Best place to watch....

[SeanaB]

I DID IT!!!!!!

I just booked 7 nights at the Grand Floridian!!! 7/5 to 7/12

My question is: What is everyone's thoughts on the best place to see Illuminations and Wishes. I was just in WDW in November and someone told me a great place to watch Wishes was where Tinkerbell flies over. It was just ok. The fireworks looked like they were behind the castle and we couldn't see them very well.
We didn't get to see Illuminations that trip but can't wait to see it this trip.

Please give me advice on where YOU would watch Wishes and Illuminations and how early I should get to that spot

Thanks

 

[bjakmom]

My favorite spot to watch Illum is somewhere between Italy and America - that way SE is always in the background (for some reason I always like that when I videotape). I have also enjoyed watching it from Mexico, both from behind the food stand along the water and a little further up from the rail - you get a little better view of the other countries around the lagoon from there.

We watched Wishes 3 times, once from the train station on Main St - great view, but couldn't really see Tink fly -another night we watched from the Rose garden where tink flew right overhead, it was close to the castle effects and the fireworks, but you could not see how the fireworks were synchronized with each other around the castle - our last night we viewed Wishes from O'hana's at the Poly and (having already seen them up close) we all agreed that this view was our favorite. Since you are going over July 4th holiday, you might just want to try taking the monorail over to the Poly and watching them from the beach - think of the crowds you'll avoid ! Have Fun !!

 

[keddy]

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[las3888]

Illuminations: we have followed many people's advice to watch Illuminations on the bridge near France, and this is where we have parked ourselves year after year (especially since many times we are staying in a Boardwalk resort so it is easy to exit from there). This year we happened to be wandering near between Mexico and Norway. We found a great patch near the lagoon and we were amazed at how great the view was there! There are very few trees there so they don't block your view. The globe is right there - very close. What a wonderful spot!!!

Wishes - our first and only time was this past week, so not much to compare it with. We had parked at the Poly (had dinner there), so we wanted to hightail it back to the monorail before all the crowds hit, so we stood at the very very end of Main Street - farthest away from the castle. We don't have anything to compare it to, but it was awesome! We could see the castle, Tinkerbell, and had a wonderful view of the fireworks directly over the castle. We then turned right around and were one of the first on the monorail--to us, that was half the battle. I read in the map guide that there are great spots to watch Wishes from Adventureland, Frontierland and Futureland, but I think they just want to keep congestion away from the entrances...who knows.

PS - we stayed at the BWV and had no idea, but found out by chance that the nice rocking chairs just outside of the lobby on the boardwalk offer a perfect view of Wishes. No music can be heard, but the fireworks are just beautiful!

Good luck and enjoy the shows!!!

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Wishes from Ohana's, or Poly Beach and we also love the Ferry Boat Dock on the TTC side, very nice and they all play the music.