Wishes Dessert Party - No more assigned seating

[Claudia1]

To take a tangent......

My family was talking about the Dessert Party recently and we all loved doing it once. My DIL and DGD both called on of the cupcakes "toothpaste cupcakes" and we all agreed that we didn't like them. They were mini mint cupcakes.

Anybody else think they tasted like toothpaste?

 

[LSUfan4444]

Now for a decent view, I have to line up and wait

Why? You can still move to the railing at watch the show if you're seated at a table with a bad view.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Why? You can still move to the railing at watch the show if you're seated at a table with a bad view.

From what I read, not really. Aren't tables now right up against the railing?

 

[Disneyliscious]

We did our first dessert party during HalloWishes last year and loved it but knew we wouldn't do it again because of the price. i'm so glad we were able to experience it before the change in non assigned tables. No way in heck I'd pay that kind of money and have to wait in line for hours just to get a decent table.

 

[LSUfan4444]

From what I read, not really. Aren't tables now right up against the railing?

Yes, tables have been moved close to the railing but there is still an area to stand off to the side which offers good viewing. The only reason you would have to get their early is if you want a table near the railing and to remain seated for Wishes (which wasn't an option before for most people). For 10pm wishes you can still arrive after 8:30, be seated for dessert and move to the railing to view Wishes.

The only change you can't really get around is the cost. I think the decision of "worth it" or not shouldn't be based off of what it did cost vs what it costs now, but rather is the current cost now still appropriate to avoid Main Street or Hub crowds to view the entertainment. For me, absolutely. I can find that money somewhere else in our budget (souvenirs, skip one quick service and opt for snacks instead, etc). Obviously, the larger the crowds the more value something like this will carry.

 

[porschegrl]

Yes, tables have been moved close to the railing but there is still an area to stand off to the side which offers good viewing.

When I spoke to a guest relations CM about the dessert party changes, she mentioned there was "some" room to stand off to the sides, but she emphasized it was first come, first served. In your opinion, is there plenty of room for anyone who might wish to stand during the show?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yes, tables have been moved close to the railing but there is still an area to stand off to the side which offers good viewing. The only reason you would have to get their early is if you want a table near the railing and to remain seated for Wishes (which wasn't an option before for most people). For 10pm wishes you can still arrive after 8:30, be seated for dessert and move to the railing to view Wishes.

Reports I've heard say that that space is now quite limited. We used to walk up right at 9pm for a 9pm ADR and go right to our reserved table. Since I ALWAYS booked right at the 180-day mark, we had a table very near the railing.

To us, this is now a very different experience, and one we don't want to pay for given the changes.

As always... to each his own.

 

[LSUfan4444]

There is not enough space for everyone, but remember how many people are arriving early so they don't have to use the standing area. If you want to arrive late and stand at the rail, you still can. Those arriving early are doing so because they want a railing table so they don't have to stand...and because people love waiting in line at WDW.

When I spoke to a guest relations CM about the dessert party changes, she mentioned there was "some" room to stand off to the sides, but she emphasized it was first come, first served. In your opinion, is there plenty of room for anyone who might wish to stand during the show?

I can't predict if the Boy Scout Troop 284 from Orlando will want to stand together in that area, but for the most part there is enough room for those who chose to do so from everyone I have talked to. Not one person has mentioned that they wanted to stand but had an obstructed view or that area was too crowded. If anything, the people who complained of crowding are the people I know who got railing tables and remained seated.

 

[j2thomason]

I have reservations June 2. The only reason I even booked it was because they have done away with Wishes FP area. Now it seems the same day reservations actually get to go to the Plaza Garden to view Wishes. I like the view from PG much better than TLT. My biggest problem is my 88 year old mother is in a wheelchair and can't see anything from Main Street (except backs and butts). We did the Frozen dessert party with her two years ago and she loved it, but I'm really worried about this one. I'm afraid if we don't get a seat by the railing she will still just be looking at backs and butts. Has anyone who has been to the dessert party recently noticed if they put wheelchair guests by the railing? She can't get up to stand and see the fireworks. I'm hoping that is the case and we aren't in the back where she can't see anything. That would be a huge waste of money for me. I would book the same day reservation, but I don't think I could get her down to the PG quickly enough to be by that railing so she can see. She needs a few feet of clearance in front of her in order to see anything.

 

[Unyeah]

I have been to the dessert party a few times in the past few years. In my opinion save your money. The dessert party use to be so nice with assigned seating and the railing available to everyone to watch the fireworks. What is the point of paying a premium if you have to stand in line for an hour just to get the best seats along the rail. If I have to stand somewhere for an hour I would have just stood on Main Street or gone to TOTWL. From our table you could not even see all the fireworks so they lie to you when they say you can see them. What's the point of paying a premium when people right outside the terrace standing at the rails have a better view than we did. I always loved the dessert party at MK cause you could sit down and then when the fireworks started you had plenty of space to stand along the rails. Even if you sat in the front tables and people stood in front of you, you could still see everything. Not to mention everyone who said people of eight would sit at a table of two are correct. Yet they like to call this intimate. I call it crowded and not much different than being on Main Street. Even if you are at a table on the rail it is not comfortable because you are sitting on top of each other and can't even move. These dessert parties are going downhill IMO. The magic is gone and they will not get my money anymore. The point of these parties is to pay a premium and have a great view without all the trouble and they did the opposite of that. I love everything Disney and trust them enough that when they make changes it is for the right reason but this time they got it wrong.

 

[LSUfan4444]

8:42 arrival on Tuesday, May 31.

 

[mmccutche]

8:42 arrival on Tuesday, May 31.



View attachment 172579

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Was it lightly attended? Just wondering if the boards (or all of the other different dessert parties) have stolen the thunder from "wishes".

 

[LSUfan4444]

Very well attended. I didn't see one empty table at the start of Wishes.

 

[mmccutche]

Very well attended. I didn't see one empty table at the start of Wishes.

So we have a 9pm reservation in a few weeks and have been on the fence about keeping it... Are you saying that you walked up and sat on the rail at 8:42 or did you line up earlier and were seated at 8:42?

Thanks. Hope that we have the same great view.

 

[LSUfan4444]

So we have a 9pm reservation in a few weeks and have been on the fence about keeping it... Are you saying that you walked up and sat on the rail at 8:42 or did you line up earlier and were seated at 8:42?

Thanks. Hope that we have the same great view.

Got in line at 8:42 and they asked me if I had a preference on where we sat. I looked to the left (towards main sreet) and saw a row of 4 tables with no tables in front or behind. This the one I chose and the other three were not claimed for another few minutes.

The people who claimed the first tables Got way worse seating than I did, but they did have larger parties so needed bigger tables. The table we sat at was for 4 but could easily be used for 8 of two were available next to each other.

 

[cassie58]

8:42 arrival on Tuesday, May 31.



View attachment 172579

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Were you able to see the projection show well with your seats up front?

 

[LSUfan4444]

Yes. The only obstructions to my view were the trees you see in the picture so the lower part of of the castle was obstructed but that's about it.

 

[gorjus121]

Reports I've heard say that that space is now quite limited. We used to walk up right at 9pm for a 9pm ADR and go right to our reserved table. Since I ALWAYS booked right at the 180-day mark, we had a table very near the railing.

To us, this is now a very different experience, and one we don't want to pay for given the changes.

As always... to each his own.

As you will read, I am not a fan of the changes. A few years back we were given a table along the railing (to the right) for a party of 6. I booked immediately after the reservations were released (this was before it was at the 180 day mark and done around a few months before)... it was AMAZING thanks to the DIS members notifying us on the watch thread. They even had the Disney photographers back then too. Great picture with the illuminated castle in the background. If all the tables are along the railing now I would not bother! They use to have the smaller tables positioned a few feet back allowing guests to get up and pretty much give everyone a great view. Since the changes (and we returned in November 2014) they added several tables and the seating was no longer based on the time you booked. We were pushed towards the back at the same size table four were given (we were a party of 8). I again booked right away. I think they already started seating people based on when they got on line. We were however able to watch from the railing as most people did. I'm sorry, Im not going to wait 90 mins before to get a good table. This use to be a less known gem in MK... but I no longer think its worth the money. The prices have gone up drastically too. I would opt for the cruise at this point since we've experienced the FDP at its better moments. We skipped it on our last trip.

I tried to attach a photo of our view back in May of 2013. It showed how wonderful our view was at that time and you can see the people standing on the left at the railing which wraps around to the far left.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'm sorry, Im not going to wait 90 mins before to get a good table

You don't have to. I walked up at 8:42 and had no issues with a table that was more than acceptable.

 

[LindseyJo22]

We did the party on May 23 and actually quite enjoyed it. Now, we did stand in line for a while just to make sure we got a good seat, and the organization of the staff was a little lacking on the timing front. They said they would begin checking people in around 8:00, but that did not happen - it was probably 8:35 or so before they started giving out wristbands. The only plus to this was that then we got to go basically immediately to choose our tables. We had a small party of three, so we chose a great table right against the railing in front of the castle. The buffet was open immediately as well, and we had a couple of trips before anything even got started. We had a decent view of the Electrical parade, which was a nice surprise as well - I hadn't really thought about the fact that it starts while the desert party is going on.

There were a few other families in line with us at 8:00, but not a whole lot. I think you probably could have shown up a little later and gotten a pretty good seat. We enjoyed most of the desserts - the cupcakes are nothing to write home about, but the rest of the items were very good, and we had more than plenty.

If I had wanted to do more attractions, I think I would have been a little annoyed at having to get to the party so early to "make sure" we got a good seat. This was our first time after the changes, and the first (and potentially only) time my mom would go to the dessert party, so I was invested in getting a prime table. At this point in our trip, it was our last day and we had been kind of winding down anyway - my husband and I split some corn dog nuggets from Casey's so we didn't just have sugar for dinner, and then we just got in line to wait for the party since we weren't really up to trekking around the park any more.

Overall, I think it was worth it for us to be able to give my mom a special experience. We all enjoyed the food and the view a lot. This was definitely expensive, and I don't think it will be a regular thing, but I enjoyed the party and was okay with the price. I know this probably makes us a bit of a minority, but I thought I'd put in my review here anyway!