Best MK location to watch Wishes

[El Tel]

I'm looking forward to seeing Wishes for the first time during my vacation in October. Where is the best place in MK to view it / video it?

 

[Robo]

I'm looking forward to seeing Wishes for the first time during my vacation in October. Where is the best place in MK to view it / video it?

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.

But...
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.

Also, the upper level of the Main Street train station (a great place to see the "SpectroMagic" Parade) is a tempting but BAD choice for "Wishes".
They DON'T turn off the LIGHTS on the last few buildings on this end of Main Street (or on the train platform) during the show, so the lights are in your eyes the whole time.

Another "ought-to-be-GREAT-but-ISN'T choice is from the "Noodle Station" seating area (the open-air counter-service restaurant that's between Main Street and Tomorrowland).
Not only do they NOT turn off the lights here (and the sound is not clear), most of the fireworks are hidden from view by the roof of the restaurant and/or the large PYLON that's on the bridge to Tomorrowland.
(I will say that there ARE a very few spots in this restaurant area that DO offer GOOD unobstructed views, but you MUST be in those exact spots and not mind the ceiling lights being on and the lack of good sound.)

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

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'sNarcoossee'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".

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Thanks for the info. We will be seeing it for the first time in September and I want to be able to see the best show possible.

 

[El Tel]

Wow Robo - you can type real quick!

 

[El Tel]

Also, the upper level of the Main Street train station (a great place to see the "SpectroMagic" Parade) is a tempting but BAD choice for "Wishes".
They DON'T turn off the LIGHTS on the last few buildings on this end of Main Street (or on the train platform) during the show, so the lights are in your eyes the whole time.

Thanks Robo - this is a goldmine of information, but especially this bit. It is probably where I would have aimed for

 

[Robo]

Wow Robo - you can type real quick!

Credit goes to my assistant who goes by the name of "Mac."

She's the Apple of my eye.

 

[Robo]

Thanks Robo - this is a goldmine of information, but especially this bit. It is probably where I would have aimed for

Yes, there are LOTS of folks viewing from up there.

The PARADE is spectacular there, but Wishes is kind of a fizzle.
And you don't KNOW that they don't kill the lights here until the show STARTS and its far too late to move.

Here are some shots taken from a video camera that I used up there one night. Note the flag-pole dead-center and the gleaming lights of Main Street.

 

[El Tel]

Credit goes to my assistant who goes by the name of "Mac."

She's the Apple of my eye

Yes I've heard something about your assistant - something to do with very important Jobs (groan )

 

[iwynlea]

When we were down at Easter, DH wanted to video Wishes, so we staked out a spot in the middle of Main Street right accross from the entrance to Adventureland. We usually watch the fireworks from the rose garden or the bridge to Tomorrowland, and had never actually been on main street before. It was truly spectacular to see everything with the castle centered in the middle, and the video came out wonderfully! I highly recommend this spot if you want to video Wishes!

 

[Robo]

Yes I've heard something about your assistant - something to do with very important Jobs (groan )

I love the groaners!

 

[english rose 47]

How loud are the fireworks at the "sweet sspots" ?This may be an important factor for us as DGS FREAKED at the 4th of July fireworkss that we had really up close spot for. He was fdine watching them from a distance but said up close hurt his ears!!Sop for us further away will probably be better. Can you see them from the Entrance or the Bus Stops??

 

[Robo]

How loud are the fireworks at the "sweet sspots" ?This may be an important factor for us as DGS FREAKED at the 4th of July fireworkss that we had really up close spot for. He was fdine watching them from a distance but said up close hurt his ears!!Sop for us further away will probably be better. Can you see them from the Entrance or the Bus Stops??

Bad (blocked)viewing on the "far" side of the train station (gate area) of MK, and the sound of the explosions will still be pretty loud.
You need to move much farther away for the sound of the explosions to be much lower.

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'sNarcoossee's is the restaurant with the MK and Wishes views (and sound) otherwise, the GF boat dock (facing then MK) is the place.
The MK parking lot offers views (TTC is best, usually they pipe in the audio there). There are other outdoor spots for several miles in any direction of MK . But without the sound, you miss a lot of the "show".