MK plaza garden dessert party

[apress]

I need opinion on this one. I am really having a hard time deciding if my family should do this one. I know my family will not eat the cost for the desserts (they will eat some, but my one daughter is not a big sweet person) but the appeal is the viewing spot. I really don't want to have to spend a long time staking out a spot for the show, so do you think the party is worth the money in order not to stake out a spot. It will cost my family 271.00 for the party. Thanks for the input.

 

[gillep]

Personally, I would book it again just for the easy viewing of the fireworks. I tried a few of the desserts but I didn't like any of them, and the only thing DH liked was the ice cream, but we were still glad that we booked it, as it make fireworks viewing so much more enjoyable for us. We booked this to see Wishes, at the end of April, before it left, and I have already decided to book it again for our first time viewing the new show even though I doubt we will have more than a glass of cider and some ice cream between the two of us.

 

[Robo]

We see the MK fireworks very well without paying for the party.

 

[maryj11]

We booked it. Main reason is not having to fight crowds for a spot and to be right up front. The desserts are just a bonus. We have done the dessert party before and the desserts were ok nothing spectacular.

 

[toyotaae86lg]

We did the dessert part for the firs time this past May and we had the Garden View, for us easily worth the money, we ate as many desserts as we could but the garden view was so relaxing. I knew I wanted a good view for last time of Wishes and this did not disappoint, my daughter played around the garden area up until wishes, thats how much room we had. It was awesome! I told my wife the viewing was well worth the money and would do it again in a heart beat!

 

[Hojobones]

Just did the party on 5/13. Worth the money not having to be aggravated in staking out a spot. I thought the desserts were good, I'm not a huge sweets person but my wife and cousin are and they enjoyed them.

Went to see HEA again a few days later without doing the party and it was a mess. Got there early at 730 to grab a decent spot and still had people shoving their way in trying to block us. Last time we ever don't book the party.

 

[chiisai]

Dessert not worth it, at all, IMO, but the viewing area fantastic. My family all got to lay down and watch. There was space for anyone to sit/ lay however they wanted. Expensive fireworks show? Of course! But I won't stand hours ahead and also try to jockey a spot for my kids to see, so it was worth it to me. It was wonderful and relaxing.

 

[eastendlights]

We do it every trip and it is worth it for the viewing area. I detest having to protect my turf after finding and guarding a spot for hours so we don't think twice about how much we actually eat at these parties as long as we end up with good spots for the show.

 

[Beer Me]

I don't mind staking out a spot early. One person can run off for snacks and drinks (usually me) while we wait. I'm sure the dessert party is a bit more relaxed but not worth the price.

 

[deedubb]

I know my family will not eat the cost for the desserts (they will eat some, but my one daughter is not a big sweet person) but the appeal is the viewing spot.

Nobody can get their money's worth by eating the desserts. You're paying for the viewing spot as you mentioned, as well as your time (ie. not having to sit for an hour to claim a spot). Only you can decide if the cost is worth it. It's always a mad house in the hub and no matter how early you go to claim a spot, 90% of the time, someone will cram into that tiny spot in front of you just before the show starts. For me, it is money well spent.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

I booked it for our upcoming trip, but only because it's my birthday and our last night. I don't want to stake out a spot too early or be stressed at all. I figured it was a gift to myself, from myself

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I booked it for September. It's just me and I can eat my weight in dessert so I know I'll get my monies worth. I like the viewing area - it's where I used to view it after they took away the FP+ but before they put the dessert party there.

I had a devil of a time holding my spot in May without being in that area - people were pretty aggressive about trying to push me out of the way but I held my ground. My son and I are hoping to see the new fireworks show Memorial Weekend and I warned him that he's going to be dealing with folks trying to push us out of the way.
At least I know in September I'll have a decent spot and hopefully not have to deal with that.

 

[Accident]

I've done desert parties twice in my life and neither were worth the price in my opinion.

however, there is some up side that might be worth the price for you. 1 is there is air conditioning right up until you start to see the show. That is always nice on a really hot day. you get a seat while eating, you get a comfy spot while watching.

The only times I went was opening night for the star wars fireworks. I was about to be on call for 3 weeks, it was my only chance to get to disney that month so I paid to be able to get there at the last minute and get into a good viewing spot (it wasn't but they've moved the viewing since I went). Deserts were better than MK. For MK it was my daughters only chance to see wishes 1 last time so I figured a nice father/daughter night at MK with the fireworks. It was only 2 of us, we had a wonderful time and it just added to the evening, which happened to be my daughters last chance for wishes. Also I was about to be sitting outside for 2 days for the real last night and first night of hea so seeing it 1 last time in comfort with her sounded amazing..

I'm not unhappy I did them but it was more than buying a seat for the show to me.

 

[joyjoy]

I'm thinking of booking this but it looks different than my other online reservations.... Does it still carry the 24 hr cancellation policy like other ADRs? It says "advance payment required" rather than "requires a credit card to hold reservation". Can anyone confirm this? TIA.

 

[maryj11]

Just did the party on 5/13. Worth the money not having to be aggravated in staking out a spot. I thought the desserts were good, I'm not a huge sweets person but my wife and cousin are and they enjoyed them.

Went to see HEA again a few days later without doing the party and it was a mess. Got there early at 730 to grab a decent spot and still had people shoving their way in trying to block us. Last time we ever don't book the party.

Exactly why I book the dessert party. If we do not have a party booked we go ride rides instead. I hate fighting for a spot among rude people.

 

[stink]

This Sept will be my first MK dessert party. The reasons I choose to try out the party is to eliminate staking out space before hand and hoping for lots of elbow room. No skin to skin contact with strangers. I was finding in prior trips, even though I travel off season the crowds at the Fireworks were way too much for me. As I age I guess I just do not have the tolerance to wait for hours for a parade or show or fireworks.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I did it 5/13, the second night of the new show (I posted a review which I can find the link to if needed). I booked it primarily for the reserved area, not really into all the desserts and stuff. DS6 has a knack for needing to go to the bathroom right before fireworks - every....darn....time. Without a reserved viewing area (close to a bathroom) we'd be up the creek! For us it was "worth it" for the convenience/hassle factor, but obviously it's a a bit of a splurge for sure.

Granted the hub has always been crowded for fireworks but I think for the foreseeable future it will be even more-so with the "buzz" out there that you should watch this show close to the castle.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm thinking of booking this but it looks different than my other online reservations.... Does it still carry the 24 hr cancellation policy like other ADRs? It says "advance payment required" rather than "requires a credit card to hold reservation". Can anyone confirm this? TIA.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you're charged the full amount at the time of booking, but you can still cancel up to 24 hours without penalty. (ETA: Better info below, looks like 5 days).

 

[WEDWDW]

Do the PLAZA Party-DO NOT do the TERRACE Party.

With HEA,it is CRITICAL to be close to and in front of the Castle.

 

[maryj11]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you're charged the full amount at the time of booking, but you can still cancel up to 24 hours without penalty.

Yes you are charged the full amount when you book. I think you have to cancel within 3 or 5 days not 24 hours. I will have to go check my receipt.
I think they may have changed it to 24 hours without penalty, I cant find my receipt