Is there anything better than Disney fireworks?!

If you have a sweet tooth, then Disney fireworks with unlimited desserts might just be up your alley! Magic Kingdom Dessert Parties can be a great way to make Magic Kingdom fireworks even more special, as they provide some level of reserved viewing, plus tons of sweets and treats.

A big change (keep reading!) recently arrived at Magic Kingdom’s Fireworks Dessert Parties, but so did price hikes. Would this upgrade, along with reserved seating and unlimited sweets justify the high price of the event? We recently attended the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party to find out!

Check-In and Atmosphere

The Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party officially begins an hour before that night’s fireworks (Note: most likely you’ll be enjoying Happily Ever After, but during party season you may be watching the Halloween or Christmas fireworks.). On the evening we visited, Happily Ever After was at 8 PM, therefore the dessert party began at 7 PM.

The check-in for this particular event is located on the path from Main Street, U.S.A. to Tomorrowland, closer to the Tomorrowland side. We should note there are several dessert parties that occur at Magic Kingdom nightly, so you want to make sure you’re in the right line! We checked in about 15 minutes early and were able to begin eating and drinking, so it’s good to note being early has its rewards. 🙂

We were given wristbands and told to pick a table. The Cast Member put a reserved sign on our table, so we’d be able to get up and grab food and drinks without worrying about another party taking our seats (Yet another reason to check in a bit early!).

There are plenty of tables to choose from, but the ones closest to the railings typically offer the best view of the fireworks. But when in doubt, ask the Cast Members! That’s what we did and she helped us choose a table that ultimately had a fabulous fireworks view.

Now that we’d checked in and grabbed a table, it was time to scope out the buffet line!

Eats

First things first, that new MAJOR upgrade we hinted towards earlier…

…it’s alcohol! Until just a few months ago, all of the dessert parties at Magic Kingdom were dry events. However, those 21 and up can now enjoy a selection of wine and beer along with their treats.

Choose from red or white wine…

…two different beers (served to make even a Bud Light feel fancy)…

…or some bubbles!

Like everything else at these events, the alcoholic drinks are all-you-care-to-enjoy. But considering the event is only an hour, this isn’t provided to allow guests to get too crazy. We thought it was a nice added touch to the Dessert Party — especially considering a lot of people book these to celebrate a special event. It’s nice to be able to cheers a magical moment (or day in Disney World!) with a glass of wine. Additionally, for those who partake in alcoholic beverages, it certainly helps justify the $99 per person cost considering single drinks in Disney typically start around $8 and go upwards of $15.

In addition to the new alcoholic choices, Guests will find quite a few non-alcoholic drinks.

Choose from milk (spoiler: there are cookies to dip in it)…

…Strawberry Lemonade…

…regular Lemonade…

…water (featuring a hidden Mickey!)…

…and the famous POG Juice!

We also spotted some Sparkling Apple Cider if you’re feeling fancy!

Guests can also enjoy a hot beverage bar, which is particularly fun on crisp nights.

On the hot beverage bar, you’ll find tea fixings and hot water…

…as well as coffee (regular and decaf) and hot cocoa.

But enough drinks, let’s get to the good stuff — DESSERT!

On the main buffet, you’ll find quite a selection of sweet treats, plus a few savory additions.

First up, Mickey’s Cookies ‘n Cream Push-Pops. These were as tasty as they were cute, with layers of cookies & cream mousse and chocolate cake, and topped with a Mickey-shaped chocolate. The mousse reminded us a lot of the Grey Stuff at Be Our Guest, which we always enjoy!

We also enjoyed Minnie’s Edible Cookie Dough, which is egg-free chocolate chip cookie dough, topped with a white chocolate bow.

Fan of both brownies and cheesecake? This next dessert might just be a dream come true.  The Cheesecake Brownie Bites allow you to enjoy two classic desserts in just one bite!

If chocolate isn’t your thing, you might want to grab a Berry Layer Cake. It was light and fresh, with strawberry jam and icing layered in between thin cake slices.

While it appears the next sweet, the Pineapple Delight is topped with Dole Whip, it’s actually pineapple compote on the bottom and a pineapple custard, with fresh pineapple on top.  Flavor-wise it was, of course, similar to a classic Dole Whip, and was very light and refreshing — plus a little healthier than some of the other sweets. 😉

The Happily Ever After Celebration Cupcake was another favorite. While there wasn’t anything crazy happening flavor-wise, we loved the Funfetti Cupcake and special white chocolate topper.

The specialty Chocolate Covered Strawberries were winners as well. Simple and beautiful, these big juicy berries are dipped in high-quality dark chocolate and garnished with gold lettering. Sometimes simple is still the best when it comes to desserts!

Assorted Fruit was next up on the buffet. While this isn’t necessarily exciting, it was all fresh and tasty.

Next on the line were a few savory dishes! We spotted a cheese plate with various cheese cubes.

Plus, spinach dip…

…and baguette crostini. 

We enjoyed the Spinach dip; it was nice and creamy with an herby flavor which helped balance out all the rest of the sugar on our plate!

We also noticed a Secret Sauce…what could this possibly be for (Spoiler alert: we were delighted.)?

It was clearly a mayonnaise-based sauce, which reminded us of something that would be great on a Cheeseburger…or a CHEESEBURGER SPRING ROLL.

That’s right — these are mini versions of our beloved Cheeseburger Spring Rolls from the Adventureland Cart. And yes, they are just as tasty in baby form.

We loaded up our first plates and brought them to our reserved table.

Next up, we scouted out the smaller dessert buffet, located in the back near the hot beverage bar. This table had simpler, yet tasty desserts.

Choose from cookies…

…brownies…

…and baby cupcakes!

You may have noticed these cupcakes appear to be missing a key element — frosting!

That’s because this is a fun decorate your own cupcake station! Choose from a variety of buttercreams to add some color to your cupcake — and if you throw a little on your cookies or brownies, we won’t tell. 😉

Also at this buffet, you’ll find Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake!

While the Cast Member couldn’t confirm if this was the same as the one we love at Liberty Tree Tavern, it was still gooey and warm and delicious, and easily one of the best desserts of the night.

Lastly, a Cast Member is scooping up some vanilla ice cream!

The Cast Member will happily top it with chocolate and whipped cream if you’d like…

…and you can also add sprinkles and cherries yourself!

We took our ice cream back to the table, and we were ready to enjoy!

Overall, we were delighted with the variety of food offerings at the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party. There seemed to be more choices than previous visits — certainly more savory options. Theoretically, you could use this as dinner, as long as you’re okay eating cheese and crackers, cheeseburger egg rolls, and spinach dip (plus a lot of desserts) for dinner. While it wouldn’t be the most balanced meal, the idea of having this for dinner is more compelling than it was in the past — especially if you have a big, late lunch.

And considering this is a dessert party, we were impressed with the spread. While some items were bigger standouts than others (we really loved the Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Ooey-gooey Toffee Cake), there seemed to be a dessert that just about everyone would enjoy.

Fireworks

Of course, the main reason you book these parties is for the fireworks! So how is the view?

As far as seeing the fireworks, it’s pretty incredible. For starters, you’re SITTING DOWN and not worried about people putting their kids on their shoulders just as the show starts.

Depending on where you’re sitting, the fireworks may be slightly to the right of the castle, as opposed to right behind it, but that doesn’t ruin anything. In fact, you can see them bigger and fuller from this viewpoint. The one component of Happily Ever After that IS better when standing in front of the castle are the projections.

When standing in front of the castle, the projections (which are a key part of the show) are clear. Beloved characters and cool effects are displayed on the Castle, and help bring to life the incredible soundtrack.

While the projections are easier to see from some seats at the Dessert party, they still aren’t as clear as being right in front of the Castle. Still, the view from Tomorrowland Terrace is pretty impressive, and again, you’re not fighting Main Street crowds for it. Plus, Tinker Bell flew RIGHT OVER US and let’s just say, someone started cutting onions at that exact moment. 😉

Nosh or Not:

First things first — let’s talk logistics. Currently, the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party is $99 for guests 10 and up and $59 for children aged 3-9. Tax is included, and kids two and under are free (and can eat off their parent’s plates). Reservations are available 180 days prior to the date, and are HIGHLY recommended to be booked in advance.

So clearly, while this is a fun add-on to your day at Magic Kingdom, it’s also very expensive. A family of four could spend upwards of $400, depending on the age of the kids. But still, there’s a variety of great desserts, savory options, alcohol for the adults, and a guaranteed good view (and seat) for Happily Ever After. Considering lots of people hold down spots in front of the Castle for an hour (or more), the viewing might be enough for some people to justify the cost.

Consider booking the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party if:

• You want guaranteed good seats for Happily Ever After (or the seasonal fireworks), and don’t want to stake out a spot an hour before showtime.
• You’d like to toast to your day at Magic Kingdom with a glass of wine or two, and know alcohol isn’t available outside of sit-down restaurants at the Magic Kingdom.
• You have a major sweet tooth, and would be okay eating mostly dessert for dinner.
• You’re celebrating something like an engagement, big birthday, or anniversary, and are looking for a special add-on to make your vacation even more magical.

Skip the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party if:

• You want the best possible view of Happily Ever After and are ready to camp out for the perfect spot on Main Street for an hour.
• You want to splurge on a signature meal or another experience instead of an hour-long dessert party.
• You’re on a tight budget — this one adds up fast, especially with a bigger group. You can still get a good spot and grab a cone at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on the way to the fireworks instead for much cheaper.

While the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party is very much a splurge, especially considering the recent price hikes, we would still be tempted to spend the money again. The addition of alcohol makes the cost a little easier to swallow, and we liked the variety of items on the buffet. If you were to add up everything we ate and drank paying out of pocket, it would probably get pretty close to the $99 per person fee. Plus, the ability to sit back and relax for an hour or so, and get to SIT for the fireworks, may just make the cost worth it for some.

Looking for tips for seeing Happily Ever After in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom? Check out our YouTube video with our advice!

Have you enjoyed a Fireworks Dessert Party at the Parks? Tell us about your experience in the comments!