at the Bar that they used for the mixed drinks & they ran out of the cocoa before I got my last drink before the show. The Dessert & Savory stations both had the same items available so you could go to either one. The only difference for the dessert stations was one had cut outs from Prep & Landing of Lanny & Wayne & the other had Magee & Thrasher, the food was all the same at both. Because our party wasn't anywhere near sold out there was plenty of room in the viewing location for everybody so most people sat on the ground for both Movie Magic & JBJB.

 

[Best Aunt]

We attended the Party Sunday night. The seating is in the courtyard in front of the Chinese Theater where all the handprints are. Prior to Movie Magic they escorted us to the private viewing area which is what's left of the raised area where the Sorcerer's Hat used to be directly in front of the theater. For the dessert portion there were about 75 small tables for 4 set up with chairs for everyone in the courtyard area. Some were moved together for larger parties. We were a party of 2 & had a table to ourselves with 4 seats. Our Party wasn't sold out so it seemed that each party attending got their own table. The tables were pre-assigned so no need to arrive early to choose a spot. When we checked in around 5:40PM we were told to come back right after 6PM to get our photos with Goofy rather than waiting for our pre-assigned later time slot during the actual party so we were able to get our photos before the party began, then find & our seats hit the food & drink spots before everyone else got there. Party was scheduled to start at 6:30PM. As for some tables being better than others, the area is closed off to everyone else and there were 2 Dessert Stations, 2 Savory Stations, A Bar, the Nitro Truffle Station and a non-alcoholic beverage station with canned sodas, Coffee, Tea & some other pre-mixed sweet alcohol free drinks. Not sure if there was cocoa available there but there were some flavored syrups for the coffee. There was Cocoa at the Bar that they used for the mixed drinks & they ran out of the cocoa before I got my last drink before the show. The Dessert & Savory stations both had the same items available so you could go to either one. The only difference for the dessert stations was one had cut outs from Prep & Landing of Lanny & Wayne & the other had Magee & Thrasher, the food was all the same at both. Because our party wasn't anywhere near sold out there was plenty of room in the viewing location for everybody so most people sat on the ground for both Movie Magic & JBJB.

Thank you for posting!

Can you tell me what the Savory food was?

I booked this for my brother's family because my nieces want to do it (and I am the Best Aunt in the world). But my brother doesn't eat sweets in the evening, so I would like to be able to tell him what will be there for him to eat.

(His wife and I already told him that they are doing this for my nieces and he can stand there and eat nothing for all we care, but I thought perhaps a more polite, helpful answer to him would be appropriate.)

 

[FastPasser.]

Non- menu changes from last year's party are that tables are preassigned, the viewing area is now on the raised area at Center Stage and viewing of the "Disney Movie Magic" projection show is included.
Just a FYI. It's banquet-style seating and Guests may be placed with other parties. Let the check-in host know if this is not acceptable.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We were escorted to the viewing area prior to the show last year. The party was held next to the GMR (rip) building. The reserved viewing area is much smaller than the area used for the dessert party. Also, I don't believe there was any seating - just the high tables - but I could be wrong.

This year it says: "Banquet-style seating will be available and Guests may be placed with other parties."

That sounds different than high tables to me... could be wrong, or maybe they've changed it??

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We attended the Party Sunday night. The seating is in the courtyard in front of the Chinese Theater where all the handprints are. Prior to Movie Magic they escorted us to the private viewing area which is what's left of the raised area where the Sorcerer's Hat used to be directly in front of the theater. For the dessert portion there were about 75 small tables for 4 set up with chairs for everyone in the courtyard area. Some were moved together for larger parties. We were a party of 2 & had a table to ourselves with 4 seats. Our Party wasn't sold out so it seemed that each party attending got their own table. The tables were pre-assigned so no need to arrive early to choose a spot. When we checked in around 5:40PM we were told to come back right after 6PM to get our photos with Goofy rather than waiting for our pre-assigned later time slot during the actual party so we were able to get our photos before the party began, then find & our seats hit the food & drink spots before everyone else got there. Party was scheduled to start at 6:30PM. As for some tables being better than others, the area is closed off to everyone else and there were 2 Dessert Stations, 2 Savory Stations, A Bar, the Nitro Truffle Station and a non-alcoholic beverage station with canned sodas, Coffee, Tea & some other pre-mixed sweet alcohol free drinks. Not sure if there was cocoa available there but there were some flavored syrups for the coffee. There was Cocoa at the Bar that they used for the mixed drinks & they ran out of the cocoa before I got my last drink before the show. The Dessert & Savory stations both had the same items available so you could go to either one. The only difference for the dessert stations was one had cut outs from Prep & Landing of Lanny & Wayne & the other had Magee & Thrasher, the food was all the same at both. Because our party wasn't anywhere near sold out there was plenty of room in the viewing location for everybody so most people sat on the ground for both Movie Magic & JBJB.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!!! SO HELPFUL!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Non- menu changes from last year's party are that tables are preassigned, the viewing area is now on the raised area at Center Stage and viewing of the "Disney Movie Magic" projection show is included.
Just a FYI. It's banquet-style seating and Guests may be placed with other parties. Let the check-in host know if this is not acceptable.

Do you know what time people are allowed to make their way to the reserved viewing area? Can we do so earlier, or do we have to wait to be led there?

 

[FastPasser.]

This year it says: "Banquet-style seating will be available and Guests may be placed with other parties."
That sounds different than high tables to me... could be wrong, or maybe they've changed it??

Last year's party started off with a combination of hi-boy tables and regular tables, but Guests were arriving way too early in order to get a table with seats. It was kinda crazy. By about the 3rd party, it was changed so that every one got a table with seating. Guests still arrived early for some reason, and this year tables are pre-assigned.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Last year's party started off with a combination of hi-boy tables and regular tables, but Guests were arriving way too early in order to get a table with seats. It was kinda crazy. By about the 3rd party, it was changed so that every one got a table with seating. Guests still arrived early for some reason, and this year tables are pre-assigned.

If there's any feedback I can give about ALL of these parties, it's that we LOVE LOVE LOVE reserved seating!!!!

There's enough waiting in lines in WDW. It's so nice to know that you really only need to show up a short time before. If I'm going to show up an hour ahead, maybe I'll skip the party and just stake out a regular spot!

 

[FastPasser.]

If there's any feedback I can give about ALL of these parties, it's that we LOVE LOVE LOVE reserved seating!

Although it's clearly stated on the party webpage, the most often heard comment at the parties was the lack of seating. But there is a cost involved in providing chairs and that's reflected in the higher admission price

If I'm going to show up an hour ahead, maybe I'll skip the party and just stake out a regular spot!

It works for thousands of people every night.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It works for thousands of people every night.

Indeed. But I am paying to avoid that with such a party. At least that's a huge part of the value proposition for our family.

We stopped doing tomorrowland terrace when they stopped reserved seating. Think the frozen party is infinitely better given that there is reserved seating. It's a key thing for us and something we will pay more for.

 

[jlundeen]

Indeed. But I am paying to avoid that with such a party. At least that's a huge part of the value proposition for our family.

We stopped doing tomorrowland terrace when they stopped reserved seating. Think the frozen party is infinitely better given that there is reserved seating. It's a key thing for us and something we will pay more for.

We did the MK TTFW party on our visit two weeks ago...we were a party of two, and had assigned seating on the rail. Unfortunately, because much of the show is projections, much of it is obstructed by the trees. Plus, food was mediocre at best - along with cups of beverages, rather than any cans/bottles (I'm assuming to resolve issue of folks grabbing and taking for later...)

Last year, we did the JBJB and MK TTFW - the food options at both were terrific... a nice balance of sweet and savory...

This year we did SW dessert party and MK TTFW - not as good as our experience last year, and not sure they were worth the cost - except that with MK TTFW, there was seating. We did snag the benches in the SW Launch bay, but the tables in the party area were the high-boy, standing only.

I'm coming again in March with a different group of folks.... not sure if we will do either party again.

 

[Best Aunt]

PP who attended said this: "The seating is in the courtyard in front of the Chinese Theater where all the handprints are. Prior to Movie Magic they escorted us to the private viewing area which is what's left of the raised area where the Sorcerer's Hat used to be directly in front of the theater."

I assume that means the reserved seating is for the part where you eat - NOT the part where you watch the show. I assume you stand during the part where you watch the show.

But I think other PPs assume that you watch the show from the assigned seat where you eat. That would be completely different.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

But I think other PPs assume that you watch the show from the assigned seat where you eat. That would be completely different.

That's how the SW fireworks dessert party was many moons ago (though they were standing stables that were not reserved, you did watch from where you ate). That's how Frozen is now -- best of all possible worlds: reserved seating and you watch where you eat.

But yes -- for this one it's another party where you eat one place then view from another. I don't like that as much, but I understand that the space may dictate this at DHS.