I'm contemplating booking the after party for our last night. I know it's still new and not a ton of info, but can anyone share what the timing looked like? The night I'm looking at has an 8:30 HEA on he schedule. The after party ADR booking is 7:30. I'm assuming, from previous posts that this means I can check in any time after 7:30 and go to the viewing area whenever I'm ready? And then afterward you go to the dessert portion and this is where I'm curious how long that part lasts? Presumably I can eat as fast as I want if I want to rush, but what if I want to linger, how long after you get to the dessert portion to they start to shut it down?
 
I know that the answer to this is probably no, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to check. I am worried about my 4 and 7 yo being able to see - I cannot physically lift them and I don't want to block others anyway. Do children usually get a decent view and can they stand on the black iron fence, leaning back on an adult?
 
My dad is going to more than likely have an ECV if we still go over Christmas week. Having read Josh's review and the reviews on here, I'm almost wondering if it's worth saving the money and just doing the handicap area. Will we be able to stand with him during the show?
 
My dad is going to more than likely have an ECV if we still go over Christmas week. Having read Josh's review and the reviews on here, I'm almost wondering if it's worth saving the money and just doing the handicap area. Will we be able to stand with him during the show?

Just an opinion based on what I've read so far, but I think the reports of the handicap area outside the dessert party area being pretty open with space are not on a peak day like Christmas week. Those really high peak days are when the dessert parties really have value, especially if you are doing it as much for the show viewing as you are the desserts.
 


Just an opinion based on what I've read so far, but I think the reports of the handicap area outside the dessert party area being pretty open with space are not on a peak day like Christmas week. Those really high peak days are when the dessert parties really have value, especially if you are doing it as much for the show viewing as you are the desserts.

That's true. We are hoping/trying to do it on 12/30 for the midnight show... so we think it'll have a ton of value. All things considered... we're not looking so much for a "saved" spot, as much as not having to stake out a spot on Main Street at 10:30pm. We've been there, done that... we know someone is gonna come jump in front of us... the dessert party is more to take the hassle out of staking out a spot... the desserts are definitely a perk, too
 
I know that the answer to this is probably no, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to check. I am worried about my 4 and 7 yo being able to see - I cannot physically lift them and I don't want to block others anyway. Do children usually get a decent view and can they stand on the black iron fence, leaning back on an adult?

Our kiddos are 9 and 6. We posted up on the back fence for our visit and neither had any problem being able to see the show. Now granted, I do have big kids for their age and it wasn't too terribly crowded when we went, but they were able to see enough to holler at me when different characters popped up on the castle. LOL. I don't know about standing on the fence itself, but there is a concrete border that the fence is installed in that is a few inches high that they could stand on and hold on to the fence for support?
 
Today was my first time booking adrs this morning and I was hoping to book the after party for the 12/12. I wasn’t able to find any availability when I looked. Could this be sold out already or perhaps it is called something else? I’m assuming these are available at 180 days?
 


Today was my first time booking adrs this morning and I was hoping to book the after party for the 12/12. I wasn’t able to find any availability when I looked. Could this be sold out already or perhaps it is called something else? I’m assuming these are available at 180 days?
If December 12 is a Christmas party night, they won't have the regular dessert party.
 
I hate to be the person who asks questions that have probably been answered somewhere in the thread already, but I've tried searching and can't find it, sorry!

I have two questions: First, what happens if it rains and they cancel HEA? Are you just out your $$$? Second, do these events pretty much always fill up? Is there much chance of booking closer to the date, like, a day or two before? Or is that basically impossible?

Thanks!
 
I hate to be the person who asks questions that have probably been answered somewhere in the thread already, but I've tried searching and can't find it, sorry!

I have two questions: First, what happens if it rains and they cancel HEA? Are you just out your $$$? Second, do these events pretty much always fill up? Is there much chance of booking closer to the date, like, a day or two before? Or is that basically impossible?

Thanks!

This is from the Disney website about the Plaza Garden dessert party:

  • Please note that fireworks are not guaranteed as part of this experience.
  • On rare occasions, evening fireworks may be rescheduled or canceled.
So, yes, you would be paying just for the desserts if the fireworks are cancelled. But they are almost never cancelled just for rain. It would take a much more significant weather event - maybe heavy lightning in the area - to cancel the fireworks.

The after fireworks party is very new, so it's likely that it isn't filling up yet because not that many people know about it. From what I've heard, it hasn't been that hard to book a pre-fireworks party pretty close to the date, so it's far from impossible. There's a theory that the after party was added because the before party wasn't using its capacity on a regular basis. Just a theory.
 
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Today was my first time booking adrs this morning and I was hoping to book the after party for the 12/12. I wasn’t able to find any availability when I looked. Could this be sold out already or perhaps it is called something else? I’m assuming these are available at 180 days?

Since that’s just outside the 180 day window, I wonder if they just haven’t loaded reservations yet (despite your +10 opening window). :confused3
 
This is from the Disney website about the Plaza Garden dessert party:

  • Please note that fireworks are not guaranteed as part of this experience.
  • On rare occasions, evening fireworks may be rescheduled or canceled.
So, yes, you would be paying just for the desserts if the fireworks are cancelled. But they are almost never cancelled just for rain. It would take a much more significant weather event - maybe heavy lightning in the area - to cancel the fireworks.

The after fireworks party is very new, so it's likely that it isn't filling up yet because not that many people know about it. From what I've heard, it hasn't been that hard to book a pre-fireworks party pretty close to the date, so it's far from impossible. There's a theory that the after party was added because the before party wasn't using its capacity on a regular basis. Just a theory.
Thanks. I did see that on Disney's site, but just wanted to confirm that meant you were out of luck (as far as fireworks go) should there be a cancellation.

Appreciate the help!
 
Thanks. I did see that on Disney's site, but just wanted to confirm that meant you were out of luck (as far as fireworks go) should there be a cancellation.

Appreciate the help!

Yeah, by the letter of the law you’d be out of luck. But like the PP said, HEA is rarely, if ever, flat out cancelled. Once fireworks are loaded - they need to go... so Disney will (usually) wait as long as needed.

If you do encounter a night where the show has a significant delay and you are unhappy with your dessert party experience because of it, it is not a bad idea to stop by Guest Relations on the way out if so inclined.
 
Today was my first time booking adrs this morning and I was hoping to book the after party for the 12/12. I wasn’t able to find any availability when I looked. Could this be sold out already or perhaps it is called something else? I’m assuming these are available at 180 days?

Again relying on what I have gathered from others, it seems that this particular dining event isn't always released 180 days out and may only be released a few months out. I believe it has been a bit inconsistent in that regard. And as another poster noted, if the 12th is a party (MVMCP) night, it wouldn't be available anyway to non-party guests.
 
I've done a dessert party before...but the thought occurred to me. Could you bring ziplocs and discretely save some desserts?
 
Today was my first time booking adrs this morning and I was hoping to book the after party for the 12/12. I wasn’t able to find any availability when I looked. Could this be sold out already or perhaps it is called something else? I’m assuming these are available at 180 days?

I was able to book 12/10 at 180+10. It doesn't look like there are any dates opened after the 10th right now.
 
I've done a dessert party before...but the thought occurred to me. Could you bring ziplocs and discretely save some desserts?
Definitely! We took a few collapsible containers and put some chocolate strawberries and fruit to take with us to the garden area. It worked out great!
 
We were planning on trying to get on Space Mountain after the before dessert garden party-cutting back through the terrace restaurant as a shortcut. Do you think we will still be able to do that with the newly scheduled after party going on? Not sure of the exact route…
Thank you for the help!
 
I am so thankful for this thread in helping me both to watch for when bookings opened for my date and with general information about the dessert party. So now it's time for me to give back with my review.

We attended the before fireworks dessert party on Sunday, June 10th. We had never attended a dessert party so have nothing to compare to. Fireworks were at 9:15 with a 10pm closing for MK this night. I had been checking to see how full my party might be, as well as the after fireworks party, and it appeared that it was not close to being sold out through checking the website for availability. However, while we were waiting in line to check in, some people wondered over and were wondering what was going on with the lines. A CM that was helping a little with line control informed them about the dessert party and when they asked about attending, she said she didn't think there was availability except for maybe the after fireworks party. Also, where we were seated seemed to be almost completely full, so maybe it was sold out after all?

Anyway, check in time was 7:45 and we got in line about 7:35. It took about 15-20 minutes of waiting before we were seated. Everything was yummy, and we especially enjoyed the new egg rolls and the sauce you can get with them. My husband and I even thought the spinach dip was pretty tasty. My favorite was making an ice cream sundae with a brownie, this is my very favorite dessert in general. Below are my two younger kiddos with the new s'mores dessert. It's a marshmallow on a stick that's been melted a bit and then dipped in chocolate and rolled in graham cracker crumbs. They said it was great! We had skipped dinner so we could pig out at the party and so we did eat a lot!! In fact, my family was really taking advantage of all the food and going back multiple times that we were one of the last families to be escorted out to the garden. This was fine by me because I didn't want to rush them, I wanted them to fill up and I wanted DH to be happy and eating a lot was making him happy! I had also brought ziplock baggies with me and I saved crackers, grapes, sugar cookies, and rice Krispy treats that we munched on later that night and the next day. We also each took a water bottle that they had available with the drinks.

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So, because we were one of the last to get to the garden, it was quite full, but it wasn't hard to find a spot at the back rail which is where I wanted us to be. I think it was about 8:45 or so when we got there. Here's a picture of what it looked like. (My phone says this picture was taken at 8:52.)

IMG_9181.JPG

Seems pretty crowded, but I didn't feel squished by any means and you can see there's still some larger open spots. It was exactly what I wanted, a spot that was reserved for us without us having to hold it down for an hour or more and then be packed in like sardines with strangers. Not to mention the fact that my oldest son, who has special needs and was pretty anxious about the fireworks, could just sit on the ground throughout the fireworks with out been trampled. There was a really big open spot in the back corner right near where we settled with a photo pass photographer. I took advantage and got a great picture of DH and I.

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Here are two of my favorite pictures I took during HEA.
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Overall, we really enjoyed the before fireworks dessert party and are happy we did it. It was a bit of a splurge for us, but we definitely found value in it and would consider doing it again for a future trip. Hope this review helps others!
 
I'm contemplating booking the after party for our last night. I know it's still new and not a ton of info, but can anyone share what the timing looked like? The night I'm looking at has an 8:30 HEA on he schedule. The after party ADR booking is 7:30. I'm assuming, from previous posts that this means I can check in any time after 7:30 and go to the viewing area whenever I'm ready? And then afterward you go to the dessert portion and this is where I'm curious how long that part lasts? Presumably I can eat as fast as I want if I want to rush, but what if I want to linger, how long after you get to the dessert portion to they start to shut it down?

Yes, you can check in whenever you want and head to the garden whenever you want. The CMs recommended no later than 15 minutes prior to showtime. Afterward, you go back to Tomorrowland Terrace and have 1 hour to enjoy your desserts.
 

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