I have been 5 times. Getting there 20 minutes prior to the hour before the Wishes time is fine. Only once did the line move slowly for us. Never has there been a back-up in the line. There is usually 2 buffet lines, both with the same goodies. The drinks are on a totally separate table in the back. Food all 5 times were replenished up to around 10 minutes before Wishes. When we were there the only stollers even allowed inside were if the child was sleeping, so it looks as though they may have changed the rules.
Up against the wall you would not want a stroller or a wheelchair. It just isn't the best viewpoint for that situation, moving back one or two people would be more beneficial for the view. Those who can stand will begin around 15 minutes prior to the fireworks, but the fireworks are up so being back a bit will not ruin your view. The only time I would totally have someone get upfront is if they want to be right where Tinkerbelle comes down. If you plan to do this, check for the wire, and get up front a bit earlier.
You can tell the CM's not to take your plates during Wishes. This is a common problem. If your napkin is on or near your food (crumpled), they take the plate. We always make sure to tell the CM in our area to leave our plates. We have never had a problem.
They will keep out any desserts that were not taken even after Wishes. You may go and get anything that is left. You do not need to leave immediately and the drinks are still available. We always have a little plate and drink afterwards and wait for the crowds to leave. We chit-chat with the CM's. Never had a nasty one yet.
Photo-pass does get a bit congested. I would recommend getting your first plate, leaving it, then getting your photo's. I was there in February and we still had names on the tables and a friend was their more recently (April) and they did also. I think the OP really caught a bad day, maybe the printer was broke or someone printed the wrong days cards.
I admit this is expensive, but so is Disney. It is a special treat that our family finds to be the highlight of every trip. Even if we were only to get a small plate, it would still be okay with us. I guess it is how you look at it before you even enter that may help with your night. Not everything all the time is perfect. Mistakes may happen and maybe a plate of desserts may get spilled behind the scenes so you may not get that one. But if you just relax, the experience is really nice.
Some people say it is a must do "one" time, others don't want to pay the price for the service you get, and others like me who have a hard time with the crowds on Main Street wouldn't give it up for anything.
You can never please everyone. I really feel for the OP. I wish they could get a do-over to see what I enjoy.
Hope this helps someone who may be on the rope about the decision. If the price is going to upset you even before you walk in the door, it probably is not for you. Same thing if you expect perfection because you paid a certain amount. Lastly, we have never found the tables to be "extremely" close together, but just enough to have a conversation with your neighbors if you want. We always talk with people, but that is just how we are.
"We always talk with people, but that is just how we are" - my wife likes talking to anybody and everybody. Me, I do too, but for some reason I can never be the first person to speak. So I mostly nod and smile.
Anyway, I'm not going primarily for the food. We'll be having an early dinner at Citrico's, so I'm not planning on being super hungry by the time of the party. But I nice sugar jolt before some late night park wandering sounds like a great idea.
As for other family members ... well, Bob Dole once said the most dangerous place in America was standing between Chuck Schumer and a TV camera ... but he never tried standing between my DD15 and chocolate covered strawberries.
What I am hoping to be paying for is:
For $26.99 per person, if I get about $8 worth of food at what i would consider reasonable prices, then that's a good deal. Back home, $26.99 would buy a truly ridiculous amount of dessert.
Less crowding than down on Main St. Maybe a little tight for a restaurant, but we're not getting a full meal there, so as long as I have enough room to sit comfortably and travel between tables, I'm cool with that. Maybe typical McDonald's level crowding of tables.
A chance to sit during the time leading up to wishes.
A chance to sit for a bit after the fireworks to allow the crowds to clear.
Some nice pics for the photo pass.
A view of the fireworks that isn't necessarily better than what I'd get on Main St., but no worse than that.
I know it's not air conditioned, but I'd like to be no hotter than I would be on Main St. (We'll be doing this on July 15)
So do my expectations sound reasonable?
"We always talk with people, but that is just how we are" - my wife likes talking to anybody and everybody. Me, I do too, but for some reason I can never be the first person to speak. So I mostly nod and smile.
Anyway, I'm not going primarily for the food. We'll be having an early dinner at Citrico's, so I'm not planning on being super hungry by the time of the party. But I nice sugar jolt before some late night park wandering sounds like a great idea.
As for other family members ... well, Bob Dole once said the most dangerous place in America was standing between Chuck Schumer and a TV camera ... but he never tried standing between my DD15 and chocolate covered strawberries.
What I am hoping to be paying for is:
For $26.99 per person, if I get about $8 worth of food at what i would consider reasonable prices, then that's a good deal. Back home, $26.99 would buy a truly ridiculous amount of dessert.
Less crowding than down on Main St. Maybe a little tight for a restaurant, but we're not getting a full meal there, so as long as I have enough room to sit comfortably and travel between tables, I'm cool with that. Maybe typical McDonald's level crowding of tables.
A chance to sit during the time leading up to wishes.
A chance to sit for a bit after the fireworks to allow the crowds to clear.
Some nice pics for the photo pass.
A view of the fireworks that isn't necessarily better than what I'd get on Main St., but no worse than that.
I know it's not air conditioned, but I'd like to be no hotter than I would be on Main St. (We'll be doing this on July 15)
So do my expectations sound reasonable?
Just a thought.
speaking to the "loading up of plates and greediness"....i have never been in a buffet setting that did not have that........people are funny about food, if you do not believe me go to the supermarket and watch people move the box of whatever from the front and take the box in the back because they think it is fresher..................and by the way you do not get "just one crack at it" you can go back as long as it is up.........
Forgive me for straying off topic but wanted to clarify the supermarket statement. Since one of my first jobs was stocking at a grocery store for 2 years, I can assure you that the fresher food "should" be in the back. When we would "front" our shelves, the older stock would be moved to the front and the newer stock would be placed in the back. Otherwise, the food in the back would expire on the shelves if it was an item that did not sell out often. Produce was the same way. Fresh produce would be rotated under the older produce. Just a little grocery 101 for you.
I don't mind showing up at 8:30 or so for a 9 PM start, but there's no way I'm coming at 7:30 PM. Part of the attraction of this is the idea of not having to line up early for the parade and fireworks. So if I still have to line up, just in a different line, it's hard to see that this is a great benefit.
I can probably sit on the sidewalk at 7:30 PM for a good view of Tinkerbell.
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speaking to the "loading up of plates and greediness"....i have never been in a buffet setting that did not have that........people are funny about food, if you do not believe me go to the supermarket and watch people move the box of whatever from the front and take the box in the back because they think it is fresher
you missed the "tongue in cheek"........i know that is the case............the joke is on the grocery store.......since people do that the old stuff could actually stay forever............in the front...........Forgive me for straying off topic but wanted to clarify the supermarket statement. Since one of my first jobs was stocking at a grocery store for 2 years, I can assure you that the fresher food "should" be in the back. When we would "front" our shelves, the older stock would be moved to the front and the newer stock would be placed in the back. Otherwise, the food in the back would expire on the shelves if it was an item that did not sell out often. Produce was the same way. Fresh produce would be rotated under the older produce. Just a little grocery 101 for you.
i never said it did.........i said i always see such things in a buffet setting......STOP>>>>> then i went on to say people are funny about food. some people wont eat anything red for example.........some dont want their food to touch on their plate.........i myself wont touch anything that someone has eaten from or share a drink. ewwwwww....or........go to the market sometime before a snow storm and you will get run over by people buying, of all things, bread and milk........people are funny about food.It's smart shopping to look through the food. It has nothing to do with greed or gorge.
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Once again, I am reminded that everything is relative. $28 seems like a bargain when you know that Disneyland's Fantasmic Dessert Party is $60 for a folding chair and an individual box of desserts.
