Review of the Ever-Popular Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party

There is nothing more magical than viewing the fireworks at the end of the night in a Disney theme park. The first time I saw the fireworks at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, I was enamored! It instantly became a must-do for me and my husband.

After our Disney themed wedding in Orlando, it only made sense for us to follow up with a “Happily Ever After” fireworks show! Since this was a special occasion, we splurged with the Magic Kingdom dessert party.

The Happily Ever After Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing has two seating options. You can opt to go to the first seating before the fireworks show (which is what we did) or you can go to the post-show option. The pricing is currently $69 for adults and $41 for children. Pricing is increasing to $79 for adults and $47 per child after February 1’st, 2020. Both showings share the same fireworks viewing area on the grass slightly to the right of the castle.

Note, there is also a Tomorrowland Terrace viewing option. That option is a bit more expensive, but you are in an area with seating. The Plaza Garden viewing option has no seating other than sitting on the ground (which we did until the show started).

Dessert Time

The web-site suggests arriving 90 minutes before the fireworks show. We arrived early to check-in (I believe we were among the first people there), and everything went smoothly. We wanted to sit with another group, and they were able to re-arrange their seating chart to accommodate us.

We were offered a sparkling cider flute upon entry by the lovely cast members. It was my first experience doing anything “extra” at a Disney park, so I had no idea what to expect. We decided to skip dinner and eat a larger lunch so we could have as much room for desserts as possible. This was a good choice since there were TONS of treats to choose from! I think we tried just about everything (hey, the wedding was over, pictures were done…. It was time to treat yo’ self! =D )

They had a few savory options. We loved the cheese squares and cheeseburger spring rolls. There was also spinach dip with various crackers. If you are a savory person, this isn’t your party (but it is a dessert party… so you know… keep that in mind). I certainly did some damage on those cheeseburger rolls.

Then they had the star of the show (well, other than the fireworks), dessert! There were A LOT of options, but a few items stood out. The s’mores action station was a huge hit for us. The cast member was very sweet, and the s’mores were warm gooey deliciousness.

Speaking of gooey, the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake was amazing! It is also served at the Liberty Tree Tavern and considered by many to be a Disney food icon. I loved it, but it was so rich! The layers of chocolate and Heath bar cookie heaven are served warm and buffet-style (dangerous!). Rumor is you can have the cast member from the ice cream station add a scoop on top of your Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake. That might have helped even out some of the sweetness. I may just have to make a trip to Liberty Tree Tavern, for comparison’s sake. =)    

We enjoyed the refreshing Pineapple Delight due to its milder sweetness. The chocolate-covered strawberries were great and very photogenic. The fresh fruit was also a nice palate cleanser from the sugar overload. 

There was water, coffee, tea, juice and more cider available to enjoy throughout the event.

Happily Ever After Fireworks

The cast members came around and escorted us to the viewing area. The seating was plentiful, and you could sit and claim a spot or grab a photo with the memory maker photographer. We made sure to get photos before and after the show.

The view of the castle was the best I’d ever had for a firework show. We aren’t the type of people who like to claim a spot super early. This ensured we had a great view of the castle without the stress of staking out a spot. Then there’s the show itself, which is pretty freaking amazing. 

Overall Conclusion

As a post-wedding treat, we found the dessert party to be worth it. It’s a bit pricey, so it’s probably best as part of a special celebration. It IS a lot of sweets, but that’s part of the fun! We decided on the pre-show party since we didn’t want a bunch of sugar right before bed, and we don’t like to stay up late. If you are a night owl, then perhaps the after-show party could work for you.

Would I do it again? Probably not at the Magic Kingdom. This is solely because there are so many other fireworks dessert parties to try! My husband might be a hard sell though, he didn’t love all the sugar. But I can probably convince him. Sweets plus Disney magic, it’s a match made in heaven! Plus, isn’t there that saying, “happy wife, happy life”? 😉    

Have you done any of the firework dessert parties? What is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!