best place for fireworks (and can we watch from our verandah?)

[Lisa F]

Hey everyone,
doing my first Disney cruise since 2005 and my first on a Dream class with my 9 year old kiddo (his first cruise). He is on the spectrum and LOVES fireworks but is not a huge fan of crowds/people right up on him etc. From what I remember, the deck parties are quite crowded.

I was kind of thinking after reading some older threads that we'd head up to deck 12 starboard side this way we can kind of watch the pirates party and show a bit and see the fierworks without TOO much in the way of crowds...

But we also happen to be in room 8520 (with my parents connecting in room 8522) which is also starboard side and pretty high up.. would that have a decent view of the fireworks as well? I'm reading mixed stories about whether you are allowed to watch from your verandah, whether it's just midship to aft who are not etc. Is the view decent from verandahs under cover or will stuff be going on above our heads that we can't see. Is there music accompanying that we would lose by being in the verandah?

I don't want to be TOO much of a fuddy duddy since we haven't seen it before and if deck 12 is better we'll go up there, but I doubt he'll want to be in the "mosh pit" I am reading so much about. Are the fireworks more toward aft or forward or midship?

Also what time are the fireworks? Does it happen right before/during/after something that does show up on the navigator?

 

[Quellman]

The fireworks are certainly more aft. They generally shoot from behind the second funnel. Since your room is very much in the forward of the ship, you would likely NOT receive a notice asking you to not be on your verandah. You will need to be at the railing of your balcony. Luckily the fireworks shoot off to the side a little bit. You might not be able to hear the music perfectly. But should still be ok.

The fireworks start sometime after the second dinner. There is a stage show that goes on prior to the fireworks starting as well.

 

[Lisa F]

The fireworks are certainly more aft. They generally shoot from behind the second funnel. Since your room is very much in the forward of the ship, you would likely NOT receive a notice asking you to not be on your verandah. You will need to be at the railing of your balcony. Luckily the fireworks shoot off to the side a little bit. You might not be able to hear the music perfectly. But should still be ok.

The fireworks start sometime after the second dinner. There is a stage show that goes on prior to the fireworks starting as well.

Thanks. we'll probably just go up to deck 12 and hope it won't be TOOO packed.

Is it the "bucaneer blast" which seems to start at 10:30pm?

 

[Racer X]

It WILL be packed but you can secure a good place approx 30-40mins before the show along the railing.. Then if you just wait 5 mins after, the majority of people will have cleared out and you can stay on deck 12 and walk foreward towards elevators to your room. if you stay aft it will be a mosh pit for a bit as there is a dance party that follows and the pirate buffet. You will have a blasr!

 

[Quellman]

Thanks. we'll probably just go up to deck 12 and hope it won't be TOOO packed.

Is it the "bucaneer blast" which seems to start at 10:30pm?

Yes, I think that is correct.

 

[Dug720]

It WILL be packed but you can secure a good place approx 30-40mins before the show along the railing.. Then if you just wait 5 mins after, the majority of people will have cleared out and you can stay on deck 12 and walk foreward towards elevators to your room. if you stay aft it will be a mosh pit for a bit as there is a dance party that follows and the pirate buffet. You will have a blasr!

I've never found Deck 12 to be packed. Crowded yes, but nowhere near as cray-cray as Deck 11.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Just a tip, bring a sweater. It can be cool on deck 12 in the evening.

 

[Lisa F]

It WILL be packed but you can secure a good place approx 30-40mins before the show along the railing.. Then if you just wait 5 mins after, the majority of people will have cleared out and you can stay on deck 12 and walk foreward towards elevators to your room. if you stay aft it will be a mosh pit for a bit as there is a dance party that follows and the pirate buffet. You will have a blasr!

Thanks, I hope so. A friend of mine recently went on the Dream and had a not so great time, mostly due to the crowds. But he had no kids and has over 20+ cruises, mostly on the smaller ships. So I'm trying not to panic and figure out in advance how to manage the crowds, I have only been on the smaller ships myself and my last cruise was 2005 and well before I had my son.

I've never found Deck 12 to be packed. Crowded yes, but nowhere near as cray-cray as Deck 11.

If I am prepared and we stake out a spot in advance, I am ok with that. I always stake out fireworks spots well in advance at the parks and always end up with people behind us and that's all fine and normal and expected. crush of people pushing, no. people around, yes.

Just a tip, bring a sweater. It can be cool on deck 12 in the evening.

thanks for the tip, I'm cold all the time after losing a bunch of wait so I probably would be cold long before the fireworks but I'll make sure the kiddo has one too!

 

[FigmentSpark]

I'll be honest... we went mid-March and for both fireworks days (Star Wars and Pirates) I had jeans on, a sweater and a windbreaker. We staked our spot for the fireworks rather than watch the stage show. It was fine, but after they were over, then the crowds happened. Everyone was going towards the stairs and elevators. You might just plan to hang out on deck for a little while longer while it thins out, otherwise, choose a spot that's close to a stairwell so you can escape easily.

 

[Racer X]

Seriously its busy but manageable. Just stay put for a few mins after the show is over to let the stampede out first, then youll be fine. It's not like you will be crushed against the railing or anything silly like that. People will be people and will try to cut in front of you or invade your space however...

 

[Gracie111]

Hi,
We were on the Dream recently. I too had heard various things about whether you could see fireworks from the veranda. We were in room 8608 and had a good view. I also noted that there were a few people down on Deck 4 watching the fireworks. I think this would be a good choice if trying to avoid crowds.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

We went up to deck 12 and it was perfect. I actually watched to see where a few CMs headed and followed them. It was perfect, and practically deserted.

 

[Lisa F]

We went up to deck 12 and it was perfect. I actually watched to see where a few CMs headed and followed them. It was perfect, and practically deserted.

where on deck 12?

 

[lcvb]

We were on the Dream earlier this month. We watched from the outdoor seating area of Cabanas. We were the only ones out there. CMs were inside Cabanas and no one told us we couldn’t be there so i’ll assume it is allowed. The view was spectacular! It was like our own private fireworks show. We were then able to head straight in for the buffet.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

where on deck 12?

I wanna say midship on the port side...

 

[NJMomto2]

I have seen people stand at the top of the mickey slide - private and good view

 

[rhinodadz]

If you don't care about seeing the pirate stage show, Deck 13 forward (past Currents bar) starboard side is a great place to watch - very few people there. See photos in this link: https://flic.kr/s/aHskGN7W5f

 

[Quellman]

If you don't care about seeing the pirate stage show, Deck 13 forward (past Currents bar) starboard side is a great place to watch - very few people there. See photos in this link: https://flic.kr/s/aHskGN7W5f

I think that area is adults only however. It won't work for the original poster. But you are right, it can be a good location. Really cool photos!

 

[Winston Wolf]

To me, the fireworks would lose something if you aren't there to see the Jack Sparrow show just before the go off with all the music, etc.

 

[kandt]

Does anyone know where a good place to stand to see fireworks would be on the Magic , if you don't care about seeing the pirates stage show?