**Official** Star Wars at DHS, Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party/Galactic Nights/Launch Bay/JT

[yulilin3]

If I was planning on eating lunch at DHS and doing the dessert party and wanted to do everything SW in one day I would do the tour
Lunch: rounds up to $20
Dessert $69
SW nametag: $12
=$101
Tour is $128 with tax, a difference of $27, I would be ok with that for not having to line up for Chewie, Kylo, ST and GMR, plus not having to stress for a spot for the 2 outdoor shows, and those $28 can go toward the popcorn and bottled water they give you
But I am a HUGE SW fan

 

[cvjpirate]

If I was planning on eating lunch at DHS and doing the dessert party and wanted to do everything SW in one day I would do the tour
Lunch: rounds up to $20
Dessert $69
SW nametag: $12
=$101
Tour is $128 with tax, a difference of $27, I would be ok with that for not having to line up for Chewie, Kylo, ST and GMR, plus not having to stress for a spot for the 2 outdoor shows, and those $28 can go toward the popcorn and bottled water they give you
But I am a HUGE SW fan

Agreed, I forgot I didn't get any popcorn either. All well, too late now.

 

[AngiTN]

If I was planning on eating lunch at DHS and doing the dessert party and wanted to do everything SW in one day I would do the tour
Lunch: rounds up to $20
Dessert $69
SW nametag: $12
=$101
Tour is $128 with tax, a difference of $27, I would be ok with that for not having to line up for Chewie, Kylo, ST and GMR, plus not having to stress for a spot for the 2 outdoor shows, and those $28 can go toward the popcorn and bottled water they give you
But I am a HUGE SW fan

Guess no AP discount?

 

[mommajo143]

Guess no AP discount?

we called and were going to book the tour - DH, DS10 & DS6 and of course myself. I was quoted $516 and the lady said no Disney Visa tour discount because it is a VIP tour; i would assume that means no AP discount. of course we passed on the tour - i must have done my math wrong because i was thinking the cost (with a visa discount) would be closer to $400 not over over 5.

 

[yulilin3]

Guess no AP discount?

No ap discount

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

So, since EMM doesn't work for our dates in October and DH is a big Star Wars fan I'm considering the dessert party as our splurge-y activity instead. Questions for folks in the know:

1. Are the crowds at late October dessert parties as bad as they are in peak summer/holiday times?
2. Have they moved on from the Chewy stein? DS would love a BB8 sippy or even the tie-fighter popcorn bucket could be repurposed in his play area. Hold legos or something.
3. Do they offer any non-cocktail drinks, like beer or wine? Or even just club soda as a mixer with one of the alcohol options? Sugary drinks packed on top of sugary desserts just seems like a recipe for a headache later.

Thanks!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Email written and sent off! Normally I don't write pre-complaints but if it helps change an annoying policy I will do it!

We are going in Sept on a Friday. No other day worked out for us that wouldn't be a tour day (especially with Rivers of Light not showing Tues/Thurs). I've already prepared myself that I probably won't get a table, at least not inside the food area, but if I hear the tours stop early entry I may show up earlier to get in line!

I heard back from Disney yesterday (first the guy apologized when he realized I was in California and he called at 7:30am on July 4th!); guest services just wanted to let me know they heard my complaint and forwarded it onto leadership. He said the main way things get changed at Disney are when guests voice concerns, so I'd recommend anyone else worried or annoyed by the tour getting priority access to the dessert party to also send them an email (any maybe silence your phone on a holiday morning...)

Funny thing is, it may not even affect us that much. It's just me and my sister and we are doing it on a Friday, after having been at parks since the previous Sunday, so am expecting we will be pretty tired. So we may end up just trying to find a bench to sit on and balance our plates on our laps while keeping the drinks on the seat between us! That way we could rest our very sore feet!

 

[yulilin3]

So, since EMM doesn't work for our dates in October and DH is a big Star Wars fan I'm considering the dessert party as our splurge-y activity instead. Questions for folks in the know:

1. Are the crowds at late October dessert parties as bad as they are in peak summer/holiday times?
2. Have they moved on from the Chewy stein? DS would love a BB8 sippy or even the tie-fighter popcorn bucket could be repurposed in his play area. Hold legos or something.
3. Do they offer any non-cocktail drinks, like beer or wine? Or even just club soda as a mixer with one of the alcohol options? Sugary drinks packed on top of sugary desserts just seems like a recipe for a headache later.

Thanks!

1. Late October is crowded but not as much as Summer/holidays.
2. I am not sure about this one
3. No wine or beer that I've known of, maybe someone who has done it recently can chime in but I feel if a change would have been made we would've heard about it

 

[lchuck]

So, just a difference of opinion I guess, but I went ahead and wrote an email thanking Disney for the wonderful VIP service and letting them know I think the early entry into the dessert party is a very nice feature of the Star Wars Guided Tour. For those of you who enjoyed this tour perk, I encourage you to do the same.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

1. Late October is crowded but not as much as Summer/holidays.
2. I am not sure about this one
3. No wine or beer that I've known of, maybe someone who has done it recently can chime in but I feel if a change would have been made we would've heard about it

Thanks! And I forgot one last thing - is the pistachio cherry dessert still offered?

 

[FastPasser.]

Are the crowds at late October dessert parties as bad as they are in peak summer/holiday times?

Attendance at the party has been the same throughout the year.

Have they moved on from the Chewy stein? DS would love a BB8 sippy or even the tie-fighter popcorn bucket could be repurposed in his play area.

Unless they've discovered an unknown stash of Chewy steins, they had to switch over to the Tie Fighter popcorn bucket. But I don't know for certain if it's been implemented as I haven't been there since they said that they were switching. I may be there Sunday night, if I am, I'll have a definitive answer.

No wine or beer that I've known of, maybe someone who has done it recently can chime in but I feel if a change would have been made we would've heard about it

I don't pay that much attention to the F&B offerings, but I believe you're correct.

Edited to add that I will be there Sunday night.

 

[AngiTN]

So, just a difference of opinion I guess, but I went ahead and wrote an email thanking Disney for the wonderful VIP service and letting them know I think the early entry into the dessert party is a very nice feature of the Star Wars Guided Tour. For those of you who enjoyed this tour perk, I encourage you to do the same.

I was actually kinda thinking the same thing. I mean, we are considering the tour and having a few extra minutes in the dessert party was sort of a perk I was looking forward to getting. We do pay more. Not for the party specifically but as a whole and it doesn't seem so out of the ordinary to get a few extra minutes in the venue, does it? I haven't read back to figure out exactly what the complaint is from those who aren't on the tour. Just that they don't get early access? What is the exact gripe about that? What am I missing?

 

[NuJoy]

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[MyHappyPlace17]

Proportionately, not even close. The main gripe is Disney's failure to disclose another group has first and best access to a party they advertised as exclusive to the non-tour guests...all the while charging them an exclusive rate. The non-tour guests arrive only to be told they are "general admission".

I'm pretty much just a lurker here but I have to agree with NuJoy. Tour participants do receive a full line-up of benefits for their overall tour experience. The dessert party with special viewing area access is just one part of it. There really is no reason for tour participants to be allowed early entry ahead of regular party guests or to receive any special treatment during. Disney doesn't advertise it with early access, just that the party is included. If you arrive after entry begins, it really wouldn't affect you, but for anyone standing there waiting it would be a little off-putting.

From the WDW website:

• Chewy-ing on inter-stellar sweets at Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party
• Experiencing a reserved viewing of the obi-wan and only Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular nighttime fireworks event

 

[NuJoy]

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[yulilin3]

So, out of all the VIP experiences of your tour, you placed an extra high value on just the portion you knew you were getting an unfair advantage on...enough to specifically call it out to Disney. Yep, that represents the mentality of the tour group on our most recent party night.

NuJoy it is ok to have a difference of opinion, I cannot recall but I truly hope you sent Disney an email of how you felt about the tour group having earlier access to the dessert party, that's the only way to get your feelings heard with them, if other posters feel that they had a great time and enjoyed the extra perk they are allowed to also write an email and thank them for their service.
I have always prided myself that this particular thread and all the previous Star Wars Weekends threads that came before this one were filled with posters that were kind, respectful and could listen to one another, exchange different opinions without getting nasty or name calling or belittling.
So lets not become one of the other numerous threads on these boards and be civil and adult-like

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

So, out of all the VIP experiences of your tour, you placed an extra high value on just the portion you knew you were getting an unfair advantage on...enough to specifically call it out to Disney. Yep, that represents the mentality of the tour group on our most recent party night.

Sharing my 2 cents...

• If I did the tour, I would very highly prize a chance to get into the reserved area first -- absolutely!! That's the main reason why we do the dessert party -- the fireworks/show view.
• If I did only the dessert party, I would have been REALLY ANNOYED that others got in that section first IF I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT AHEAD OF TIME.

My feeling is that it is a fair perk to give tour-goers, but there should be FULL DISCLOSURE to those doing only the dessert party. I would only choose to do the dessert party on a NON-TOUR evening, personally.

 

[NuJoy]

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[NuJoy]

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[yulilin3]

Right. When I saw the blatant bragging and insensitivity of previous post, I felt it needed to be addressed.

But you see, I don't see it that way, and knowing the poster from previous posts on several other threads I am sure it wasn't written that way either. The poster just appreciated the extra perk and is writing Disney to tell them about it. Now you taking the post and feeling like it was bragging and insensitive is your prerogative.