Two Options for Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party (Standing vs Sitting)???

[Jayhawk75]

I was toying around with the idea of doing the Wishes Fireworks Dessert party with our family of 5. I noticed when booking, there appears to be two versions of this:

• Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing - this rings up as $247 and appears to have seating
• Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace - this rings up as $331 and appears to be standing

Can anyone fill me in on why the one with seating costs less? Is the view not as great? For the standing party do they relocate you to the lawn somewhere?

Thanks in advance!

 

[danikoski]

The Terrace view is seated during the fireworks, the Garden Plaza view is standing during the fireworks. Both have seating for the dessert party.

The garden viewing, which is standing has a bit better view, but both are nice.

We just did the terrace one and very much enjoyed it.

 

[Jayhawk75]

The Terrace view is seated during the fireworks, the Garden Plaza view is standing during the fireworks. Both have seating for the dessert party.

The garden viewing, which is standing has a bit better view, but both are nice.

We just did the terrace one and very much enjoyed it.

Except the one titled "Tomorrowland Terrace" says it is standing... and the "Garden Plaza" says it is seated. LOL

 

[Jayhawk75]

Except the one titled "Tomorrowland Terrace" says it is standing... and the "Garden Plaza" says it is seated. LOL

I stand corrected - its the way they word the description that was confusing me.

 

[jaysmom4285]

Both Terrace View and Garden View have the same seating privileges at tables in Tomorrowland Terrace and access to all the desserts before Wishes. For the Garden View people, you are escorted to the viewing area in the Hub just before Wishes begins, and you stand there to view Wishes. The Terrace view people have to congregate at the railing on the lower level of the Terrace to see Wishes, and I'm sure some of them end up standing in order to get a good view. I agree that the view is better from the Garden view location in the Hub- more straight on to the castle - and you only do minimally more standing than the Terrace View people do. I think it's well worth the lower price to do the Garden View. One advantage to Terrace View to consider is that the area is covered if it should be raining.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

The Terrace view is seated during the fireworks, the Garden Plaza view is standing during the fireworks. Both have seating for the dessert party.

The garden viewing, which is standing has a bit better view, but both are nice.

We just did the terrace one and very much enjoyed it.

The Terrace view is first come, first served for seats now, correct? Was it tough to get a table with a good view? We tried to book Plaza View but couldn't get it, so we Terrace but not sure if we'll keep it...glad to hear you enjoyed it!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you don't mind standing to see the fireworks, I would save your money and do the Plaza viewing if it's available. The view from Plaza gardens is outstanding. Much better than from the terrace, IMHO.

 

[dmunsil]

100% agree about the garden view. The fireworks are designed to frame the castle when viewed from the hub. We've viewed from both locations and much prefer the garden. It is standing, but they bring you there just a few minutes before the show starts, so you don't have to stand around for a long time. If you do the dessert party, as others have noted there are tables available for the dessert party itself.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

We did the terrace party on January 30 and loved it. I wasn't sure what to expect since I'd heard it had changed since we last did it in 2013. But I ended up liking it better because we were able to stay seated during Wishes instead of crowding up to the railing. Wishes was at 8pm, our reservation said to show up at 7pm. We showed up at 6:30pm expecting to wait in line until 7, but they had already started letting people in so there wasn't any line for check-in. After checking us in, they gave us wrist bands and gave us a choice of two tables, both at the railing. The terrace people were located on the lower section, while the garden view people were located on the upper section. Each section had their own dessert tables. We thought the dessert selection was scaled down from 2013, but we liked the addition of the cheese and crackers, and the sparkling cider. The tablecloths were a nice touch. At some point before the fireworks began they gave us a package of assorted Ghirardelli squares with a special Wishes Fireworks Party tag. I had heard people talk about it being difficult to move around the tables, that they were too close together, but I didn't have any problem navigating. I was fine with the view of the fireworks, and was very willing to sacrifice the perfect view for a comfortable seat. Being on the short side, I always run the risk of someone taller obstructing my view, or having a parent hoist their child up on their shoulders, so this was definitely a nice alternative.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'm on the fence here with this one.

We will be there in May and our plans initially were to watch Wishes from trader sams but with all the changes and increased projections, my guess is viewing outside the park will be dramatically changed.

The dessert party would ensure we have a good viewing spot.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I was fine with the view of the fireworks, and was very willing to sacrifice the perfect view for a comfortable seat. Being on the short side, I always run the risk of someone taller obstructing my view, or having a parent hoist their child up on their shoulders, so this was definitely a nice alternative.

For future reference, if you ever decide to do the dessert party, again, just know, there isn't a crowd in the reserved Plaza garden area. I'm 5'2" and, honestly, doing the party with the garden viewing was the only way I was willing to see Wishes again after having some terrible experiences watching from Main St. in previous years. Yes, people rushed to the front railing which is completely unnecessary as they then put themselves right in back of people who had waited for the spots just outside the plaza area. We took the advice of many on these boards and simply went to the back of the plaza garden area and leaned on the fence back there. There was absolutely no crowd and no one in front of us. We literally could have done a few cartwheels and wouldn't have bumped in to anyone. The view was unimpeded and was amazing. It was also nice to hang out there after the fireworks ended so the crowd could disperse and we could walk down Main St. without being in the masses of people trying to leave. We will definitely do the party again if they offer it with the new fireworks show!

 

[Eighty8Keys]

For future reference, if you ever decide to do the dessert party, again, just know, there isn't a crowd in the reserved Plaza garden area. I'm 5'2" and, honestly, doing the party with the garden viewing was the only way I was willing to see Wishes again after having some terrible experiences watching from Main St. in previous years. Yes, people rushed to the front railing which is completely unnecessary as they then put themselves right in back of people who had waited for the spots just outside the plaza area. We took the advice of many on these boards and simply went to the back of the plaza garden area and leaned on the fence back there. There was absolutely no crowd and no one in front of us. We literally could have done a few cartwheels and wouldn't have bumped in to anyone. The view was unimpeded and was amazing. It was also nice to hang out there after the fireworks ended so the crowd could disperse and we could walk down Main St. without being in the masses of people trying to leave. We will definitely do the party again if they offer it with the new fireworks show!

Thanks for the tip. While I think I'd be okay shelling out the bucks to do the dessert party once per trip, I'd love the chance to see the fireworks more than once. This seems like a great way to do that.

 

[khertz]

Although the garden viewing may technically be "standing" since there is no chairs, it was so lightly attended when my husband and I did it in July that there was plenty of room to spread out. I sat in the grass with my legs stretched out in front of me and had enough space around me that I couldn't have reached out and touched anyone else watching.

 

[danikoski]

The Terrace view is first come, first served for seats now, correct? Was it tough to get a table with a good view? We tried to book Plaza View but couldn't get it, so we Terrace but not sure if we'll keep it...glad to hear you enjoyed it!

We got there at 6:45 and got a table along the rail towards the back...The back rail tables actually have a really good view of the projections of Once Upon a Time.

 

[CJN]

Does anyone know where they have someone with an ECV park with the garden viewing?

 

[TheFloatingBear]

We got there at 6:45 and got a table along the rail towards the back...The back rail tables actually have a really good view of the projections of Once Upon a Time.

Good to know - thanks! I've been trying to get the Plaza Garden View, but by the time we decided to do this it was booked. I viewed Wishes from that area back when it was a FP so I know the view is great, but haven't seen it from the Tomorrowland Terrace so not familiar with that. We're going Easter Monday, so it's going to be bananas, so either way I'm happy to have something - bird in the hand, so to speak. I think with the Wishes show being replaced it's going to generally be more crowded over the next few weeks until it ends. Thanks for the info!

 

[Jamie Polson]

I have a reservation at Be Our Guest for 16:30 next week. Do you think it would be too much to do the Dessert Party on the same evening (check-in at 18:45)? I thought we could perhaps only have an entree at Be Our Guest and save space for the desserts later but I don't want to spoil the Be Our Guest experience. This is the only evening I can do the dessert party and I really want to get the reserved veiwing.

 

[jaysmom4285]

I would think that you would definitely want to skip dessert at Be Our Guest, if you want to be able to do justice to the dessert spread at the Dessert Party. From my experience, the desserts at BoG aren't all that special - mostly cupcakes and a cream puff and an eclair. You could easily enjoy dinner at BoG and dessert at the Dessert Party.

 

[danikoski]

I have a reservation at Be Our Guest for 16:30 next week. Do you think it would be too much to do the Dessert Party on the same evening (check-in at 18:45)? I thought we could perhaps only have an entree at Be Our Guest and save space for the desserts later but I don't want to spoil the Be Our Guest experience. This is the only evening I can do the dessert party and I really want to get the reserved veiwing.

This is exactly what we did last Wednesday. We had a 5:00 pm reservation, ate an entree, than did the dessert party.

 

[HopperFan]

Both Terrace View and Garden View have the same seating privileges at tables in Tomorrowland Terrace and access to all the desserts before Wishes. For the Garden View people, you are escorted to the viewing area in the Hub just before Wishes begins, and you stand there to view Wishes. The Terrace view people have to congregate at the railing on the lower level of the Terrace to see Wishes, and I'm sure some of them end up standing in order to get a good view. I agree that the view is better from the Garden view location in the Hub- more straight on to the castle - and you only do minimally more standing than the Terrace View people do. I think it's well worth the lower price to do the Garden View. One advantage to Terrace View to consider is that the area is covered if it should be raining.

We did the terrace party on January 30 and loved it. I wasn't sure what to expect since I'd heard it had changed since we last did it in 2013. But I ended up liking it better because we were able to stay seated during Wishes instead of crowding up to the railing. Wishes was at 8pm, our reservation said to show up at 7pm. We showed up at 6:30pm expecting to wait in line until 7, but they had already started letting people in so there wasn't any line for check-in. After checking us in, they gave us wrist bands and gave us a choice of two tables, both at the railing. The terrace people were located on the lower section, while the garden view people were located on the upper section. Each section had their own dessert tables. We thought the dessert selection was scaled down from 2013, but we liked the addition of the cheese and crackers, and the sparkling cider. The tablecloths were a nice touch. At some point before the fireworks began they gave us a package of assorted Ghirardelli squares with a special Wishes Fireworks Party tag. I had heard people talk about it being difficult to move around the tables, that they were too close together, but I didn't have any problem navigating. I was fine with the view of the fireworks, and was very willing to sacrifice the perfect view for a comfortable seat. Being on the short side, I always run the risk of someone taller obstructing my view, or having a parent hoist their child up on their shoulders, so this was definitely a nice alternative.

@Eighty8Keys since you just went could you clarify ......... the Terrace Level (original location) folks no longer stand at the railing but now stay at their seats with all tables pushed closer to the best viewing than they used to be...???

For future reference, if you ever decide to do the dessert party, again, just know, there isn't a crowd in the reserved Plaza garden area. I'm 5'2" and, honestly, doing the party with the garden viewing was the only way I was willing to see Wishes again after having some terrible experiences watching from Main St. in previous years. Yes, people rushed to the front railing which is completely unnecessary as they then put themselves right in back of people who had waited for the spots just outside the plaza area. We took the advice of many on these boards and simply went to the back of the plaza garden area and leaned on the fence back there. There was absolutely no crowd and no one in front of us. We literally could have done a few cartwheels and wouldn't have bumped in to anyone. The view was unimpeded and was amazing. It was also nice to hang out there after the fireworks ended so the crowd could disperse and we could walk down Main St. without being in the masses of people trying to leave. We will definitely do the party again if they offer it with the new fireworks show!

Although the garden viewing may technically be "standing" since there is no chairs, it was so lightly attended when my husband and I did it in July that there was plenty of room to spread out. I sat in the grass with my legs stretched out in front of me and had enough space around me that I couldn't have reached out and touched anyone else watching.

Question: When you went was the dessert portion for the garden viewing only in the section just above the terrace seating or did it also include the large seating area by the QS counters. I ask because a few weeks ago we were there and all three sections were set up. I went and asked the CMs at the podium if the upper area was set up for a private party and they said no, it was the regular party and they still had room if we wanted to book. That was a way larger number of tables than I had every seen set up so wondering if the garden party is so popular they are now using all the tables.