Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party

[Quin]

We did it last year and repeated it this year at DH's request. Yes, you can have A dessert out on Main Street for a lot less $. But the cost is at least partially worth it because of the variety of desserts and the fact that you can sample them all. The desserts are tiny; kind of two-bite-sized. You go get a small plate with 5 or 6. Then you go get another one. Then you go get a plate with fresh fruit because you need the taste break. Then right before the fireworks start you go get another plate with your faves. Then after the fireworks you refill your drink and grab 1, ok 2, more chocolate-covered strawberries while you wait for the crowd outside to disperse.

Another factor for us was that we went during hot weather (once May, once June). The beverage choices do not (well, did not then) include soda pop - but did include milk. Endless glasses of ice-cold milk. The PERFECT thing to wash down a bunch of desserts. For the June trip, I think WDW LOST $ on us for the combination of desserts and milk that we consumed.

For both of our trips we got a table in the front row. While some people did move to the railings, our view was not significantly blocked. I sat both years.

Definitely do not eat dinner before this event. This year Wishes was at 9 so the party started at 8. We had a big TS meal around 2 pm and were good to go. Extra bonus is to schedule your Dessert Party on a night when you are staying in the MK for evening EMH - the sugar high from the desserts will carry you long past midnight.

 

[Traveliz]

Is it worth the money??? My bf is on the frugal side and would kill me if he even knew that I would be paying this kind of money for something like this. Is the price really for the experience and view of the fireworks or do you really think Disney expects everyone to eat enough desserts to get their money's worth?



Thanks for that info, wdwnut!


Quick question: Does anyone know of the seating capacity for the Dessert Party?

I was there on August 17 and counted/estimated for another thread. I did not count every single seat but it is in the neighborhood of 150.

Liz

 

[tataylo2]

I was there on August 17 and counted/estimated for another thread. I did not count every single seat but it is in the neighborhood of 150.

Liz

Thanks, Liz! You guys on the DIS are so helpful!

Sorry, OP for taking over your thread with my questions.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Yes I think it is worth the money. I have always looked at it this way, people pay a LOT of money for BBB, or to upgrade from a mode to a deluxe, and tend not to blink on spending on items that if we were at home we would never spend it on.

Yes it is pricey, but there is absolutely no price on being at a dessert party that is limited to approximately 150 to 175 people. You can breath and take breaths, you can move around. You can take your time, no rushing etc. The actual price you pay is for more than the desserts, but hey, I would pay that for the chocolate covered strawberries!!!

All I can say is budget it, try it once and if it in not what you consider a value, use that money on something else next trip.

I hope you can sway him if it is something you would like to do.

 

[disnut1149]

My family did it last year and loved it. We are doing it again Nov 17.

I'll be there the same night. I just did this in May and am going again. Maybe we'll see each other there!!

 

[Angel4135]

Sorry, OP for taking over your thread with my questions.

No worries! Great questions! I didn't really know anything about the Wishes Dessert Party. I just booked it on a whim...it has been great getting all of the insight! Thank you Disers!

 

[disfan33]

As others have mentioned, one of the best parts about the Dessert Party was not having to fight for a good fireworks spot up to an hour before Wishes began. It was so nice to be able to snack on delicious desserts while sitting at a table before moving over to the railing to watch the fireworks. I don't think I would do it every time, but it was certainly a nice treat!

 

[*TheWigs*]

We did this party last year with DH parents and our kids and it was worth EVERY PENNY!! The desserts are yummy and the experience was priceless! I just booked for Thanksgiving night...first it will be lunch with Cindy in the castle and then the Wishes party! PLUS...we were so spoiled by our pixie dust upgrade last year to MK view at the CR, that we BOOKED MK view this year...Momma got spoiled!!

 

[Traveliz]

Still no soda as a beverage. I buy a Fountain Diet Coke and take that in with me. I prefer Diet Coke with my desserts.

Liz

 

[Quin]

Beverages at the Dessert Party are/were hot coffee & tea, iced tea, lemonade, and milk. And ice water, of course. No soda pop. It's really not geared so much towards very little kids (no soda pop and ice cream bars); while kids are absolutely welcome, I think Disney is looking at this event as being more attractive to adults (iced tea, choc-covered strawberries, mango shooters, pistachio creme brulee in little demi-tasse cups......mmmmmmmm........)

 

[DuckMom]

We did it during our trip last month and it was nice, but I don't think we will repeat it. The desserts were good, but the buffet kept getting decimated and it took a while to refill it. My son wanted fruit and that seemed to be the first thing to go each time it was put out, so I spent a good amount of time stalking the one area with the fruit plate. I did enjoy not having to stake out a space for fireworks, but we still did that the night before for the parade, so we could have just kept those spots, watched Wishes and saved a lot of money. I'm glad we did it, but I don't think it will be on our list again.

Also, just a note, I made our ADR for a big group and used our credit card to secure it. I assumed we would still get a bill (as we have at other credit card secured meals) and we could use another person's card to pay for their portion. Well, we never got a bill, so we were charged for the WHOLE group. Kind of annoying because I couldn't even remember exact price, so I had to wait until we got home to even tell people what they owed us.

 

[Traveliz]

Beverages at the Dessert Party are/were hot coffee & tea, iced tea, lemonade, and milk. And ice water, of course. No soda pop. It's really not geared so much towards very little kids (no soda pop and ice cream bars); while kids are absolutely welcome, I think Disney is looking at this event as being more attractive to adults (iced tea, choc-covered strawberries, mango shooters, pistachio creme brulee in little demi-tasse cups......mmmmmmmm........)

The one we went to on August 17 had an ice cream station with various toppings.

Liz

 

[mindyd]

We did it last trip it was okay but would not do it again The desserts were good but nothing special. Our seats were not the greatest so people start lining up against the rail to watch the fireworks and we had to hurry up and go over so we could see. Also we had left our drinks on the table when we went back to the table they had already cleared everything and our coats were still on the chairs.

 

[tataylo2]

Okay, I'm really having second thoughts about this. We are staying off-site and we'll probably be all tuckered out after a full day at MK and may leave before the fireworks. It will be more economical for us to grab some treats to share from the Main Street Bakery on our way out.

 

[wolf29]

We did this on our August trip. Plenty of stuff for adults & kids alike. We were thrilled to be seated with no tables between us and the Fireworks. That thrill faded quickly when everyone got up and stood in front of us, as those seated towards the inner part of the room can't see well. We still had a great time, but not sure it's really worth the money. Glad we did it, but may save the $$$ for something else in the future.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I think this party is definitely a "love"/"hate" event. We personally love it.

Yes, there have been times we had to get up to the wall to get a birds-eye view, but it was 10 minutes prior to the fireworks, not hours. And honestly in all of our seats (been 5 times) we very easily could have stayed and looked Up and saw the fireworks. I just am not the type to hold my head up for that long. We have also had times when we were able to sit in our seats and not get up.

The thrill of seeing Tinkerbelle waving at you (collective you actually, but for the sake of little one's, telling them she is waving at them specifically is a wonderful thing) is worth part of the price.

The desserts are for people of all ages. Ice cream stations, brownies, and cookies could be delightful for any age. My DS16 loves, loves, loves the mango shooters. WE all eat fruit to balance out some of the sweetness.

Somehow in our minds, soda/pop is actually out of place here. If you like your drinks sweet the lemonade, sweet tea, hot cocoa are more than enough. Water is actually great to cleanse your palate with a little bit of lemon.

Coffee drinkers will drink it hot or cold. You can very easily make an iced coffee with a little bit of extra work.

My biggest tip is to tell the servers to leave the table uncleared that you are going to get pictures, watch fireworks etc. You could even take a napkin and write, Please do not clean our table, we are not done.

My second tip is linger after the party. There are a few of most everything left over and the drinks are left for last. Let the masses clear out. Sit and enjoy some treats and a drink. Chit chat with the CM's. They are usually very nice and NO they do not ask you to leave.

The last thing that is very controversial is the price. Disney is expensive. It's a fact. So is anything special they put on (MNSSHP, BBB, etc). Everything has a price. I don't look at this as paying for the desserts, because any argument that you can buy desserts cheaper will win, every single time. But - no one can put a price on the ability to get up and walk around 15 minutes before the fireworks and not worry about losing your spot. You can talk with your neighbors and 99% of the time, they want to and do talk back. After all we all are a bit more relaxed.

I tell my kids/family/husband etc. each time we go that I booked the party especially for them and invited 150 new friends for them to meet. It makes us all feel special. Ask me what I paid for the party, and you know what, I couldn't tell you. There was never a price on any of them that I could say was "too much".

Go in with a good feeling, try to stay relaxed, and remember, nothing in life is ever perfect. It works for my family, hopefully it will work for yours.

 

[wdwnut61]

I think this party is definitely a "love"/"hate" event. We personally love it.

Yes, there have been times we had to get up to the wall to get a birds-eye view, but it was 10 minutes prior to the fireworks, not hours. And honestly in all of our seats (been 5 times) we very easily could have stayed and looked Up and saw the fireworks. I just am not the type to hold my head up for that long. We have also had times when we were able to sit in our seats and not get up.

The thrill of seeing Tinkerbelle waving at you (collective you actually, but for the sake of little one's, telling them she is waving at them specifically is a wonderful thing) is worth part of the price.

The desserts are for people of all ages. Ice cream stations, brownies, and cookies could be delightful for any age. My DS16 loves, loves, loves the mango shooters. WE all eat fruit to balance out some of the sweetness.

Somehow in our minds, soda/pop is actually out of place here. If you like your drinks sweet the lemonade, sweet tea, hot cocoa are more than enough. Water is actually great to cleanse your palate with a little bit of lemon.

Coffee drinkers will drink it hot or cold. You can very easily make an iced coffee with a little bit of extra work.

My biggest tip is to tell the servers to leave the table uncleared that you are going to get pictures, watch fireworks etc. You could even take a napkin and write, Please do not clean our table, we are not done.

My second tip is linger after the party. There are a few of most everything left over and the drinks are left for last. Let the masses clear out. Sit and enjoy some treats and a drink. Chit chat with the CM's. They are usually very nice and NO they do not ask you to leave.

The last thing that is very controversial is the price. Disney is expensive. It's a fact. So is anything special they put on (MNSSHP, BBB, etc). Everything has a price. I don't look at this as paying for the desserts, because any argument that you can buy desserts cheaper will win, every single time. But - no one can put a price on the ability to get up and walk around 15 minutes before the fireworks and not worry about losing your spot. You can talk with your neighbors and 99% of the time, they want to and do talk back. After all we all are a bit more relaxed.

I tell my kids/family/husband etc. each time we go that I booked the party especially for them and invited 150 new friends for them to meet. It makes us all feel special. Ask me what I paid for the party, and you know what, I couldn't tell you. There was never a price on any of them that I could say was "too much".

Go in with a good feeling, try to stay relaxed, and remember, nothing in life is ever perfect. It works for my family, hopefully it will work for yours.

Love your post and your tips can't wait till November

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
There wasn't any ice cream when I was there in May. I hope they have it in November!!

 

[Traveliz]

Hi
There wasn't any ice cream when I was there in May. I hope they have it in November!!

I know - we went in March and April and no ice cream - but there was in August and it was soooooo hot I imagine it was hard to keep from melting! I didn't have any.

Liz

 

[NMAmy]

Okay, I'm really having second thoughts about this. We are staying off-site and we'll probably be all tuckered out after a full day at MK and may leave before the fireworks. It will be more economical for us to grab some treats to share from the Main Street Bakery on our way out.

Honestly, if you're trying to economize, then this is probably not an event you'd want to attend. There's no way I can eat $20 worth of desserts. But it's well worth $20 per person to me to have an assigned table with a great view and not have to fight the crowds. We stayed after the fireworks for coffee while the park cleared out and were able to just hop right onto a bus to the resort. SO worth $20 each to me.

Oh, and I think DD's boyfriend (who is in the Air Force and is in great shape but a big eater) more than made up for the lack of desserts that I ate. I think he had four plates full!

I'd much rather spend my money on an event like this with a very specific number of guests than on the Halloween or Christmas parties which have been too crowded for us to enjoy each time we tried. It varies by person, though. We think the seating and desserts are worth the money and I know there are others who think it's a waste. That's okay, I'm just really glad that it's an option my family can purchase.