Whether watching your favorite Disney characters parade down Main Street, U.S.A. or ending your night with a fireworks finale, it wouldn’t be a trip to The Happiest Place on Earth without some showstopping entertainment. But, what if you want a great view of the show without spending an hour or two staking out your spot?
That’s where one of the Disneyland dining packages or a dessert party comes in. These convenient eats come with an especially sweet perk: reserved seats with some of the best views in the house.
So, how much do they cost and are they worth the price? Stick with us as we go over everything you need to know about booking a Disneyland dessert party or dining package.
Disneyland Dining Package & Dessert Party Basics
We don’t know about you, but we love a good dinner and a show. Unfortunately, while there isn’t a west-coast version of Disney World’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, you can DIY your own Disney dinner show with the help of a Disneyland dining package or dessert party. Dinner with a side of fireworks? Lunch accompanied by Disney characters on parade? It’s all available!
What is included with a dessert party or dining package?
In most cases (the main exception being the Tomorrowland Skyline Lounge Experience), the biggest benefit to booking a dessert party or dining package is reserved viewing for some of Disneyland’s most popular entertainment offerings. These designated areas tend to be centrally located, offering up some of the best views available.
As for what you’ll be eating, the menu varies depending on the experience. We’re talking everything from a three-course prix fixe meal or all-you-can-eat buffet to a spread of sweet and savory treats. The World of Color Dessert Party even comes with a couple of boozy beverages. Bonus!
Just keep in mind that for most of the Disneyland dining packages, tax and gratuity aren’t included. For even more details, keep reading.
What shows at Disneyland and California Adventure have dining packages?
Due to COVID-19, Disneyland’s crowd-drawing shows were largely put on pause to support social distancing measures. Luckily, as the pandemic turns endemic, most of Disney’s nighttime spectaculars and parades are finally making a comeback and, along with them, reserved-viewing dining packages and dessert parties.
Dining experiences that have been confirmed for a 2023 return include:
- World of Color Dining Package at Wine Country Trattoria and Storytellers Café
- World of Color Dessert Party
- Plaza Inn Dining Package for the Magic Happens Parade
- Fantasmic! Dining package at Blue Bayou Restaurant, River Belle Terrace and Hungry Bear Restaurant
- Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace
- Plaza Inn Dining Package for the “Magic Happens” Parade
In addition to the regular Disneyland dessert parties and dining packages, guests can often enjoy reserved seating for holiday entertainment offerings thanks to limited-time dining packages and seasonal dessert parties. Past holiday dining experiences include:
- Wine Country Trattoria Ooogie Boogie Bash Dining Package for the Frightfully Fun Parade
- Sonoma Terrace Ooogie Boogie Bash Dessert Party for the Frightfully Fun Parade
- Plaza Inn Dining Package for the Christmas Fantasy Parade
- Cafe Orleans Dining Package for Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite
Can you eat and watch the show from a restaurant?
Ok, so when we said “dinner and a show,” what we really meant was dinner followed by a show. With a few exceptions, you won’t be able to sit and eat as you enjoy the show. Rather, while you’re at lunch or dinner, you’ll receive a voucher for access to a reserved viewing area.
Then, at some point in time following your meal, you and your group will head to your chosen restaurant’s designated area to take in the show. The only way to watch one of Disneyland’s nighttime spectaculars while you dine is by booking the World of Color Dessert Party, the premium Fantasmic Dining Package at the River Belle Terrace or, if you’re lucky (more on that later), the Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace.
How do you reserve a dessert party or dining package?
With prime seating and good food in high demand, reservations are highly recommended for Disneyland dining packages and dessert parties. This is especially true for the Fantasmic! Dining Package at Blue Bayou and River Belle Terrace, as well as the World of Color Dessert Party, with spots often selling out well before your visit date. So, if you want to secure that covetable reserved viewing, you’re better off making a reservation as early as possible. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance on the Disneyland app or website.
Is the World of Color or Fantasmic Dining Package worth it?
It really depends on your group’s plans and budget. At $30 to $89 per adult, these entertainment dining packages don’t come cheap. But, having said that, at Disneyland (or really, anywhere) time is money. So, while some people are happy to waste time saving seats for an hour or so, others would rather pay a little bit more for a meal in exchange for the convenience of reserved viewing.
You’ll also want to consider that reserved viewing doesn’t necessarily mean reserved seating. For World of Color, the only way to sit down and watch the show is at the dessert party. Everywhere else, including the designated viewing for the dining package, is standing room only.
But again, clocking in at $89 per person for the World of Color Dessert Party, those are some pricey seats! Are they worth it? If you’re short or traveling with kiddos and you have a sweet tooth, then quite possibly. Otherwise, if you’d like to save some money, you can also see the show relatively hassle-free by using the virtual queue.
Needless to say, everyone needs to eat. So, why not save some time and get a great view out of the deal? That is, as long as it works with your travel budget for Disneyland.
World of Color Dining Package
With Paradise Bay lagoon as center stage, World of Color is California Adventure’s dazzling nighttime spectacular. This 22-minute rainbow of a show features a kaleidoscope of dancing fountains, fog, pyrotechnics and lasers – all set to iconic songs and scenes from beloved Disney and Pixar films.
Designated viewing for the World of Color Dining Package is located in Paradise Gardens Park. While this colorful dining package is, sadly, standing room only, the Preferred Dining Section does provide some of the most central views of the stunning display.
Keep in mind that on nights with two showings of World of Color, you can’t pick which show you watch. Rather, it’s based on your reservation time. So, if you want to go to the earlier show, book a lunch reservation or at least two hours before showtime if you want to do dinner.
Wine Country Trattoria at Disney California Adventure Park
Package Pricing (Tax, gratuity and alcoholic beverages not included):
- Lunch – Starting at $50 for adults; $25 for children (ages 3 to 9)
- Dinner – Starting at $50 for adults; $25 for children (ages 3 to 9)
Comes with:
- 1 voucher for the World of Color Preferred Dining viewing section at Paradise Gardens Park
- 3-course meal including starter, entrée and dessert from a prix fixe menu, as well as a non-alcoholic beverage
- Dishes include items like bruschetta, pasta, rib-eye steak, salmon and tiramisu
If there’s one thing that Napa Valley is known for besides wine, it’s fresh, seasonal and downright delicious food. And what goes better with wine than Italian food? Sample the flavors of the Mediterranean and score some sweet views with the Wine Country Trattoria World of Color Dining Package.
Storytellers Café at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Package Pricing (Tax, gratuity and alcoholic beverages not included):
- Dinner – Starting at $50 for adults; $25 for children (ages 3 to 9)
Comes with:
- 1 voucher for the World of Color Preferred Dining viewing section at Paradise Gardens Park
- Bottomless buffet and a non-alcoholic beverage (specialty coffee drinks not available)
- Dishes include items like roasted chicken, fish, salads, pasta, prime rib, flatbread, bread pudding and more
- Complimentary validated valet parking at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa for 5 hours
Hoping for a more laidback, kid-friendly setting? Or, maybe you and your crew have a bigger appetites that only a buffet can satisfy. Then the Storytellers Café World of Color Dining Package is for you.
While no character dining is available (that’s for breakfast and brunch only), your little ones are sure to enjoy the comforting mix of palate-pleasing classics. Plus, with the restaurant located outside the park in the Grand Californian Hotel, adults will love the tiny break from the madness that is a vacation at Disneyland.
World of Color Dessert Party
Is a comfortable place to sit worth more to you than a filling lunch or dinner? Are you the type of person who calls a cheese plate a meal or who eats dessert before the main course? Are you willing to pay for that dinner-and-a-show experience we talked about earlier? Then you may want to splurge on the World of Color Dessert Party.
Sure, at almost $90 per person, it’s really expensive – especially just for sweets, cheese and a couple of alcoholic drinks. But after walking around the theme parks all day, your feet will be grateful for the rest and you’ll feel like a VIP as you nosh on nibbles in the technicolor glow of World of Color.
Package Pricing (Including tax, gratuity and alcohol):
- $89 per guest (regardless of age; children ages 2 and below can sit on a parent’s lap for free)
Comes with:
- Reserved seating at either a table with folding chairs or high-top table with director chairs in the World of Color preferred viewing area at Paradise Gardens Park
- A bread basket with an assortment of desserts and cheeses, along with unlimited bottled water and soft drinks and 2 alcoholic drinks for guests ages 21 and up
Fantasmic! Dining Package
Disneyland has its fair share of fireworks and parades, but the real star of the show when it comes to entertainment is Fantasmic! This epic battle of good versus evil takes place on the Rivers of America, with Sorcerer Mickey battling some of Disney’s fiercest villains, and is a must-see for any trip to Disneyland.
As with the World of Color Dining Package, the Preferred Dining section for Fantasmic offers central views of the nighttime spectacular. Or, for the best views of all, upgrade to the premium package at River Belle Terrace.
Blue Bayou Restaurant in New Orleans Square
Package Pricing (Tax, gratuity and alcoholic beverages not included):
- Lunch – Starting at $62 for adults; $29 for children (ages 3 to 9)
- Dinner – Starting at $75 for adults; $30 for children (ages 3 to 9)
Comes with:
- 1 voucher for the Fantasmic! Preferred Dining viewing section at Rivers of America
- 3-course meal including starter, entrée and dessert from a prix fixe menu
- Dishes include items like the Monte Cristo Sandwich, gumbo, jambalaya and crème brûlée
No Disneyland restaurant is more iconic than the Blue Bayou Restaurant. This quintessential dining experience gazes out over the Pirates of the Caribbean and dishes up a tasty menu of elevated Cajun-Creole cuisine.
It’s a splurge, but it sure is worth it. Blue Bayou’s reserved seating section isn’t only smackdab in the middle of the amphitheater, diners have even previously received seat cushions for during the show.
River Belle Terrace in Frontierland
Package Pricing (Tax and gratuity not included, alcohol not available):
Regular Package
- Lunch – $45 for adults; $25 for children (ages 3 to 9)
- Dinner – $45 for adults; $25 for children (ages 3 to 9)
Premium Package
- Dinner – $70 for adults; $40 for children (ages 3 to 9)
Comes with:
- 1 voucher for the Fantasmic! Preferred Dining viewing section at Rivers of America
- 3-course meal including starter, entrée and dessert from a prix fixe menu
- Dishes include items like fried chicken or BBQ sandwiches, macaroni & cheese and monkey bread
For kid-friendly eats the whole family will love, set your sights on the River Belle Terrace Fantasmic Dining Package. This quaint restaurant overlooking the Rivers of America cooks up cozy comfort food oozing Southern charm and, if you upgrade to the premium package, waterfront views of the first showing of Fantasmic.
River Belle Terrace is the only restaurant where you can watch Fantasmic while you eat. Please note that you must go in person to the restaurant to make a reservation for the premium seating experience.
Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country
Package Pricing (Tax not included, alcohol not available):
- Lunch or Dinner – $30 for adults; $20 for children (ages 3 to 9)
Comes with:
- 1 voucher for the Fantasmic! Preferred Dining viewing section at Rivers of America
- Your choice of entrée and a selection of sides served to-go
- Dishes include items like BBQ chicken or ribs, salmon, mashed potatoes and cornbread
Looking for a more flexible and affordable meal while still enjoying the perks of a dining package? Book the Fantasmic On-the-Go Dining Package at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. This convenient option lets choose your mealtime then eat at either the restaurant or somewhere out and about in the park. The choice is yours!
Plaza Inn Dining Packages for the Disneyland Parade
Dining packages aren’t just offered for grand nighttime spectaculars like California Adventure’s World of Color or Fantasmic at Disneyland – parade dining packages are available, too! After all, who wants to spend 30 minutes to an hour (or more!) camping out for front-row seats to the show? Not us!
The Plaza Inn, a Disneyland mainstay, typically plays host to dining packages for the park’s parades. However, the only experience that has been confirmed so far for 2023 is the Magic Happens Parade.
Along with a voucher for reserved parade viewing, diners receive a spread of all-American favorites, such as macaroni & cheese, cornbread, wedge salad and the Plaza Inn’s famous fried chicken, along with your choice of one non-alcoholic beverage. For front-row views of the parade, be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before your posted time.
“Magic Happens” Parade Dining Package
Package Pricing (Tax and gratuity not included, alcohol not available):
- Lunch – $40 for adults; $25 for children (ages 3 to 9)
The Main Street Electrical Parade is a true Disney classic. With a cast of your favorite Disney characters all decked out in lights and a nostalgic soundtrack, it’s a whimsical way to end your day. Please note that guests’ dining package voucher will be for reserved viewing for the first showing only.
Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace Experience for Fireworks
Now, we’ll be honest – the Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace isn’t exactly billed as a way to watch the Disneyland fireworks. In fact, given the area’s tendency for windy weather, fireworks at Disneyland Park are often canceled – in which case, the Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace turns into a very expensive place for a snack.
Yes, some refreshments are included, the view is beautiful, characters may be on-hand for pictures and you can come and go throughout the night as you please. However, with no refunds in the event of bad weather or technical issues, the cost may outweigh the benefits for many.
Package Pricing (Including tax, alcohol not available):
- $50 per guest (children ages 2 and below are free)
Comes with:
- Box of fruit, cheese and sweets, as well as your choice of hot or cold non-alcoholic drinks
Well, folks, that’s all of the dining packages and dessert parties on offer at Disneyland and California Adventure. Have you had a chance to try one of the experiences on our list? Did you think it was worth it? Let us know in the comments! Then, learn how you can save some money and stretch your travel budget with our Don’t miss our discount Disneyland tickets.
