Talk to me about dessert viewing parties.... worth it?

[nurseberta]

My 12 yr old is crowd averse and anxious, thinking this might be a god option to see fireworks/shows without worrying about being crowded. Is it worth it?

 

[Marthasor]

Yes. I have a DS with anxiety and this is the only way we will watch Enchantment in MK. We prefer the pre-fireworks, garden dessert party as the seated party doesn't really have a great view. I would highly recommend remaining in the MK garden area at least 15 after the show to let the crowds disperse.

 

[ltalley1]

Yes, we love doing the after dessert party. We check in and get popcorn and sit on the lawn and watch the castle change themes, play Disney trivia- etc. Then head over to the dessert party while the crowds stream out. We love it. Enjoy!

 

[nurseberta]

Yes. I have a DS with anxiety and this is the only way we will watch Enchantment in MK. We prefer the pre-fireworks, garden dessert party as the seated party doesn't really have a great view. I would highly recommend remaining in the MK garden area at least 15 after the show to let the crowds disperse.

Yes, we love doing the after dessert party. We check in and get popcorn and sit on the lawn and watch the castle change themes, play Disney trivia- etc. Then head over to the dessert party while the crowds stream out. We love it. Enjoy!

Thanks!, do you get a choice of when you want to have a dessert, before or after, or is it a buffet that you keep going back for?

 

[ltalley1]

Thanks!, do you get a choice of when you want to have a dessert, before or after, or is it a buffet that you keep going back for?

Yes, you reserve the Before Fireworks or After Fireworks Dessert Party (or the seated dessert party- but the view isn't as good). Yes, it is a buffet. When you go for the dessert part of the evening, you will be escorted to a table that they will reserve for you for the duration of the party. Then you can go to the buffet and can go back as many times as you like and there is no rush for you to leave the after party. We have only done the after party but I assume the Before party is the same just you eat first and then are escorted to the viewing area.

 

[robinb]

I would say that normally, it's not worth it. The food is really subpar and the beverages (before beer and wine was available) were awful. IMO, the MK's dessert party is utter garbage.

BUT ...

The viewing area can't be beat. I booked the party twice on New Year's Eve Eve (12/30) when the crowd is monstrous and it was worth every penny. Given your child's needs I would say that it would be worth it to your family to enjoy the space of the viewing area away from the crowd.

 

[jaysmom4285]

"Worth it" is very subjective. Truthfully, there's no way anyone could eat enough desserts to make it anywhere near worth the price on that basis. But, in my book, what you are buying, as the PP mentioned, is the opportunity to have a prime, uncrowded viewing space for the firework, and you don't have to stake out a spot two hours in advance. It's more like the desserts are just thrown in as an an extra enhancement. If you haven't seen the MK fireworks, it's hard to visualize how massive the crowds are in and near the hub and how tightly packed people are. If a roomier place to see the fireworks is a priority for you, then the dessert party is worth it.

 

[nurseberta]

"Worth it" is very subjective. Truthfully, there's no way anyone could eat enough desserts to make it anywhere near worth the price on that basis. But, in my book, what you are buying, as the PP mentioned, is the opportunity to have a prime, uncrowded viewing space for the firework, and you don't have to stake out a spot two hours in advance. It's more like the desserts are just thrown in as an an extra enhancement. If you haven't seen the MK fireworks, it's hard to visualize how massive the crowds are in and near the hub and how tightly packed people are. If a roomier place to see the fireworks is a priority for you, then the dessert party is worth it.

thanks this is exactly my perspective!!! def going to try to book it.

 

[Selket]

thanks this is exactly my perspective!!! def going to try to book it.

We did it for MNSSHP first night in 2019 - a new fireworks show premiered that night as well so it made everything very crowded. I agree the food was only okay. We had dessert before and the lawn area they took us to was fairly crowded as well. But you didn't have people jockeying for space or have to get there hours ahead.

I use an ECV (family stood back with all the standing people in the garden and I was near the fence). The view was fine but I got the sense that if anxiety of being in somewhat close quarters is an issue that you may want to consider the seated viewing which might give you more space - albeit with not as good of a view.

My son also has severe allergies (peanut/treenut/shellfish) and the desserts they gave him were jaw droppingly awful. We've done another dessert party at DHS and he had an awesome entire box of very cool goodies but this was really bad. They ended up refunding his ticket because he really had nothing to eat.

 

[Robber Baron]

We went to the Pre-Party on Thanksgiving. We don't like the crowds for the Fireworks. From the people with strollers who will spend an hour 'pushing' you where they want you to be, to the people that show up 5 minutes before the show and want to push in front of you, we just don't want to deal with these crowds.

Nobody is getting their money's worth from the desserts and free warm beer. Disney does an awesome job on desserts in their TS restaurants, their massed produced desserts leave a lot to be desired.

I had 1 small cupcake, a little cheese, a couple chocolate covered strawberries and 1 beer and feel I got my moneys worth. I went to the viewing area and sat on my butt for 45 minutes with plenty of space, then enjoyed the show like a human without being pushed and shoved around.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

I would say that normally, it's not worth it. The food is really subpar and the beverages (before beer and wine was available) were awful. IMO, the MK's dessert party is utter garbage.

BUT ...

The viewing area can't be beat. I booked the party twice on New Year's Eve Eve (12/30) when the crowd is monstrous and it was worth every penny. Given your child's needs I would say that it would be worth it to your family to enjoy the space of the viewing area away from the crowd.

This
Our family did not find it worth it back when the cost was $79 per adult, let alone the ridiculous price that they are charging now $99 and for the 50th $114. But based on your child's anxiety, I think it would definitely be worth it for you to splurge and not have to worry as much about the crowd. It's still crowded but not shoulder to shoulder packed crowded. Also, you still have parents putting their child on their shoulders

We would definitely pick the hub viewing area over the Terrace seating area to watch the fireworks because you have trees blocking the bottom portion of the castle and really miss a lot of the projection show and you are paying so much to be there. You can get this type of view at a lot of places without camping out a long time, we arrived 30 minutes before the show and got this view

View from Terrace Dessert Party


Our view this Thanksgiving week when we arrived 30 minutes before the show.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

My 12 yr old is crowd averse and anxious, thinking this might be a god option to see fireworks/shows without worrying about being crowded. Is it worth it?

Worth it for our family and the only way we will watch fireworks in the hub/main street area.

 

[Anna131517]

Yes. We don’t even eat the deserts. We just need a spot that isn’t too crowded and overwhelming. However, the whole area is still very crowded before and after the fireworks. Just be aware you won’t be able to completely escape the crowds if you do the desert party.

 

[jaysmom4285]

It's true that the viewing area isn't exactly wide open - but it's nothing like the jammed in, shoulder to shoulder masses outside. When we've entered the viewing area before the fireworks, most people are sitting or sprawled out on the grass, relaxing. It can look really crowded because they take up so much real estate. When the show starts, everyone stands up and for the most part moves forward, and lots more space is suddenly created behind them. We usually stay in the back, leaning on the back railing, and there's always been plenty of room there.

 

[Mischievous Daisy]

Thanks!, do you get a choice of when you want to have a dessert, before or after, or is it a buffet that you keep going back for?

Just went last night. You can check in about 1 and 1/2 hour prior to the fireworks. You have reserved seating to eat and drink as much as you desire, seated at the table. And it was not just Desserts, there were cheese and crackers and some lovely fruit. When you want to go over to the grassy area (BEST VIEW, IMHO) a CM escorts you to there. We were there during MVMCP and was unsure if it was worth it. Definitely it was!!! It was PACKED at the party (much much busier than in prior years) and people were literally incredibly close to each other.
We have not done anything else to watch fireworks in many many years. In fact I remember when it was $59 I think. Way back when they first started. (Maybe it was $79). But it's truly so much better!

 

[Lady Hiss]

I’ve attended two dessert parties (pre-Covid), one at MK, one at HS (a Star Wars dessert party). Both were enjoyable and food was good (not fabulous, but fancy & fun). My biggest complaint would be the jerks who either hold up their phones/iPads for the entire fireworks OR put their 6-7-8 year old on their shoulders as soon as the show starts, effectively blocking anyone behind them from seeing projections etc. That happened at the MK dessert party in the reserved grassy area. Because it was crowded we couldn’t really move to a better spot. Wish the area was somehow sloped so you didn’t have to try to see around people in front of you.

 

[ShannyMcB]

Might I offer a different option? Depending on how many people you have another option is a fireworks cruise. If you have enough people to fill the boat (10?) it ends up costing less per person than the dessert party. Snacks are more munchie than dessert and you can't see the projections but the view of the fireworks are awesome and no crowds. Also a handy alternative if anyone in your party is sensitive to loud noises.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I have only done it once in December 2019, but if you want a good view of the projections without being absolutely packed in with strangers, I 100% think it is worth the money. It's not something I would do every trip but if HEA comes back in the same/similar form next year, I will 100% be forking over the cash to do it! We did the garden viewing and had room to spread out, sit until the show started, etc. The sitting alone is worth it, after a long day it feels wonderful.

For a big family, I can see why it would be a tougher call...that's a lot of $. But if it's just a few of you, I say go for it.

 

[leebee]

DD and I did the dessert party once, when is was $69 per person. We ate and then sat on the lawn in the viewing area, where we chatted with a lovely family from England until the show began. There is no way the food/drinks make it worth the cost, but I was absolutely horrified at the crowds in the Hub/Main Street. People were shoulder to shoulder for the fireworks. I mean, scary-packed-in. I remember fireworks shows (Wishes!) where we could sit on the streets of the Hub to see the show, but this doesn't happen any longer. I think it's the castle projections that are the problem; the only way to see the show is to pack in on Main Street. Now that the price of the party has increased, I'm not sure we'll do it again- meaning I may never see MK fireworks FROM MK ever again! (although I watched from the Poly beach in November, and it was a great view- lame show, but great view!)

 

[gorkt]

Yeah, sadly, these parties are more about NOT having an unpleasant experience than anything else. If it weren't for these parties, I would just ride rides during firework times and avoid that area like the plague. I can't deal with the crowds at that density. The desserts are just a bonus.