Party for the Senses questions...

[shortypots]

So we are thinking about going to the Party for the Senses and was wondering what is the big difference between the Wine view lounge and reserved seating? I know they both get reserved tables and additional time, but are the reserved tables just stand up tables or are they seated tables? Would love to get a couple of chairs to be able to sit and eat our treats. Also, I assume the tables in the reserved section are shared with other people, not private? The description says they are on the main floor, does this mean they have some of the best location on the main floor? How many reserved seats do they have per event? Is this something I need to be calling at 7am on Aug 13 to do? Or can I wait a couple of hours?

Any other information folks can provide on the Reserved seating option would be appreciated. Appreciate the help!

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

I believe if remembering correctly that Wineview lounge gets an additional perk of being led in early and they get additional food and drink. Reserve seating was just a seating area that gave you a dedicated table. Also not sure if food gets delivered to you in the Wineview lounge.

 

[Chellymouse]

So we are thinking about going to the Party for the Senses and was wondering what is the big difference between the Wine view lounge and reserved seating? I know they both get reserved tables and additional time, but are the reserved tables just stand up tables or are they seated tables? Would love to get a couple of chairs to be able to sit and eat our treats. Also, I assume the tables in the reserved section are shared with other people, not private? The description says they are on the main floor, does this mean they have some of the best location on the main floor? How many reserved seats do they have per event? Is this something I need to be calling at 7am on Aug 13 to do? Or can I wait a couple of hours?

Any other information folks can provide on the Reserved seating option would be appreciated. Appreciate the help!

We did the party last year and did the reserved seating instead of the wine view. The biggest difference is price and the additional spirits available in wine view. We had excellent seats right in front of the stage with early entrance and an extra cocktail. The wine view actually had a little worse seats for the Cirque portion of the evening and the wine view also provides premium spirits and additional cheeses. There is so much to eat and drink on the floor that we could not justify the extra cost for stuff that honestly we would not have been able to eat or drink more anyway. Save your $$ and go with reserved seating! And absolutely start dialing at 6:59am. Last year I was on hold for 70 minutes and the wine view was actually sold out by the time I was on. No problem getting reserved though!

 

[shortypots]

Appreciate it! We were thinking the Reserved seating anyway, just wanted to confirm those few things. Looks like I will have an early morning that day. Maybe I talk hubby into waiting on hold for that one since it is my b-day present!! haha

 

[PiperPilot]

The wine view lounge is in the center of the facility against one wall. There is a main walkway in front of it where folks will gather to watch the Cirque du Soleil performances blocking your view from the wine view lounge (we call it the wine noview lounge). You do get an early sit down at a reserved table dedicated to your party and you can do a lot of food surfing in those few minutes. You have to get your own food. There is a bar where you can get drinks. At the end of the evening they will give you a goodie bag of stuff (chocolates, lilac jam, etc.). Usually, some of the Disney chefs and managers will meander through and say hi.

The reserved seating has been located right in front of the stage where a live musical act performs most of the evening. The main walkway is behind the reserved seating area. You will have a reserved table that is dedicated to your party. So, the reserved seating actually gets a better view of the stage than the wine view lounge area.


The general seating is a fastwalk to an empty table, which depending upon the number of people in your group, you will share with another party. We have met lots of great people by sharing a table. They've added more and more tables every year, but there are not enough tables for all general seating. Get there early.

It is very competitive to get tickets for either of the reserved tables. So you may end up with a general seating ticket. It's all good.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I did Wine View and am thinking about it for this year. The view of Cirque didn't bother me. I liked the feeling of space and quite you got. We did get in first and while I didn't have my server bring me anything she was wonderful. Dirty plates disappeared, water glasses were refilled. Was it "worth it"? Depends. I doubt the wine and cheese were, but emotionally it was a treat. Of course I am just doing this for one and I have given up most other events due to my changing schedule which makes weekday events risky

Sadly the last year I went with general seating I was made to feel like a social outcast by the groups who announced "this is our table". Admittedly, even the Disney CMs were amazed by the behavior that night. (people were trying to steal stuff. Sadly the rude groups all seemed to be local LOL. One group told a CM that the event was really only for locals ....bizarre!)


Last year it was more of a run to the tables. My table was right by the "stampede" after they opened the doors
So now I figure it is reserved seating or nothing.

 

[shortypots]

I don't think I want to do it unless I get at least reserved seating, but the more I hear about it the more I am thinking Wine view, but it is hard to justify the extra $210 for the 2 of us. I am trying to tell hubby that we have $1000 disney dollars we can use and it is my b-day present, but he doesn't seem to be going for it. I guess I will find out when he books it on the 13th.

 

[LisaS]

Some of the reserved seating is located next to the wine view seating, on the opposite side of the walkway from the stage. Every time cirque performed, a crowd gathered in front of our reserved table, blocking our view of the stage. Most of the reserved seating was on the same side of the walkway as the stage so we were just unlucky.

Our table was right next to the walkway so a few times when both DH and I left the table at the same time, some squatters moved in and took over our table. When DH returned they mumbled something like "We thought you left" and got up. That wouldn't happen in the wine view lounge but it wouldn't be worth the additional cost to me. If we go again we'll get the reserved seating again and just deal with evicting anyone who helps themselves to our table. I don't mean to sound snobby about the squatters, it's just that our silverware was there and our wine glasses were there so it bothered me that someone else was sitting there eating (hopefully with their own silverware and not mine!)

 

[shortypots]

Does Disney not put "RESERVED" signs on the tables? If they did this I do not understand why people would think they can sit there. Squatters would get on my nerves if I paid the extra and someone sat in my seat.

Any other info folks can provide would be appreciated!

 

[LisaS]

Does Disney not put "RESERVED" signs on the tables? If they did this I do not understand why people would think they can sit there. Squatters would get on my nerves if I paid the extra and someone sat in my seat.

Yes they do put "Reserved for the <your name here> party" on a big sign on the table.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Does Disney not put "RESERVED" signs on the tables? If they did this I do not understand why people would think they can sit there. Squatters would get on my nerves if I paid the extra and someone sat in my seat.

Any other info folks can provide would be appreciated!

Because there's a large sense of "entitlement"

Read this post for the "I reserved one of the free tables and it's MINE" thought pattern...

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49198261&postcount=16

 

[shortypots]

I guess people figure that they paid all that money so they should be able to "reserve" a seat. When we went previously (long before the Wine view lounge was available) my DH and I would take turns saving our seats while the other went to get something to eat for both of us. We also didn't go ballistic if someone wanted to share the table with us, which is what happened for most of the night.

Guess we just need to decide whether or not we want more than Reserved. Guess I need to work on DH a little more to convince him for Wine View. I love good wine, so trying to sell that as a part of it, and the lack of lines for the good stuff

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I guess people figure that they paid all that money so they should be able to "reserve" a seat. When we went previously (long before the Wine view lounge was available) my DH and I would take turns saving our seats while the other went to get something to eat for both of us. We also didn't go ballistic if someone wanted to share the table with us, which is what happened for most of the night.

Guess we just need to decide whether or not we want more than Reserved. Guess I need to work on DH a little more to convince him for Wine View. I love good wine, so trying to sell that as a part of it, and the lack of lines for the good stuff

Just a warning.. you don't get a Fast Pass with Wine View. The wines are better (probably marginally better, not dramatically better, think a few bucks a bottle better not lots of bucks!) But you still are in the "food lines" with everyone else

I don't mind, but didn't want your DH to be upset!

 

[shortypots]

Oh yeah, we knew that. I was referring to the lines at the bar

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Am I understanding correctly that general seating now has chairs?
We did party of the senses about six years ago, and it was a full blown stampede to get to tables, and even then there was no seating. Just tall, round tables to stand around with strangers. My mom was in a wheelchair, and even though we were among the first in the building, people were literally trampling over her to get in and snag a spot. It was so stressful, and the behavior so distasteful that my DH said never again. Unless Disney has some crowd control and you can reserve tables.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

yes, for an additional fee you can have a reserved seat. I pay for one. The open area has both high top ( stand up) and low tables with chairs. They are suppose to be used by all, but as you saw the stampede grabs them and refuses to share.

It's not so much the "saving" as the "refusal" to share. So a table that might have four people standing or sitting around it blocked by the couple who thinks "this is our romantic dinner" LOL! The post I linked earlier was one of those. Based on the post it appears the table seated more then two but her entire evening was ruined because she didn't get to "approve" the diners at the table with her... HUH???

 

[TDC Nala]

If you want to be sure you get a chair, you need to get a reserved seat. There are seats for general admission but they run to grab them as soon as they are let in, and they hold them for the duration of the event.

 

[shortypots]

So just booked our ressies for Oct 19 for the Party for the Senses for Wine view lounge.

A little peeved though... I didn't find out until 6pm yesterday that Chase Disney card holders could book a day earlier than everyone else. So when I called yesterday, all reserved seats were sold out for the 12th (our preferred date) and the 19th, and by the time hubby got through this morning, 8:30 am, all the remaining reserved was gone as well for both dates, and only the 19th had wine view left. Granted, I originally wanted wine view, but I didn't want to pay $600 for it for 2 seats and we really wanted it on the 12th since we are at beach club for those first few days.

Oh well... I guess I should be happy I got what I wanted even though it was more than I wanted to spend and a different day. Hopefully we won't be too hung over to fly home the next day

 

[mouthdoc]

I started calling and got online at 7:00 EST this am. Lines busy and internet swamped. I tried all morning, finally getting through online around 10:00 a.m. By that time, all Wine view / reserved sold out! I did get two general admission tickets though. Hope that Disney has more seating this year, but we're not "stampede for a table" types. I guess I'll just stand all night, probably in front of the Wine View people. (Ha ha, just kidding!!).
Also, the French lunch was sold out too! Wow, these things sell out fast! Could Chase cardholders sign up for all events a day early?

 

[shortypots]

I believe so, although only so many seats were opened early according to the CM I talked to.