Nightly fireworks are one of the things my kids (and me) love most about visiting the Walt Disney World theme parks. (It’s hard to get used to not having fireworks each night when you return home).
At Disney’s Magic Kingdom park, watching the nightly fireworks above Cinderella Castle is a truly magical way to end a Disney day. Wishes Nighttime Spectacular debuted in 2003, replacing the long-running Fantasy in the Sky fireworks, which premiered in 1976.
Wishes, the largest fireworks display in Disney history, tells a wonderful Disney story, narrated by Jiminy Cricket and the Blue Fairy, in an amazing display of color and pyrotechnic effects.
Visitors often begin staking out their viewing spots early, and the pathways around the castle, as well as Main Street USA, are usually very crowded well before the show.
I’m definitely not a fan of crowds, and my kids aren’t fans of sitting still and waiting. So, we have often skipped the fireworks (shhh – don’t tell) and opted to head back to our resort early. That’s until I found out about the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party!
credit: Disneyworld.disney.go.com
The Dessert Party takes place at the Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant (in Tomorrowland of course), and is subject to availability.
The party offers a self-service dessert buffet – yes, I said DESSERT BUFFET! (aka – all the desserts you care to eat). My family enjoys sampling all the treats, including cookies, brownies, pastries, chocolate-covered strawberries and more. (I am dreaming of desserts as I type). There are a variety of non-alcoholic beverages to sample as well – including coffee, tea, hot chocolate and lemonade.
credit: Disneyworld.disney.go.com
And the best part of the Dessert Party (ok, so maybe it’s tied with the awesome desserts) is a RESERVED table for the fireworks viewing. That means no arriving hours early to stake out a spot on the curb, or being trampled by crowds. Tables at the Dessert Party are located outside on the covered patio, and this area offers a nearly unobstructed view of Cinderella Castle and the fireworks show! You will have a perfect view of Tinkerbell as she takes flight from Cinderella Castle and lands on the roof right above you!
Our view from the dessert party
So, how do you get a seat at the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party? Reservations are strongly recommended (the Dessert Party almost always fills up within days, sometimes even hours, of reservations opening). Unlike other Disney dining reservations, there is no set date or time for reservations to open (most other Disney dining reservations are available 180 days prior to reservation date). Dessert Party reservations often open 30-90 days ahead of time, but that’s not guaranteed. If you’re interested in attending the dessert party, start checking for availability about 3 months before your Disney vacation. Reservations are available by calling 407-WDW-DINE. The cost is about $25 per adult and $15 per child, depending on the time of year.
If you are fortunate enough to get a coveted table at the Dessert Party, you will experience Wishes in a wonderful way that you’ll never forget! So, sit back, choose a few yummy desserts (or, sample them all because they are delicious!) and enjoy the fantastic view of Wishes from the comfort of your table. And don’t forget to get a family photo with Cinderella castle as your backdrop. Disney PhotoPass photographers are available during the Dessert Party, so you might even end up with your family Christmas card photo!
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Stephanie@mickeytravels.com; 1.888.960.1250; www.mickeytravels.com; www.Facebook.com/MickeyTravelsStephanie
Want to plan a Disney vacation, but not sure where to start? Let Stephanie do the work, while you have the fun! As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner with MickeyTravels LLC, Stephanie can help with all aspects of your vacation planning for ANY Disney destination – land or sea! Planning services and no-obligation quotes are always FREE!