WWYD - HEA After party

[kniquy]

I have a HEA after dessert party booked. This will be during the last week of November, so theoretically lighter crowds, but 3 out of 4 nights that we are there the MVMCP will be taking place. Leaving only one night for us to see HEA. I am thinking that the park will be busy with it being one of the few non-party nights, which is why I booked the after dessert party. We want a good view of the fireworks, but don't want to spend an hour staking out a spot nor being squished like sardines.

Am i thinking this through correctly that the non-party nights will be crazy, making the dessert party worth it? This is suppose to be a low stress trip and i feel like the dessert party (as so-so as the desserts are) would be helpful with eliminating the need to worry and wait.

I have read through a number of the after party reviews and it seems like it is a little less hectic because you can just grab a spot and not have to rush through our desserts (we did the before party and felt incredibly rushed)

Do I keep the party reservation? I know it is a personal decision, but want to make sure that i am thinking it through correctly

 

[CERS]

I'm doing exactly the same thing in January 2nd, I have an after-fireworks party booked, however, it will probably be still heavily crowded from NYE crowds. Probably in November is going to be much less crowded. It all depends on wether your party is cool with waiting on heavy crowds. Mine isn't, so in my case the Dessert Party is a must. If you want a relaxed trip and it fits your budget, I would keep it.

Also, with the after fireworks one you also avoind the "going out" crowds that happen right after HEA. While everyone heads out to fully collapse the monorail, buses, parking lot, etc; you head in to sit and relax and eat some sweets. Sounds good to me!

 

[ktlm]

Look at some of the reviews with photos of the viewing areas since the after party started. We had the after party booked about 2 weeks ago- but after reviewing some of the recent reports and photos we cancelled. You are correct that because of the amount of party nights that the non-party nights will be crowded; however, the photos I looked at indicated that the HEA garden viewing area has been crowded since the addition of the after party and that you may need to stake out a spot well in advance in the party area. If HEA is an important must do for you, I would keep it- but know that with them now doing 2 dessert parties and filling the area from both parties the area appears to have become a lot more crowded than in the past.

 

[amiskell28]

I have a HEA after dessert party booked. This will be during the last week of November, so theoretically lighter crowds, but 3 out of 4 nights that we are there the MVMCP will be taking place. Leaving only one night for us to see HEA. I am thinking that the park will be busy with it being one of the few non-party nights, which is why I booked the after dessert party. We want a good view of the fireworks, but don't want to spend an hour staking out a spot nor being squished like sardines.

Am i thinking this through correctly that the non-party nights will be crazy, making the dessert party worth it? This is suppose to be a low stress trip and i feel like the dessert party (as so-so as the desserts are) would be helpful with eliminating the need to worry and wait.

I have read through a number of the after party reviews and it seems like it is a little less hectic because you can just grab a spot and not have to rush through our desserts (we did the before party and felt incredibly rushed)

Do I keep the party reservation? I know it is a personal decision, but want to make sure that i am thinking it through correctly

Your thinking mirrors mine. We are doing the exact same thing in February (also theoretically less busy - early Feb).

I look at it like this.... no matter how you slice it, the garden will be less busy than everywhere else. And, the after party affords us the ease of just chilling in the garden and eating afterwards - we'd be waiting for the crowds to ease after the fireworks, anyway, might as well be eating!

 

[DisFam4]

As one who did the after fireworks party a few weeks ago I would say it is fantastic. I would even say that the area was semi crowded, but let's understand "crowded". It appears crowded before the fireworks starts because most people are sitting on the grassy areas and spread out, so yes, while it seems crowded it's really not. Once the fireworks started all of the lemmings that were sitting stood up and moved forward, while myself and the other Dis'ers that were there stood up and moved back and enjoyed 10 feet of open space between ourselves and the rest of the crowd As an after fw person you can get to the viewing area before the others to get your spot (back left) and not worry about the crowd. Also, being able to go to have desserts after and relax was great. We took our time and were not rushed at all.

You can see my review with some pics here.

So I would say if the cost is OK with you go ahead and do it. It honestly was the best fireworks viewing our family has had.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We are doing the same thing in November. Our party is 11/2 which is sandwiched between the end of MNSSHP, an early closing at the MK for a CM event and then the start of MVMCP. I just don't want to deal with the crowds at all.

 

[Katie Dawn]

We attended the HEA dessert party on 10/6 for the same reason - so few nights without a party equals big crowds on non-party nights. I'm pretty sure our night both parties were sold out and while there wasn't a luxurious amount of room available in the garden by the time the fireworks started (1) we didn't feel crowded and there was enough room that some people still sat on the ground during the show and (2) it was WAY less crowded than outside the garden where people were packed in like sardines!

I tried to switch to the After Party so we wouldn't be rushed just like you're saying, and weren't able to switch and it was fine, but I think you'll love the after party! Enjoy!

 

[BMAEC]

We are in a similar situation. There are only 2 HEA shows the week we are going due to Christmas parties and a cast member party. I’ve read a lot of people’s experiences on here that say the crowds for HEA on party weeks are “scary” and unlike other times of the year. We are doing the before party because our kids are young. Otherwise I think we would do the after party. There’s a nice thread on here with reviews of the before and after parties. Seems like consistently people report positive experiences. You’re really paying for the reserved viewing area and the desserts are just a bonus. No matter how crowded the garden area is, the area outside the garden is going to be way worse!