Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party

The Fireworks Dessert Party is held every night at the Magic Kingdom. One hour before the Wishes fireworks begin, you can enjoy a self-service dessert party buffet at the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station that features a wide range of sweets and beverages. (Offerings for guests with special dietary needs will be available.) You can then stay to enjoy Wishes from this exclusive viewing area. Price for the dessert party is $23.42 for guests ages 10 and over; $12.77 for ages 3 - 9). Seating is limited. Reservations are not required but are highly recommended due to the anticipated popularity of this experience. For reservations, call 407-WDW-DINE. Space permitting, seating for walk-ups may be available on a first-come, first-served basis. NOTE: Park admission to Magic Kingdom is required. The Disney Dining Plan is not currently being accepted. Prepayment will be required reserving seats for this event in advance.

Let's go in! Our TABLE is waiting!
A Report
by Amy Warren Stoll
Photography by Jack Marshall

AllEars® team member Jack Marshall recently invited me to go with him to the new Fireworks Dessert Party at the Magic Kingdom. Or was that The Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party, The Wishes Dessert Party, or The Magic Kingdom Dessert Party? The name is still in a bit of flux, but the cast member I spoke to me assured me that if you say something that includes the words fireworks, dessert, and Magic Kingdom, they’ll figure it out. I hadn’t given much thought to attending one of these. But when Jack asked, I remembered his unfortunate zebra dome incident. I knew it was best for him to have a chaperone at all events involving multiple desserts. So, who was I to refuse?

Jack had called (407) WDW-DINE earlier in the week to make our reservations. He provided his credit card information, and paid the cost in full at that time. I asked him to provide me with his credit card information, too, but he's smarter than he looks. We read later that reservations could also be made through Guest Relations, our WDW Resort concierge, or at any Table Service podium. At the time of this writing, though, WDW-DINE could not confirm that reservations for the dessert party could be made at the Table Service podiums. Walk-up bookings are also taken when space permits.

The Fireworks Dessert party takes place nightly at the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station, and it begins about one hour before Wishes. Your reservationist will give you a specific time to arrive. (Our time was 9:05). Staggering the guest arrival times is meant to aide the seating process, and seemed to me to also eliminate the “stampede effect” at the buffet. Don’t be concerned if your specific time seems to be a little late. There is plenty of time to enjoy the buffet before, during, and after the fireworks... and there is plenty of buffet to enjoy during that time!

Did you catch that? I used words like “seating process,” and “buffet.” These are your clues that this isn’t the dessert party you may have assumed it was. Admit it. You’re “in the know” about the Illuminations dessert parties that can be arranged for private groups, and maybe you thought that this new fireworks party was just more of the same. Don’t misunderstand me. I’ve been to plenty of those dessert parties, myself, and what’s not to love about having a viewing area that’s just for your group? Who wouldn’t enjoy watching fireworks with friends while holding a rice crispy treat in one hand, and a brownie in the other? And who can pass up the opportunity to impress the circus-folk with your ability to balance four desserts and at least two beverages in your hands, with only the occasional use of your nose for stability? But let’s talk a bit about how this new party is different... very different!

After we checked in at the podium at the Tomorrowland Terrace, we were taken to our table … our table, where we sat down, relaxed and chatted with each other (or the strangers beside us), and where we consumed plate after plate of some of the best desserts I’ve ever had … and many desserts that I’ve never had. (Hellooooo! If you are the Pistachio Crème Brulee that’s been hiding from me … I will find you!) I’m not sure if I was more impressed that these plates didn’t have to be carefully balanced between Mr. Pointer and Pinky while keeping the weight of the desserts evenly distributed on both sides at all times, or that I was filling these plates at a dessert buffet instead of from a “selection of desserts.” That’s right, I said buffet. B-U-F-F-E-T. I’ve never been a card-carrying “foodie” so I wouldn’t even know where to begin to describe all the desserts. All I can tell you is that I saw a lot of chocolate. After I made my way through the entire buffet, there was less chocolate to be seen. When I made my way back up to the buffet, magically, there was more chocolate. As I waddled away, there was less again. This pattern continued throughout the night.

In case your palate is more discriminating, and requires more information than “they had chocolate,” Jack took pictures of most of the offerings, and he even seized the opportunity to talk with two of the pastry chefs, Richard and Eric, who were on hand to answer questions. Although my questions would have consisted mainly of “Wouldn’t that kiwi/orange tart be better as a chocolate tart,” Jack managed to get some useful information such as:

They do have dessert offerings that can accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions. Be sure to mention any special dietary needs when you make your reservation AND again when you check in at the podium. If you have any questions about any dessert, just ask!
The desserts we saw that night are expected be the core of the nightly buffet. The chefs do foresee a few changes as they take advantage of seasonal fruits, begin to gauge which items are the guest favorites, and as they rework some favorites that need some help holding up to the summer heat. (Don’t we all?)
Chef Richard also promised that Jack would get only the ripest chocolate covered strawberries from now on. (Whew! Memories of that zebra dome incident were coming to mind).

I noticed that the beverage assortment seemed appropriately light for such a rich buffet. It included water, fruit juices, lemonade, iced tea, and an assortment of the favorite Twinings teas with hot water. Cast member, Brent, also mentioned that they’re listening closely to guest feedback, and adding milk to the beverages is just one improvement on the way because of that.

So, it was nearing time for Wishes to begin. Our bellies were full, as were all the tables set aside for this event. We’d lost count of how many trips we’d made to the buffet, how many times we’d chatted up the chefs, and how many children we’d seen playing with the hula hoops and bean bags (provided by the Secret Cast Member Stash of such games and oddities) in an open area on the terrace.

The one thing we’d forgotten to do was go “claim a spot” for a good view of Wishes. Well, turns out we didn’t really have to. Jack had been told by the reservationist, and then we were reminded again at check in, that all of the tables were going to have the same view of the castle, and that we could move about on the terrace to find a nice viewing spot for Wishes after we enjoyed our desserts. Sure enough, when the time came, we simply stepped over to the railing and Voila! We could see Wishes! Since these dessert parties truly do have limited seating, there wasn’t a whole hoard of folks vying for “the perfect spot.” We ALL had a good spot! My viewing tips for this location are simple … 1) Look up. 2) Smile. 3) Repeat.

Wishes
(Not the view from the Dessert Party)

I saw a few people with their tripods set up, but I’m not sure I could say the terrace is a perfect spot for photos. Be aware that there is an overhang to the terrace that you’ll have to work around. Also, remember that you will not be viewing the castle “straight-on” as if you were on Main Street, so the fireworks will not be framing the castle like many would want for their “perfect pictures.” But, just because I’m saying it’s not the perfect place to take photos, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad place for photos. You’re just not going to get the quintessential “star over the castle” kind of picture.

I continued with my own advice of “Look up, smile, repeat” until Wishes had finished. I was surprised to see how quickly the terrace emptied of people, afterwards. It was like somebody forgot to tell them that they could continue to graze at the buffet even after the fireworks had ended. Wait. Was I supposed to tell them? Anyway, Main Street was setting up for a second showing of SpectroMagic, so maybe some of the guests were just trying to get a good viewing spot for that. I can’t imagine any were in a hurry to get back to their resort with sugar-buzzed children.

Whatever theirreasons for the quick exodus, it left us a moment to wind down, grab a little fresh fruit off the buffet, and to chat a little more with the chefs and other cast members. It was exciting to hear them already discussing how the menu items will change in the winter months … a sure sign they’re hoping to continue the dessert party well after this initial summer preview! I think they’ve done a superb job at getting the party off the ground and I hope that it become’s one of those must-do events we all come to know and love! And I’m not just saying that to buy their silence. They would have agreed to say nothing about my attempt to balance a pyramid of chocolate mousse tarts on a slice of cantaloupe anyway. What? I said I was glad I didn’t have to perform a balancing act at this lovely dessert party. I never said that I didn’t perform one.

“Excuse me, Ms. Stoll? The gentleman in your party wants you to return to the table … Uh, no. I’m not exactly sure what he wants …. Uh, yes ma’am, I guess I could go ask while you, uhhh, guard that platter of Pistachio Creme Brulee. And uh, ma’am, here are a few more napkins. You’ve got Mango Shooter on your, uhh … yeah, right next to the, uh, yeah … and tiramisu on your eyebrow.”

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Your help is needed! The following desserts were last seen in the Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland Terrace area around the time of Wishes. If found, consume them immediately!

Brownies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cannoli
Canoes
Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart
Classic Cheesecake
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Strawberry/Berry Tart
Chocolate Mousse Tart
Tiramisu Glass
Mango Shooter
Kiwi/Orange Tart
Pistachio Crème Brulee
Dark Chocolate Truffle
White Chocolate Truffle
Raspberry Tart

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