Best Fireworks

Boatingmom

Mouseketeer
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
284
Since we have the Grucci fireworks locally, and we can watch the Macy's July 4th display and the Jones Beach Display, we don't think twice. I know we've been spoiled, but usually we are not really been impressed with other firework displays. If you were to chose only one display at WDW, Which would it be???? Any help?? Please explain your choice.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:headache:
 
I like Wishes best. It is the most "Disney" to me...all about wishes coming true. It incorporates many of my favorite movie moments into the soundtrack. And I still cry sometimes when watching it.

Second comes Illuminations. It is just about perfect for the World Showcase setting, with the torches, illuminated buildings, fire. The fireworks display is very pretty. And I love the music. Got the CD and listen to it all the time.
...I don't care for the globe thing. It was OK the first time I saw it, but now bores me. I just eat my snack and listen to the music. :)

I don't care for Fantasmic. Many people like it, I'm not saying you won't. I just think it is a little weird and very boring...especially all the movies on water screens. Yawn.
 
If you want to see straight up fireworks, Wishes is your event. It is utterly amazing. I have yet to see a firework show that compares. Try to go on a SpectroMagic parade night. It is fabulous as well.

Now sunee, I have to disagree with you about your opinions regarding Fantasmic and IllumiNations. I really like Fantasmic. I like the characters and puppetry and whatnot. I find IllumiNations a tad boring. I really like an older version of this show better. Oh well, that is what I like about WDW though, the evening shows are different enough that everyone can have their favorites and their not-so-favorites.
 
Mine is just the reverse- Illumninations would be my #1, wishes second. Think if you are used to great fireworks, give illuminations a try, the lasers and globe may make it a whole new experience for you.
 

Definitely Wishes! It just might be the best fireworks display I've ever seen. I love it! :love:
 
Wishes is hands down the best fireworks show I have ever seen.

The music is great, the story is great, the effects on the castle are great and the fireworks themselves are amazing. :cloud9:

Fantasmic would be second, even though it isn't really a fireworks show.

The music is good but not as good as Illuminations or Wishes. The fireworks themselves aren't great but the rest of the show is very well done.

Illuminations third...it would probably be second but their aren't enough fireworks and the parts where it is just the globe for 3 minutes are very boring as it is very hard to see the globe.

On the other hand the music is outstanding and certain parts are great. :)

They're all great, though. :)
 
WISHES first and foremost. there's just something about standing there listening to that song and jiminy cricket while watching fireworks light the sky behind the castle...:goodvibes

secondly is Fantasmic!!! this is an awesome show. i think it's fun the way they have incorporated many different movies into this show.

and personally, i don't even want to put Illuminations down...sorry!:rolleyes1
the whole spinning globe thing....don't get it..and it seemed to spin forever:rolleyes:
 
fireworks do nothing for me period. i've never even seen the macy's 4th of july fireworks.

i love fantasmic, but i wouldn't place that in the fireworks category.

but i wasn't disappointed with my POV for wishes last time.. something i had wanted to do for a while

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Fantasmic, to me, is by FAR the best! I love it so much! I would watch it every night if I could. I have it downloaded on my computer, i have the soundtrack, I even perform a juggling routine (I do that stuff) to portions of the score. I'll being doing that routine this Sunday night on stage at Warehouse 29 for my own Variety Show that is making its debut!

If you want to see some of these fireworks displays then go to you tube. You can watch the whole fantasmic show, or wishes, or even some of the holiday versions of wishes.

Wishes and Illuminations both tie for second, but I think I like Wishes best out of those two if I had to chose. The best place to view wishes is on the patio of the noodle restaurant in tomorrow land! Tinkerbell will fly right over you head!
 
The best place to view wishes is on the patio of the noodle restaurant in tomorrow land! Tinkerbell will fly right over you head!

Only if you know exactly WHERE to sit on that patio.

They don't turn off the lights there and the sound is not piped into that area.

There are many (most) seats that offer only a severly obstructed view of Wishes from there.

The worst part is, (unless you've been there before and took note of the "good seats") you won't know if you're in a good spot or a bad one until the show actually starts and its too late, if you chose the wrong spot.

That area is almost always filled with guests who discover their mistake when the show starts. There is always a mad scooting of chairs and bunch of disappointed folks who find they can't get into a good spot to see the whole show.
 
Hands down, it's Wishes! Illuminaions has more shells, but nothing says "Disney Fireworks Display" like Wishes! does.

Unless................. you have the opportunity to see "Remember...Dreams Come True" in Disneyland.
 
...but nothing says "Disney Fireworks Display" like Wishes! does.

Unless................. you have the opportunity to see "Remember...Dreams Come True" in Disneyland.

I was waiting for someone to mention this.

It looks so GOOD that it sets a new standard for ALL fireworks shows... ever!
 
IMO I think that the fireworks at MNSHP are better than Wishes.

They are the best I have ever seen. I have cried everytime I have seen them.
 
Only if you know exactly WHERE to sit on that patio.

They don't turn off the lights there and the sound is not piped into that area.

There are many (most) seats that offer only a severly obstructed view of Wishes from there.

The worst part is, (unless you've been there before and took note of the "good seats") you won't know if you're in a good spot or a bad one until the show actually starts and its too late, if you chose the wrong spot.

That area is almost always filled with guests who discover their mistake when the show starts. There is always a mad scooting of chairs and bunch of disappointed folks who find they can't get into a good spot to see the whole show.

So where is the best place to sit....give up the secret...just whisper so everyone else going in August doesn't hear you:rolleyes1 ! We will end up with a big DIS reunion at the Noodle place in Tomorrowland all running for the same area :rotfl2:
 
So where is the best place to sit....give up the secret...just whisper so everyone else going in August doesn't hear you:rolleyes1 ! We will end up with a big DIS reunion at the Noodle place in Tomorrowland all running for the same area :rotfl2:

In truth, the Noodle Station just is NOT one of the better places to see Wishes, anyway.

The fact that the sound is far in the distance ands more difficult to understand, and they don't turn off the lights there is reason enough not to try it.
Same goes for the Main Street RR station (which IS a great place to see the "SpectroMagic" Parade). They leave the lights on there and on Main Street at that far end to aid guests who are exiting during the fireworks.

If all you want to see is FIREWORKS, you can stand at MOST areas in the MK.
(And a wide variety of places OUTSIDE the MK.)

But if you are NOT at CERTAIN SPECIFIC LOCATIONS, you will MISS the "full impact" of the SHOW called "Wishes".

Wishes has two fireworks "STAGES":
One fires its missiles from a location FAR BEHIND any public area of MK.
The other fires its missiles from the ROOF-TOPS of Fantasyland/Liberty Square/the Castle.
The guests' VIEWING ANGLE will affect "if and how" these two stages can be viewed together (they are designed to be viewed "together".)

There is a full AUDIO TRACK that is synchronized with the fireworks.
It is the "motivation" for the unique fireworks effects that change with each MOOD and SECTION of the audio track.

The audio, and positioning of the two fireworks "stages" relative to the viewer will affect the impact of the show.

The front of the CASTLE ITSELF is part of the "show".
There is an elaborate lighting system that is used to change the color of the castle to suit each MOOD, and even "textures" and shapes are projected on the castle at key points in the show (Mickey's Sorcerer's HAT is a great one).

Tinkerbell's flight (which used to take place PRIOR to the old fireworks show at MK) is now WITHIN "Wishes". She doesn't fly EVERY night, but she OFTEN flies and you should be in a position to see her.

The SWEET-SPOT for Wishes is: starting from approx. the "bridge to Tomorrowland" ...on up Main Street to the "Main Street Cinema" (Pal Mickey Store).
That is simply the "optimum viewing" area.

There are MANY other places to watch, but they are all compromises that diminish the "full effect" of the show in one way or more:

Some have little or no SOUND.
Some have obstructed views of the fireworks.
Some only allow viewing of one of the two fireworks "stages".
Some don't allow a view of the castle-front and/or Tinkerbell when she flies.

So, if you don't MIND this, you can choose from a multitude of "viewing spots" throughout the MK.

Many view it from near the dock for the paddle-wheel Steam Ship in Liberty Square.
Some watch from the bridge that links the main Frontierland street to Splash Mountain.
Some find spots to sit in other areas of Liberty Square and Frontierland.
All of these areas offer a good view of many/most of the effects, but not all... and certainly not in the "foreground-background/dual-layer" manner in which the show is created.

Many view it from near the dock for the paddle-wheel Steam Ship in Liberty Square.
Some watch from the bridge that links the main Frontierland street to Splash Mountain.
Some find spots to sit in other areas of Liberty Square and Frontierland.
All of these areas offer a good view of many/most of the effects, but not all... and certainly not in the "foreground-background/dual-layer" manner in which the show is created.

I will tell you where NOT to view it.
No matter how TEMPTING it may appear before the show:
Do NOT stand on the sidewalk between the Hub and Frontierland,
or on the sidewalk between the Hub and Adventureland.
Trees nearly totally obscure the main larger fireworks, and the audio is (most-likely INTENTIONALLY) MISSING (no speakers) in these areas.

My point is that the show is designed for "FULL EFFECT" to be seen from the "Sweet spot" areas I described. (But, yes, those can be C-R-O-W-D-E-D!)

Wishes is the only fireworks show that can be (for the most part) seen from outside the presenting park.
Good viewing can be found at the beach of the Polynesian Resort (walk along the sidewalk there until you see an view of the castle unobstructed by trees.)
The Ohana restaurant at the Poly offers good views (and they pipe in the audio of the show). Same goes for the California Grill Restaurant (and outdoor terrace) at the Contemporary Resort.
At Grand Floridian, Narcoossee's is the restaurant with the MK and Wishes views (and sound).
The MK parking lot (TTC) offers views as well as other outdoor spots for several miles in any direction of MK. But without the sound, you miss a lot of the "show".
 
1.Wishes
2.Illuminations
3.Fantasmic, this is definitely more a show doesn't have anywhere near as many fireworks as the other two,it's also my least favorite
 
If you would have asked me this same question back in 2003 which before our last trip two weeks ago was the last time we were there and I had not seen "Wishes" so my answer would have been "Fantasmic". This past May we'er were there for Spectromagic and Wishes and let me tell you my heart was beating so rapidly from that firework display and I'm still talking about it two weeks after getting back.

So now I think Wishes is my favorite and Fantasmice (which is still a great show) is second. I can't wait til our trip in September, I've planned the perfect dinner at the California Grille and following it up with the grand finale of Wishes. I couldn't ask for a better way to spend a Saturday evening. :cloud9:

Toya
 
....I want to agree with so many here...that suggest that you should go for a SpectroMagic/Wishes night. SpectroMagic is a wonder in itself...and then to experience Wishes..... is to be immersed in "DISNEYMAGIC". I :love: fireworks...and am just about always moved to tears...
.......Wishes is a treat for the senses....I hope you enjoy the experience....:yay:
 
I will say this, I have seen all of the fireworks shows almost more times than I can count. Having said that, Wishes is the best pure fireworks show Disney does on a nightly basis. However, it pales in comparison to the Holiday version of Illuminations. Also, the Pirate & Princess Party fireworks were pretty awesome.

But the best fireworks show I have seen Disney put on was the New Years Illuminations at Epcot. That is just spectacular. I happened to see it where it was intended to be seen - right in front directly across from the America pavilion and it was 10X better than any fireworks show I have seen Disney put on.
 


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