When people think of Disney World, they often associate it with an experience that’s filled with rides, shows, characters, and of course, Disney Magic. But what many people don’t know is that Disney World also offers the opportunity to extend your magical experience within and outside of the parks.
Case in point, on our most recent trip to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, we upgraded our 1-day park experience by adding on the Fireworks Dessert Party. Now, this is probably the fifth or sixth time that we’ve attended the ticketed dessert event, but this was the first time we had done so post-COVID.
If you’ve never heard of or experienced the Fireworks Dessert Party at the Magic Kingdom, here are a few reasons why you should consider booking the event on your next Disney World vacation:
Why You Should Book the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party
- Reserved Fireworks Viewing Area – The party extends the magic by giving each ticket holder a special, limited entry, reserved viewing area for fireworks. So, there’s no need to fight the crowd of people to find a space last-minute or mark and guard your fireworks spot 3 hours in advance only to have a family step into your space 5 min before the show and block your view. You can literally show up 30 min before the fireworks and have a spot for you and other party ticket holders in your group.
- Treats and Drinks – What would a party be without tasty treats and drinks? And, as you may have guessed, Disney knows how to throw a really good party. The Fireworks Dessert Party gives all ticket holders unlimited treats and drinks for a 60-90 minute timeframe – enough time to get you and your crew sugared up before you ooh and ahh at the show ahead.
- Quiet(er) Family Time – As expected, it’s hard to find quiet places in the Disney Parks to just relax and chat with your family (except for maybe a table service dining reservation). The Dessert Party gives you that space – a quieter place to enjoy family time away from the huge crowds. Even an hour of relative quiet can help recharge adults and kids alike, which just may be enough to keep them going until the park closes.
- Magical Occasions – Want to make your day at the Magic Kingdom extra special? The Fireworks Dessert events are great ways to celebrate birthdays, honeymoons, anniversaries, graduations or other special achievements.
Now that we’ve established why you should attend the Fireworks Dessert Party, let’s take a look at the details:
6 Things to Know When Booking the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party
1. Park Ticket/Entry Required – Entry to the party is an EXTRA cost above and beyond your park ticket. So not only do you need to pay to get into the Magic Kingdom (which can run over $150 depending on your package) but the party will cost you an additional $119-$129 per person (less for children).
2. Types of Party Tickets – In most cases, the fireworks event needs to be booked in advance and they do sell out quickly during busy times of the year (like the holidays) so you’ll want to book early. At the time of this article, there are three types of Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party tickets within the park:
- Pre-Party Treats with Garden Viewing Area – This option allows you to enjoy your treats 1-1.5 hours before the fireworks, and then view the show from a reserved garden area nearby.
- Pre-party with Seated Viewing Area – This option is similar the first, as it also allows you to enjoy your treats before the fireworks, but for this ticket, you get to stay at your table seat to view the fireworks (a nice option for those who get tired easy or are not as mobile).
- Post-Party with Garden Viewing Area – This option has you enjoying the fireworks first, in the reserved garden area, followed by enjoying your treats for the next hour or so after the fireworks have ended.
3. Party check-in – Check in times for your event will vary based on if you are having treats before/after the fireworks. Given we had a pre-party, garden view ticket, our party reservation was for 6:30pm, with the fireworks starting at 8:00pm. Upon check-in, which is located by Tomorrowland Terrace, we received wristbands for each person in our party, with different colors for those over 21. Once we had our wristbands, we were escorted to our private table that we had up until about 30 minutes before the fireworks began.
4. Treat Selections – Although the types of treats and drinks have changed over the years, most of the options are similar from party to party. They include bite-size desserts, that are both child and adult-friendly. This time around, our dessert selections included mini versions of chocolate and butterscotch puddings, crumbled cookie shooters, a specialty tres leches cake, firehouse donuts, frosted bundt cakes, chocolate silk pie, and regular sized chocolate covered strawberries. In addition, there was a made-to-order apple crepe station as well as a frost/decorate your own sugar cookie or chocolate chip cookie station (a pint-sized fan favorite!). Finally, for those who want a balanced party diet, Disney offers fresh fruit and cheese/bread crisps – plus special food items (upon request) for those with dietary restrictions.
5. Drink Selections – Each Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party also includes an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. For those who wish to spice up their fireworks viewing, there’s red and white wine, sparkling cava and moscato and a selection of beers. For younger party goers or those who are not into adult beverages, milk, several juices (including POG), coffee and tea are available.
6. Viewing the Fireworks – After you’ve had enough of your treats, you can either be escorted to the garden viewing area (literally just a few hundred feet away) by a cast member or, if you know where you’re going like we did, you can walk yourself over. When you arrive at the garden, attendants will check your wristbands and happily allow you inside where you can promptly designate your group’s space. Keep in mind, the viewing area is not private, but rather a reserved area where other party goers will also be viewing the fireworks. So it can feel a little tight at times, but you can still find a comfortable amount of space for your group and, keep in mind, it’s a LOT less crowded than viewing the fireworks anywhere within a block of Main Street. Note – most people will sit when they arrive at the garden and then everyone seems to stand up as soon as the pre-fireworks show begins on the castle.
Overall, I highly recommend splurging on the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party at least once in your life. Yes, it is expensive, but it’s a great way to add a little extra magic to your vacation.
Ciao and Happy Travels Everyone!
Jennifer
