Sparkling experience

Tigger mad · 4 Feb 20, 11:15 AM

Hi dibbers.

So we arrive the day before our anniversary with our 2 girls (7 years & 18 months) and would like to do something special. I’ve searched for the sparkling experience and have read what it entails and know your dinner is before illuminations. However, as we go in July and the parks close around 10pm (if I'm right) then if illuminations is then, what time would I expect our meal and experience to start? Has anyone done it during the summer season?
TIA friends!

**Gill H** · 4 Feb 20, 12:45 PM

To be honest I wouldn’t do it with young children. It is a very late night and a long experience.

We did it when Illuminations was 10pm. We started at 7ish with an hour in the Fantasia Bar for cocktails. Then 2 hours for the meal (cut short to take us up to the Founders Bar). Then champagne and petits fours in the Founders Bar while watching Illuminations.

It is a lot of very fancy food and wine, and takes several hours. I did see a dad and his daughter of about 12 doing the experience (obviously without alcohol for her) but I would not expect very young children to enjoy it.

Tigger mad · 4 Feb 20, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Gill H

To be honest I wouldn’t do it with young children. It is a very late night and a long experience.

We did it when Illuminations was 10pm. We started at 7ish with an hour in the Fantasia Bar for cocktails. Then 2 hours for the meal (cut short to take us up to the Founders Bar). Then champagne and petits fours in the Founders Bar while watching Illuminations.

It is a lot of very fancy food and wine, and takes several hours. I did see a dad and his daughter of about 12 doing the experience (obviously without alcohol for her) but I would not expect very young children to enjoy it.

Hi. Thank you for your reply. That’s what I wasn’t sure on was how long it would take when park closing is so late. Obviously then in winter it would be better timings for us as I didn’t realise you’d be having cocktails for an hour before eating. Is there anything else you can suggest we do? I had originally wondered about maybe doing doing a split stay? We’re booked for GF at Sequoia but thought could we do first 2 nights at DLH then move to sequoia? I’ve already got plaza gardens breakfast booked for anniversary morning as it’s our first full day and then breakfast in Auberge on our last day.

kk20 · 4 Feb 20, 09:35 PM

Or just sleep in the day. When we went with young children in summer then we siesta'd at midday (avoiding crowds) and stayed out later.

4 Feb 20, 11:15 AM	#1
	4 Feb 20, 11:15 AM Tigger mad Trading Disney Pins
Tigger mad Trading Disney Pins Join Date: May 19 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland	Sparkling experience Hi dibbers. So we arrive the day before our anniversary with our 2 girls (7 years & 18 months) and would like to do something special. I’ve searched for the sparkling experience and have read what it entails and know your dinner is before illuminations. However, as we go in July and the parks close around 10pm (if I'm right) then if illuminations is then, what time would I expect our meal and experience to start? Has anyone done it during the summer season? TIA friends! Edited at 11:50 AM.

4 Feb 20, 09:35 PM	#4
	4 Feb 20, 09:35 PM kk20 Imagineer
kk20 Imagineer Join Date: Jan 13	Or just sleep in the day. When we went with young children in summer then we siesta'd at midday (avoiding crowds) and stayed out later.