We just went on Saturday, and our experience was extremely positive. We booked a 6:30 reservation and got there shortly after 6:30. It was a bit unreal to go from an extremely crowded park to the oasis of the Skyline Terrace. Gone were the crowds. We were warmly greeted by a team of CMs who explained to us how the evening would unfold. You have a choice of dining inside or out. If you choose inside dining, then you enjoy being in the DVC-by-day lounge until you move to a few rows of chairs for the fireworks. If you choose outdoor dining, you get a table (#14, in our case) with a wonderful view of the Matterhorn and that section of Tomorrowland as sunset approaches and into the evening. The table is yours until 10 PM, and the CM helpfully informed us that if we find anyone sitting at our table, we could just bring it to their attention and they would kindly ask the intruders to leave.
There is what the CM described as a “family bar” in that no alcohol is served. There are unlimited soft drinks, water, and a delicious limeade-berry drink. I wished they gave larger water bottles, but that’s as far as any complaints go that I had about the experience, and it was an extremely minor one at that. As you can see from the picture below, the “bento box” no longer resembles something from an elementary school cafeteria but is instead a retro lunch-box of sorts collectible that you can keep:
In fact, one of the CMs helpfully gave us plastic bags so that we could take them home. The food itself seemed very similar to what has been served in the past. The only change was that at least during Halloween season, they are now providing a delicious pumpkin cake. We never experienced a line to get food or beverages, and every single CM working this assignment could not have been more pleasant or helpful.
From the time that you finish eating until the fireworks start at 9:30, you have choices. You can return with outside food and drinks, if there’s not enough food to your liking. You can stay for the trivia at 8, with prizes. We left to park-hop at California Adventure, enjoying the very different, spooky and moody atmosphere there which provides a significant contrast to that of
Disneyland. It’s a great way to have a place to enjoy a few hours while you enjoy rides or just relax with the pleasant view of Tomorrowland.
For our purposes, the view of the fireworks was excellent. I will have to respectfully disagree with those who prefer the atmosphere of Main Street. Standing in the midst of a throng of wall-to-wall bodies is not my idea of a pleasant atmosphere. That being said, if the projections are important to you, then the vantage point of the Skyline Terrace will not be to your liking. However, if you are there for the fireworks and the music, which is piped in, the Skyline Terrace gives you the wonderful ability to sit down at a table with an excellent view of the fireworks (only the lowest of them were partially obstructed by trees), unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, a convenient bathroom, and a peaceful setting, away from packed crowds, if you are going on a busy day. This was an experience that we will definitely do again.
