Best non-park location for Wishes/Illuminatons

[curse reversed]

Long-time lurker but only my second post ever.

I'll be at DTD Monday evening while DM and DD are visiting friends. I'm not going into the parks even though I haven't been since January . Wishes and Illuminations both start at 9:00 and I would like to watch at least one of them. What's the best place that isn't inside any of the parks to watch either of them? Also, is there a place where they would both be visible simultaneously? If I have to pick I'll probably go with Wishes as that is my favorite Disney fireworks display ever and I've been going since the late 70's. TIA.

Mods if you think this belongs in a different board feel free to move it.

 

[krayzmelmel]

We like watching wishes from the Poly Beach.... Just have to listen really hard for the music!

 

[bigtony777]

You will be able to see much more of wishes than Illumination without being in a park. As pp stated Poly beach is an option. Not sure if any of your party are DVC members, but if so, you could go to the lounge at Bay Lake towers. If you can't get into the lounge, you can hear the music at the front door of Bay Lake Towers as well.

 

[DOOM1001]

Poly beach for Wishes,it's not like seein it from inside the park but you get a good view and they even pipe in the music,although it's not loud enough in my opinion.Illuminations doesn't really have anywhere that's good to see from outside the parks since it's not strictly a high fireworks show and even the high fireworks sections are not very visible from nearby areas like the Boardwalk due to trees.If you have a room in a high floor at the Swan and Dolphin then I can see that being a worthwhile unique view.

 

[LSchrow]

Long-time lurker but only my second post ever.

I'll be at DTD Monday evening while DM and DD are visiting friends. I'm not going into the parks even though I haven't been since January . Wishes and Illuminations both start at 9:00 and I would like to watch at least one of them. What's the best place that isn't inside any of the parks to watch either of them? Also, is there a place where they would both be visible simultaneously? If I have to pick I'll probably go with Wishes as that is my favorite Disney fireworks display ever and I've been going since the late 70's. TIA.

Mods if you think this belongs in a different board feel free to move it.

wishes: poly beach, GF
illuminations - bridge from BW to EPCOT (btw, higher BWI/BWV rooms have amazing views of the higher fireworks - watching illuminations burst over the eiffel tower, and wishes exploding over the BC/YC, from BW view room, is amazing )

just a note: unless you are staying at one of these resorts, you will likely not be able to park at the resorts themselves without a dinner reservation (3 hour limit). even with a reservation, you might have to park at a lot across from the resort.
options are to park at the T&TC, take WDW trans, or valet.
hth

 

[curse reversed]

Thanks for the help everybody. Looks like I'll be watching Wishes from either Poly or the GF.

wishes: poly beach, GF
illuminations - bridge from BW to EPCOT (btw, higher BWI/BWV rooms have amazing views of the higher fireworks - watching illuminations burst over the eiffel tower, and wishes exploding over the BC/YC, from BW view room, is amazing )

just a note: unless you are staying at one of these resorts, you will likely not be able to park at the resorts themselves without a dinner reservation (3 hour limit). even with a reservation, you might have to park at a lot across from the resort.
options are to park at the T&TC, take WDW trans, or valet.
hth

I don't drive so parking won't be a problem. I'll be taking a WDW bus to either the GF or Poly-probably whichever one comes first since I don't like to wait. Anybody know about how long it takes to get from DTD to either of those? Also, does the GF have a beach?

 

[Hootch]

have the ambiance of the Poly beach, but the TTC has an almost straight on view and the music is piped in.