Best resort/location to watch Magic Kingdom fireworks from?

[jenhelgren]

We will be staying one night at the Polynesian in October and will not have park tickets this trip. I am looking for some opinions on where the best spot is outside of MK to see the show. It will be a Halloween party night if that changes anything.

The only resort we have watched the fireworks from in the past was the Polynesian at the beach behind the main pool area years ago.

Thanks in advance!

 

[clayfolks]

The Poly is the best I have seen because it is smack dab in front of the castle.

 

[Marc D]

While the Poly offers great views, you can get a closer view, with the music playing, from either the balcony on the 3rd (or 4th ?) floor or the ramp to Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary.

 

[Nancyg56]

My DD stayed in Auretoa (sp) and enjoyed the fireworks from the marina next to their longhouse. She said it was like a private viewing spot.

 

[k5xs]

The California Grill and its balcony atop the Contemporary has a great view.

 

[buzznina]

Our order:
CR
GF
Poly

 

[Skywise]

CR TPV or the Poly Beach (music is piped in on the beach or on the TV at CR)

 

[jenhelgren]

While the Poly offers great views, you can get a closer view, with the music playing, from either the balcony on the 3rd (or 4th ?) floor or the ramp to Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary.

Can anyone stand on the balcony or walkway? Is it usually crowded? Can you see any of the castle from the BLT walkway or just fireworks? I'm not sure what balcony you are referring to. I knew about the Top of the World Lounge but thought you had to be a guest of the resort to be up there

 

[jenhelgren]

Does anyone happen to have any photos to put the view in perspective? Sorry-I am a visual person..lol
Is the beach behind the pool the best spot at Poly? We weren't even sure but just finished dinner at Ohana the night we watched from Poly so we walked to the closest beach area we saw!

 

[Marc D]

Can anyone stand on the balcony or walkway? Is it usually crowded? Can you see any of the castle from the BLT walkway or just fireworks? I'm not sure what balcony you are referring to. I knew about the Top of the World Lounge but thought you had to be a guest of the resort to be up there

Yes, that balcony and walkway are both accessible to the public. They are accessed by a door next to the shops on level 4 of CR (leading to level 5 of BLT). There is sometimes an event with food and drinks held there to watch the show, but there is space outside of the roped-off area and on the walkway. You can clearly see the castle from both locations, with the bottom half hidden by the trees. The picture shows the view from the walkway during the day

 

[KCoutu]

We have dinner reservations at 7:00pm at O'hana, will we be able to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks at 8:00pm from there? Should we try going to beach?

 

[Marc D]

We have dinner reservations at 7:00pm at O'hana, will we be able to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks at 8:00pm from there? Should we try going to beach?

The timing is good. You should be getting to dessert by the time the show begins, give or take the time it takes for them to get you a table. However, you table might not provide good views of the castle.

 

[KCoutu]

Ok, thanks Marc D! I wanted to try being away from the crowds to enjoy the show. Do people like viewing the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian? There isn't any earlier reservations at O'hana on the evening we're going but I could change our reservation to earlier at Kona (we honestly prefer sushi) between 6:00-6:30. I feel like that would give us more time to have dinner and go to the beach area. Or we could have a late dinner after the show (although we have 2 year old that might not last that long).

 

[Marc D]

Polynesian is a good resort to watch the fireworks - I prefer Bay Lake Resort or CR simply because it’s much closer - and the beach is one of the best spots, outside of the windows in ‘Ohana. If you go to Kona at the time you mention, you’ll have plenty of time to find your viewing spot.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

We once had a theme park view room at the Grand Floridian, and thought it offered a really nice fireworks view.

 

[sndral]

We have dinner reservations at 7:00pm at O'hana, will we be able to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks at 8:00pm from there? Should we try going to beach?

It depends on where you are seated - some tables yes, others no. IMO O’hana runs late w/ seating, so w/ a 7pm ADR assume a 7:30 start to dinner & you aren’t likely to be finished by 8 pm.

 

[dolsen3]

We just got back from the Grand Floridian last week, there were plenty of seats on the patio in front of the Gasparilla Grill. I enjoyed the fireworks and had a great view of the castle. While they shut off the usual music, they either forgot to turn on or do not have the music from the fireworks show. I have watched them from the beach at the Poly before and it was a much more relaxed vibe at the GF.