My DW and I attended the Illuminations Sparking Dessert Party in May 2014 and again in February 2015. You can read my initial review here; below is an updated review, mostly noting the things that have changed so as not to be redundant.
We checked in for the party about 7:35 and there was already a huge line to get in. This made me a little nervous since last time it seemed that there weren't enough tables for each party to have their own and I wasn't in the mood to hang out with strangers. However, DW noticed that a much larger area had been reserved for the party and filled with tables and assured me that we would find a table with no trouble. Sure enough, there were plenty of tables when we entered the area around 7:45 and we snagged a spot only a few steps away from the booze table and also close to both dessert tables.
The evening's wine choices were a Prosecco (the same one from last time) and a Cava. It was difficult to choose between them but I think I liked the Cava just slightly better. I also liked the Cava better than the California sparkling wine from our last time at the party. We also noticed a pinkish-orange punch on the table and assumed it was for kids. Then we saw adults getting cups of it and a CM putting vodka in their cups and knew we had to try it with vodka! The drink tasted like a citrus-heavy fruit punch; the vodka was definitely present but not overwhelming. The drink wasn't anything special and I'm not sure if they even have it every night so it may not be a safe bet if someone in your party doesn't care for sparkling wine.
Cava!
Prosecco!
Vodka punch!
The "hot dessert buffet" consisted of churros with chocolate and caramel sauce and berry cobbler along with a selection of fresh berries. At one point they ran out of churros for about half an hour. When a CM brought out fresh churros I was the first one at the table to get more in case they ran out again! I missed the flambéed donuts and coffee flavored ice cream from our previous party, but I was glad the churros were back!
Cobbler underneath a mound of berries
Churros
The new batch of churros!
The "cold dessert buffet" had tiramisu, blue velvet cupcakes, baklava, chocolate ganache tarts, something called "Crisped rice puffs inspired by Asian cuisine" (actually just round Rice Krispies treats), and two types of cookies. The cookies and rice puffs were fine but nothing exciting. I'm guessing those are there for picky children. The baklava tasted better than I remembered it tasting last time, and the ganache tarts were better than the French dessert from last time. The cupcake was good but when they called it a "blue velvet" cupcake there were NOT kidding. If brightly colored food freaks you out you should avoid this one. Both DW and I concluded our favorite was the tiramisu. We were disappointed that we were so full from everything that we couldn't eat more.
Clockwise from bottom: Baklava, chocolate ganache tart (after a collision with the tiramisu), tiramisu on cookie, blue velvet cupcake, rice puff
Once again the view of Illuminations was excellent. We definitely felt like we got our money's worth in drinks alone and the desserts were icing on the cake (pun very much intended). Some key differences from last time include: more seating, twice as many dessert tables, and a few modifications in menu. We would consider going again but probably not on our next trip unless the menu changes significantly, since we have been twice now. My conclusions and recommendations are basically the same as last time: if you will be able to drink 5+ drinks and eat a few desserts, can stand to stand for the entire party, and love Illuminations you will probably enjoy the party. If you aren't a big drinker or don't like sparkling wine you probably are better off getting your own dessert for $5-10 in World Showcase and camping out to find a good viewing spot.
We checked in for the party about 7:35 and there was already a huge line to get in. This made me a little nervous since last time it seemed that there weren't enough tables for each party to have their own and I wasn't in the mood to hang out with strangers. However, DW noticed that a much larger area had been reserved for the party and filled with tables and assured me that we would find a table with no trouble. Sure enough, there were plenty of tables when we entered the area around 7:45 and we snagged a spot only a few steps away from the booze table and also close to both dessert tables.
The evening's wine choices were a Prosecco (the same one from last time) and a Cava. It was difficult to choose between them but I think I liked the Cava just slightly better. I also liked the Cava better than the California sparkling wine from our last time at the party. We also noticed a pinkish-orange punch on the table and assumed it was for kids. Then we saw adults getting cups of it and a CM putting vodka in their cups and knew we had to try it with vodka! The drink tasted like a citrus-heavy fruit punch; the vodka was definitely present but not overwhelming. The drink wasn't anything special and I'm not sure if they even have it every night so it may not be a safe bet if someone in your party doesn't care for sparkling wine.
Cava!
Prosecco!
Vodka punch!
The "hot dessert buffet" consisted of churros with chocolate and caramel sauce and berry cobbler along with a selection of fresh berries. At one point they ran out of churros for about half an hour. When a CM brought out fresh churros I was the first one at the table to get more in case they ran out again! I missed the flambéed donuts and coffee flavored ice cream from our previous party, but I was glad the churros were back!
Cobbler underneath a mound of berries
Churros
The new batch of churros!
The "cold dessert buffet" had tiramisu, blue velvet cupcakes, baklava, chocolate ganache tarts, something called "Crisped rice puffs inspired by Asian cuisine" (actually just round Rice Krispies treats), and two types of cookies. The cookies and rice puffs were fine but nothing exciting. I'm guessing those are there for picky children. The baklava tasted better than I remembered it tasting last time, and the ganache tarts were better than the French dessert from last time. The cupcake was good but when they called it a "blue velvet" cupcake there were NOT kidding. If brightly colored food freaks you out you should avoid this one. Both DW and I concluded our favorite was the tiramisu. We were disappointed that we were so full from everything that we couldn't eat more.
Clockwise from bottom: Baklava, chocolate ganache tart (after a collision with the tiramisu), tiramisu on cookie, blue velvet cupcake, rice puff
Once again the view of Illuminations was excellent. We definitely felt like we got our money's worth in drinks alone and the desserts were icing on the cake (pun very much intended). Some key differences from last time include: more seating, twice as many dessert tables, and a few modifications in menu. We would consider going again but probably not on our next trip unless the menu changes significantly, since we have been twice now. My conclusions and recommendations are basically the same as last time: if you will be able to drink 5+ drinks and eat a few desserts, can stand to stand for the entire party, and love Illuminations you will probably enjoy the party. If you aren't a big drinker or don't like sparkling wine you probably are better off getting your own dessert for $5-10 in World Showcase and camping out to find a good viewing spot.
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