Best place to watch Wishes, not in the park?

[mhingher]

We'll be staying a few days before our Disney Cruise in WDW, but we don't plan to go in the parks. It's very expensive for just a day or 2 for a family of 4. We are DVC members and right now we have reservations at Bay Lake where we own, but I'm hoping to switch to Animal Kingdom at my 7 month mark since we won't be going in the parks. Can we still use the top deck at Bay Lake? Or is there a better place to view Wishes?

 

[Robo]

In addition to the Bay Lake Tower view,
you can see the MK fireworks shows very well from the TTC

(and they pipe-in clear, crisp audio from the show.)

Note: you are not allowed to stand directly in the actual Ferry loading area.

You can see them from the boat-dock and an outside

observation deck near Narcoossee's restaurant at the

Grand Floridian. Anyone can stand on Narcoossee's Deck.

The outside deck is not a part of the actual restaurant. (All serving is done inside.)

The deck is accessed from the sidewalk outside the restaurant.

Also, good viewing from the Patio overlooking the Marina.

The sound of the show is piped into these areas too.

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.)



At Wilderness Lodge, the "secret place" to watch the MK fireworks is from the northern area of the Cast Member (CM) Parking Lot.

At the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds Marina (angle shown on the map below,) some of the view (especially of the "Fantasyland" pyro) is blocked by the now unused Discovery Island in Bay Lake and by the high-rise buildings of the Contemporary Resort.

But, the view from the Ft. Wilderness' sand beach (farther north) is more open.

Still the tree-level can block the views of the lower-firing pyro.



Here are the angles of the views in the Bay Lake area.

Below are the angles of the views in the Seven Seas Lagoon area.

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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, Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian,

and (if you have access there) the Top of the World at Bay Lake Tower.

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[goofy4tink]

DVC members can head to the Top of the World, at the CR, and view the fireworks from there. That's what we'll be doing in May. My dd, her best friend, and I arrive late in the day, and won't get to our resort until about 7. We'll head over to BLT and go up to the lounge deck and watch Wishes from there....nice way to spend the day. Then head back to the resort.