Advice Needed: MK Fireworks December 30 from Outside Park

[DuckDown]

We are a family of 4 who just booked a last minute offsite vacation to Orlando. We will be there over new years. We are not able to afford Disney tickets for this visit but we still want to see the 11:50 MK fireworks on Friday December 30.

I was able to snag a dinner reservation early evening at the Grand Floridian Cafe.

We would appreciate advice as to where would be the easiest and best location to view the fireworks without a hassle.

Grand Floridian? Will security allow us to watch it from the beach area? Would it be crowded?

TTC? Will it be packed and will Security try and keep people from stopping?

Also, is it best to park at the Grand Floridian, TTC, or Epcot (& take the Monorail) to help avoid traffic after the fireworks?

Thanks

 

[robinb]

I've watched the regular fireworks from the GF boat dock near Narcoossee's. They pipe the music in. I bet you'll be able to watch them there without a problem.

There is also a viewing area on the 4th floor of the contemporary. The Poly used to have excellent viewing from the beach but they have cracked down on non-Poly guests.

What do you plan to do for the hours between your dinner and midnight?

I would park at the GF self park. It will be easier to get out, especially if you head out right away. If you wait too long you'll get caught in the wave of people coming out of the MK. You will be quicker to your car than the rest of the hoards.

 

[Robo]

We are a family of 4 who just booked a last minute offsite vacation to Orlando. We will be there over new years. We are not able to afford Disney tickets for this visit but we still want to see the 11:50 MK fireworks on Friday December 30.

I was able to snag a dinner reservation early evening at the Grand Floridian Cafe.
We would appreciate advice as to where would be the easiest and best location to view the fireworks without a hassle.

Grand Floridian?
1. Will security allow us to watch it from the beach area?
2. Would it be crowded?

3. TTC?
4. Will it be packed and will Security try and keep people from stopping?

5. Also, is it best to park at the Grand Floridian, TTC, or Epcot (& take the Monorail) to help avoid traffic after the fireworks?

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. It will be crowded.
5. Parking will be heavily regulated and traffic after the fireworks will be very heavy.
Arrive VERY early and see if you will be allowed to park at GF (they may not allow it, even with an ADR, that night.)
Safest place to attempt to park is TTC, but it will be crowded and very slow... coming and going.
(You will be there at about the most crowded late-night date of the year.)


You can see the MK fireworks shows very well from the TTC
(and they pipe-in clear, crisp audio from the show.)

You can see them from the boat-dock and an outside
observation deck near Narcoossee's restaurant at the Grand Floridian.
The Narcoossee's Deck shown is now reserved only for guests of the restaurant.

Good viewing from the Gasparilla Grill Patio overlooking the Marina.
The sound of the show is piped in at the marina but not at the dock.

At the Contemporary, there is viewing on an outdoor
observation area on the 4th floor.
The California Grill observation areas are reserved for patrons that day of the Grill or Bar.
(The audio of the fireworks show is also piped in to these locations.)

(Fireworks shown above are simulated.)

At Wilderness Lodge, the "secret place" to watch the MK fireworks is from the
northern area of the Cast Member (CM) Parking Lot. (No audio)

At the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds Marina (angle shown on the map below,) some of the view (especially of the "Fantasyland" pyro) is blocked by the now unused Discovery Island in Bay Lake and by the high-rise buildings of the Contemporary Resort.
But, the view from the Ft. Wilderness' sand beach (farther north) is more open.
Still the tree-level can block the views of the lower-firing pyro

Here are the angles of the views in the Bay Lake area.

Below are the angles of the views in the Seven Seas Lagoon area.

----------------------------------

 

[cgattis]

Maybe a tour of the monorail resort decorations between dinner and fireworks? We love seeing the gingerbread displays. There are 18 hidden Olafs to find in the one at the Contemporary this year

 

[Bete]

I would get a reservation closer to the time of the fireworks at the Grand Floridian Cafe. Keep trying if one is not available right now. Then, you can walk over to the beach by Narcoossee's for the fireworks. It's not too far of a walk. Keep in mind you are far away, but it's nice.

You can kill some time at the resort looking at the ginger bread house and finding the hidden mickeys there. A stroll through the resort is nice with decorations. There is live Christmas music in the lobby. There is a small orchestra on the balcony. A piano player does sets when the orchestra takes a break. What I don't know is if they are there after Christmas or not. Maybe, someone else here can verify.

Maybe, somehow someway you can find a way to get park tickets. Do some cheap meals while you are there like carry out. Buy cereal for breakfast. Maybe, everyone can pitch in with Christmas monies received, if any. Is there a way to make any extra money before you leave?

 

[dreiwhit]

I recommend watching from the ferry dock at the TTC. IMHO, its far enough away that you can see the fireworks much better.

Pay the $20 for parking, then take the shuttle to the TTC. The ferry docks are on the left.

 

[Nancyg56]

Maybe a tour of the monorail resort decorations between dinner and fireworks? We love seeing the gingerbread displays. There are 18 hidden Olafs to find in the one at the Contemporary this year

This is what I would have suggested. I find that it is a lovely way to pass time.

 

[robinb]

Good viewing from the Gasparilla Grill Patio overlooking the Marina.
The sound of the show is piped in at the marina but not the dock.

Thanks for the correction. I thought I remembered that the music was piped out to the dock. Maybe it's the Poly I'm thinking of.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Then, you can walk over to the beach by Narcoossee's for the fireworks. It's not too far of a walk. Keep in mind you are far away, but it's nice.

Just a small clarification, there's not really a 'beach' by Narcoossee's. It's rocky shoreline and grass there. Not really the best place for groups to gather to watch fireworks IMHO.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Also this may be obvious as part of this discussion but remember for the New Years Eve (and 30th) fireworks they launch from that island in the middle of the 7 Seas Lagoon, in addition to other places around the MK. The additional fireworks launch points really open up viewing options around the lagoon. An inferior view of normal Wishes could be a great view of these fireworks, depending on where you are.

 

[DuckDown]

Thanks to all. We will probably park at the Epcot lot, take the monorail to the TTC and see Wishes from there. From there we will take the monorail to the Grand Floridian for dinner and to look around the resort. After, we will head back to the TTC for the 11:50 fireworks, then carry on to Epcot to pick up the van.

 

[Accident]

For NYE and 4th of july, I love the poly beach, but not the normal beach everyone uses. I like the walkway between GF and POLY. the beach on the poly side of the walkway has a really good view of the castle and those specific fireworks shows are all over the place in the sky so it's a nice angle. I however don't remember if they pump in the music to that beach so you might find another spot better.

 

[Bete]

Thanks to all. We will probably park at the Epcot lot, take the monorail to the TTC and see Wishes from there. From there we will take the monorail to the Grand Floridian for dinner and to look around the resort. After, we will head back to the TTC for the 11:50 fireworks, then carry on to Epcot to pick up the van.

Keep in mind you will pay parking. Since you have a reservation at the Grand Floridan Cafe you don't have to pay for parking there. The grace period of how long you can park at the resort for a dinner reservation is 3 hours. You can take the monorail from the Grand Floridan.

 

[Robo]

Keep in mind you will pay parking. Since you have a reservation at the Grand Floridan Cafe you don't have to pay for parking there. The grace period of how long you can park at the resort for a dinner reservation is 3 hours. You can take the monorail from the Grand Floridan.

While that is "normally" true, the OP is asking about one of the busiest nights of the year in the MK area.
Parking during Christmas Week can be very different than during other times of year.
There are times when parking at TTC and/or the monorail resorts is restricted to guests actually staying at that resort,
and even those with dining reservations can't park there.
This may or may not be true on the evening in question, but if one is counting on being able
to park in one location... and can't... that can really throw off plans and timing in a big way.

 

[Bete]

While that is "normally" true, the OP is asking about one of the busiest nights of the year in the MK area.
Parking during Christmas Week can be very different than during other times of year.
There are times when parking at TTC and/or the monorail resorts is restricted to guests actually staying at that resort,
and even those with dining reservations can't park there.
This may or may not be true on the evening in question, but if one is counting on being able
to park in one location... and can't... that can really throw off plans and timing in a big way.

Wow, that's news to me. We have never been refused parking even during Christmas week at a resort. I believe you, but hopefully that's more of a rare occurrence.

If I was an offsite guest, as the poster, and made dinner resort reservations then I would expect to see a disclaimer saying there may not be parking. That's just not right if they don't warn you.

 

[robinb]

Wow, that's news to me. We have never been refused parking even during Christmas week at a resort. I believe you, but hopefully that's more of a rare occurrence.

If I was an offsite guest, as the poster, and made dinner resort reservations then I would expect to see a disclaimer saying there may not be parking. That's just not right if they don't warn you.

I have never been refused parking either. I guess the OP could valet park but then she'll have to wait for her car.

ETA we have reservations at Kona that night and I plan to park at the Poly. What else can Disney do when the MK parking will be closed by then?

 

[Madonna3]

Thanks to all. We will probably park at the Epcot lot, take the monorail to the TTC and see Wishes from there. From there we will take the monorail to the Grand Floridian for dinner and to look around the resort. After, we will head back to the TTC for the 11:50 fireworks, then carry on to Epcot to pick up the van.

Why not just park at the TTC? Seems odd to park at Epcot just to go to the TTC anyway...

Also, the Epcot lots will close much earlier than the TTC lots.

 

[Robo]

I have never been refused parking either. I guess the OP could valet park but then she'll have to wait for her car.

ETA we have reservations at Kona that night and I plan to park at the Poly. What else can Disney do when the MK parking will be closed by then?

What they can do is refuse additional parking at the Poly.
WILL they do that this year?
Nobody knows.
I can tell you that they HAVE done so in the past.

My point in this is to make sure that you allow PLENTY of extra time to make an alternate decision if (IF) the need arrises.