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

[yulilin3]

the reason we went out early is that I am short and wanted to be near the front. The storm trooper parade was cool to see but I imagine its much less cool if you are number 174, 174 and 175 in the line...

yeah, if you're not at the front of the pack you pretty much lose the coolness of being escorted by the stormtroopers

 

[Lisa F]

Has anyone experienced going to the dessert party and having the fireworks cancelled?

I will say that in my experience it takes a lot for disney to cancel a nighttime show.

I remember in 2014 lining up an hour early for the MSEP right outside the christmas shop. as usually happens we made friends with our neighbors. then in the distance we saw some lightning far away and our neighbors pulled up the radar. Yup, we were going to get SLAMMED. We were just hoping the MSEP would happen before that. So the parade kicks off but we are about mid route and are waiting. Suddenly right as we can see the first float, it starts to POUR (we had purchased ponchos in the christmas shop in the meantime so we were prepared). The costumes, the lights, everything was under a deluge. I couldn't believe it. There was lightning off in the distance but not really that close to use. They finished the parade. Now they probably have to either bring it in on one end of another but they didn't speed it up or anything. They didn't cancel it due to the radar. They got it in and the lightning never made it to where we were... the rain stopped and fireworks went off without a hitch. I think unless you are under a storm with thunder and lightning (not just in the distance) the thing is going to go on.

 

[Roxyfire]

the reason we went out early is that I am short and wanted to be near the front. The storm trooper parade was cool to see but I imagine its much less cool if you are number 174, 174 and 175 in the line...

Hey I'm short too, but they have to do something to keep it under control. They probably don't want to have people camp out in there for most of the party either. 175 is probably too many people from what I've been reading, but I doubt they'll drop it down either.

 

[yulilin3]

Hey I'm short too, but they have to do something to keep it under control. They probably don't want to have people camp out in there for most of the party either. 175 is probably too many people from what I've been reading, but I doubt they'll drop it down either.

I don't see why it would matter if someone wants to wait outside early. The area outside is roped off from the beginning of the dessert party, they staff the outside viewing from the beginning so why would it matter. It's like if I go to MK and get as pot for the parade 3 hours before, why would they care.
When the entire party was outside some would get in line an hour before to get the best tables, this is the same thing.
The only solution I see is that they ask taller people to separate from their parties and stand in the back while kids and short people go in front, I don''t think that will ever happen.
Of course the obvious solution would be to cut the number of people but I don't see that happening either

 

[Roxyfire]

I don't see why it would matter if someone wants to wait outside early. The area outside is roped off from the beginning of the dessert party, they staff the outside viewing from the beginning so why would it matter. It's like if I go to MK and get as pot for the parade 3 hours before, why would they care.

I just feel like it's different if you're doing a party, it doesn't cost any extra to sit out on the pavement. But if it's "ok better get all our stuff and eat and then rush over before everyone else" it just adds another element that's all. Of course, if it's crowded that's another thing. I don't blame anyone for not wanting to stand behind a tall person, I don't want that either. But I also don't blame them for saying wait, either. Just my opinion.

 

[MonaMN]

Given the mixed reviews, our current plan is to book the party for our last night, but see if we manage to make it there a different night and watch it... and then cancel. Right now, it feels like a lot of money to still have to wait for a long time. Seems like we could just camp out and go buy our own snacks for a fraction of the cost but about the same amount of time. We are not going until late November, so I will be monitoring the situation.

 

[yulilin3]

Given the mixed reviews, our current plan is to book the party for our last night, but see if we manage to make it there a different night and watch it... and then cancel. Right now, it feels like a lot of money to still have to wait for a long time. Seems like we could just camp out and go buy our own snacks for a fraction of the cost but about the same amount of time. We are not going until late November, so I will be monitoring the situation.

this is a great strategy.

 

[Lisa F]

this is a great strategy.

what time do people start camping out for this thing?

 

[yulilin3]

what time do people start camping out for this thing?

at least an hour, although there has been some reports of getting good spots 15 minutes before, but if you don't want to risk it. At least an hour

 

[yulilin3]

Not sure if you guys have seen this.

 

[Missyrose]

For those reading along, I'm short (5-3 on a good day), stood halfway back in the dessert party viewing area and had no issues seeing everything. My husband and I went out to the viewing area early so he could set up his camera's tripod in front of the lamp post, so he wouldn't block anyone's view. I stood next to him, the viewing area filled up around us and I had no issues seeing the projections or fireworks.

 

[cel_disney]

Very strange to read about the JTA line this morning. I see that you got a later time - that makes sense to me because many signed up ahead of you (EMM but mostly PPO breakfast) and could see the weather forecast.

But - did you also stand in a long line? I would not have expected that the line would be much longer than a regular day - only that it would have opened up later (9am, not 8:45)

 

[Lisa F]

For those reading along, I'm short (5-3 on a good day), stood halfway back in the dessert party viewing area and had no issues seeing everything. My husband and I went out to the viewing area early so he could set up his camera's tripod in front of the lamp post, so he wouldn't block anyone's view. I stood next to him, the viewing area filled up around us and I had no issues seeing the projections or fireworks.

thanks for the report. I had read that the allocated space is actually larger than needed so if you move toward the back of it (rather than the front) you won't have people directly in front of you. is this still the case? the issue would be proximity to a tall person and angle as no one is going to have a truly front row view for this.

 

[bilnsheldodisney]

Not sure if you guys have seen this.

so cool to see it this way!

 

[Elliemay2]

I will say that in my experience it takes a lot for disney to cancel a nighttime show.

We were at the MNSSHP last year. Our party day was a rainy day, but not too bad. Once the party got going, rain picked up off and on. I don't recall any lightening. The stage show was cancelled. Finally, a modified version of the last stage show was shown about 30 minutes late. So, it happens. We still enjoyed it...we were at Disney!!!!

The trick or treat lines were so long that my kids only did one. We did one ride (HM) & one M&G (witch) and sat at Casey's the rest of the night. My 5 year old slept there with my DH and older DS while DD and I went to the modified stage show. We did have great viewing of the parade and the fireworks from our table at Casey's, but that was pretty much all we did at the party. Don't get me wrong, we did enjoy it and are hoping to have a much better time at MVMCP this year and the Star wars dessert party! The one thing I think we did wrong is start our day at MK early in the AM. We stayed all day and through the end of the Halloween Party. This year we are not going to MK before MVMCP. We are going to Epcot for 3 quick fast passes, then to WCC for my son's 14th birthday before we go to the party. Either way, Rain or Shine....we will be at DISNEY!

 

[yulilin3]

So got word back: you can't show up super early to the viewing location (by super early I mean an hour before) because they are setting up the tables with the water and the steins. We will have word later this week if there's a new policy that everyone has to wait for the stormtroopers, of course, if anyone is doing the party tonight or tomorrow we will have first hand accounts on that

 

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

Did the dessert party on Friday, 8/26. Couple notes that may be helpful:

- They let us in at 7:15 pm (7:30 official start time, 8:45 show)
- We were told that the stormtroopers would lead us over at 8:20, so 25 minutes before the show. I confirmed that a couple times with different CMs.
- My family (4 of us) went out to the roped area at 8:15, but the CMs would not let us in. They had a mini conference and then told us to wait behind the taped area with the general crowd (so we weren't in the way) until the rest of the group came over. As soon as I saw the stormtroopers coming, we went back to the CMs and they let us in. I had read here that they would let you in if you got there early - that didn't happen for us. Don't know if it was just confused CMs or new policy.

If this is new policy to NOT let people go out early, I will be very excited. I want a good view and to be able to enjoy the deserts. My kids eat SLOW. Especially if they lead the group out 25 min early instead of 15. Wonder why they moved it sooner. Do you know what time the StormTroopers& crowd arrived at the roped area?

 

[yulilin3]

If this is new policy to NOT let people go out early, I will be very excited. I want a good view and to be able to enjoy the deserts. My kids eat SLOW. Especially if they lead the group out 25 min early instead of 15. Wonder why they moved it sooner. Do you know what time the StormTroopers& crowd arrived at the roped area?

If they walk out 25 minutes before the show they arrive in 3 minutes, Launch Bay is very close.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

So got word back: you can't show up super early to the viewing location (by super early I mean an hour before) because they are setting up the tables with the water and the steins. We will have word later this week if there's a new policy that everyone has to wait for the stormtroopers, of course, if anyone is doing the party tonight or tomorrow we will have first hand accounts on that

I must admit that it would bug me if they make people wait. Then I'd feel like I had to be on constant lookout during the party for when that line begins to form... would stress me out! I liked knowing that if I just headed out early, the time I did spend in the party I could just enjoy and not worry about that.

• 8/12/16: The first time we did this, we arrived in the reserved viewing area around 9:00, on a night when they were going to bring people out at 9:15 for 9:30 fireworks -- tables/water/steins were already set up.
• 8/19/16: The second time we did this, we arrived in the reserved viewing area around 8:50, on a night when they were going to bring people out at 9:05 for 9:30 fireworks -- tables/water/steins were still being set up but they let us in anyway.

Both times we were able to get in the dessert party around 8pm. By 8:50 we were MORE THAN DONE with desserts!! Only so much you can eat! Was easy to leave in time to get a good spot. I really would NOT like this change.

 

[Rash]

So got word back: you can't show up super early to the viewing location (by super early I mean an hour before) because they are setting up the tables with the water and the steins.

Just to reiterate, I was there 5 minutes before the storm troopers got there with the group. 10 minutes max. I didn't notice if they were done setting up yet - perhaps they were running late that night and it was a one time occurrence.