As the sunsets at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, the desserts come alive at the Rivers of Light Dessert Party!
Animal Kingdom in the evening is a stunning park on any night, but when enjoying the all-new dessert party, you are transported to a whole new world. This past Thursday night, I had the pleasure of experiencing the brand new Rivers of Light Dessert Party, and what a delight it was.
Location
Tucked away across from Expedition Everest and just over the bridge from the Finding Nemo show theatre in Asia, you will find the check in for the dessert party at Rivers of Light Asia Viewing Area terrace. Check-in is at 7:30 pm. We had a thunderstorm scare earlier, but everything cleared up just in time. The cast members were so wonderful and were quick to let me know that if it did happen to rain, the party would be held at Flame Tree Barbeque.
Buffet
Beauty was everywhere once you walked into the Rivers of Light Viewing Area terrace. What an absolute feast for the eyes, and I was SO glad I came hungry. I had a lovely cast member escort me down the buffet line and went over all the amazing treats that were in store. So let’s dive into all the deliciousness, shall we?!
Treats
Pineapple Bar
I am a bonified pineapple and dole whip fanatic, so going into the party this is the dessert I was most looking forward too. I have to say it fell a little flat for me. The creamy texture and crust were great, but it just was not enough pineapple taste for my palate.
Orange Tiger Cake Push Pop
Tiger swirled orange flavored cake, cream cheese frosting, and topped with tiger colored chocolate crunch pearls; this push pop was divine! The orange cake was so refreshing and a pleasant surprise.
Chocolate Pot De Creme
These are just adorable, and a showstopper for sure. From recommendations from the Cast Members, I ate the whole flower pot in one bite! I love chocolate, but I prefer it a tad sweeter. My husband who prefers dark chocolate would go crazy for these.
Green Tea Cake
The green tea cake with the white chocolate tree of life was my absolute FAVORITE treat of the whole party! Talk about a surprise, and it is such a unique cake flavor. The sweetness is perfectly balanced, so it makes for a very light cake.
Lotus Flower Cupcake
Almost too pretty to eat…almost! This classic vanilla cupcake is topped with a beautiful vanilla buttercream lotus flower. Nobody does cupcakes better than Disney! It was a huge hit for all the younger kids in attendance.
Yogurt Panna Cotta
Granola crunch, blackberry, chocolate and strawberry top this delectable vanilla yogurt pannacotta. It was one scrumptious bite!
Fruit, Nut Mix, and Cheese
For guests looking for a healthier option, there’s a great selection of fresh fruit, cheese cubes, and mixed nuts.
Mickey Safari Cookies
These Mickey sugar cookies won the award for cutest dessert getting inspiration from some of the park’s favorite animals! Kids were quick to grab a few right before everyone headed down to the seating area.
Gluten-Free Brownie Push Pop
Chocolate buttercream combined with brownie is a definite winner for guests with a gluten allergy.
Gluten-Free Lemon Curd
On a hot summer night, the gluten-free lemon curd was excellent. They also offer gluten-free cookies and brownies.
Cool Treats
Last but not least, guests can enjoy Mickey ice cream bars, Mickey ice cream sandwiches and strawberry popsicles. Of course, I had to have the classic Mickey ice cream bar. The cast members also offered these cool refreshments when we were seated waiting for the show to begin. That was a nice touch.
Drinks
I was so happy to learn that alcoholic beverages were included! Along with the standard beer and wine, they have two specialty cocktails – Tiger Lilly and Asia Chai Tea.
Tiger Lilly
Cheers to that stunning view. Tiger Lilly was my favorite adult beverage. The combination of rum, fruit juices and strawberry Monin was fantastic.
Asia Chai Tea
As a fan of chai tea, I was excited to try this libation. For me, it was just a little too bitter, unfortunately.
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
For the younger crowd, jungle juice and purple lotus mocktails were huge hits. The kids at the table next to me loved them. I know my tween would have loved those drinks too! In addition, there was ice water and iced tea.
Rivers of Light
Cast members made sure to escort all of the party guests to our reserved seating area as show time drew near. Rows 1-7 are reserved for party goers! Another great tip from one of the cast members is to sit closest to the left, for the best view. I did just that as I sat front row, which was the first time EVER for Rivers of Light. I mean most nights with the family, I am schlepping the stroller, so we’re usually crammed in the back. Watching from the front row was out of this world!
Overall Thoughts
The selection of delectable “animal-inspired” treats is amazing. At a price of $79 (ages 10+) and $47 (ages 3-9), it was well worth the money and great for the whole family. I love the uniqueness of the sweets, plus adult beverages are included! Click here to find out more information and how to book the Rivers of Light Dessert Party. Have you enjoyed a dessert party at Walt Disney World or wanting to experience the new Rivers of Light Dessert Party? Post in the comments below. Stay hungry my Disney friends!
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