The HEA after fireworks dessert party?

[DisneyRobin]

What time do you need to show up for the after HEA dessert party when the fireworks start at 9pm?

The reservation is for 8pm but if the show doesn’t start until 9pm and we have a reserved viewing area, should we show up at 8:45pm?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

It’s kinda up to your preferences. There’s certainly no need to show up at the reservation time and camp our in the garden for an hour, but some do.

15 mins before show time is feeling a little late to me as that’s the back end of loading the garden. You have the after party and before party people that use the same space.

I’m not all that picky about where we are in the garden, but I don’t necessarily want to be among the last in either.

20-25 mins would be more how we’d roll.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Ditto PP, it's up to you, you can arrive right at 8pm or you can arrive right before the show. It's your call on how much time you want to wait around and if you care about your viewing location inside the garden. We did the after dessert party last year and arrived at around 830 and got a nice spot. However closer to show time, it did get pretty full but compared to non reserved areas, it was not crowded and not elbow to elbow like everyone else. Overall, just having the reserved area is really nice and since everyone is standing but not on top of each other, it really is very nice. Just be aware, it's a bit hectic walking from the garden to the dessert party but once you get out of everyone pouring towards main street, it's not bad.

 

[NatalieE]

We just went a few weeks ago and if you do check in at 8pm, there are two lines with no signage as to which is before and which is after fireworks dessert party guests. We were told different things by different cast members. Both lines were very long already at 8pm. I stood in one line while my husband tried to get a straight answer and then he found a manager at the left side (coming from Main St) kiosk who said she would check us in. She never really answered the question of where the actual line was for after fireworks dessert party. She just checked us and a few other people who were in the same boat. We wanted to get there early so we could stand along the back railing. Enjoy your dessert party!

 

[chimoe]

We did the after party last week. With a 9pm show we checked in around 820ish and was at the garden at 830. Wasn’t to busy but we got a spot we liked. Around 845 the area looked extremely busy. Way more people than I remember from last year.

I think 8.30 is a good time to get there.

 

[DisneyRobin]

If I arrive at the park at 8:30ish, could I walk up Main Street and join the crowd in front of the castle to see HEA (if I don’t do the dessert party)? Or will I be directed away from the hub because it’s too crowded and no there’s no more room for us?

 

[cakebaker]

If I arrive at the park at 8:30ish, could I walk up Main Street and join the crowd in front of the castle to see HEA (if I don’t do the dessert party)? Or will I be directed away from the hub because it’s too crowded and no there’s no more room for us?

30 minutes before the fireworks is going to be extremely crowded. I know a few weeks ago they actually closed that area off due to crowds, but that was the first I ever heard of that happening. Personally, I wouldn't attempt to get in the hub area that late.

 

[cakebaker]

We've done the parties many times and by 8, they've always already been in the process of checking guests in. We're a little picky about where we stand in the garden area, which is why we do the after party anyway. So we're in line to check in no later than 8 and go directly to the viewing area. We always have our choice of spots at that point. By that time in the evening, we're ready for a break anyway and the time passes quickly. If you just want a spot and don't care where, 8:45 would work.