Hi there, Katherine. Welcome to planDisney.
This is a great question! I am a HUGE fan of all three dessert parties and attend them often. I'm also an even bigger fan of
Happily Ever After, and I can't wait to see
Starlight: Dream the Night Away! I am tickled polka-dotted pink to see so much Disney magic take place in Magic Kingdom after the sun goes down!
I've given your question a lot of thought, but as much as I wish I could, I'm not able to provide much direction at this time because there are still many unknowns. To answer your question: yes, you can leave the dessert party area. Upon checking in for the party, you will receive a wristband. The restrooms are located outside the dining and viewing areas, so this wristband will allow you to use the restroom and then return to your dessert party event.
Leaving the dessert party to watch the parade may cause you to miss your scheduled dining time, as the times could overlap. At the time of this writing, the parade schedule for Starlight is not yet known, so I'm unsure how the timing will work. This parade will also be very popular, and I'm sure Guests will line up very early for a front-row seat. I wish I had a strategy to offer, but at this time, we'll need to wait and see the timing details for the nighttime parade. That being said, I wouldn't suggest a strategy of leaving your dessert party to watch the parade. During your scheduled dining time, you'll have so many delicious desserts to try.
I have my own trip planned for early August, and I plan to keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog and the
Hours & Events Calendar to find out when the parade will be taking place. Once we have all the information and the parade's scheduled time, it will be easier for both of us to finalize our plans.
I'm sorry I couldn't give you a more precise answer. However, I can assure you that you will LOVE the
fireworks dessert party, and of all the magical offerings at Walt Disney World, seeing Happily Ever After from the dessert party viewing area is my favorite magic! When Tinker Bell flies from the castle, I shed a little happy tear EVERY TIME!
Hopefully, we will get the parade schedule soon. Please reach out to us again as your trip approaches if we can assist you further. I'm wishing you the most magical trip!
Happy planning,
Shonette