Dessert Parties, are they worth it?

[Disney_Commando]

Hi all! So I’ve never done a dessert party before, it was always too expensive for a shoe string, save all year for it, vacation. Now that I am in a better spot financially I’m indulging on some of the extras Disney offers like tours and this year considering a dessert party. I was first looking at the jingle bell jingle bam party, but the reviews are kind of off setting. Is there a favorite party? Which and why?

We are a party of 4 adults going in November (so holiday ones are of particular interest) no one has ever done one before, so anything is game. We all have seen the “usual” evening shows (fantasmic, illuminations, etc) with the exception of the ones on the theater in DHS, we opted for Fantasmic instead, So a new show would be a “better draw”.

 

[WEDWDW]

We think the HEA Dessert Party is worth it because it is so CRITICAL to be close to and directly in front of Cinderella Castle to properly enjoy the show and the Party provides access to the Plaza Garden with NO Wait!

 

[xlsm]

If you think you'll enjoy it, do it! "Worth it" is so subjective.

We've done Wishes and Jingle Bell Jingle Bam dessert parties with all four of us, and DH and I did the Star Wars dessert party last year. We're all doing HEA on New Year's Day (the after fireworks version of the party). Are they "worth it" in terms of cost? No, not really, but we usually have a good time, so we'll probably keep booking them from time to time.

Enjoy your trip and good luck making your decision!!

 

[HopperFan]

I think you will find answers all over the place based on party makeup, ages, numbers in group and why you are booking it.

It will also factor in WHICH party and what components are worth it. There is a wide range of what is offered at each event.

I didn't vote because I think some would not be worth it to us, some would.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Not money "worth it" but they are fun and convenience "worth it".

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

We have never done a dessert party, but many friends have and they thought the convenience was worth it. We will be doing the after HEA one in January and are looking forward to not having to guard our spot or get there hours in advance. Being able to partake in the treats while the masses are leaving is another very relieving feeling.

 

[karrit2000]

I've done many of the Dessert parties over the years. Whether they are worth it or not is totally subjective due to personal preferences. My opinions are as follows:

HEA - Only worth it for the view and only of you choose the Plaza Garden Viewing. Desserts are the worst of the bunch. Basically a couple of cheeses for the savory offerings. Terrace view is awful in my opinion as you are paying for a seat with a crappy view as well as unspectacular desserts.

Frozen/Illuminations - Decent food & drinks. Awesome views of Illuminations with seating. I've done this one twice as the Frozen version on nights that didn't require the alternate party location for bad weather. But the first time I did it was the prior Illuminations version that didn't include seating or the FEA ride opportunity and we had our dessert party in the Odyssey Building due to rain. But I still had a great time. The food is also better with the current Frozen version.

Star Wars - Have done multiple times since it began including the original version that was outdoors with no seating. Always enjoy the food & beverages at this one. Negative is the current show version is heavily Laser & Projections dependent & a lot less fireworks.

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam - Did this one last year with the reportedly much improved show. Really enjoyed it but think the private viewing area is a bit too close to the Chinese Theater to be able to enjoy the full effects of the Show projections & Fireworks. Food was enjoyable. Drinks were interesting, some good some not. It's a fun add-on with lots of holiday spirit.

If your purpose is to score a seat you are paying way to much for the privilege at the ones that include seating. If you want to have some decent food for your $ I would choose either of the DHS ones or Frozen Illuminations. I've done the MK one multiple times going back to the Wishes version when it was fairly new and it is the only one I wouldn't choose to do again.

Haven't done the AK one as I don't care for ROL. No experience with the Fantasmic dessert deal but you do get a couple of cute souvenirs from what I've seen.

 

[happymommy]

I'm not into desserts, oldest has allergies and not into sweets. I honestly can't finish a cupcake (what is that obsession with them lately?) at Disney, so to me it would not be worth it.

I'd be interested if it were a savory, drinks and apps, thing. But for a lot of sugar, I'd rather grab what I want and find a spot.

That being said, I rarely watch the fireworks. They are lovely, but I'm often tired and back in the room (youngest has health issues, so when I travel with him, which is most often, we take it at his pace).

 

[Princess Madeleine]

Really enjoyed the Star Wars one this summer. The atmosphere in the Launch Bay was so great. The desserts and cocktails were all delicious (especially the frozen nutella!) and there were a good amount of savory items as well. We ate lunch at 1:30 that afternoon and were able to really take advantage of the diverse options (as opposed to a dessert party that really just sticks to dessert). Wait times for characters were very low, and the stormtrooper escort to the viewing area was so much fun. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Tinkerbellmom43]

We did HEA dessert party in January and loved it. The desserts were really good, lots to choose from and not having to find a spot was a bonus!! The view from the garden was amazing! My daughter and I loved it. The park was packed so not having to fight for a spot was a relief In the past we also did the Frozen dessert party in DHS and got a spot for the frozen show. Again, yummy desserts and awesome show. My favorite was HEA. It's all a matter of preference and willing to splurge a little to me. I wouldn't do it every trip but for something new and fun? Why not?!

 

[Wildtoad]

No.

 

[Gehrig1B]

Do not see the value in them at all. We have only done HEA on NYE. That was worth it... Every other time we have stayed for a fireworks show at any of the parks we have been able to find more than acceptable viewing, allowing us to use the $250+ on other things.

 

[Nancyg56]

Do not see the value in them at all. We have only done HEA on NYE. That was worth it... Every other time we have stayed for a fireworks show at any of the parks we have been able to find more than acceptable viewing, allowing use to use the $250+ on other things.

THis is my thought as well. I woudl love to book a HEA party to be sure we all have a good view but with 7 of us, that cost is too prohibitive for me to justify what we would get for the money. I told the fam they will have to figure out a viewing spot on their own. All adults, and the week prior to Christmas, so I figure the park will be crowded on our MK night, so if we get separated they can find their way out...I hope!! LOL!

I still cannot understand why Disney made this show so Main Street Hub centric, it is an accident waiting to happen on crowded nights, IMO.

 

[TeresaWen]

The overall experience was worth it for us. My husband & I attended one for our first time seeing HEA. Loved it. We spent about 30 minutes nibbling on a few sweets & drinking coffee. We were offered a box to take so e with us but e declined as we are not really desert esters. The viewing area wes great. Lots of room, a photo pass photograph too! He took so many candid pictures of us watching the show. It felt special & magical for us.

Glad we did it for our first viewing Also enjoyed seeing the fireworks from CG on later visits. Would we to a party again? Maybe.

 

[GillianP1301]

I personally love dessert parties! On our last trip we did all of them except for the new one at AK. It had just started before our trip and I couldn't fit it into my plans. So we did the Illuminations/Frozen, HEA after party, MNSSHP dessert party, Star Wars and the Fantasmic VIP dessert seating (that one is not really a party). Here's my comments on each:

Illuminations/Frozen: I really liked the dessert offerings here and the table next to the railing of the lake for the view of the show was fantastic. A great mix of savory and sweet items and the frozen popcorn is quit a novelty, especially for the kids. The biggest perk with this one is you also get a an after park closing ride on FEA, which saves you a Tier 1 fastpass. This was my first time trying this party and it as enjoyable. My group are not fans of FEA, so for that reason I don't think I would bother repeating this one again.

HEA after fireworks I chose the garden view, after fireworks dessert party here to see how it would compare to the terrace view I had at the MNSSHP one. What I liked most about this version of the dessert party is it is less of a time consumer than the usual before fireworks party. I checked in a couple hours early, but then I was free to make my way to the garden viewing area at my leisure. We showed up 10 minutes before HEA started and there was tons of space. I see no need to get there super early. Then afterward, you wait a couple of minutes and they escort you to the dessert area. There were only 5 groups, the place was virtually empty. The dessert offerings are not as good a variety as the other parties we attended and I was not a fan of the cheeseburger eggroll, which is the main savory item, so food wise this one ranks low for me, but the reserved viewing area and a place to sit and relax and eat some sweets while the masses exited the park were very much worth it. I would do this one again and I would definitely go with the after seating.

MNSSHP dessert prty. The version we had this year included parade viewing (due to website error), which is a huge perk of that event. If I were to review just the dessert party and fireworks viewing portion only, I would still rate this one high. I like the terrace because I like having a table to relax at while I enjoy my desserts. The food offerings are great because they have little mini versions of all the special party only Halloween treats. Some will argue that it takes too much out of party time as it is 1 - 1.5 hours worth, but we do 2 parties each trip so I'm okay with using 1 hour out of one of them for this event because I love the desserts. We've done this party several times and I will probably always book it if we are there during MNSSHP.

Star Wars Dessert Party: This is probably my favourite now that they have added tables/chairs. I've always liked the food/beverage offering at this one, but found it pretty miserable to have to stand for the whole thing. They also include a meet & greet with Kylo Ren now, which was a nice surprise. The viewing area is super close to the chinese theatre and arguably the view would be better a little further back (the spot they used to use was ideal), but it is pretty cool to be that close as well because you feel like you're in the show. This one is becoming a must do for us every trip.

Fantasmic VIP dessert seating: This one is technically not a party, they provide you with a container of desserts and a beverage (choice of alcoholic or non) that you take with you to the reserved seating area, which is the same seating are that the Fantasmic Dining Package people get, front and centre. I always find value in a reserved seat, so that was my main reason for doing this, but the desserts were a bit underwhelming and my drink was pretty gross. It was also really awkward trying to balance this container of food and your drink while sitting in one of the benches surrounded by other people. I would not do this one again and instead opt for the dining package, if I want a reserved Fantasmic seat.

If I were to rank these, I thin I would go with
Star Wars
MNSSHP
HEA
Illuminations/Frozen
Fantasmic

I look forward to trying the AK version next time because the food offerings look good.

 

[DCLPrincess]

Here's my ranking:

1. Star wars
2. Illuminations/frozen
3. Fantasmic
4. HEA

I've also done Osborne but didn't rank it since it's no longer available.

 

[rg35]

The only one we've ever done was the Frozen Summer Fun party back in 2014. I liked it, and the desserts were pretty good.

I'm not sure if that one is representative of the current offerings, but I would give another one a try.

 

[krose4]

My last trip I did star wars and HEA. I am completely converted to the point that I'd get them for any night show I really care to see. No staking out a spot, relaxed atmosphere. I loved it. Now if youre only getting one I recommend the star wars one over HEA. The seating for the fireworks was amazing, no one in front of you at all. The desserts and food were FAR superior to HEA, and you had a lot of character interaction (no need to do any of the star wars meet and greets as all three were open the of the dessert party and the storm troopers circulated). I also felt it was better organized as a whole. HEA wasn't inherently bad, but we did star wars first and by comparison the food, amenities and atmosphere was severely lacking. You get basic desserts, a small selection of cheeses, no alcoholic beverages, and a designated spot for the fireworks. The garden view was great and not having the headache of finding a front on view of the castle was worth it for my family, but if I only had the money for one, star wars 100%.

 

[BrianL]

"Worth it" is always going to vary. All I can say is that I did the Star Wars one last year and really enjoyed it. Yeah, it was expensive, and I don't even drink, but the food was great, the viewing area was perfect, ans the Storm Trooper escort was fun. They even gave us a TIE fighter popcorn bucket, which is pretty cool. Did I eat over 70 bucks worth of tiny cupcakes and flash-frozen Nutella? Not hardly. I actually ate more of the olives and cheese since it was so early and kind of replaced dinner (that was a mistake by the way ). Did I have a great time with Star Wars filled fun? You bet!

 

[MeganBelle]

We did the Star Wars one last year and loved it. Food was good, atmosphere was so fun and you couldn't beat the view for the fireworks. They even gave you a cold bottle of water as you left the party to head out to the fireworks. Our only complaint was there were no seats for this one and after walking all day at DHS it would have been nice to sit down.