Osborne Light's Merry and Bright Dessert Party and Dinner reception?

[ellie05]

The area of the Osborne lights is just too big to be able to experience from one spot, it's great if you want a place to relax for an hour and a half but if you really want to take all of the O Lights in you have to walk around.

Exactly this! I think people will be disappointed if what they are expecting is being able to enjoy the lights from the party angle and I understand why people will cancel. The only way to enjoy the lights is walking around. Our plan is to go to the party get there early so we can enjoy two hours of the party, by the time the party ends the biggest crowd would have left since the park would be closed for about 30 min by then. Then we can enjoy walking around the lights. I would think it would be very hard to keep a table if you go walk around and then come back specially since it seems very limited seating. But who knows with all the cancellations might open up more seating.

 

[Jhondy210]

I just cancelled my reservation for 11/16 and picked up a dessert party during MVMCP. It was a bit cheaper and I think we will like the desserts better. Plus, that is the day we fly in and will be tired so it will be nice to be able to sit and wait for the fireworks. It may not be the best use of MVMCP time but we will be two adults who aren't interested in any of the M&Gs so I think it will be a special treat for my mom still.

 

[Wall-E1]

These reviews have me a bit concerned. I have a reservation for the Merry & Bright dinner reception. The two main reasons I did it was because I wanted the shadow box gift and an area where I could sit for awhile. After seeing the blankets, it looks like zero effort was put into the souvenir gift. If that same effort is put into the shadow box, I'm expecting a light bulb in a box, and not much else. The seating area was also a selling point for me. It gets so crowded. I thought it would be nice to have a space to sit with some elbow room and enjoy the lights, even if it isn't the best view. But, it seems they selling more tickets than they have tables for. Add to that, I'm a vegetarian, so I probably won't be able to take advantage of much of the food offerings. I may rethink keeping my reservation.

 

[quakechicago]

Here's my review of the dessert party, feel free to ask any questions
http://parksintransition.weebly.com/blog/merry-and-bright-dessert-party

Your review and pics were so good we decided to go after being on the fence. Last year. Gotta try it. Thank you!

 

[jessieroo]

I am doing this with my sister December 14th! Thanks for posting, I'm even more excited now

 

[FeralCatRogue]

I'll be there the first night of the 3 night dinner reception and can write a review of it then.

 

[SnowWitch]

I was really on the fence but was curious about the blanket was thinking it might be comparable to the castle light blankets from a few years ago. After reading this thread, I have decided this event is not for our group.

 

[serene56]

Thanks for your reply! I'm definitely planning to get there early (at 6) to get a chair. I'm just worried that if I leave to walk around that someone will take "my" chair (since it's not assigned seating) and I won't be able to sit again. Or am I wrong and people come and go with no problems?

And one more question - the lights stayed on about an hour after closing. Did they leave out the desserts and drinks or put them away? Thanks!

from reading the reviews it sounds like they do not even start checking in until 6:40. At 6pm it will be a mess trying to get down the street because that is when they are first turning on the lights

 

[yulilin3]

from reading the reviews it sounds like they do not even start checking in until 6:40. At 6pm it will be a mess trying to get down the street because that is when they are first turning on the lights

the first night they started checking people's name at 6pm and allowed everyone inside the area by 6:30 pm. If you are going to the lights, be it the dessert party or not, go through TSMM and not through Star Tours it'll be easier and faster to get to Streets of America

 

[TeresaWen]

Thank you for the review! I booked this so we could enjoy some wine while relaxing at a table. No wine available and with the possibility of not being able to sit I am canceling. The blanket and limited variety of deserts is not an incentive to go. we will walk through the lights, then head to a lounge to chill

 

[Disney Dynamite]

Here's my review of the dessert party, feel free to ask any questions
http://parksintransition.weebly.com/blog/merry-and-bright-dessert-party

Thank you so much for sharing your review - It was very helpful! I have this booked next Thursday for my mom and me, but I'm leaning toward cancelling it now. The event just seems a little lackluster for $70/person, especially since this is the last year for the lights.

 

[Raenstoirm]

It looks great to me! I don't really like disney desserts, but they look festive. Was the alcohol included? I don't see any prices in the review pics.

 

[yulilin3]

It looks great to me! I don't really like disney desserts, but they look festive. Was the alcohol included? I don't see any prices in the review pics.

It was all included and unlimited

 

[MinnieMeep]

I am even more excited for the dessert party! The blanket is a complete and total let down, but the desserts and drinks look awesome! I like the fact that the desserts are nothing like the normal dessert parties (pies and cakey things mmmm). I'll definitely be having a drink or two, RumChata and Baileys, yumm! I am a fine bourbon and rye whisky girl, but these are two of my favorite liqueurs! I hope people continue to post about their experiences. I just want a place to relax, have some sweets, and take in the sights in a non-hectic environment. I plan to walk around for a while and come back to the party area. I want to spend as much time as possible in the lights!

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

I just booked the dinner reception. But the menu is very vague. I called the dining reservation line and they didn't have any other details besides the ones posted online. My kids are picky eaters and I was hoping there was a kids menu but the representative I spoke to didn't think there was one. How can they offer kids the same food as adults? If anyone has more information on the menu, please share. Thanks!

 

[That Mom]

Thanks for the reviews. I've decided to cancel our reservation for 12/3, it just doesn't seem to be worth the $$$ for what you get. I was excited about the blanket but not so much anymore.

 

[DisneyRobin]

I am super excited for this dessert party! It looks amazing!

Just wish they had more of the Disney holiday desserts like the cookies, cake pops in the ad and holiday cupcakes. I bet my kids are still going to want me to get those for them after the party!

My daughter asked about the reviews she saw me reading. I told her that most people were unhappy about the blanket. She was just like, "OMG - we get a free blanket!" LOLI'm going to keep the glasses a surprise!

 

[mindystar]

I like that there will be different desserts and drinks being offered than I've been able to try at the other dessert parties at WDW. I'm excited. Thanks all for sharing!

 

[AGoofykindagirl]

We went Monday night. There was rain in the area so the party was moved to Studio Catering. We lined up a little before 6:30 but this night they started letting people in right at 7. The area we would have been in they kept separate for viewing, as the rain dissipated right at party time.I really liked being able to move around without the tables there, but it would have been good either way. My Pop liked the pies, as did my sister (especially the apple!). I liked the hazelnut chocolate cake the best. As to whether it was worth it, that will depend upon you. For us with 2 in ECV's it was wonderful because I had a place to sit and relax for a while. I probably would not do it again, but this was our first Osborne lights, and it was a fun way to experience them. I'm satisfied just by looking at the faces of my father and sister when the lights were dancing!

 

[TACK]

I only have one day at Disney World, so for me it was worth making the reservation for the desert party. I booked it especially for the last year of the lights so I won't cancel. Like everyone else, not sure why the blanket is so blah, but they did say it was a travel blanket. Of course they could have done better. Last year's Frozen desert party had a lithograph and pin.