**Official** Star Wars at DHS, Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party/Galactic Nights/Launch Bay/JT

[FastPasser.]

I did not actually like the show that much (had not seen it before). It was good to see once, but I wouldn't necessarily want to see it again.

Fair criticism, but to be fair, the party and show are two entirely separate offerings. In fact, there is no guarantee of a show if you do the party.

It was hard to move around. I would've liked to eat some then walk around then eat some more. It felt a little to crowded/short to do this

Some areas of the venue will feel more crowded than others, but it all depends on how many people attend the party on a given night.

Sitting with random people - the people we sat with were nice enough, but it was still awkward and one of them was a little complain-y about the value of the event for the cost, which you should really not even think about while you are at the party

Some Guests are unaware that it is a possibility and a probility for parties of less than five to be seated with another party. However it is clearly noted on the party's MDE webpage.
"Seating is available banquet-style, where Guests may be seated with other parties."

Not sure what to do with my stein, although I'm glad I got Darth Vader

From the feedback I've received over the years, many SW fans just display the steins as part of their SW collection. That's what I've done, I've never actually used any of them.

Did not have time to visit Chewy or BB-8, lines were still quite long at the end of the day

As Yulilin 3 posted, do all other non Kilo Ren M&Gs before the party.

Sorry, hope this wasn't too much of a downer!

Not a problem. With the number of positive reviews out there, a negative review adds some balance.

 

[MalamuteMom]

Thank you FastPasser and Yulinlin 3 for the clarifications. I do want to note that I was aware we would likely be seated with other people and that the non-Kylo character greets were not included, although I was hoping the waits might be short enough at the end of the day to hit one (characters are not a huge priority for me, but they are fun with low waits). So it was my hopes that weren't met rather than my expectations, if that makes sense.

We may also just have had some of the less desirable seats - we were up against the wall by the buffet stations so there was a lot of traffic and I could not get out unless my husband got up due to how close together the tables were. Obviously, people want seating and it makes sense that without it, it would be impossible with kids, but I am guessing the party felt more open with cocktail tables. The crowed feeling was specifically due to the tables - there was never really a long line for food or drinks.

I may have also just built the party up too much because it seems everything I read said this was the best party and it was so great. Honestly, I probably would have loved it if I found the show amazing. Since I, personally, didn't, it left the evening feeling a bit flat for me, which tinted my experience, even if that's not a fair assessment of the party itself, as FastPasser pointed out.

I think I also should have done more research on the Launch Bay itself because I was kind of confused on the layout and wasn't sure how to experience it as part of the party. Overall, I felt the party was actually a little too long for just desserts and Kylo, but not quite long enough to do something else within it. However, I may have felt differently if I planned it a little better or had more experience with the Launch Bay. So, for anyone that has a hard time eating and making conversation with strangers for the length of the party time, I bet if you do some research you will be able to plan to use your time better than we did. I normally plan everything, but for this I was like - yay we will just show up and eat and it will be fun. Should've known - always have a plan! Hopefully, this experience will help someone else out.

 

[ChiCat]

MalamuteMom I appreciate your review. We are headed to the party 1/7/19 and I have always been skeptical of the dessert parties but we want to try something new so I booked it! I’m heading into it without only moderate expectations lol. Honestly watching the video from DisneyFoodBlog I would have booked the Frozen dessert party but we are doing the DestiNations tour in Epcot so I wanted to break up the special activities and not have them all at the same park. I have never seen the Star Wars show but it also sounds like it might not be great, there’s no fireworks!?

 

[MalamuteMom]

ChiCat I'm sure you will still have fun, especially with your expectations set appropriately. It wasn't a bad time for me, just not as good as I was hoping when lots of other things in our trip met or exceeded what we had in mind.

I would call it a projection show with effects, some of which were small fireworks. Maybe it was an off night or I am mis-remembering, but I don't remember any big 'sky bloom' fireworks.

 

[FastPasser.]

ChiCat I'm sure you will still have fun, especially with your expectations set appropriately.

That's very important.

I would call it a projection show with effects, some of which were small fireworks. Maybe it was an off night or I am mis-remembering, but I don't remember any big 'sky bloom' fireworks.

No, you're not mis-remembering, it's mainly a projection show. There weren't a lot of conventional high altitude fireworks to begin with and those were suspended. I'm not a fan of projections and the uneven projection surfaces don't help. Although I've been at the show hundreds of times, I was one and done. Being a SW fan heightens one's enjoyment.

I’m heading into it without only moderate expectations lol. Honestly watching the video from DisneyFoodBlog I would have booked the Frozen dessert party

Although you don't have to be a serious SW fan in order to enjoy the SW dessert party, it does help. IMO, I think the Frozen party may be a better choice for you.

 

[ksromack]

I'm wondering if at this point they are going to cut out toilet paper and you will have to bring your own.

~NM

Funny you should mention it but I've often thought of bringing our own tp!


@FastPasser I so wished we could have met you in person. Your insight has been invaluable for so many! Looking forward to our JBJB dessert party in one month and my dh and I really enjoyed the SW party earlier this month.

 

[QueenElinor]

@MalamuteMom thanks for the review, especially of the show itself.
Ultimately, we have decided that since we'll be club level, we can have a dessert party back at the BWI and watch a bit of the Illuminations fireworks instead. Which is okay, I am the SW fan in the family anyway and can check out the shows & Launch Bay during the day while the family rides ToT & RnR since I can't ride those.

 

[FastPasser.]

FastPasser I so wished we could have met you in person.

Thank you, I do miss that part.

 

[chuff88]

Although you don't have to be a serious SW fan in order to enjoy the SW dessert party, it does help. IMO, I think the Frozen party may be a better choice for you.

Just building off of this, I am definitely a Star Wars fan and my mom is much less of one, and I enjoyed the show much more than she did, but I think our enjoyment of the party itself was about equal. That said, I would probably do it again and I don't know that she would, I think largely because of the show aspect (even though it's not guaranteed to happen). We did both really enjoy meeting Kylo as part of the party and Chewbacca on our own, though. Meeting Chewbacca was probably a trip highlight for both of us.

 

[sailored]

Hello! I have celiac disease and must eat gluten free. Does anyone have experience with the gluten free offerings?

 

[FastPasser.]

Hello! I have celiac disease and must eat gluten free. Does anyone have experience with the gluten free offerings?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/special-dietary-requests/

 

[ninafeliz]

Hello! I have celiac disease and must eat gluten free. Does anyone have experience with the gluten free offerings?

We did the party last Saturday and my DH has a gluten allergy. He was told to talk to the chef at the nitro table when we went in. That chef got another chef, who brought him out a bag of GF desserts (a (terrible) dinner roll, a decent muffin, a packaged cookie and brownie (the same brand they have had for quite a while around Disney), and 2 chocolate bars). I might have forgotten something. The chef also walked him down the buffet to tell him what he could eat. In a nutshell, he could eat everything on the lower tier from the savory table and everything on the upper tier from the desserts table. I don’t remember offhand the names of the options that were Gf, just that they had some things that were GF without being altered. He could also have the nitro Nutella, ice cream, fresh fruit topping, and mickey bars. In addition he had wine, I’m not sure about the mixed drinks because he wasn’t interested in them. It was a decent selection, we mainly do it for the reserved viewing area but the GF choices are not bad.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Hi all. Apologies for not having kept up with all the changes but we had been thinking we weren't going to Disney next year but things changed.

And I'm considering the SW dessert party. I read a couple pages back but still have some questions.

Someone said the fireworks portion of the show were suspended. Was that just a weather thing or have they actually removed the fireworks from the show?

Do you still need to leave the party before the storm troopers escort you to get a good viewing spot?

With the reserved tables is it still recommended to get to the party early?

Thank you all so much.

 

[yulilin3]

Hi all. Apologies for not having kept up with all the changes but we had been thinking we weren't going to Disney next year but things changed.

And I'm considering the SW dessert party. I read a couple pages back but still have some questions.

Someone said the fireworks portion of the show were suspended. Was that just a weather thing or have they actually removed the fireworks from the show?

Do you still need to leave the party before the storm troopers escort you to get a good viewing spot?

With the reserved tables is it still recommended to get to the party early?

Thank you all so much.

There are still fireworks just not the higher/ bigger ones
Best spots are in the back of viewing area and to the left, I would still leave a couple of minutes before the pack
Not necessary to arrive early, just at the start of the party to take advantage of the entire time

 

[kpd6901]

FWIW, the holiday spirit has me hoping for some Life Day celebrations at Galaxy's Edge.

 

[Ladyfish77]

The chef also walked him down the buffet to tell him what he could eat. In a nutshell, he could eat everything on the lower tier from the savory table and everything on the upper tier from the desserts table. I don’t remember offhand the names of the options that were Gf, just that they had some things that were GF without being altered. He could also have the nitro Nutella, ice cream, fresh fruit topping, and mickey bars.

Did this allow him to choose items before anyone else? The issue with buffets is that there can be cross contamination by people using the same serving spoon (or whatever) to pick up gluten free items and items with gluten--it contaminates everything.

 

[ninafeliz]

Did this allow him to choose items before anyone else? The issue with buffets is that there can be cross contamination by people using the same serving spoon (or whatever) to pick up gluten free items and items with gluten--it contaminates everything.

No, when the chef walked him it was early in the party but it was already going on and people were already eating. As far as I know the chef did not offer to bring fresh trays from the back for him to take from first, but I’ll bet they would do that if you asked. That’s not a huge deal for them, they have the food ready to go when needed, they would just have to offer it to you first, then put the rest on the table. If you don’t ask about that, then the risk of contamination from other guests actions would be there, and you would have to decide for yourself based on your reaction and what the likelihood of contamination seemed to you. He had the Nutella and ice cream, I don’t think he had any of the non dessert or desserts from the buffet- I’m not sure why. He isn’t big on sweets, but maybe he was also thinking about contamination and just didn’t want to deal with it/worry about it. He isn’t one to ask for accommodations, where I would be asking for anything they would give me- just different people and personalities.

 

[FastPasser.]

With the reserved tables is it still recommended to get to the party early?

Assuming that policy is the same as it has been in the previous two years, it's usual and customary for the party to begin up to 15 minutes before the advertised start time. IE, if you arrive on time, a good chunk of the guests will have already entered. As tables are preassigned and the F&B lines tend to be short, it won't make a difference in that regard, it's just that your time in party area will be a little shorter.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

There are still fireworks just not the higher/ bigger ones
Best spots are in the back of viewing area and to the left, I would still leave a couple of minutes before the pack
Not necessary to arrive early, just at the start of the party to take advantage of the entire time

Has that changed since May? I'm just trying to gauge. We have never seen the show (I blame my kids and their crazy need to sleep at night ) but as we were leaving the park in May, we saw fireworks overhead that seemed normally high.

 

[yulilin3]

Has that changed since May? I'm just trying to gauge. We have never seen the show (I blame my kids and their crazy need to sleep at night ) but as we were leaving the park in May, we saw fireworks overhead that seemed normally high.

Like I said they do have fireworks.
The original show had fireworks launched from on top of the buildings and medium and higher ones launched from outside the park. The higher one's are no longer launched, this also applies to jbjb, I watched a video of this year's show and I could tell the difference