MK "Happily Ever After" Dessert Party (Parties) Discussion

[Twilight Sparkle]

I am thinking about booking the Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing for 8/22/18 (which is a late night EMH, with MK open for resort guests until 11), but I have a few questions. I know the answers are probably buried here, within 136 pages, so I'm hoping someone will help me out with some answers!

>> Is this a pre-paid event? If so and your plans change, can you get a refund?
>> I know this is standing-only for the fireworks, but are there tables available for eating, or is this strictly standing-only?
>> Are you allowed to take your desserts into the viewing area? Can you go back for a little nosh after the fireworks show?
>> MUST one have a MDE account to book this?
>> Does anyone know if they are offering savory treats at this, or just at the after-event?
>> Fireworks are at 9pm. If we check in to the party at 7:30, can we leave to ride something and then come back, or are you "in" once you are "in?"

I think that's it. It seems like a lot of money for dessert, especially as I am not a huge dessert eater, but if we can get egg rolls and such also, we'll probably do it. Thanks for your help!

Hi, leebee! I'll try to help:

1) Yes, prepaid. You can get a refund if you cancel by the 5 day before mark.
2) You do eat at tables in the restaurant - not in the garden. If you book the before party, you eat first. If you book the after party, you eat after the fireworks. CMs escort you to the garden area when you are ready to walk over.
3) You are allowed to bring desserts into the garden area to have during fireworks if you book the before party. I don't think before party guests can return to the dessert portion after the fireworks, but after party people would head there at that time.
4) You can call and book this rather than booking on MDE if you wish.
5) It has been reported that the menu is the same for both the before and after parties.
6) Yes, you are free to come and go once you have your party wristband. Others have reported eating a bit, leaving to ride a ride, and then coming back after that.

It is a lot of money for dessert. We tried to look at it more as paying for a good view without having to stake a claim.

 

[Allison]

I am thinking about booking the Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing for 8/22/18 (which is a late night EMH, with MK open for resort guests until 11), but I have a few questions. I know the answers are probably buried here, within 136 pages, so I'm hoping someone will help me out with some answers!

>> Is this a pre-paid event? If so and your plans change, can you get a refund?
>> I know this is standing-only for the fireworks, but are there tables available for eating, or is this strictly standing-only?
>> Are you allowed to take your desserts into the viewing area? Can you go back for a little nosh after the fireworks show?
>> MUST one have a MDE account to book this?
>> Does anyone know if they are offering savory treats at this, or just at the after-event?
>> Fireworks are at 9pm. If we check in to the party at 7:30, can we leave to ride something and then come back, or are you "in" once you are "in?"

I think that's it. It seems like a lot of money for dessert, especially as I am not a huge dessert eater, but if we can get egg rolls and such also, we'll probably do it. Thanks for your help!

There is a lot of relevant information in the first post.

 

[Sparty1833]

is this good for kids (2 and 4) so they can get a decent view of the castle?

 

[nursemelis374]

We enjoyed the party on June 5th, party of 7. We were almost the last people to leave the dessert area and head to the pretty full garden view area and had no problem getting a great spot. Everyone stood for our show. We loved the fireworks and felt this was completely worth it!

 

[123SA]

I was overruled by my family They asked me to switch from the garden plaza to the terrace seated party. I'm not a fan of the off center view, but I think I am a fan of sitting down for an hour.

 

[leebee]

Hi, leebee! I'll try to help:

1) Yes, prepaid. You can get a refund if you cancel by the 5 day before mark.
2) You do eat at tables in the restaurant - not in the garden. If you book the before party, you eat first. If you book the after party, you eat after the fireworks. CMs escort you to the garden area when you are ready to walk over.
3) You are allowed to bring desserts into the garden area to have during fireworks if you book the before party. I don't think before party guests can return to the dessert portion after the fireworks, but after party people would head there at that time.
4) You can call and book this rather than booking on MDE if you wish.
5) It has been reported that the menu is the same for both the before and after parties.
6) Yes, you are free to come and go once you have your party wristband. Others have reported eating a bit, leaving to ride a ride, and then coming back after that.

It is a lot of money for dessert. We tried to look at it more as paying for a good view without having to stake a claim.

Thank you! I'm looking at this in the same way as I view a character meal; you're paying for the experience and the accessibility, not necessarily for the food! As long as it can be canceled, I think I'll book it. Thanks!

 

[Lsdolphin]

Here now and have Dessert Party scheduled for Sunday 6/24. It's calling for 80% chance of thunder storms next few evenings. There is a five day cancellation policy which means if I cancel it has to be tonite. Wondering whether I should cancel and then if weather improves go and re-book closer to Sunday. The parities don't seem to be selling out for this week.

Has anyone been to party during thunder storms? Not sure that would be an enjoy experience....

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Here now and have Dessert Party scheduled for Sunday 6/24. It's calling for 80% chance of thunder storms next few evenings. There is a five day cancellation policy which means if I cancel it has to be tonite. Wondering whether I should cancel and then if weather improves go and re-book closer to Sunday. The parities don't seem to be selling out for this week.

Has anyone been to party during thunder storms? Not sure that would be an enjoy experience....

I'm booked for the 25th and think thunderstorms in FL are just the norm during the summer time. I believe that if it thunders, they will hold off the fireworks until it is safe to carry them out again.

 

[old feller]

Disney held off the Hollweeen fireworks over an hour or more two years ago because of rain.I was very thankful the stuck it out.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Here now and have Dessert Party scheduled for Sunday 6/24. It's calling for 80% chance of thunder storms next few evenings. There is a five day cancellation policy which means if I cancel it has to be tonite. Wondering whether I should cancel and then if weather improves go and re-book closer to Sunday. The parities don't seem to be selling out for this week.

Has anyone been to party during thunder storms? Not sure that would be an enjoy experience....

I'm assuming you have the before party booked, as my comments won't apply to the after party. If it is truly storming at HEA time... you'll be very glad you have the party booked for shelter! We had a delayed fireworks one night last year and "roughed it out" in the terrace, nice and dry, with desserts steps away. No complaints here, although fortunately the delay wasn't too long.

Calculated risk if you want to cancel now and decide closer. Availability does seem pretty good if you believe the website. Personally, I don't let FL forecasts really dictate my plans, unless it's a hurricane. But good luck, whatever you decide.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Dessert party from Tomorrowland Terrace tonight (6/19) was lovely! We arrived at 7:50. There were 2 podiums and 2 lines, one on the right for guests with a garden view time of 7:45. Most of those guests had already checked in when we arrived, with a few checking in on that side and going right in to a separate dessert party as we arrived.

We got in the line on the left. There were probably about 40 people already in line. At 8 pm, they started checking guests in and seating everyone on the lower terrace. Most tables were right up against the railing.

We checked in, got wristbands, and were given an overview of the food & beverage offerings before being shown to a table at the railing with a nice view of the castle.

Our teens grabbed food and then went to ride the PeopleMover before HEA started. While they were gone, our host offered to take our picture. A Photopass photographer also came around twice.

The show was great. Food was plentiful... Plenty of my favorite chocolate covered strawberries right up until the end! A centered view from the garden would have been better & some of the lower projections were hard to see. On the upside, Tink flew right at us at the end of the show.

Overall, I loved the relaxed feeling of being shown to our table & staying there for the show without having to “stake out a spot.”

We went straight to Buzz afterward which was practically a walk on. When we cut back thru the terrace afterward, the “After” party crowd was dining at the terrace behind where we sat. There were seriously like 4 families there that I could see, very uncrowded with lots of extra tables.

Hope this review is helpful! I wanted to post while the details were still fresh to hopefully help someone else. The info here has really helped me!

A rare Terrace Viewing party review - THANK YOU! Added to Post #1.

Hi, leebee! I'll try to help:

1) Yes, prepaid. You can get a refund if you cancel by the 5 day before mark.
2) You do eat at tables in the restaurant - not in the garden. If you book the before party, you eat first. If you book the after party, you eat after the fireworks. CMs escort you to the garden area when you are ready to walk over.
3) You are allowed to bring desserts into the garden area to have during fireworks if you book the before party. I don't think before party guests can return to the dessert portion after the fireworks, but after party people would head there at that time.
4) You can call and book this rather than booking on MDE if you wish.
5) It has been reported that the menu is the same for both the before and after parties.
6) Yes, you are free to come and go once you have your party wristband. Others have reported eating a bit, leaving to ride a ride, and then coming back after that.

It is a lot of money for dessert. We tried to look at it more as paying for a good view without having to stake a claim.

Very helpful (and accurate) information - THANK YOU for helping out your fellow DISers.

 

[mandysmom]

I see they have new offerings, like Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake, listed on Disney’s website for the after party. Does the before party have the same new menu? If not, I’m going to have to change to the after party, lol.

 

[Meglen]

We did the before dessert party on 6/20. We showed up for check in around 7:50 no line at all. Only confusion was we needed to go to the second podium the first was for the after party. We got our wristbands and sat down on the second level close to the terrace seating section. We ate our desert they were meh. But the ice cream was really good and I liked the bottled water being available.

Before we checked in there was about 5 people in the garden. After we ate and sat for a fee we walked our selves over 45 min before the show. Walked to the back corner had a nice poll in the way but could see the castle. My son and husband layed down for a good 30 min . (They need to cut the bushes in half in the front no reason for such tall things in the way)

Show time!! We all moved with plunty of room. Some people stood some sat everyone was mindfull of children being able to see. Show was amazing and worth the price tag. The amount of people in the hub and main Street was scary. Was a sold out before party and not a single cm told us to hurry.

https://imgur.com/gallery/jKnjucx

 

[Meglen]

I see they have new offerings, like Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake, listed on Disney’s website for the after party. Does the before party have the same new menu? If not, I’m going to have to change to the after party, lol.

Yes the before party had them

 

[Stitch813]

Booked dessert party for our December trip. Going to do the Jingle Bell Jingle Bam dessert party as well! Did the Star Wars one last trip and was totally worth it to me. More so for the "not having to camp out for a spot for hours" perk, but still the food and alcoholic drinks were good too

 

[TinkerBellLiz]

HEA Tomorrowland Terrace show 6/21. We arrived about 7:50 and were shown to our table. We weren’t on the rail and just a FYI if you’re not on the rail, the fireworks are blocked slightly. The tables further from the podium have better castle views and the ‘perfect’ seating would be by the rail furthest away!

Desserts are the new menu and I know that’s been covered. There were also photo pass photographers taking pictures before and during the show. DH said this is definitely the way to do fireworks! Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Booked dessert party for our December trip. Going to do the Jingle Bell Jingle Bam dessert party as well! Did the Star Wars one last trip and was totally worth it to me. More so for the "not having to camp out for a spot for hours" perk, but still the food and alcoholic drinks were good too

I'm interested in booking Jingle Bell Jingle Bam for December...have they started booking for it already?

 

[Stitch813]

I'm interested in booking Jingle Bell Jingle Bam for December...have they started booking for it already?

They haven't started booking for it yet. Just planning ahead lol

 

[biochemgirl]

We had a GREAT view of the show on the terrace, and there is a sense of calm and solace being able to sit in chairs while the chaos ensues all around you...

Do you have any pictures of your viewpoint? Thanks!

 

[leebee]

Thanks to all who answered earlier questions. I booked the Plaza Garden Viewing party for August 22, which is our arrival day. Our flight lands at 12:30pm so I have no worries about getting to MK in time for the party. We are psyched!!!