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

[Cluelyss]

According to 2 different posters in the Lines app, EVERYONE will be in the same viewing area and they are splitting up how many tickets are being sold to not overcrowd the area from the 2 parties.
They both waited for a long time to get exact confirmation.

That makes sense... except that a number of these parties for end of May and during June have already had early Plaza viewing sold. Did they restrict those number of tickets, or are these people just going to suffer with a more crowded viewing area?

So for anyone else attending in June, you may remember the frustration we faced waited for them to open up dates beyond 5/27, which didn’t happen until 3/30. Pure speculation on my part, but given that they obviously had this new party in the works (which starts 5/28, coincidentally), I’m thinking they likely reduced the number of reservations for the “original” garden viewing to leave a potion for this “new” garden viewing. Whether it’s 50/50 or they ended up adding some increased capacity remains to be seen. But I think it’s very unlikely the headcount will be doubled. They were planning for this when the dates for 5/28 and beyond were opened and it was certainly the reason for the delay in availability. While the new menu is appealing, Disney knows most of us are paying for the view, and if they compromise that too much, they won’t sell these events at all.

 

[Cluelyss]

OK Silly question.....I am not seeing this under dining reservations and when I search nothing comes up. How do I find it??

It can be booked over the phone currently; online booking opens 5/24.

 

[mara512]

Not a silly question... it was just announced today. It’s not on Disney’s website yet.

Phew thank you. I thought maybe I was losing it

 

[whiporee]

We checked in early both times we did the HEA party.

I understand that, but your being let in early wasn't denigrating someone else's paid experience. If they let the post-show people in early, it works against the pre-show people, just like letting the BOG PPOs in line early would take away from the EMM guests.

I think everyone mingles in the Garden, and wristbands are checked at the Terrace "door."

 

[HappyGrape]

will the original party get the new menu too I wonder?

 

[Lsdolphin]

I would assume that most people that book the after party are doing so to have better time management. Ride rides while people are staking out spots for HEA, get to the plaza 15 minutes before show time and eat while the masses leave Main Street. I don’t see them getting to the plaza area over an hour before HEA. Wouldn’t they rather be doing something else? It’s a huge waste of time to do that. Might as well just stake out a spot yourself. But even if they did arrive early, they are still selling the same amount of tickets. Some people eat very minimal amount of desserts and get to the plaza early. Same idea.

I may switch to the after party once reports come out.

I think you are right...I think there is time to go to earlier party and still arrive at Plaza Garden before most of the After Fireworks Party guests.

 

[Lsdolphin]

will the original party get the new menu too I wonder?

Yes

 

[ChimCher-ee]

No matter what, this changes the experience I thought I signed up for. I'm not a big fireworks fan because of the stress of finding a spot and dealing with the crowd afterwards. Usually, DD and I watch the fireworks from BTMRR or Splash!

But I AM a fan of desserts, and I'm going to be staying at the Contemporary for two nights, so ... after reading reviews about how pleasant it is to eat sweet treats and then stroll over to a reserved area that's relatively stress free, I reserved the party. I figured, show up during a window of time, eat at a reasonable pace, watch the show, then hang out and walk back to the resort after the crowds thin.

Now I'm going to feel pressure to arrive at 7:45 on the dot so I can eat in 15 minutes so I can get over to the area before they let in the crowd showing up for the after party, only to be ushered out right after. And I don't want to reserve the after party instead because I foresee a mass of people jamming up the tables all at once because the whole group will be heading over at the same time.

I'm disappointed because I definitely see this as a cash grab, Disney doubling their take while offering two only slightly less attractive events instead of one really nice one.

But not incredibly disappointed because I've never done it before, and I don't NEED to do it now. I guess like the rest of you, I'll wait to read people's experiences before July.

 

[FastPasser.]

Why would Disney incur the expense of putting on a second party if they're selling the same number of tickets? What's in it for them? And why would they squeeze everyone into the East Plaza while the West Plaza is only partially full?

...you people need to relax until you see/hear how it goes.

My favorite post.

 

[jimim]

wow. so much the sky is falling. let's just see how it pans out the first few times then start to worry or change plans or cx. people are jumping ship already and there are no solid solid real live facts yet.

you guys are so ahead of the curve here anyway so i'm sure if you have to change after they start it will be fine.

 

[Runnsally]

Not to worry. The new addition is actually a desert party. The viewing area is in front of The Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

 

[mom2rtk]

Why would Disney incur the expense of putting on a second party if they're selling the same number of tickets? What's in it for them? And why would they squeeze everyone into the East Plaza while the West Plaza is only partially full?

Because escorting that group across Main Street in the post fireworks traffic would be like a big game of Frogger?

 

[FastPasser.]

Because escorting that group across Main Street in the post fireworks traffic would be like a big game of Frogger?

Not a problem. People wondered the same thing about the FEA party. How will they ever escort 130 people upstream from the party area to Norway while the promenade is packed with people heading in the opposite direction after Illuminations. Especially during the F&WF and Christmas, but it's done on a regular basis. I have the bruises to prove it, just kidding. It's well executed and goes very smoothly.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

The original party I have booked is on an extra magic hour night till 1am.

I wonder how the after party works when there’s extra magic hours and the park is supposed to be closed to non on site guests

 

[G719]

The original party I have booked is on an extra magic hour night till 1am.

I wonder how the after party works when there’s extra magic hours and the park is supposed to be closed to non on site guests

The park isn't closed to offsite guests for evening extra magic hours. Magicbands are scanned at rides and they can't go on rides but they aren't chased out of the park.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

The park isn't closed to offsite guests for evening extra magic hours. Magicbands are scanned at rides and they can't go on rides but they aren't chased out of the park.

Never knew that. Thanks

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I just can't imagine the logistics of moving a big group of people across Main Street in that mess.

This was my first thought!!

Because I'm at 100, usually more, dessert/dinner parties a year at all four parks, I believe I have a sense as to what makes for a successful and enjoyable event.

I would only add that this is obviously subjective. They sell these things out, so enough people are satisfied, of course. But for my taste, the SW dessert party is way too crowded now -- I won't do it again without major changes. The Plaza Garden viewing seems to have a comfortable number of people -- at least so far. Frozen dessert party is excellent that way.

Disney will always manage to sell these things out -- it will be "successful" for Disney -- they'll tweak if they need to. Doesn't mean their idea of "not too crowded" for any given party will fit mine, for instance.

I don't care one whit about the menu. I booked this for the less packed in fireworks viewing. More people in that area = less value for me.

Anxiously waiting for details.

Ditto.

Man, I thought I had anxiety issues...you people need to relax until you see/hear how it goes.

Agreed. HOWEVER... it's absolutely ridiculous that Disney doesn't release more details when they put out a new offer. But alas, their experience is that people will book it REGARDLESS, so who cares, I guess?? Still seems like a terrible way for a business to serve its customers.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Even walking down from the Terrace to the Plaza Garden East before the fireworks takes some determined walking. I can’t imagine how they would get people back across from the Plaza Garden West, crossing that flow of traffic out of the Hub following the show.

There is room in the Plaza Garden East for more people, at least at the two parties we went to. I can totally see how someone said, hmm, let’s fill up those spots. The limiting reagant seems to be the space on the Terrace for dessert. So I can see how this plan was created

The question is how that affects the experience of everyone in the Garden

As far as saying why are people worrying so much, I have $276 locked up in this party for our trip in August. You bet I want to know if it’s going to be the same experience as we have had previously!

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Man, I thought I had anxiety issues...you people need to relax until you see/hear how it goes.

Lol - but this is the DIS...that's kind of our thang.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

The monetizing of every square millimeter of DW is getting old.

This is what I picture in my head: Disney has a team of pencil-behind-the-ear bean-counters monitoring social media, and when there are too many posts like, "we just love how uncrowded the Garden Party is!" some sort of screeching, flashing, alarm goes off. All of the bean-counters swarm to a centralized situation room, whip out their calculators, and begin trying to figure out how they can capitalize on all that extra space.

At some point, you just have to marvel at the audacity.