FeralCatRogue
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 4, 2014
- Messages
- 1,178
I've never done a desert party in Hollywood Studios before so when I got the park I asked where I went to check in and was pointed to guest relations. After waiting in line for a bit I was told that the check in was actually in the back by the globe at the end of the corridor of lights. We were told you could check in about an hour before at 7:30, but would be let in to sit down at about 15 to 8pm. When we arrived back there at about 7 and found one of the side streets of lights blocked off, since we were trying to get the passholder stuff we headed there and were told it sold out “months ago.” They did have the green long sleeve shirts in numerous sizes that were not the passholder ones.
At 7:30 we lined up in a huge line behind the globe where you were given a table placard with a assigned table number on it. Each table sat about 10 people in a circle so you ate with people you do not know. They also give you a large sticker in the shape of a light in a color that corresponds to the table cloth color inside for your seating. The sheet the stick comes on is your ticket to turn in for your souvenir. Odd thing was that sticker still said desert party and the ticket still said fleece blanket. At this time we were told to wait and come back at 8:30 since the 6pm party was still inside. The 6pm party was finally asked to leave at around 8pm and they quickly cleaned and changed food and linens.
There was no line to enter at 8:30 everyone starting at about 8pm started packing in where the one entrance/exit was so you had a fight of people going out and in. I did not personally experience that cause when I saw the large crowd and the fact I had an assigned table I waited until 8:30. The tables were all around the the area the globe is in. The seating was hard plastic patio chairs like you would get in home depot, not the most comfortable things and I'd think if you were going and are pooh sized you could possibly have issues with them.
They had 4 station set up for food and two for drinks (one alcoholic and one not).
Each side had :
Station 1 : carving station with turkey stuffing and mashed potatoes.
Station 2 : braised greens, cheesy polenta, and shrimp with anduiolle sausage in a spicy cajun sauce.
Station 3 : mac and cheese with panko, pita bread, and a fish dish i believe was a white fish or salmon.
I am unsure if both side had the two desert station:
1 with a chocolate bundt cake, a cheesecake bite with raspberry, sugar cookies, macaroons, coconut chocolate thing.
1 with apple pie with sugar crust, and peach pie with pecan crust.
In the middle were the 2 drink stations:
One had non-alcoholic drinks including dasani water, coke and sprite, a weak apple cider, and another drink which i'm not sure about.
One had alcoholic drinks including a hard apple cider, rumchata, and yuengling (may be spelled wrong I do not drink) beer
It took about 30 minutes to actually get my food and get back down, they had people set up to bus the tables and they were quite fast to do this. They shrimp and polenta were delicious as well as the mac and cheese. The deserts were the same as the desert party it seemed and were tasty. The apple pie and peach pie were definitely the highlight deserts.
The souvenir was a light that though we were told they were all the same color was actually assorted. I got a red one while my mom got a clear one.
Now for the negatives:
There was nothing set up in case you needed to carry an additional plate (the plates are salad size not dinner plate) there was no way to set down a plate anywhere, but in the table area so it may be hard for people with children or those getting for multiple people who need to make multiple plates at once.
They had a small issue with the sprinkler system it went off while we ate and soaked the area people had to been told to park ecvs and wheelchairs. It also caused a lot of puddles in the entire outer ring of tables. They were shut off within i'm guessing 15 minutes and I did not get to see the results of the soaked ecv person and if it hurt the ecv or management did anything.
It was possible to get put behind the base of the globe and really impede your view of the lights. Strollers are not allowed inside and I only saw one ecv and manual wheelchair. They were also is not much space between tables I saw someone in a wheelchair having quite an issue getting to their table and the seating has you so packed in it was probably very closely packed for him. He was in a manual chair, so i'm guessing those in battery operated would have more issues. I'm not sure if you would even be able to fit in if you were using a reclining or standing wheelchair.
The biggest negative of all was the osborne lights were TURNED OFF at 10pm while the reception was still going on. If you are attending the 2nd party be sure to get all your light stuff in before you decide to go eat so you dont end up in the situation we did. I confirmed with guest relations that this is how it will be since the star wars fire works are set off from the same area at 11pm they turn them off and clear you out in time to start the show at 11pm. Which were pretty awesome they will tell you to go to hollywood blvd, but we had the best viewing from behind I believe its studio catering co the lights were all off so I could not see the signage, but it said "studio something" was not long after we left the lights after passing tatooine traders.
In regards to price, I do not believe this was worth the $99. There were benches and seating arrangements outside the reception area that anyone could use and get the same view for free. In essence you were only paying for a buffet and the shadowbox, so if that is worth the $99 for you then it may be a good thing, but if you only want to go bask in the lights, its quite easy to do so. We spent the hour and a half before hand sitting outside the gated area and the view was just as nice as inside.
At 7:30 we lined up in a huge line behind the globe where you were given a table placard with a assigned table number on it. Each table sat about 10 people in a circle so you ate with people you do not know. They also give you a large sticker in the shape of a light in a color that corresponds to the table cloth color inside for your seating. The sheet the stick comes on is your ticket to turn in for your souvenir. Odd thing was that sticker still said desert party and the ticket still said fleece blanket. At this time we were told to wait and come back at 8:30 since the 6pm party was still inside. The 6pm party was finally asked to leave at around 8pm and they quickly cleaned and changed food and linens.
There was no line to enter at 8:30 everyone starting at about 8pm started packing in where the one entrance/exit was so you had a fight of people going out and in. I did not personally experience that cause when I saw the large crowd and the fact I had an assigned table I waited until 8:30. The tables were all around the the area the globe is in. The seating was hard plastic patio chairs like you would get in home depot, not the most comfortable things and I'd think if you were going and are pooh sized you could possibly have issues with them.
They had 4 station set up for food and two for drinks (one alcoholic and one not).
Each side had :
Station 1 : carving station with turkey stuffing and mashed potatoes.
Station 2 : braised greens, cheesy polenta, and shrimp with anduiolle sausage in a spicy cajun sauce.
Station 3 : mac and cheese with panko, pita bread, and a fish dish i believe was a white fish or salmon.
I am unsure if both side had the two desert station:
1 with a chocolate bundt cake, a cheesecake bite with raspberry, sugar cookies, macaroons, coconut chocolate thing.
1 with apple pie with sugar crust, and peach pie with pecan crust.
In the middle were the 2 drink stations:
One had non-alcoholic drinks including dasani water, coke and sprite, a weak apple cider, and another drink which i'm not sure about.
One had alcoholic drinks including a hard apple cider, rumchata, and yuengling (may be spelled wrong I do not drink) beer
It took about 30 minutes to actually get my food and get back down, they had people set up to bus the tables and they were quite fast to do this. They shrimp and polenta were delicious as well as the mac and cheese. The deserts were the same as the desert party it seemed and were tasty. The apple pie and peach pie were definitely the highlight deserts.
The souvenir was a light that though we were told they were all the same color was actually assorted. I got a red one while my mom got a clear one.
Now for the negatives:
There was nothing set up in case you needed to carry an additional plate (the plates are salad size not dinner plate) there was no way to set down a plate anywhere, but in the table area so it may be hard for people with children or those getting for multiple people who need to make multiple plates at once.
They had a small issue with the sprinkler system it went off while we ate and soaked the area people had to been told to park ecvs and wheelchairs. It also caused a lot of puddles in the entire outer ring of tables. They were shut off within i'm guessing 15 minutes and I did not get to see the results of the soaked ecv person and if it hurt the ecv or management did anything.
It was possible to get put behind the base of the globe and really impede your view of the lights. Strollers are not allowed inside and I only saw one ecv and manual wheelchair. They were also is not much space between tables I saw someone in a wheelchair having quite an issue getting to their table and the seating has you so packed in it was probably very closely packed for him. He was in a manual chair, so i'm guessing those in battery operated would have more issues. I'm not sure if you would even be able to fit in if you were using a reclining or standing wheelchair.
The biggest negative of all was the osborne lights were TURNED OFF at 10pm while the reception was still going on. If you are attending the 2nd party be sure to get all your light stuff in before you decide to go eat so you dont end up in the situation we did. I confirmed with guest relations that this is how it will be since the star wars fire works are set off from the same area at 11pm they turn them off and clear you out in time to start the show at 11pm. Which were pretty awesome they will tell you to go to hollywood blvd, but we had the best viewing from behind I believe its studio catering co the lights were all off so I could not see the signage, but it said "studio something" was not long after we left the lights after passing tatooine traders.
In regards to price, I do not believe this was worth the $99. There were benches and seating arrangements outside the reception area that anyone could use and get the same view for free. In essence you were only paying for a buffet and the shadowbox, so if that is worth the $99 for you then it may be a good thing, but if you only want to go bask in the lights, its quite easy to do so. We spent the hour and a half before hand sitting outside the gated area and the view was just as nice as inside.
It was advertised a beef dish would also be served. True? or did it get omitted? Although it would be neat to have the light as a souvenir, it is not enough to tempt me into the cold, wet, rain-soaked crowds 
when the final "lights out" will already be a bittersweet 
moment. (Especially if they go out before we expected!) 
for your review FCR!
