Best place to watch Wishes

[Blythep]

We will be there next week and haven't seen Wishes yet. Just wondering where the best viewing areas are for it. I have heard about standing in Main Street but don't know if there are any sit down areas also. Can't wait to see it, have heard great things.

 

[CAP56]

Standing on Main Street gives you a great view of the special effects they project on the Castle. If you want to sit down, try to grab a bench outside of Crystal Palace. We have sat there a few times and enjoyed getting to sit down.

***BUT THE BEST PLACE, IN MY OPINION, IS WHERE WE WILL BE WATCHING WISHES FROM ON FRIDAY JUNE 25TH. I BOOKED A WISHES CRUISE LEAVING WL AT 9:15PM CRUISING BAY LAKE AND FLOATING RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE CASTLE FOR THE 10PM SHOWING OF WISHES. WE ARE CELEBRATING MY DD'S B-DAY AND IT IS OUR LAST DAY OF THE TRIP. WHAT AN ENDING TO A GREAT FAMILY VACATION***


14 Days at WL....Here we come

 

[kandmwedding]

We sat at the tables near the Plaza Terrace counter service restaurant (right between Main Street and Tomorrowland). We staked out a spot about 45 minutes before the show, and ate while waiting for it to start. We were the first ones to arrive and had a fabulous view of the fireworks, the castle, and Tink. I definitely prefer it over watching from Main Street or the Train Station.

 

[snyderla]

We were there in April and watched it 3 times, from 3 different places. 1st from Tomorrowland bridge, we thought this was the best place at the time, great view and hardly anyone around. The next time we watched it from the Plaza restaurant Terrace. We also staked out a spot early and grabbed something to eat for dinner while we waited. It quickly got crowded when it got near show time. It was a wonderful view, and we got to sit down! HOWEVER, the 3rd time we watched it from Main St. There are fireworks on both sides of the castle and effects shown on the castle and you just do not get the full effect unless you watch the fireworks from Main Street. That way you see them from both sides of the castle. It is an awesome show. And we didn't realize just how awesome until we saw the full effect from Main Street. The Train Station is suppose to be a great place to view from, and we saw people sitting there.

It's neat from anywhere, but if you are only going to see it once, try to see it from Main St. IMO.

Lori

 

[Lollipop Mom]

We have watched it from the Liberty Square area, from the Rose Garden, from the area in front of the Crystal Palace and from a Wishes Cruise. The Wishes Cruise was by far the best. From the park, the Rose Garden was my favorite (great view of Tink, not crowded, room for the kids to play, good view of castle effects and very picturesque) followed by the Crystal Palace area (trees may obscure some lower fireworks but still a good view). I wouldn't recommend Liberty Square. It's a "Disney Recommended viewing area" and I'm not sure why. You can't see the castle at all and many of the fireworks are obscured by trees.

 

[Micca]

We were at the hub on the left side of the castle. Seemed like we saw everything

 

[Luv2Roam]

In the middle of street right in front of Casey's Corner. (The hotdog place.)

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

BEST SPOT HANDS DOWN,

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MAIN STREET!!!

 

[daniluvsdisney]

where is the rose garden viewing area? Off main street? By bridge to tomorrowland? Just can't think... would love a place to enjoy w/ room for kiddos to play while waiting...

 

[kapeppy]

I second Luv2Roam's advice! Best spot by far!

 

[tci1212]

We were there in February and we had a great spot to watch the Wishes Fireworks. It was raining and we had a spot underneath an umbrella where the parasols are made. It is to the left of the castle right past the Christmas shop. We had no one around us and the view was good.

 

[Mickey76]

I can't imagine a better spot than on Main St. USA. Yes, you'll have to stand, but it'll be worth it.


Mickey76

 

[Pooh93]

Where do you book a Wishes Cruise?

 

[cranbiz]

There is a great spot just outside the baby center near Crystal Palace. It's a small walkway with some park benches.

We had a fantastic view of everything there.

 

[lwilliam]

How do you book a Wishes Cruise?
I've been looking on the DIS site and can't find information
on this cruise.
I know Main Street would be the best option but crowds
totally 'freak me out'.

 

[bethbuchall]

Our Wishes Cruise was absolutely phenomenal! I would highly recommend it. They were testing portable sound systems out there the night we did it, so we could hear everything, too. I think that the soundtrack is a very important element to Wishes.

I think the number to call for a Wishes cruise is 407-WDW-PLAY.

Beth

 

[mog]

Wow! They might have a portable sound system so we can hear, too? We have a wishes cruise booked for our trip and that was the one thing that I thought would be a bummer - to not be able to hear it. Does anyone know if they are doing this now, or was it just a trial?

 

[lwilliam]

how much was Wishes and what exactly is included?
Thank you - I'm really interested in this.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

The Wishes cruise is $120. The boat can hold 10 people if everyone is adults or 12 if you have some kids with you. Your group won't be combined w/ another group by Disney, only by you. You can always post that you have available spots and hope to share with some DISers (which is what we did ). They can pick you up at the marina of any of the deluxe resorts off of Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake. You get a tour of the Lagoon and Lake (very scenic!) and are parked front and center in front of the castle for the show. You can book them through 407-WDW-PLAY. They aren't as tough to book as Illuminations cruises b/c they have more boats going out. There is much more room for everyone to spread out and have a great view than there is under that bridge for Illuminations. We counted 5 boats out the night we did it but they are so spaced out it still feels very private. We were staying at the VWL so it was great to see the show and be dropped back off at the WL dock right afterward w/o having to fight crowds!

To answer the question about the rose garden, it's between the tomorrowland bridge and the walkway to the castle hub that comes out near the Teacups. There is a winding path off of either walkway that leads down to the rose garden. My kids had a ball watching the family of rabbits that lives in the garden. We were there at the end of April and while everywhere around there (Tomorrowland bridge included) was crowded, it was our family and one other couple (who followed us down there!) in the rose garden so we had plenty of room for the kids to move around and play. There is a big Gazebo that you can sit down in waiting for the show to start but the best view will be outside the gazebo once the show starts. It's very picturesque and it was neat watching the show without feeling so crowded. We could see the castle effects just fine too. The fireworks on either side of the castle were a little skewed looking since we were looking from a bit of an angle but they did still frame the castle (just not symetrically!).

 

[Safari Steve]

If you make a priority seating for dining at Narcoosee's (Grand Floridian) or California Grill (Contemporary) the views are quite nice. Also, the beach at the Polynesian and the TTC near the Ferryboat dock offer excellent views with minimal crowds.