Best place to warch????

[english rose 47]

First time ever to Disney need help! Wher are the best places to watch the parades and fireworks at each park with stroller( if that makes adifference)???

 

[abeyst]

You can ask the CMs who are 'roping off' the parade route and getting everyone ready - they will tell you exactly the best place to go. It may be a spot that they can't rope off until right before the parade starts, too. That happened to us twice on our first trip in '00.

CMs have all the 'insider' info. You just have to ask them and they'll be more than happy to give you their best info!!

 

[Robo]

First time ever to Disney need help! Wher are the best places to watch the parades and fireworks at each park...

Wishes & Spectromagic at MK:

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 preferred spot to watch Wishes is from Main Street or somewhere around the "Hub" (the circular area right in front of the Castle where the other "Lands" are entered.)
The real "SWEET SPOT" is exactly in front of the ICE CREAM shop.
(Don't stand under the umbrella tables, just NEAR them.)
From this spot, the fireworks appear "centered" over the castle from there (very crowded).
Up Main Street as far as the PAL MICKEY store is great viewing as well.
This is where Wishes is DESIGNED to be fully appreciated.
The Castle's front facade (with added lighting and projections) is actually a part of the show.

NOTE: If you go up toward the train station any FARTHER than the PAL MICKEY store... they DON"T turn off the LIGHTS of Main Street in that area. So you'll be viewing with hundreds of lights still in your line-of-sight.

The next-preferred spot is on the bridge between the Hub and Tomorrowland (on the Hub end, not Tomorrowland.)

"Tinkerbell" also flies from the top of the castle over to just above the "Noodle Station" open-air restaurant at one point early in the show.

The reason to see Wishes at least ONCE from the "sweet spot(s)" is that there are "front" fireworks (fired from the roofs of Fantasyland) that are best viewed from in front of the castle.
There are "rear" fireworks that are aimed to erupt behind (and centered over) the Castle.
So, if you can withstand the CRUSH of people, and don't mind the longer "in-between" wait time after the parade goes by, the Main Street area is tops for viewing "Wishes".

WARNING: No matter how tempting in may seem... Do NOT stand on the sidewalk between the Hub and Frontierland OR on the sidewalk between the Hub and Adventureland... the (nearly INVISIBLE in the dark) trees BLOCK the main fireworks and the sound is ABSENT/MUFFLED here (by design?).

AND in spite of how good the idea may look before the show, unless you KNOW EXACTLY what you're doing, do not attempt to view Wishes from the Noodle Station seating area.
The main fireworks are hidden from MOST of the seats at this restaurant area and they don't kill the lights or pipe in the music.

There are PLENTY of other places to see both SpectroMagic and Wishes.
Many here have their favorites.
MY spot is way back in Frontierland by the "Turkey Leg Stand" (we don't eat the legs, but its a great place to view the parade!) As I stated above, the parade reaches this spot by about 9:25pm.

Then, RIGHT after the parade ends, we jog across the "bridge" to Splash Mountain and take a quick ride ("nobody" is in the queue, most folks are still at the parade route).

Then, after the Splash ride, we walk back to the "bridge" from Frontierland and usually get there just in time to see ALL of "Wishes" from there.
The SOUND is supplied back there, and you can see nearly everything (including Tinkerbell).
The things you MISS back there are the fun/beautiful castle-front effects and the symmetry of being in the "center of the stage" for the fireworks.
But the fireworks are HUGE, regardless, and the BIGGEST ones ("rear" fireworks) are actually sent UP from the back of MK, near BTMRR and Splash.

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 places (like the Main Street train station) don't turn off the lights in the area, so there will likely be lights in your field-of-vision.
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.

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 a 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 (and on most nights piped-in audio). You can at least SEE many of the fireworks from other outdoor spots for several miles in any direction of MK. But without the sound, you miss a lot of the "show".
Best analogy:
Sitting across the highway from a Drive-In Theater and "watching the movie" with binoculars. You can do it, but it LACKS something.

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IllumiNations:

Great viewing from:
Bridge between UK and France (under this bridge is where the so-called "IllumiNations Cruise" boats view the show.

The plaza area on the water (lagoon) at Italy.

Near Norway is prime.

Area to left of UK "Pub" (this is also near a roped-off Wheelchair viewing area.)

Front area of WS near the "twin gift shops" (very crowded here). Many times guests are asked to SIT on the pavement so others behind them can see.

Actually too many "good" spots to list.
Just remember that you don't want to stand under tree-limbs (obstructed sky-views) or DOWN-WIND of all that fireworks fall-out and SMOKE.

"Outside the park " viewing:
MOST of effects of IllumiNations take place ON (or just a few feet above) the surface of the water of the WS lagoon.
Except for the very first "Comet" firework effect, and several other major "sky-blasts" (some quite LOUD), IllumiNations can't really be enjoyed from outside Epcot's World Showcase.
One favorite outside spot to view the few "sky-blasts" is on the bridge coming toward Epcot's International Gateway from the Boardwalk Resort. You can't hear any of the music track, which is a very important part of the show.
You can't see very much either, and there will be very long periods of time where you see nothing at all.
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Fantasmic!:

Simple. The show is all about STORY.
You "must" see it from inside the Fantasmic! Amphitheater to appreciate the show.
Arrive early (45-70 minutes before show-time) to get seats closer to front and center, but this is a HUGE show and can be enjoyed from most anywhere in the theater.
On nights when there are two showings, the second one will virtually always be much less crowded and easier to sit closer to front-and-center (if you want.)

 

[english rose 47]

Thanks Robo Great help also the c.m tip from another diser. Can you see the spectro paradefrom the same spot on Main. and Share a dream any tips on that. Is it all standing room for wishes or are there places to sit, I told you I was a newbie?????

 

[Robo]

Can you see the spectro paradefrom the same spot on Main.

A good spot on Main St. for Wishes will also be a good spot to see Spectromagic.

Share a dream any tips on that.

Its the exact same parade route as Spectromagic, but it runs in the opposite direction. STARTS back near Splash... ENDS up by the Barbershop.

Is it all standing room for wishes or are there places to sit...

Well, there are places to sit all over the MK.
But there are no spots SPECIFICALLY designed for viewing Wishes, except for the "AAA Travel viewing area" (and just between you and me, its not exactly a great viewing position... the tables have UMBRELLAS, what's up with THAT?)
You should be able to find a place to sit, but just keep in mind that some better places (with the good views) will fill up LONG before the parades and/or Wishes begin.

 

[abeyst]

We try to find spots for parades that are near a curve in the route, where you can see the parade coming without everyone 'leaning' forward in front of your view to see who's coming.

Our fav spot for Spectro is right in front of the Barbershop, right by where the floats go in/out wooden doors. It doesnt look like it would be good, but the CMs end up roping off some areas, and you end up getting to scoot up toward the rope. you can see them coming right out (or going in) the doors. no obstructions. (a cm recommended this spot and it's now our favorite!) if you see them standing around in their uniform and red wand, waiting to rope off, ask them exactly where the best spot would be to sit.

I can't help with Wishes. I saw it once, on the bridge to Tomorrowland, and I was completely disappointed. I'm giving Wishes another try in August from Main Street, but it's still my LEAST favorite nighttime show.

Fantasmic is good from any angle or distance (we've seen it so many times from everywhere), but I prefer it from at least half way up the bleachers. The show is so large, I think you can take it all in better from a little farther back. So don't be disappointed if you arent' close.

Illuminations-hmmm. It's my favorite, so I love it from everywhere! Germany is good, the bridge by France is good, our favorite spot is the sidewalk in Canada. there's a few trees that look like it'll block your view, but they don't when you sit on the ground. For your first time seeing it, I'd say Germany-somehwere around the back side where you can get almost a full 180 view of the lagoon when the show is going on. But I'd see it twice-from 2 different spots. There's so much that goes on, you really need to see it again to take it all in. (can you tell it's my favorite! )