Best Place to Watch Fireworks

[Dcanoli]

We are heading down for a quick mini-vacation in Kissimmee (actually, we are house hunting). We will be house-hunting during the day and doing Disney things at night (i.e., monorail loop, Downtown Disney, etc.).

I was just reading an article on www.allearsnet.com about the Best Places to Watch the WDW fireworks.

Since we won't be going in the parks, I read several posts on Allears about people watching the MGM and Epcot fireworks from the Boardwalk and it not being crowded because most people are IN the parks, as opposed to outside them.

Does anyone know if this really is a good spot to catch some Disney fireworks? Also, what about the Poly? Every trip, I say we are going to drive to the Poly, sit on the beach, and watch the electrical water parade, but we've never actually had the time to DO it!

Has anyone ever done this before for the 4th of July? I'm wondering how crowded the beaches are at the various WDW-area resorts for the fireworks show.

So, I guess I'm wondering where do you think the best places to watch Disney fireworks are from OUTSIDE the parks?

THANKS!

 

[princess22]

I watched the 4th of July fireworks from the Contemporary a couple years ago and it was PACKED! It took forever to get there and to leave. The whole beach and hill of the Poly was also packed. It was fun and the fireworks were great, just make sure you allow lots of travel time to and from! But both the Contemporary and Poly are great!

 

[Dcanoli]

See...that's what I was afraid of! I want to hear from you guys because you'll get real and give me the nit and gritty.

I was afraid of that. People were saying on AllEars that it wasn't crowded, but I can't imagine it NOT being crowded anywhere at Disney!

Thanks! I'm looking forward to hearing all the other replies too!

Wow! You replied REALLY REALLY FAST! Thanks!

 

[Sonno]

Wasn't there a thread just like this one last night with a whole lot of good information in it?

 

[Dcanoli]

I tried and tried and TRIED to search all the keywords (i.e., fireworks, best place to watch, etc.), and I even went back four pages, but I couldn't find anything....

Finally, out of desperation, I started a topic. Did you subscribe to the thread by any chance?

If there is a thread already started (which I just can't believe there isn't by this time), could you please post it for me?

Thanks!

 

[Sonno]

I tried and tried and TRIED to search all the keywords (i.e., fireworks, best place to watch, etc.), and I even went back four pages, but I couldn't find anything....

Finally, out of desperation, I started a topic. Did you subscribe to the thread by any chance?

If there is a thread already started (which I just can't believe there isn't by this time), could you please post it for me?

Thanks!

Hang on, let me see if I can find it and bump it to the top.

 

[Sonno]

Ehhh... maybe I should learn to read... or maybe go to sleep

The best place I've found to watch MK fireworks is on the beach at the Poly. It's pretty cool to see the reflections over the water, and it's quiet there and the swing chairs are cool. Really, you can see them just about anywhere around the lagoon.

You can "kinda" see the Epcot fireworks from the Boardwalk. Some of them are kinda low flying so you "just miss" a bunch of them. But definitely still doable.

I have no idea where to watch Fantasmic from other than from inside MGM.

Best of luck to ya!

 

[Dcanoli]

Thanks for that other thread! I was kind of hoping there'd already be a really long thread on here somewhere for watching the fireworks from outside the parks.

I read that MGM is going to have fireworks before Fantasmic, and you should be able to see them from the Boardwalk.

Maybe some other non-park visitors will post some ideas tomorrow! And, yes, your right--I probably need to be asleep too!

 

[bazzanoid]

MGM are having a fireworks show pre-fantasmic on July 4th at 9pm, fantasmic at 10pm

 

[Mrs Mouse]

How long is Fantasmic ???? Have a nice vacation!

 

[Lorelai]

I had read in a previous thread on fireworks that they present the same Magic Kingdom fireworks that will be on the 4th, on the 3rd first. I don't know if it is an effort to reduce the crowds on the 4th, or to preview it in order to work out any kinks - but try the 3rd, maybe crowds will be lighter.

 

[dizprincess717]

the best place to watch wishes, and i know from experience, is the entrance to the tunnels at mk. the tunnel entrance is in the back near ariel's grotto and the fireworks are right in your face. simply amazing.

 

[byoung]

Poly beach is great for seeing MK fireworks.

 

[tnkbl]

I had read in a previous thread on fireworks that they present the same Magic Kingdom fireworks that will be on the 4th, on the 3rd first. I don't know if it is an effort to reduce the crowds on the 4th, or to preview it in order to work out any kinks - but try the 3rd, maybe crowds will be lighter.

Okay this is rally off subject, my daughter's name is Loralei also. Love the name!

 

[Dcanoli]

Honestly...I'd love to watch the fireworks from the Poly along w/the electric water parade.

Here's a question for you off-site visitors and locals...how is the traffic GETTING TO AND FROM THE POLY and where could I park? I don't think the general public can park at the Poly, can they?

Thanks guys for all the great responses so far! Debbie

 

[CathrynRose]

I emailed you ....

 

[Dcanoli]

I haven't gotten it. Did you e-mail it or PM? Thanks ahead of time!

And, oh yeah--you're the lady with the Mickey chicken nugget! I remember running across one of your posts for the first time! I think that nugget is a hoot!

 

[Sonno]

Honestly...I'd love to watch the fireworks from the Poly along w/the electric water parade.

Here's a question for you off-site visitors and locals...how is the traffic GETTING TO AND FROM THE POLY and where could I park? I don't think the general public can park at the Poly, can they?

Thanks guys for all the great responses so far! Debbie

It's not hard getting in there at all. I don't know what the traffic/parking situation will be like on the 4th; but the last we went to the Poly to see the MK fireworks, we simply told the Security guy there that "We'd like to eat at 'Ohana's". Well, of course we would have liked to eaten there, but since we didn't have an ADR... we figured we'd see the fireworks instead

 

[Dcanoli]

Great idea! So, if you're eating there, you CAN park there! Awesome.

I was worried about the traffic getting over in that direction....seems like everyone else in the area (locals, visitors, etc.) would be trying to see the World's fireworks too!

Maybe we WILL try it then!