Best place to view fireworks?

[Bob Gnuheart]

Where is the best place to see the fireworks in/from EPCOT? Where in the park or out?

Also, last time @ Disney World we had a great view of "Wishes" from O'Hana. Is there another restaurant that offers better views of the MK fireworks?

Thanks

 

[BradyBz12]

Lots of great places around WS to watch Illuminations. Some of our favorites are.... to the right of the water wheel in Morocco (get there early and stake out a space on the wall), along the fence in Mexico, and in Japan - actually stand BACK from the crowds towards the pavilion. The ground slopes up slightly and it gives you a great view over the heads of everyone in front of you (as long as you're not very short).

Most important thing when staking out a spot is to check the wind. You do NOT want to have the wind in your face no matter how good a spot it seems you've found. You'll likely end up with smoke and ash in your eyes during the whole show.

Is there another restaurant that offers better views of the MK fireworks?

California Grill has a GREAT view from the top of the Contemporary. There are quite a few tables near the windows and also an outdoor observation deck - but it's only open to guests that have dinner there that day.

 

[Missytara]

I was in the bar at California Grill a few years ago, and they dim the lights so you can see the fireworks better. It is now a ritual for me to go there for dessert and a few glasses of wine during the fireworks.

 

[Robo]

The Beach at the Polynesian Resort offers a great view
of Wishes and other MK Fireworks shows.
They do "pipe in" the audio of the shows.
There are several ground-level speakers along the
sidewalk.

They also pipe the audio to the speakers at the Poly
pool.

That said, the volume level is so LOW that its nearly
inaudible.
It's been that way for years, and I don't know why.

Here's a photo I took from the Poly Beach-
MK Fireworks (MVMCP Christmas Finale)

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

More Viewing Spots-

You can see them from TTC (they pipe-in the audio from
the show) but you are not allowed to stand in the
Ferry loading area.

You can see them from the boat-dock and an outside
observation deck near Narcoossee's restaurant at the
Grand Floridian. Also from the Patio overlooking the Marina.

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.

(Fireworks shown above are simulated.)

As for viewing from INSIDE the dining area of restaurants
(you usually need ADRs for most, and they are usually busy during the shows)...
you can see (and hear) them at California Grill at Contemporary,
'Ohana at Poly,
and Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian.

 

[Robo]

Where is the best place to see the fireworks in/from EPCOT? Where in the park or out?

Also, last time @ Disney World we had a great view of "Wishes" from O'Hana. Is there another restaurant that offers better views of the MK fireworks?

Parades and Fireworks thread-

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1928852

Be sure to read thru both pages of the thread as there are additional maps on the second page of posts.

 

[Bob Gnuheart]

The maps posted above were particularly helpful and answered another question I had.

Last time we were there we rode the monorail and after leaving the monorail we hopped on a ferry to MK (seems we ended up with a bunch of day trippers on the boat). Anyway, there was a resort and beach to the left and I have been wondering what it was - thanks to the pics I see it's the Polynesian!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Robo! You got me! lol

Before I read you caption about the fireworks being simulated, I thought that was the coolest pic ever! I really thought you had captured satelite photos of the fireworks in progress!! lol

Still, it is a cool pic!

 

[Robo]

Robo! You got me! lol

Before I read you caption about the fireworks being simulated, I thought that was the coolest pic ever! I really thought you had captured satelite photos of the fireworks in progress!! lol

Yup.

I put that "simulated" disclaimer on the image when I first posted it because of the controversy over the simulated CGI fireworks added to the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies in 2008.


http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/TV_theater/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210002310

Some Beijing Olympic Fireworks Faked

Because one organization is responsible for filming the Olympics -- Beijing Olympic Broadcasting -- foreign TV networks had no choice but to accept the altered video.
By Thomas Claburn
InformationWeek
August 11, 2008 09:00 PM


Some of the fireworks seen in television coverage of the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics games in Beijing were created digitally, according to a report in The Beijing Times.
Twenty-nine fiery footsteps traced in the air above Bird's Nest National Stadium were created using real fireworks. But The Telegraph in the U.K. reports that because event organizers feared they would be unable to capture the pyrotechnics live on camera, a digital effects team spent almost a year preparing a computerized version of the 55-second footstep sequence, which was inserted into the live video feed.

"Seeing how it worked out, it was still a bit too bright compared to the actual fireworks," Gao Xiaolong told The Beijing Times, according to Sky News. "But most of the audience thought it was filmed live -- so that was mission accomplished."
Because one organization is responsible for filming the Olympics -- Beijing Olympic Broadcasting -- foreign TV networks had no choice but to accept the altered video, Sky News said...

 

[W.E.D.]

As BradyBz12 said, check the wind. We like to sit near the shoreline in the England Pavilion. It's to the right of the Fish n' Chips CS place. There's only a couple benches down there, so it's pretty private.
Anyhow, one year we didn't notice the wind until this huge wall of smoke and ash washed over us. Not so much fun!