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

[cvjpirate]

In addition to the info above I was told my a seemingly well informed CM that there is likely going to be an afternoon tour in addition to the 8am tour. Both will include a lunch at the backlot express (8am ends with lunch and afternoon starts with lunch). The tour will share the viewing area with the dessert party, but not have access to the desserts. The tour is $99 inclusive of tax and as of today did not have an AP discount, but that could change as well. I may check back to see if the afternoon tour opens, but as of today we have the 8am tour and dessert party scheduled for October 9th. We will have to have a family discussion this weekend to see which one to keep or possibly switch to the afternoon tour to maximize FP+ and rope drop if available.

Got to love the evolution of the parties and events so close to FP+ windows.

Mike

Not sure about Oct, Nov, but summer months you have to be careful of afternoon times as that is when the t-storms pop up and they will cancel the outside shows.

In my personal opinion the changes to the tour makes it pretty much not worth it.
You are now (or starting Oct 1st) basically paying $99 to do everything you can do on your own with no wait. The reserved area fppr the outdoor day shows is useless, since it's still in the sun. Minus the Star Tours fast access and the JT sign up.
But if the tour is at 8am you would be there early enough to sign up for JT on your own, so again, in my eyes, not worth it

Agree!

 

[FastPasser.]

In my personal opinion the changes to the tour makes it pretty much not worth it.

It will be interesting to see what the fall out will be. It will cost $178 to do what is currently costing $129. At the higher price, I have to wonder how many people will do both the tour and dessert party. I would think that either sales of the tours or dessert party will decline.

ETA, Oh, and no Jawas.

 

[cvjpirate]

It will be interesting to see what the fall out will be. It will cost $178 to do what is currently costing $129. At the higher price, I have to wonder how many people will do both the tour and dessert party. I would think that either sales of the tours or dessert party will decline.

If I would bet, I would bet the tour sales would be hurt.

 

[Linda67]

Happy for all those who have managed to book for October today.
I'm still stalking this thread in the hope that November isn't back to back Jingle Bell Jingle Bam!

 

[jlundeen]

If they did add beer and wine plus seating, the price would have gone up by more than $10 as it recently did with the new Illuminations dessert party.

Do you mean the Frozen thing, or is there a new Dessert Party replacing the "IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party"??? While I have NO interest in a Frozen "anything", the Sparkling Dessert Party was fun when I did it a couple years ago...

 

[NuJoy]

()

 

[FastPasser.]

Do you mean the Frozen thing, or is there a new Dessert Party replacing the "IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party"??? While I have NO interest in a Frozen "anything", the Sparkling Dessert Party was fun when I did it a couple years ago...

Yes, it's the FEA party and it has replaced the Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party. Generically, we refer to it as the Illuminations dessert party because that's the foundation of the Epcot parties regardless of the theme.

Although it's called the Frozen Ever After Dessert Party, you might still want to consider it in spite of the Frozen theme. The theming is subtle. It's a better party mainly because it has assigned seating plus beer and wine, albeit more expensive.

 

[Lesley Wake]

The changes to the party just happened around noon, so let's review.

Beginning Oct 1st, beer and wine will be added to the menu. Guests will be escorted to the viewing early enough to watch the Movie Magic show. While this is now being advertised, guests were always able to go to the viewing area on their own to watch the show. IMO, the $10 increase has nothing to do with this change and is all about covering the cost of adding the beer and wine.

Anyone taking the guided tour will have to book the party separately.

That's it.............for now.......I think.

Are they considering moving the party back outside? Or will it still stay inside?

 

[FastPasser.]

Are they considering moving the party back outside? Or will it still stay inside?

Did you do the party when it was outside?

I wish they would return it outside, it was a fun location except when it rained, or was really hot or cold. The way things have been changing lately, you never know. If it is moving, it hasn't filtered down to staff. With day guest SWaGS viewing space at Center Stage being at a premium, they'll probably leave it where it is. Hey, when SWLand opens, it will all disappear anyway.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Did you do the party when it was outside?

I wish they would return it outside, it was a fun location except when it rained, or was really hot or cold. The way things have been changing lately, you never know. If it is moving, it hasn't filtered down to staff. With day guest SWaGS viewing space at Center Stage being at a premium, they'll probably leave it where it is. Hey, when SWLand opens, it will all disappear anyway.

I keep hearing this same thing - that SWaGS will disappear when SW land opens. Why is that and any idea what will replace it? Or will Fantasmic be the only night time show then?

 

[Lesley Wake]

Did you do the party when it was outside?

I wish they would return it outside, it was a fun location except when it rained, or was really hot or cold. The way things have been changing lately, you never know. If it is moving, it hasn't filtered down to staff. With day guest SWaGS viewing space at Center Stage being at a premium, they'll probably leave it where it is. Hey, when SWLand opens, it will all disappear anyway.

Nope! I've never actually been to WDW! Heading there for the first time in September (so the party changes don't affect me, I'm just curious). One of our partial days at DHS will be all Star Wars-my sister and I are disney bounding as C3PO and R2D2, we have a FP for Star Tours, plan to watch March of the First Order and Galaxy Far Far Away, definitely meet BB-8, a light meal at Backlot Express, and the dessert party (on Sunday Sept 17).

Here is my C-3PO outfit (plus gold headband; trying to decide if I should do a red bracelet too). My sister has a matching R2-D2 tank top and navy shorts:

 

[bellenbooks4me]

Wow! A lot of changes! Though I'm not too surprised by the price increase $$, as some of the other dessert parties are running $79 for adults too. Disappointing, but not too surprising.

 

[Mommy2Corinne]

Did you do the party when it was outside?

I wish they would return it outside, it was a fun location except when it rained, or was really hot or cold. The way things have been changing lately, you never know. If it is moving, it hasn't filtered down to staff. With day guest SWaGS viewing space at Center Stage being at a premium, they'll probably leave it where it is. Hey, when SWLand opens, it will all disappear anyway.

We did the party when it was outside in January of 2016. Even though it was during an extreme cold snap (nighttime was in the low
30s brrrrr, but they had heaters), we LOVED it. The location was awesome. Loved the exclusive feeling of the area.

My thoughts on the changes:
the addition of wine/beer isn't worth a $10 increase, IMO...that seems a little excessive for that particular change; however, the addition of "seating" would *totally* be worth it to us. Because we have small kids, I will be annoyed if we get to the reserved viewing area and the tour guests are lined up in front. I don't really care about the pre-show, so that isn't a huge benefit to us. Finally, the closing of the Launch Bay early would stink if we weren't able to sneak out to visit the characters.

 

[jlundeen]

View attachment 258970 View attachment 258971
We did the party when it was outside in January of 2016. Even though it was during an extreme cold snap (nighttime was in the low
30s brrrrr, but they had heaters), we LOVED it. The location was awesome. Loved the exclusive feeling of the area.

My thoughts on the changes:
the addition of wine/beer isn't worth a $10 increase, IMO...that seems a little excessive for that particular change; however, the addition of "seating" would *totally* be worth it to us. Because we have small kids, I will be annoyed if we get to the reserved viewing area and the tour guests are lined up in front. I don't really care about the pre-show, so that isn't a huge benefit to us. Finally, the closing of the Launch Bay early would stink if we weren't able to sneak out to visit the characters.

We did the outside show also, in April of 2016.

Yep, I did like that venue better, especially with tables to spread folks out a bit. I think we could all see a little better being spread out like that.

And, since we have only adults in party, we don't need to use that time for the meet and greets. Plus, now that there are no Jawas, there's no real big attraction for us for doing it in the launch bay.

I really would LOVE seating, though.

 

[FoxC63]

RE: Dessert Party
I was online this morning between 6am-6:25 and nothing but we are now! We're booked for Friday. Oct 27th woohoo!

 

[Disney & ME]

Thanks to everyone on the boards for the info and updates. I have been waiting for this and the Highway in the Sky to finalize my October plans. This falls just before my 60 day FP window so awesome timing. And since I prefer wine to mixed drinks I am fine with the changes!

 

[FastPasser.]

Why is that and any idea what will replace it? Or will Fantasmic be the only night time show then?

With TSLand and SWLand, they'll have more than enough draw. No need to spend tons of money on a night time show if attendance is maxed out. Especially seeing that they have Fantasmic. Of course this is just a guess on my part.

Nope! I've never actually been to WDW! Heading there for the first time in September

Wow, a first timer, that's great. Like the SW Disney Bounding.

View attachment 258970 View attachment 258971
We did the party when it was outside in January of 2016. The location was awesome. Loved the exclusive feeling of the area.

Yes, it was all that.

View attachment 258970 View attachment 258971
Even though it was during an extreme cold snap (nighttime was in the low
30s brrrrr, but they had heaters), we LOVED it.

I hope you really loved those heaters because they were a huge pain to put there. They were brought over every cold night by an outside source. The delivery person had to be met backstage by a CM, load the heaters on a large wagon, escort the wagon through a busy park, set them up and repeat in reverse at the end of the party.

the addition of wine/beer isn't worth a $10 increase, IMO...that seems a little excessive for that particular change

For those that will have one or two beers or wines, at Disney prices, it pretty much covers the increase.

however, the addition of "seating" would *totally* be worth it to us.

In the past whenever they've added seating, they've also added other stuff, so the increase would be more than $10. It would have been at least $20. But I don't see how it would be possible to add seating to the existing venue without a drastic reduction in the number of guests, which is what they had to do at the FEA party at Epcot.

Just curious if you took any photos that included the event staff, not the servers?

 

[Felicis]

We are stoked about the beer, well, DH is. He is very much a beer drinker! I didn't notice that when I booked, was too excited it was finally live, I think.

 

[FoxC63]

We are stoked about the beer, well, DH is. He is very much a beer drinker! I didn't notice that when I booked, was too excited it was finally live, I think.

I know right!?!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I didn't notice about the beer and wine but that's awesome. Maybe it's too much to hope but the seating would be great too, or maybe a more packable but slightly pricier souvenir, like a Star Wars pin.