Love fireworks and night time shows but I am SO over these dessert parties

[OfCourseTheresAlwaysMyWay]

I have never understood this idea that dessert parties are the "only" away to get a good view of the fireworks without arriving ages before.

I was super worried in October because it was my first visit to the Halloween party and I wanted a great spot for the new fireworks show. I almost booked a dessert party, but figured I'd show up 30 minutes before since that's my usual regular fireworks MO.

Cut to getting stuck on Pirates and running toward the Hub with just a few minutes before showtime. I still got an excellent spot and that was on a sold out party night.

It's really not that difficult. Fireworks are big. Even bigger? The savings.

 

[DavidNYC]

While I've done a dessert party, your statement about not being able to view them if you don't do one is ridiculous. Never in 20 years have I had a problem finding a spot for Illuminations 15-20 minutes prior to show time (and the current show is ever easier without the globe) and while MK fireworks can be crowded on many days, I've had perfectly fine views as long as you don't get right behind that person who decides to put their kid on their shoulders 10 seconds before the show. The MK party one does make it a more relaxed experience but the 99% of viewers who aren't at the party are still getting the same show.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I’ve never done one desert party and have never had a problem ever getting a good view in.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We did the Frozen Party last week, and I am glad we got in before the price increase. The view was great, I loved having the seat, but the food/drink was a disappointing experience.

I really like the food and garden view of HEA. That one I may do again, but I will probably try to find a good viewing place before I book it again.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I get that feeling from the Poly when I stay there and watch the fireworks, mainly because of the convenience. I can jump in the pool or go back to my room right after.

I wouldn’t make a special trip to the Poly just to watch the fireworks though. The beach area can be crowded and the pathways by the beach can be clogged.

We’ve done it at poly a few times both from the beach and the pool - and the pool is by far our fave! You don’t get the music blasting but can faintly hear it from the beach and it’s just so relaxing. My extended family swore off the hub for fireworks after night one but we all loved them from the pool each night.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I’ve never done a dessert party but i’m thrilled to have one booked for our trip Xmas week the only night that will be showing HEA. With the newly extended park hours, I think MK will be mobbed that night.

 

[antmaril]

We (my son and I) attended our first MVMCP on 11/19 and went to the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party. We enjoyed it very much. I was so happy to have a seat for those spectacular fireworks. It had been a long day and I just wanted to have seat, eat some treats and watch the fireworks. For us, it was money well spent.

 

[Klayfish]

IMO, the dessert parties are one of the biggest wastes of money in all of WDW. As I've posted before, we take our kids to Goofy's Candy Shop in MK and let them pick any dessert(s) they want, then go stake out a good spot in the hub. It costs us a very tiny fraction of the dessert party and we never have an issue getting a good view. We don't drink alcohol, and I think it's silly they allow it in WDW, so it's no draw to us anyway.

 

[disneygirlsng]

IMO, the dessert parties are one of the biggest wastes of money in all of WDW. As I've posted before, we take our kids to Goofy's Candy Shop in MK and let them pick any dessert(s) they want, then go stake out a good spot in the hub. It costs us a very tiny fraction of the dessert party and we never have an issue getting a good view. We don't drink alcohol, and I think it's silly they allow it in WDW, so it's no draw to us anyway.

Not that it matters to you anyway, but there is no alcohol at the HEA dessert parties at MK. Though I'm one that feels that there should be more options for alcohol at MK at least.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Count me in as another who thinks the dessert parties are a massive waste of money. In 2014 I remember choosing a character breakfast instead of the dessert party, I couldn’t justify it at $25 a head . Now it would literally cost me about 50% less to take my family to the California Grill for dinner and watch the fireworks from there instead of the dessert party.

Epcot is easy to get a good spot, and extremely easy to get a halfway decent spot. MK can be more challenging especially when you’re looking at times of year that only show HEA once or twice a week but even then I would not say the dessert party is even close to a need.

 

[antmaril]

IMO, the dessert parties are one of the biggest wastes of money in all of WDW. As I've posted before, we take our kids to Goofy's Candy Shop in MK and let them pick any dessert(s) they want, then go stake out a good spot in the hub. It costs us a very tiny fraction of the dessert party and we never have an issue getting a good view. We don't drink alcohol, and I think it's silly they allow it in WDW, so it's no draw to us anyway.

There was no alcohol at the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just FYI, starting 2/1/20 the Tomorrowland Terrace and After Fireworks versions of the MK/HEA dessert party will include beer/wine.

 

[Searc]

This has NEVER been my experience. We've never ever shown up hours before (or really even minutes before) a fireworks show at the MK, and always just stood on Main Street within minutes of it starting. I can't ever remember people actually waiting more than 20 minutes or so in a spot for the fireworks in MK. Parade yes, fireworks, no. Also, the view for the people at the party is inferior to the view I've always had over the years - straight down Main Street!

When was the last time you tried to watch fireworks at MK?

 

[disneydreamer1980]

While the party’s not absolutely necessary, we do it once each trip because I’m one who stresses about not getting a good view even though logically I know we can. So the party takes that stress away, and that’s worth it to me. And I’ll be arriving at the Poly in 2 days (yay!!!) and I will be watching the fireworks from the beach and feeling very much warm and tingly, and probably crying.

 

[joyjoy]

I get that feeling from the Poly when I stay there and watch the fireworks, mainly because of the convenience. I can jump in the pool or go back to my room right after.

I wouldn’t make a special trip to the Poly just to watch the fireworks though. The beach area can be crowded and the pathways by the beach can be clogged.

We'll be staying at the Poly next fall, so no special trip. Our DVC home is Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[joyjoy]

Just FYI, starting 2/1/20 the Tomorrowland Terrace and After Fireworks versions of the MK/HEA dessert party will include beer/wine.

Hmm, did not know this. This could change things....

 

[SillySallySews]

Our last three trips we’ve stayed at Poly, GF, and CR, and we watched MK fireworks from our balcony every night on those trips. For me it is not the same as viewing them in the park. Watching them from in front of the castle always made me very emotional, watching from the balcony with the music on the TV doesn’t do that. But the room view is still SO MUCH BETTER because as soon as it’s over we put the kids to bed and have a cocktail on the balcony! I’ll take that over fighting the crowds any day. The dessert parties are not worth it IMO, especially not in Epcot. No one in my family wants to gorge themselves on sweets that late and I’m not paying that premium just for a view, especially not when a view that is just as good can be found anywhere around the lagoon.

 

[sdk1231]

It is so interesting to hear everyone's excellent points of view. I feel that these dessert parties offer value to people for different reasons and are an expense to be considered along with all of the other (very high) expenses at WDW. I have done the MK Tomorrowland Terrace seated party, the MK Plaza Garden View standing party and the Epcot Frozen Ever After party. In each case, the parties were selected during extremely busy times of year, New Years Eve and Christmas. At those times, the parties were essential to me having a good time, and were an excellent "value" at times, as follows:

1. During busy times, the parties are almost a "must" for me. I had heart surgery some time back, love the MK, love the holidays, love fireworks and yet I can't physically handle many many hours on my feet in the midst of crowd mayhem. But I'm not going to give it up! Ha ha. As such, I go in late afternoon, enjoy the MK, have an early dinner, continue to enjoy the MK, and then (very gratefully) retreat to Tomorrowland Terrace with my table and chair, coffee, a bit of dessert, fun atmosphere, and >>dedicated bathroom<<. From my TT "perch" up above the crowd, watching the fireworks is awesome. I can catch my breath, relax, rejuvenate, without feeling that I have to leave the park because I'm "done in". The Plaza Garden standing view is the better view... but... you're standing. Plaza is great for families with kids who can kind of spread out and move around without fear of the kids getting lost. My teens prefer Plaza view. We all loved the Frozen Ever After party (crowded Spring Break week). It was fun, better food/drink, the party had great savory options, veggies/dip, etc. the view of Illuminations was perfect, and riding the Tier 1 Frozen ride afterward was a bonus. No dedicated bathroom. I would not do it for Epcot Forever (which is a temporary fill-in show).

2. Is the cost high? Yes. But I WOULD do a dessert party again at certain times. Examples of other "high cost" items that I would NOT do again include: Cinderella's Royal Table, Ohana, the Snow White Dinner at Artist Point (Wilderness lodge). From my perspective, those were once and done. CRT I enjoyed. Ohana and Snow White (I can't remember it's actual name) I did not enjoy. I would trade those pricey dinners for a quick serve dinner + dessert party in an instant. Plus, those dinners are so looooong. You pay all that money to be at Disney and then spend 1-2 hours sitting in a restaurant? Hmm. Time is money. With dessert parties, you're in the park, and you're part of the whole park ambiance.

3. During "regular" visits, I don't do the parties. Example: This past Oct, Halloween party #1, I walked right up to the Partners statue just before showtime. Halloween party #2, I got a table out front of the Plaza and had an awesome seated view. Kids grabbed ice cream from the parlor. Some of the projections were obstructed, but I don't really care about watching every detail of the projections. I prefer more of the "overall view" of the show. The downside of the projections is that you can almost accidentally find yourself watching them like you'd watch a TV, and if you do that, you somewhat miss the "overall effect". Also in Oct, my family and I watched HEA from a hammock on the beach at the Poly and thought it was great, even though we couldn't see any of the projection detail. I've also watched from the boat dock at the Grand Floridian, excellent view.

 

[joyjoy]

. Examples of other "high cost" items that I would NOT do again include: Cinderella's Royal Table, Ohana, the Snow White Dinner at Artist Point (Wilderness lodge). From my perspective, those were once and done. CRT I enjoyed. Ohana and Snow White (I can't remember it's actual name) I did not enjoy. I would trade those pricey dinners for a quick serve dinner + dessert party in an instant. Plus, those dinners are so looooong. You pay all that money to be at Disney and then spend 1-2 hours sitting in a restaurant? Hmm. Time is money. With dessert parties, you're in the park, and you're part of the whole park ambiance.
.

Excellent point, as were all your other comments about the parties. We don't go during super busy times (Well. It's ALL busy now, but you know what I mean). I think we'll only do a dessert party for HEA if we forgo an expensive TS experience. Our group is me, adult daughter and 6 y.o. G-baby so those 2 hour dinners are a time suck and a TOTAL waste of money for the bread and grapes (only) that my snowflake will eat. Thanks!

 

[sdk1231]

Excellent point, as were all your other comments about the parties. We don't go during super busy times (Well. It's ALL busy now, but you know what I mean). I think we'll only do a dessert party for HEA if we forgo an expensive TS experience. Our group is me, adult daughter and 6 y.o. G-baby so those 2 hour dinners are a time suck and a TOTAL waste of money for the bread and grapes (only) that my snowflake will eat. Thanks!

The expensive TS are hard to justify with little ones, because you're right - they eat a few grapes, some bread, maybe some mac & cheese if you're at a buffet. On the other hand, your snowflake would love having a bit of room to roam during the Tomorrowland Terrace dessert party, and mom and grandma would probably love having a dedicated space to sit back and let grandbaby move around.