Best spot to view MSEP & Wishes without moving?

[mshanson3121]

Where is THE spot to be to watch the MSEP, the pre-fireworks show on the castle, and the Wishes, without having to move? How soon will we need to be there?

 

[ammag]

On an October trip we had a spot in front of Casey's corner about 90 min before the parade

 

[Robo]

This is a new version of this map that features a representation of the new hub and its FP+ Wishes viewing areas.
At this point, I'm not sure how the new "outer sidewalks" will be allowed or blocked
for fireworks viewers.
Not all of the sidewalks I've depicted have actually been built, yet.
As the actual Hub construction goes along, I'll revamp the shaded areas.

And, a look at the parade route.

 

[Doug M]

We sat on the curb just left coming out from Tomorrowland bridge along the hub and watched both, nice spot. Not sure now with expanded hub, but it was the inner circle just off the Tomorrowland path.

 

[mshanson3121]

I really wanted to watch the parade from deeper into Frontierland etc... but I'm assuming we'd be really pushing it for time to find a decent spot to watch the Wishes after?

 

[11290]

I really wanted to watch the parade from deeper into Frontierland etc... but I'm assuming we'd be really pushing it for time to find a decent spot to watch the Wishes after?

The "best" place to view, IMHO having seen them a LOT, is the green area on Robo's first map posted above, in the street (the Main St. bridge). In that area the street is still going uphill until the center of the bridge and then it starts downhill to the HUB and Castle area and you get to look up toward the Castle and fireworks.

Depending on how crowded the park is for that particular night, on a crowded night it can be difficult to get back to a good (IMHO) viewing area after the parade. The parade slows down some between Country Bears and Pecos Bill's (assuming that is where you would call "deeper into Frontierland) and you would be advised to make your way back to the Main St area by going through Adventureland rather than the Liberty Bridge (usually closed at Celebrate the Magic). When I work the parade in the Country Bears or Pecos areas I can seldom make it back to my fireworks position in the HUB area until about 2 or 3 minutes before the end of CTM. Just sayin'.

Again, all ot of this is all completely dependent on the amount of guests in-park on that particular night.

 

[mshanson3121]

Again, all to of this is all completely dependent on the amount of guests in-park on that particular night.

lol... it'll be July first, crowd precition is 8, so.... I imagine quite busy.

 

[nanaka]

I'm planning on seeing the fireworks on my September trip. I'm very excited. The nap posted above really helps, but I was wondering why the area directly in front of the castle is shaded red. Wouldn't your view be better the closer you get?

 

[11290]

I'm planning on seeing the fireworks on my September trip. I'm very excited. The nap posted above really helps, but I was wondering why the area directly in front of the castle is shaded red. Wouldn't your view be better the closer you get?

One would think, but a lot of pyro is moderately low and behind the Castle. If you are too close, those would be below sight lines. In addition, the closer you are the Castle spires block some of the lower ones. You don't realize how much lower you are closer to the Castle. Main St. starts "rising" from Town Sq. until you get to the "middle" of the Main St. bridge and then heads down. Don't know if that is the same as the "forced perspective" like the Main St. buildings but it was planned that way, at least according to Imagineers.

 

[siskaren]

I'm planning on seeing the fireworks on my September trip. I'm very excited. The nap posted above really helps, but I was wondering why the area directly in front of the castle is shaded red. Wouldn't your view be better the closer you get?

Think of it as sitting in the first row of a movie theater. I don't know about you, but I think that's much too close.

 

[Robo]

Think of it as sitting in the first row of a movie theater. I don't know about you, but I think that's much too close.

No, it's not that in this case.
In the first row of a movie theater, you have "too much" image.
It's all there, but it's overpowering.

In the case of being too near the castle in MK (like 11290 said) your view of the fireworks will be BLOCKED by the castle.
Many guests assume that all of the fireworks are shot from the roof of the castle, and think that they are
exploding directly over the castle. While that is somewhat true of the "foreground" pyro (it IS fired from the roofs of some of the Fantasyland buildings,) it is not at all true for the major large pyro of the show.
The BIG explosions are fired from a spot several yards outside the rear border of MK... well out past where the WDW Railroad rides along its northernmost tracks before rolling into the Fantasyland station.

Those fireworks can be severely blocked by the castle, the trees and other buildings at the northern part of the hub area. Stand to far to the north of the hub (too near the castle,) and you can miss a lot of the show.