MK "Happily Ever After" Dessert Party (Parties) Discussion

[musika]

I don't know if I should post this question here or somewhere else, but what do you do for dinner the night you go to HEA dessert party?? The reservation says it starts at 7:45. Do you eat something at a QS in the park before you go? Do an early TS restaurant along the monorail line? We are staying at POP Century and I'm trying to make the best plans for the evening! Thanks!

Popping in with my review from 4/13!

We also stayed at Pop. We RD'ed the EMH and left the park around noonish. Went back via bus to Pop, all had naps, quick pool time for oldest little, then hopped back on a bus around 5ish. We just had a light park snack and no lunch/dinner really. I would keep your plans a bit loose rather than book an ADR in case you find you aren't hungry after all. Mobile order at CS is a wonderful thing.

Ok, onto the review...

We booked Plaza viewing, showed up just before 7:45 and were let in immediately. Huge perk to getting there first is getting your pick of table for eating, and getting to hit the buffet with minimal lines. We also have 2 kids that can be slow-ish eaters so I would have felt really rushed showing up any later. Only 15-20 min later the line was significant. We tried just about everything including the cheese and juice. My personal faves were the smores tart and the brownie cheesecake. The cupcakes were super cute but kind of ho-hum flavour wise. I also loved the chocolate dipped strawberries. Around 8:30 we walked out via escort to the plaza area. Thank you disboards for the tip on the back rail - going right to the back gave our kids a perfect view once lifted up (in arms, not on shoulders. hehe).

IMO if you are crowd-averse (like my darling DH), booking this party is a no-brainer. We didn't line up and we had an absolutely fantastic view. One of the best days of our trip.

 

[disny_luvr]

Popping in with my review from 4/13!

We also stayed at Pop. We RD'ed the EMH and left the park around noonish. Went back via bus to Pop, all had naps, quick pool time for oldest little, then hopped back on a bus around 5ish. We just had a light park snack and no lunch/dinner really. I would keep your plans a bit loose rather than book an ADR in case you find you aren't hungry after all. Mobile order at CS is a wonderful thing.

Ok, onto the review...

We booked Plaza viewing, showed up just before 7:45 and were let in immediately. Huge perk to getting there first is getting your pick of table for eating, and getting to hit the buffet with minimal lines. We also have 2 kids that can be slow-ish eaters so I would have felt really rushed showing up any later. Only 15-20 min later the line was significant. We tried just about everything including the cheese and juice. My personal faves were the smores tart and the brownie cheesecake. The cupcakes were super cute but kind of ho-hum flavour wise. I also loved the chocolate dipped strawberries. Around 8:30 we walked out via escort to the plaza area. Thank you disboards for the tip on the back rail - going right to the back gave our kids a perfect view once lifted up (in arms, not on shoulders. hehe).

IMO if you are crowd-averse (like my darling DH), booking this party is a no-brainer. We didn't line up and we had an absolutely fantastic view. One of the best days of our trip.

Thanks for the review. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m so glad I booked this for our June trip. I think it’s worth every penny just to avoid the crowds.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Popping in with my review from 4/13!

We also stayed at Pop. We RD'ed the EMH and left the park around noonish. Went back via bus to Pop, all had naps, quick pool time for oldest little, then hopped back on a bus around 5ish. We just had a light park snack and no lunch/dinner really. I would keep your plans a bit loose rather than book an ADR in case you find you aren't hungry after all. Mobile order at CS is a wonderful thing.

Ok, onto the review...

We booked Plaza viewing, showed up just before 7:45 and were let in immediately. Huge perk to getting there first is getting your pick of table for eating, and getting to hit the buffet with minimal lines. We also have 2 kids that can be slow-ish eaters so I would have felt really rushed showing up any later. Only 15-20 min later the line was significant. We tried just about everything including the cheese and juice. My personal faves were the smores tart and the brownie cheesecake. The cupcakes were super cute but kind of ho-hum flavour wise. I also loved the chocolate dipped strawberries. Around 8:30 we walked out via escort to the plaza area. Thank you disboards for the tip on the back rail - going right to the back gave our kids a perfect view once lifted up (in arms, not on shoulders. hehe).

IMO if you are crowd-averse (like my darling DH), booking this party is a no-brainer. We didn't line up and we had an absolutely fantastic view. One of the best days of our trip.

Thanks for the review.

We are going to do this on arrival night. I plan to arrive at 7:45 and be on the grass by 8:30 also. We did this in 2015 when it was a FP+. We absolutely loved it. I think it'll be worth the money.

2 more weeks until my 180 days!

 

[Cade387]

When we went last time you could sit on the back half wall/rail in front of crystal palace. Can you still do this and see? Before was before the dessert parties so I’m not sure?

We have folks who cannot sit on the ground but also probably aren’t going to stand the whole time. We pulled out stroller in front of the rail and they sat on the edge of it. Then those who could sit on the ground did so in front of the stroller.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Do they ever push back the start of HEA if they extend hours?

Right now they have MK closing at 9 pm with HEA closing at 9 pm also. If they extend hours do they usually keep HEA at the same time?

 

[Kristina G.]

Do they ever push back the start of HEA if they extend hours?

Right now they have MK closing at 9 pm with HEA closing at 9 pm also. If they extend hours do they usually keep HEA at the same time?

It depends on what they are extending the hours for...if it's for Extra Magic Hours then no, HEA will be at the same time - if they're extending the closing time of the park then HEA will be when the park closes. For example, at Christmas time MK closes at 11 or 12 depending on the night, HEA will be at the same time as park closing and EMH will be after the HEA show.

 

[ArielSRL]

It depends on what they are extending the hours for...if it's for Extra Magic Hours then no, HEA will be at the same time - if they're extending the closing time of the park then HEA will be when the park closes. For example, at Christmas time MK closes at 11 or 12 depending on the night, HEA will be at the same time as park closing and EMH will be after the HEA show.

That isn't always true. Last summer HEA was scheduled for 9, closing was scheduled for 10 and when they extended some days to 11, they never changed HEA.

 

[Kristina G.]

That isn't always true. Last summer HEA was scheduled for 9, closing was scheduled for 10 and when they extended some days to 11, they never changed HEA.

Yes I forgot about those occasions, sometimes they do extend hours last minute and they don't change the time of HEA. So I guess, just get pick up the time schedule when you enter the park and that will be the most accurate information.

 

[musika]

Do they ever push back the start of HEA if they extend hours?

Right now they have MK closing at 9 pm with HEA closing at 9 pm also. If they extend hours do they usually keep HEA at the same time?

Can only speak to our experience, but MK was extended to 10pm closing on our night, and HEA stayed at 9pm. The upside was that as everyone was leaving the park, we hopped on Winnie the Pooh, got an ice cream, then hopped in the queue for Peter Pan... left around 10:30 and got to catch the water pageant on our way to the bus. It was great!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Great!! Either way I'm sure we will enjoy it.

It's our arrival day and we get in very early (6 am flight so we land at 8:25 am). I'm hoping it stays at 9 pm but we plan on doing a nap if we start to get tired. I know it'll all work out!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Do they ever push back the start of HEA if they extend hours?

Right now they have MK closing at 9 pm with HEA closing at 9 pm also. If they extend hours do they usually keep HEA at the same time?

It would be very unusual for the HEA time to change if park hours change. Once things like dessert parties become bookable, you will pretty much never see a change as well. (I’m ignoring the 5 minute move they did earlier this year in that statement).

Of course anything is possible with entertainment schedules and the past is not always indicative of future results, but that’s pretty much how it works.

 

[ArielSRL]

Yes I forgot about those occasions, sometimes they do extend hours last minute and they don't change the time of HEA. So I guess, just get pick up the time schedule when you enter the park and that will be the most accurate information.

This was not a last minute extension.

 

[krysenchips]

Great!! Either way I'm sure we will enjoy it.

It's our arrival day and we get in very early (6 am flight so we land at 8:25 am). I'm hoping it stays at 9 pm but we plan on doing a nap if we start to get tired. I know it'll all work out!

I'm in the same boat! Our flight is a little bit later. We land about 9:45, but we are doing this on arrival day, which is our only MK day!

My travel partner is not big on crowds so we are doing this very different than I usually do!

I think it will be fun!

 

[Greg Lembrich]

I was finally able to figure out how to add some photos to my review from 2 weeks ago. HEA Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing Info: News: 5/28-180 days Now Bookable

I am not a good photographer, and they were taken with my Android, but they show (in my opinion) how good the view of HEA is from the Plaza Garden. The photos were taken while sitting on the ground (my daughter and I were in the front row of the Plaza Garden and I am 6'4", so did not want to block the view of those behind me).

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I was finally able to figure out how to add some photos to my review from 2 weeks ago. HEA Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing Info: News: 5/28-180 days Now Bookable

I am not a good photographer, and they were taken with my Android, but they show (in my opinion) how good the view of HEA is from the Plaza Garden. The photos were taken while sitting on the ground (my daughter and I were in the front row of the Plaza Garden and I am 6'4", so did not want to block the view of those behind me).

Awesome pics and great view. I can't wait to book this. Thirteen more days until ADR day!

 

[vetrik]

Can only speak to our experience, but MK was extended to 10pm closing on our night, and HEA stayed at 9pm. The upside was that as everyone was leaving the park, we hopped on Winnie the Pooh, got an ice cream, then hopped in the queue for Peter Pan... left around 10:30 and got to catch the water pageant on our way to the bus. It was great!

We just did the party on Saturday 4/21. A couple weeks before our trip they extended MK hours to close at 11 pm, but HEA stayed at 8:55 with a dessert party reservation time of 7:45. We have a 2.5 year old so we didn't stay after the fireworks, but I think it was easier to get out of the park and get a bus since the park was still open. A lot of people were still leaving, but at least not everyone! We took the walkway behind the Plaza restaurant, which I also think helped us get out of the park ahead of the largest crowds. We were able to get on the first bus back to POR.

We enjoyed the party. It was wonderful to go over to the viewing area 10 minutes before the show and still have a great view, and it was good for members of my party to be able to sit down to view it. I decided to book this after making ADRs, and the only night that really worked was also the night we had our BOG dinner. I couldn't even try to move that reservation to another night due to our plans, and I definitely wouldn't recommend doing a dinner like that before the party. We were pretty stuffed, and couldn't eat much at the party. My daughter wanted to eat everything, but got full after just a couple desserts. I would likely do the party again, but probably book just a later lunch reservation.

 

[Runnsally]

Hi, all. I know I’m getting into crystal ball territory here, but any thoughts on a ballpark date when the next series of HEA dessert party dates (late Oct/Nov and onward) will be released? Thanks!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hi, all. I know I’m getting into crystal ball territory here, but any thoughts on a ballpark date when the next series of HEA dessert party dates (late Oct/Nov and onward) will be released? Thanks!

Pretty sure they’re currently being added on a rolling 180 day basis at the moment, just like regular ADRs. That of course could stop at any time.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I'm kinda stoked for this, we did this in October last year, MK was MOBBED, and it was perfect for us....it was a 7:45 ADR, for a 9pm HEA....we arrived at about 7:35-7:40 and there were a TON of people in there already....we went over at around 8:30ish, and we didn't have much "relaxing" time in the dessert area before we felt like we should move over to the garden....

but we just booked it for our September trip, and the start time is 6:30 for an 8pm HEA....I am glad we have more time to enjoy, we will still get there 10 min early, but then more time for desserts! YAY!

 

[kat_lh]

I'm kinda stoked for this, we did this in October last year, MK was MOBBED, and it was perfect for us....it was a 7:45 ADR, for a 9pm HEA....we arrived at about 7:35-7:40 and there were a TON of people in there already....we went over at around 8:30ish, and we didn't have much "relaxing" time in the dessert area before we felt like we should move over to the garden....

but we just booked it for our September trip, and the start time is 6:30 for an 8pm HEA....I am glad we have more time to enjoy, we will still get there 10 min early, but then more time for desserts! YAY!

Did you have to stand up with it being crowded like that or could you have sat to see the fireworks?