Wishes Dessert Party - No more assigned seating

[TheRustyScupper]

people at the table behind us actually all pulled their chairs up directly behind us and crowded in so they could see. I understand they wanted to see, but I don't want someone basically in my lap when I am trying to drink my coffee or eat something.

1) Such is life.
2) Everyone wants a "view".
3) And, they do almost anything to get it.
4) We have NEVER advocated the Desert Party for this very reason.
5) If every table had a clear view, it would be different, but with restricted views, it is not worth the chance of no-view.

 

[Regan117]

1) Such is life.
2) Everyone wants a "view".
3) And, they do almost anything to get it.
4) We have NEVER advocated the Desert Party for this very reason.
5) If every table had a clear view, it would be different, but with restricted views, it is not worth the chance of no-view.

Nope, not such is life. Last I checked, it was not ok to pull your chair up to someone else's table in a restaurant. It was rude on their part, and poor execution on Disney's part. Even if my view was obscured, I would NEVER pull my chair up to someone else's private table - I would have complained to a CM. That's just bad manners.

 

[3smithboys]

DH and I are going for an adults only anniversary trip, and I would have loved to have booked something special like this. I would have not minded paying the price for it if it was worth the money. At the lower price, it was more reasonable... at this price - no way... and now with no assigned seating- crazytown! Why would anyone bother? There doesn't seem to be any benefit... obscured views, mediocre desserts, and people creeping up into their personal space... all for $49 pp!!!

 

[albertamom]

Once you get your table it's yours. Then you go get your desserts.

Is there a sign that you put on your table? If you all leave to get desserts, how do you make sure no one swipes some of your chairs to fit more people at their table?

 

[kboo]

Thank you, Regan, for your responses! just got FP for March 1 and will cancel our reservation as well.

 

[gailinroch]

Thank you, Regan, for your responses! just got FP for March 1 and will cancel our reservation as well.

Kboo- we'll have to look for each other! I also replaced our dessert party for FP on March 1st !!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I would NEVER pull my chair up to someone else's private table - I would have complained to a CM. That's just bad manners.

1) Maybe.
2) But this is done all over, and I have done so at
. . . airports
. . . fast-food places in NYC
. . . it is more common than people think or realize
. . . several QS eateries in WDW when the are really packed *
3) If there is an empty chair or space, why not put it to good use.
4) Sure, some think it rude, but others have no problem with it.

* In fact, we have tables at Hoop-Dee-Do where we seat different parties together to maximize table utilization..

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I think Rusty is right here - a CM would probably not tell them that they have to move, because they want to see, too.

 

[Regan117]

I think Rusty is right here - a CM would probably not tell them that they have to move, because they want to see, too.

I disagree. This isn't an airport, QS restaurant or a fast food place. This is a RESERVED table (no longer assigned, but it is reserved). That means they should stay away from my table and anyone else's. Pulling chairs up to someone else's table for two is rude. Just because you've done it or others do it, doesn't make it right.

If you're going into an event expecting communal seating, like Hoop-Dee-Doo, Spirit of Aloha or Biergarten, that's one thing. But I paid for my table. There were two of us, and we were sitting at a table for two. There's ZERO reason anyone should be creeping into my space. Tightly-packed tables are one thing, but to pull a chair UP TO someone's else table is wrong.

The cast member should have made them go back to their own table. While some views were better than others, EVERYONE could see the fireworks. There's no reason to creep up on someone else's table or food. I don't need someone breathing in my coffee...

 

[Regan117]

Is there a sign that you put on your table? If you all leave to get desserts, how do you make sure no one swipes some of your chairs to fit more people at their table?

You get a glass of the cider when you go in, so we left that on our table. We also left our bags there, since it's all closed in...nobody is going to swipe your stuff. We just put our stuff down and went to get our food.

 

[soniam]

DH and I are going for an adults only anniversary trip, and I would have loved to have booked something special like this. I would have not minded paying the price for it if it was worth the money. At the lower price, it was more reasonable... at this price - no way... and now with no assigned seating- crazytown! Why would anyone bother? There doesn't seem to be any benefit... obscured views, mediocre desserts, and people creeping up into their personal space... all for $49 pp!!!

I know I could get that for free just waiting for the fireworks if I want.

I guess tables at the railing cuts down on the issue we had last March, where people immediately staked out spots on the railing and ate dessert there standing. One guy almost elbowed DS9 in the head, when he went to the railing to see, since so many adults were blocking the view. The guy was saving spots for his family and was trying to push him out of the way Just one little kid. DH and I were not trying to push up to the railing with him. We were standing back, because we are adults. Being a short adult though, my view is easily blocked. It was one of the most unmagical, unfriendly experiences I have had at Disney, so we won't be returning to that dessert party.

 

[goofy4prez]

I remember back last year when Disney announced the renaming of this event, adding table clothes, adding a table center piece, adding sparkling apple juice in a plastic flute glass and let's not forget doubling the price and then calling it "an improved experience"; and now we are hearing this event is no longer using reserved tables as before... What a shame. If Disney were to announce they were eliminating desserts and instead passing out a chocolate chip cookie or sugar cookie and a soft drink and now raising the prices to $75 there would still be a mad dash to reserve this event. I guess I can't blame Disney as long as there are those out there drinking the Disney Kool-Aid by the gallon and snorting the pixie dust. I know I sound a little negative... Ok a lot negative, LOL... But it's just a shame in my opinion.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

I really enjoy the dessert parties and am pretty willing to pay extra to have a quiet area to enjoy the fireworks without having to waste hours of time staking out a good spot. This trip we have booked the Wishes one, the Illuminations one, the ferrytale cruise one as well (and would book the Star Wars one if it's still running in May.)

We had booked this at 180 days out for our trip in May because we didn't want to have to waste park time staking out a place early to get a good view. Have to say apple cider and a table cloth don't make up for the price increase and need now to get there crazy early to get a reasonable table. There is zero reason to book early for this now (or really to book it at all.) I guess we'll cancel.

With the new Skippers Canteen no ADR policy and this dessert party removing all benefit to booking early... it makes me wonder if Disney is losing it taste for the early planning

 

[albertamom]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but we're going to keep our reservation. It is the first night of our first WDW trip, and I still think that it will add to the magic of our arrival in the park. We have nothing to compare it to, having never done it before. We'll arrive as soon as we can after our 7:50 FP+ for BTMRR (for fireworks at 10:00), and let the chips fall where they may.

With a positive attitude going in, I still think that it will be a very magical evening.

 

[FireCaptainDan]

Sorry, no. It was not assigned. The people who got there first got the tables against the railings and everyone else got the tables in the back.

Thanks, Regan. That's what we were worried about. We're going to cancel our upcoming reservation and let them know why.

 

[TheSpooph]

I'm interested to see what families with kids think. I booked the party so my kids could stay in a confined place while we wait for fireworks and still have a decent view. The assigned seats didn't worry me on location since we were going to stand by the railing. I'm going that we won't have to wait for a long time outside just to wait even longer inside...

Can't wait until June rolls around!!

 

[scdak]

Having done a dessert party at the old price, a Hallowishes Dessert party at a higher price and a Wishes cruise now - I would honestly say I would pick a wishes cruise any time over the dessert party! The old price but with the assigned tables was OK, the Hallowishes dessert party was a novelty but not one I would repeat but the Wishes cruise was great, there were even snacks and sodas/water available and the captain was encouraging us to enjoy them, unfortunately we had enjoyed a great meal prior to the cruise and were stuffed!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

This is a RESERVED table (no longer assigned, but it is reserved).

1) For the future info of others, you have read this WHERE?
2) Please supply the quote of source.
3) On all my years and all my ADR's for guestsd, I have never had a Reserved Table.

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

1) For the future info of others, you have read this WHERE?
2) Please supply the quote of source.
3) On all my years and all my ADR's for guestsd, I have never had a Reserved Table.

What Regan117 is saying is that it's "reserved" because she's sitting there. Once you've been seated at a table it's yours until you leave it. No different than if you had a table next to the window at CG and people decided to stand or move their chairs to your table during the fireworks. It's just rude. Some people have no common sense at all. It was disrespectful for other people to move their chairs into her table space - sorry I agree with Regan 100%.

We've done the dessert party many times and I will be cancelling now based on the no pre-assigned seats. I don't want to waste my time standing in line, I could spend my money in a better way. Unfortunately they aren't running the ferrytale wishes cruise during spring break or I'd change to that.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Once you've been seated at a table it's yours until you leave it.

1) I do not remember seeing this printed anywhere . . . at WDW or anywhere else.
2) People may feel this way, but they do not own the space . . . your chair, maybe, but not the entire table.
3) In Europe, Asia, South America, joining others/strangers at a table is very common.
4) I simply do not see what is wrong with utilizing empty space(s), especially for 12-minutes of fireworks.
5) It is the polite and generous thing to allow others to have a good view of the fireworks.