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

[Kaelorian]

It can either be before or after HEA. Usually in times when the park closes at/around HEA time (read winter, slower seasons), it’ll be before. When the park closes well past HEA, it’ll be after. It doesn’t always fit this pattern, but more or less a general statement.

Using tonight for example, HEA is at 9:15pm, OUAT is at 10pm, park closes at 12am.

Generally by attending the before party, would we miss OUAT in slower seasons? Checking our date the end of November says no showings are scheduled (could not be updated yet) Does this also mean no OUAT on party nights?

 

[Drnifer]

Generally by attending the before party, would we miss OUAT in slower seasons? Checking our date the end of November says no showings are scheduled (could not be updated yet) Does this also mean no OUAT on party nights?

Last fall OUAT was maybe 20 minutes before the fireworks. We had plenty of time to eat and head over to the garden to see it. I took a collapsible storage container and took some strawberries and fruit with us that we ate in between OUAT and the fireworks.

 

[AP1979]

Does anyone know if the Dessert party is worth it during the Christmas party? I see it is offered, but after paying all that extra for the Christmas party, is it worth paying even more for a dessert party for reserved viewing? Do the Christmas parties get that crowded? Thanks!

 

[Kaelorian]

Last fall OUAT was maybe 20 minutes before the fireworks. We had plenty of time to eat and head over to the garden to see it. I took a collapsible storage container and took some strawberries and fruit with us that we ate in between OUAT and the fireworks.

Thank you! Feeling a lot better now. Loving the collapsible storage container idea too!

 

[athyng]

Thanks for checking in! I've added a link to your review on Post #1. Just confirming, you did the Plaza Garden Viewing version of the party, right?

Glad you had an enjoyable evening.

That’s right, we did the Plaza Garden Viewing.

 

[maryj11]

We have reservations for the before party this coming July and we are going to keep it. We are going on a night that has extra magic hours and want to get in as many rides with lower wait times that we can after the fireworks. I feel like if we do the after party we will be missing a big chunk of lower wait times for the rides.

 

[Newcastle]

I have a quick question about the July 3rd and 4th fireworks (my apologies if this has been addressed elsewhere). We are currently booked for the before party on July 3rd but we are also planning to watch the fireworks from the Poly (where we are staying) on July 4th. I am starting to wonder if we should even bother with the dessert party (we aren't big dessert people) and maybe save the money for something else trip-related. Is there an advantage to being close to the castle during the July 3rd/4th shows? I know it is a different show but does anyone know if they use projections which would obviously be easier to view from the reserved garden area?
ETA: We did the HEA dessert party last year so we have experienced it at least once

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I have a quick question about the July 3rd and 4th fireworks (my apologies if this has been addressed elsewhere). We are currently booked for the before party on July 3rd but we are also planning to watch the fireworks from the Poly (where we are staying) on July 4th. I am starting to wonder if we should even bother with the dessert party (we aren't big dessert people) and maybe save the money for something else trip-related. Is there an advantage to being close to the castle during the July 3rd/4th shows? I know it is a different show but does anyone know if they use projections which would obviously be easier to view from the reserved garden area?
ETA: We did the HEA dessert party last year so we have experienced it at least once

We watched both 7/3 and 7/4 shows from Poly last year. Given the choice, I would do the same thing again. I headed into MK an hour or so (ish) after fireworks both nights last year and encountered what I'd describe as very stout crowds (especially 7/3, which had late PM EMHs). I was happy with my choice to stay at Poly.

Unless they add anything this year (possible, but not likely), there are no projections for the 7/3 and 7/4 shows - just castle accent lighting and occasional star figures. It's not a material part of the show.

For the 7/3 and 7/4 shows, fireworks from the traditional "behind the MK" launch position are mirrored/simulcast from an island right in front of Poly in the Seven Seas Lagoon. This launch point, in addition to the abundant 180 degree launch positions during portions of the show, make Poly a GREAT spot to watch (in my humble opinion).

Couple of pics below from Poly for visual aides. The first is 7/3 last year... the second is technically NYE, but the 7/3 and 7/4 shows have a similar setup/launch points.

Hope that helps!

 

[MinnieMSue]

I have a quick question about the July 3rd and 4th fireworks (my apologies if this has been addressed elsewhere). We are currently booked for the before party on July 3rd but we are also planning to watch the fireworks from the Poly (where we are staying) on July 4th. I am starting to wonder if we should even bother with the dessert party (we aren't big dessert people) and maybe save the money for something else trip-related. Is there an advantage to being close to the castle during the July 3rd/4th shows? I know it is a different show but does anyone know if they use projections which would obviously be easier to view from the reserved garden area?
ETA: We did the HEA dessert party last year so we have experienced it at least once

They only project stars on the castle and things like that. Here isn’t a projection show for July 3/4. (Historically). We are doing the terrace version of it July 3 so we aren’t down in the mob. If it were me I would skip dessert party and watch from Poly. You will see all the perimeter fireworks really good too

 

[Susiej7776]

Our family of four did the pre-fireworks dessert party last night. We had a great time. Enjoyed the desserts without feeling rushed. The cheesecake brownie bites are yummy. We went down to the garden area about 40 minutes before the show and were able to comfortably sit while waiting for the show. We did stand to watch the projections and fireworks because people in front of us were standing. However we still had a clear view and no poles, topiarys, or people blocking anything. I did notice that some people did sit during the fireworks. To be able to watch the show without being squished in the hub of the castle was well worth it. We would book this again on a future trip.

 

[Newcastle]

We watched both 7/3 and 7/4 shows from Poly last year. Given the choice, I would do the same thing again. I headed into MK an hour or so (ish) after fireworks both nights last year and encountered what I'd describe as very stout crowds (especially 7/3, which had late PM EMHs). I was happy with my choice to stay at Poly.

Unless they add anything this year (possible, but not likely), there are no projections for the 7/3 and 7/4 shows - just castle accent lighting and occasional star figures. It's not a material part of the show....

They only project stars on the castle and things like that. Here isn’t a projection show for July 3/4. (Historically). We are doing the terrace version of it July 3 so we aren’t down in the mob. If it were me I would skip dessert party and watch from Poly. You will see all the perimeter fireworks really good too

Thank you both for the responses! You have both been very helpful in terms of helping me to make a decision. GADisneyDad14, I had viewed your posts with pics over on the Poly thread so thank you for posting those. Knowing that there likely won't be much (if anything) in the way of projections, I will likely just save my money and splurge on something else. Thanks again!!

 

[abarriger]

I'm still confused-- if doing the after party, assuming OUAT is showing after fireworks, is the OUAT viewable from the after party area?

 

[ChristineOH]

A couple of days ago, I canceled ours for this Sunday. I figured if we decide we want to do it, we will book it day of, as it doesn't seem to be selling out. We might check out the viewing situation one night and book the party for a night toward the end of the trip if it seems unmanageable.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm still confused-- if doing the after party, assuming OUAT is showing after fireworks, is the OUAT viewable from the after party area?

I'm not exactly sure what part of the Tomorrowland Terrace area they are using for After Party seating, but generally speaking you can't see the castle particularly well (or at all) from anywhere around there except for the lower level seating area used for the Tomorrowland Terrace version of the dessert party.

Josh has a good picture in an older Plaza Garden review (https://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/review-happily-ever-after-dessert-party-review-at-magic-kingdom/) taken from the upper Tomorrowland Terrace area, and you can see how obstructed the view is from this particular location (scroll about half way down through his review).

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Does anyone know if the Dessert party is worth it during the Christmas party? I see it is offered, but after paying all that extra for the Christmas party, is it worth paying even more for a dessert party for reserved viewing? Do the Christmas parties get that crowded? Thanks!

I asked this same question on page 118, and someone else asked a few pages later. The answer is that the Hub can be crowded during the parties but not as crowded as it is for HEA. The dessert party during one of the holiday parties is a nice splurge but not a must do.

 

[ItsNotMuchofaTail]

I am keeping my before party on August 3. I like dessert (and we are not foodies, we will probably enjoy it well enough) and the crowding is a big consideration for me. My DD and I haven’t been to WDW in 5 years, haven’t seen HEA, and she has high functioning autism and is really spooked by crowds and people pushing in on her. We don’t even do daytime parades. So having even a decent view where no one is touching her is a major consideration. I am hoping with earbuds and the plaza viewing area, she will be able to make it through, it would be her first time seeing MK fireworks in any of her trips.

I am hoping that even though I am going in hotter than hades and busy August, the party will still be worth it to us.

 

[Vanessa Fernandez]

I just called to book a dessert party for October, and the woman I spoke with on the phone told me that we could get desserts when we check in at 8 pm before the fireworks, there will be desserts in the garden area, and then other desserts after back at the terrace. This sounded crazy to me, and she admitted it didn't make sense that you would get more food for the same price, but said hesitatingly that that was what it was. (I found this thread after our conversation because it didn't seem like she knew what the difference was between the two parties, and am realizing she just had no idea). So, the only actual food option for the after party is AFTER, right? (as the name implies). On the fence about which one to do- we have a Crystal Palace reservation at 4:40 pm- I'm wondering if we'll be still full from that to then go to a party at 7pm with more food. But the after party is so late, and there are EMH that night until 11pm and I was thinking that was when my son and I would do the roller coasters. This is our only trip to Disney and the MK, so I feel the pressure to get as much done as we can on our one day there, but also don't want to be so exhausted/overbooked we're miserable.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I just called to book a dessert party for October, and the woman I spoke with on the phone told me that we could get desserts when we check in at 8 pm before the fireworks, there will be desserts in the garden area, and then other desserts after back at the terrace. This sounded crazy to me, and she admitted it didn't make sense that you would get more food for the same price, but said hesitatingly that that was what it was. (I found this thread after our conversation because it didn't seem like she knew what the difference was between the two parties, and am realizing she just had no idea). So, the only actual food option for the after party is AFTER, right? (as the name implies). On the fence about which one to do- we have a Crystal Palace reservation at 4:40 pm- I'm wondering if we'll be still full from that to then go to a party at 7pm with more food. But the after party is so late, and there are EMH that night until 11pm and I was thinking that was when my son and I would do the roller coasters. This is our only trip to Disney and the MK, so I feel the pressure to get as much done as we can on our one day there, but also don't want to be so exhausted/overbooked we're miserable.

To the DIS!

It sounds to me like that CM had some bad info or was mixing up concepts.

You get the same food/dessert options at all three parties - there is no difference between the three.

In October, you have a supply/demand problem with HEA given the abundance of MNSSHP nights. Last year, the overall view from many was that HEA nights in the Hub were VERY crowded. Granted it’s always crowded, but it was even more-so in the fall. We did the Plaza Garden party over Columbus Day weekend last year and it was hard to even make it from the Tomorrowland Terrace to the Plaza due to crowds. The party was worth every penny on that night!

People are generally concerned about what this new After Party offering means for crowds in the Plaza Garden viewing area, but I’ll go out on a limb and say the dessert parties during a time when you see a lot of MNSSHP and MVMCP will continue to have a lot of value.

That’s my perspective, hope it helps.

 

[disny_luvr]

Our family of four did the pre-fireworks dessert party last night. We had a great time. Enjoyed the desserts without feeling rushed. The cheesecake brownie bites are yummy. We went down to the garden area about 40 minutes before the show and were able to comfortably sit while waiting for the show. We did stand to watch the projections and fireworks because people in front of us were standing. However we still had a clear view and no poles, topiarys, or people blocking anything. I did notice that some people did sit during the fireworks. To be able to watch the show without being squished in the hub of the castle was well worth it. We would book this again on a future trip.

Great to hear! Thanks for sharing.

 

[maryj11]

I am keeping my before party on August 3. I like dessert (and we are not foodies, we will probably enjoy it well enough) and the crowding is a big consideration for me. My DD and I haven’t been to WDW in 5 years, haven’t seen HEA, and she has high functioning autism and is really spooked by crowds and people pushing in on her. We don’t even do daytime parades. So having even a decent view where no one is touching her is a major consideration. I am hoping with earbuds and the plaza viewing area, she will be able to make it through, it would be her first time seeing MK fireworks in any of her trips.

I am hoping that even though I am going in hotter than hades and busy August, the party will still be worth it to us.

The temps seem to cool down by then. We usually go in August and I don't remember being hot during the fireworks.