*DIS Contributors review meals, resort stays, and entertainment that they have paid for during their own vacations. They only utilize discounts and offers if they are available to the general public, such as annual passholder discounts or DVC membership discounts. They receive no additional compensation for dining experiences or events, so that they may give their honest opinions about price and value.

In November of 2021, we went to Disney World on what I will always consider as the “yes” trip. What I mean by this is that we said “yes” to a lot of things that we usually say no to. Take a Lyft instead of waiting for the bus? Yes! Want an extra souvenir? Yes! Want to go to multiple signature dining experiences? Yes! One of the largest “yeses” we committed to was the Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Party. This is one event I’ve always passed on, figuring it just wasn’t worth the money to see a fireworks show we could see for free. However, after many cancelled trips, we were there and we were ready to celebrate!

For my family of four, at the time comprised of two adults and two children aged 3-9, it cost us $366 before tax to attend this ticketed event. For this price, we had chosen to attend the pre-party, which means we get access to the treats and drinks before the fireworks. For this event, you go to Tomorrowland Terrace where you are given a wristband and access to trays of some small bite-sized desserts, a cheese and cracker display, and an assortment of beverages. There was wine, beer, and various non-alcoholic beverages available during the dessert party.

Our family chose to book the option where you are seated on the lawn in front of the castle, as opposed to a table at Tomorrowland Terrace where you would stay throughout the event. I chose this so we’d be front and center, and I can say that the seating area was nice. We were escorted by cast members to an area reserved for guests with the event prior to the start of the fireworks. We were directly in front on the castle, but there were areas for guests that were in front of us, so it was not a “front row” view as much as just a nicely centered grassy area.

With all of those facts out of the way, let’s start reviewing the event. The food selection was just ok. We had options of several desserts, but for the price we paid, I thought there would have been more. It was unlimited, so you could certainly take as much as you wanted, but we all agreed a little more variety would have been nice. I also think it would have been really nice to have a few more savory options, as there were in the past. With the exception of cheese and crackers, everything was a sweet treat. As a sweets lover I was ok with this, but for the price, it wouldn’t hurt to have a little more variety.

Where you are located for the viewing is a lovely view of the castle, but now that there are projections down Main Street, you definitely are not seeing the “full picture” from the vantage point of this seating area. For us, that was fine. We were happy to have a cozy area and not have to fight crowds for it, but if you are dying to see the Main Street projections, this seating location won’t be ideal.

Now, did I find it was a worthy splurge? I can honestly say I did not. We had a great time and I am glad we did it ONCE, but it is not a splurge I will repeat. The reasons for this are many, but one of the main ones is that as an adult who does not drink alcohol, and now has a son that is a “Disney Adult” (once a child turns ten, they are paying adult prices), I can’t see the value in this event because we don’t drink the beer and wine. The access to the included alcohol definitely increases the value of this package, but as a non-drinker, that is not something I need to consider. Nobody in my family is the type to eat a ton at once, so we definitely did not get our money’s worth on the food offerings. Another reason I consider this a one-and-done event is that the food was decent, but nothing better than the standard dessert offerings you get at the end of any Disney buffet dinner. I’d rather go do a character meal for the price, enjoy my desserts, and then go catch the fireworks after.

Overall, I do think this event is worth it in a few situations. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and you want to ensure you get a great view of the fireworks, go for it. If you are like my family and you want to experience as much of what Disney has to offer, even if it’s just once, go for it. If you are a regular visitor and have never tried it, I’d say think hard about it. While my final verdict is that it was worth it for us for one time, I cannot say this it is universally worth it, nor do I think it’s a “can’t miss” experience. I’m glad we did it… but we won’t be doing it again.