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The Magic Kingdom dessert party is one of those Disney extras that, on paper, I probably shouldn’t think is worth it. And yet, year after year, I keep booking it.

But since I last talked about the dessert party, things have changed. There are new themed desserts, some little upgrades that make the experience feel more Disney, and now the Disney Starlight Parade adds a whole new layer to planning your Magic Kingdom night.

So, is the Happily Ever After dessert party still worth the splurge? Especially if you’re doing Disney World with kids?

In this episode, I’m sharing my updated take after our most recent trip, including what’s changed, what hasn’t, which of the three party options might work best for your family, and what I’d do if you want to see both Happily Ever After and the Disney Starlight Parade in the same night.

 In this episode, we talk about:

• Why I continue booking the Magic Kingdom dessert party, even though I don’t think the desserts alone are worth the $100+ price tag
• Why the reserved viewing area can be such a big perk when doing Disney World with kids
• How the Happily Ever After dessert party gives you more flexibility with little kids, strollers, bathroom breaks, and simply having room to move
• How to plan around the Disney Starlight Parade if you also want to see Happily Ever After
• Why I still prefer the pre-party for Disney World with kids, especially when we want to get back to the resort sooner after the fireworks
• Who I think should skip the Magic Kingdom dessert party entirely

For me, the value of the Happily Ever After dessert party isn’t really about how many cupcakes or glasses of wine I can have. I’m paying for the reserved viewing area and the ability to watch the castle projections, music, and fireworks without staking out a spot on Main Street with three kids.

And with the Disney Starlight Parade now part of the nighttime equation, choosing the right party matters even more.

If you’re planning Disney World with kids, have never seen Happily Ever After, or know that the fireworks are a big priority for your family, I still think the Happily Ever After dessert party can absolutely be worth the splurge. It’s expensive, but for our family, some of our favorite Disney memories have happened while waiting for those fireworks to begin.

Would you spend $100+ per person on the Magic Kingdom dessert party for the reserved fireworks viewing, or would you rather save that money for something else on your Disney trip? Let me know over on Instagram!

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Trip recap with Starlight Parade

Pre-Party details

Post-Party details

Seats & Sweet details

LET’S CONNECT!

Somewhere Worthwhile Website

Instagram

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A quick heads up: this post contains affiliate links to products I genuinely use, love, or would pack for my own family. If you choose to purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Podcast music by Podington Bear, track: ‘Filaments’, licensed under CC BY-NC, courtesy of Free Music Archive.