4th of July fireworks from a MK resort?

[snoopy5386]

Not quite sure which board is the right one to put this on, so starting it here. We'll be staying off site with the in laws over 4th of July week. I'd like to see the fireworks on the 4th from an MK resort. I'm planning on making a dining reservation at a resort on that evening. Right now we can get something at the Grand Floridian, the Contemporary or Wilderness Lodge. If we have a dining reservation will we be able to stay and see the fireworks? Which of those 3 resorts would have the best view?
Thanks.

 

[Accident]

check robo's map thread as he has a good rundown of what the views are from all around.

They do the fireworks on the 3rd and the 4th at mk. you might want to check options for the third if that fits your schedule and then you can head elsewhere for the 4th and more fireworks. If I was dining at california grill, I would stay there for them and catch them from the roof. Wilderness lodge really doesn't have a great view except for a small corner of the employee parking lot. grand floridian I would take the path and walk towards poly until you get a good castle view and even better, keep walking to the beach near the poly pool.

it's a good large display but most of it happens like a normal MK show with the addition of high altitude fireworks also coming from the water outside the front of the park and a few spots where it'll be fireworks from all around MK including the surrounding lakes. generally if you can see the castle, your in a good spot for everything.

 

[snoopy5386]

Thanks. As an off site guest, will I have issues accessing the hotels?

 

[Robo]

Thanks. As an off site guest, will I have issues accessing the hotels?

You will very likely have problems parking at any of the MK-area resorts,
but it won't be specifically because you are an off-site guest.

Any guest (not staying at the particular resort in question) may have trouble parking at an MK-area resort.
The TTC parking lot will also be VERY full from the July 3-4 MK crowds.

So allow about 2 hours of extra time, if you plan on driving top allow for some unexpected
traffic and parking delays.
Your "surer" bet (although it will also take some earlier than normal arrival time) would be to park at Epcot and take the monorail to TTC, then go to your viewing area of choice
from there.

 

[Skywise]

You'll have no trouble accessing the hotels so long as you have a dining reservation (except for parking as Robo points out). Getting the better viewspots will be a problem though - Polynesian generally restricts the best viewing areas on their beach for people staying at the Polynesian. The GF doesn't as much but the best viewing spots will be very crowded.

I think your best bet would be the Contemporary and then go out to the front entrance to the park/walkway and watch from there.

 

[Skywise]

Any guest (not staying at the particular resort in question) may have trouble parking at an MK-area resort.
The TTC parking lot will also be VERY full from the July 3-4 MK crowds.
.

How's the valet parking during holiday hours like this?

 

[Robo]

Polynesian generally restricts the best viewing areas on their beach for people staying at the Polynesian.

An often-repeated Disney myth... for YEARS.
It was never true prior to, say, 2015...
But it was always, always, always posted, year-after-year...
and was disproved, year-after-year, by posters who actually showed up at the Poly beach and checked for themselves.

HOWEVER...
now, with the very small prime viewing area on the Poly Beach, I'd not want to try going there on July 3 & 4
for just practical reasons (too small a viewing space,) regardless of actual "official" restrictions or not.

 

[Robo]

How's the valet parking during holiday hours like this?

Like anything else under heavy guest conditions...
although it may well be open at least at one or more resort, it would be taking a chance trying it July 3 & 4.

 

[Skywise]

An often-repeated Disney myth... for YEARS.
It was never true prior to, say, 2015...
But it was always, always, always posted, year-after-year...
and was disproved, year-after-year, by posters who actually showed up at the Poly beach and checked for themselves.

HOWEVER...
now, with the very small prime viewing area on the Poly Beach, I'd not want to try going there on July 3 & 4
for just practical reasons (too small a viewing space,) regardless of actual "official" restrictions or not.

I was there last year - they checked the prime viewing beach in front of the pool (and had a further reserved section for club level viewing) But they were only checking the beach in front of the pool - the other beach (by the Luau) they were not and nearly the entire beach in front of the cabanas was empty (where they also weren't checking)

 

[snoopy5386]

So parking, even with a dining reservation may be a problem then? Would uber-ing be a better choice?

 

[snoopy5386]

You'll have no trouble accessing the hotels so long as you have a dining reservation (except for parking as Robo points out). Getting the better viewspots will be a problem though - Polynesian generally restricts the best viewing areas on their beach for people staying at the Polynesian. The GF doesn't as much but the best viewing spots will be very crowded.

I think your best bet would be the Contemporary and then go out to the front entrance to the park/walkway and watch from there.

I was thinking GF would be better than Contemporary because I was picturing trying to squeeze everyone onto the 4th floor viewing deck, but this may be a better option. It's between 1900 Park Faire and Chef Mickey's for where to eat and we prefer 1900 Park Faire. We've only ever watched fireworks from the Poly. We are DVC but guessing we won't be able to access TOTWL as offsite guests on the 4th.

 

[Robo]

1. So parking, even with a dining reservation may be a problem then?
2. Would uber-ing be a better choice?

1. Could be.
2. Yes.