WWYD? Which dessert party SPECIFICALLY on 7/3 - 7/4? (Fourth of July Fireworks)

[PDXmouse]

So I have read reviews of the three MK dessert parties from all over this site from 2021 - 2022. (It seems there have been enough changes since before Covid so I didn't focus on older reviews.) I also watched some YouTube reviews of the different dessert parties.

Here is my issue - almost none of the conversations are about the Fourth of July *specifically*. We plan to be in MK on 7/3 (and Epcot on 7/4) so I expect crowds will be high. It is also a different fireworks show, so I don't know how much the viewing angle of the castle matters.

Part of me is leaning towards Sweets & Treats so that we have a table and can stay seated. Will we regret the angle of the show?

We did a dessert party pre-covid and it was fine. I'm reading mixed reports about the garden area being more crowded now, and I'm not sure it's worth it if they are packing people in nowadays. DH is tall, but I am 5'3" and my kids are around 5'5"-5'6".

Does anyone have any insight?

 

[MinnieMSue]

So I have read reviews of the three MK dessert parties from all over this site from 2021 - 2022. (It seems there have been enough changes since before Covid so I didn't focus on older reviews.) I also watched some YouTube reviews of the different dessert parties.

Here is my issue - almost none of the conversations are about the Fourth of July *specifically*. We plan to be in MK on 7/3 (and Epcot on 7/4) so I expect crowds will be high. It is also a different fireworks show, so I don't know how much the viewing angle of the castle matters.

Part of me is leaning towards Sweets & Treats so that we have a table and can stay seated. Will we regret the angle of the show?

We did a dessert party pre-covid and it was fine. I'm reading mixed reports about the garden area being more crowded now, and I'm not sure it's worth it if they are packing people in nowadays. DH is tall, but I am 5'3" and my kids are around 5'5"-5'6".

Does anyone have any insight?

I watched the July 3 fireworks from those seats for the dessert party a few years ago and it was great. They did not do any castle projections like they typically do for happily ever after etc. They just had stars swirling around the castle and lit it red white and blue. We had a great although off center view of the fireworks and being off center did not matter to us at all. We were seated up and away from the masses crowded in front of the castle that had been there for hours. They played music and had a dance party/DJ type of thing going on in front of the castle too. We were just glad to be away from that crowd and that we could still enjoy the show. I would do it again if I was going to be in that park that night again. Also the Epcot was by far the better show for 4th of july at least the year we attended.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We did MK dessert parties before, and now since Covid changes. We absolutely felt it was more crowded in the viewing area than before Covid. Having both a pre-FW and post-FW party, it really felt full. I will say it's been quite awhile since we did the party where we were seated, but when we did, we felt it was not a great viewing slot for everyone - if you got the best seats, it was ok. The biggest difference now, in our opinion, is the show is so dependent on the projections, it might even be more important to be closer. Not sure about the 7/4 show.

The biggest concern with viewing from the garden is just like it is on Main St - will there be some tall person who steps in front as the music starts, or the person with a kid on their shoulders, or the person who needs to video the entire show with their camera up?! We've found that's luck of the draw. If you get to the garden area early enough, you probably can get a spot near the front railing, which reduces the chances of people being in front on you.

We did the party in March and enjoyed the desserts and especially the FWs. But we're not in a hurry to do it again.

 

[PDXmouse]

I watched the July 3 fireworks from those seats for the dessert party a few years ago and it was great. They did not do any castle projections like they typically do for happily ever after etc. They just had stars swirling around the castle and lit it red white and blue. We had a great although off center view of the fireworks and being off center did not matter to us at all. We were seated up and away from the masses crowded in front of the castle that had been there for hours. They played music and had a dance party/DJ type of thing going on in front of the castle too. We were just glad to be away from that crowd and that we could still enjoy the show. I would do it again if I was going to be in that park that night again. Also the Epcot was by far the better show for 4th of july at least the year we attended.

Thanks for your feedback. I've booked both sweets & treats and a regular dessert party and I'm trying to decide what to drop.

I know we are paying for the convenience of not being packed in with the normal crowd. DH doesn't drink at all. I *might* have one glass of something, and my teens (obviously) won't have alcohol.

The benefit to me is not having to stake out a viewing spot hours ahead of time - but from the reviews it sounds like to get a good spot in the garden OR a good table at sweets & treats you STILL have to go early?

Question: if our whole family checks in early and gets wrist bands, can part of the group then leave and go do a few more rides while someone holds our place in line and/or table? I imagine we will want to check in early to get a railing table, but that will lose some important park hours.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Thanks for your feedback. I've booked both sweets & treats and a regular dessert party and I'm trying to decide what to drop.

I know we are paying for the convenience of not being packed in with the normal crowd. DH doesn't drink at all. I *might* have one glass of something, and my teens (obviously) won't have alcohol.

The benefit to me is not having to stake out a viewing spot hours ahead of time - but from the reviews it sounds like to get a good spot in the garden OR a good table at sweets & treats you STILL have to go early?

Question: if our whole family checks in early and gets wrist bands, can part of the group then leave and go do a few more rides while someone holds our place in line and/or table? I imagine we will want to check in early to get a railing table, but that will lose some important park hours.

when we did it we could come and go. You will have a wristband. When we did it they did not have alcohol included so the price was better. We have done the before and after parties too. We were so unsure how we wanted to do things that we just decided to skip MK on the 3rd this year lol. We are doing AK. We decided to see Happily Ever After instead on a couple of MK nights