camping out for fireworks etiquette

[rentayenta]

Last October is a was a madhouse in the hub so the next night we found a good place minus the crowd. Still had to be early but had room to breathe. I am truly the only one in my family who thinks it's worth waiting to have a great view of the fireworks. They'd be happy riding rides and seeing what they can as they walk by.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I can not stand the last minute people! SO RUDE. I have been sitting here for 2 hours and you think you are going to walk up and get in my space 2 minutes before the event starts - I don't think so!

 

[specialks]

I am a little confused about the hub area. So are people kept on the hub and sidewalks and the walkways/roads (into the castle & around the hub) are clear or do people line up on those walkways too? So if you stood on the curb at the hub facing the castle are there rows of people in front of you??

 

[HydroGuy]

I don't think I've seen DL fireworks from anywhere near the castle in a very long time because I'm not going to fight the crowds and stand squeezed in! We either watch them from ROA after Fantasmic or from around the Small World area. I'd say both of these locations give you about a 80-90% view with much less crowds and hassle, so it works for us! On our Spring Break trip we were able to arrive in the Small World area about 5 minutes before the fireworks and find enough space sitting on a ledge for 2 people in our group who really needed to sit at that time, and the others were able to stand nearby. Could even see Tink flying from here if you know where and when to look!

There are four fireworks shows at DL right now:

Magical (shown in summer starting in 2009)
Holiday (shown in Nov/Dec forever)
Halloween (shown in Oct - I think they just started in 2009)
Remember Dreams Come True (RDCT - in times when all of the above are not in season, started in 2005)

RDCT is designed to be seen in the hub area and if you are not there you will miss out on many of the very cool special effects. Totally worth it to fight any crowds that may exist to see them IMO.

 

[HydroGuy]

I am a little confused about the hub area. So are people kept on the hub and sidewalks and the walkways/roads (into the castle & around the hub) are clear or do people line up on those walkways too? So if you stood on the curb at the hub facing the castle are there rows of people in front of you??

The DL CMs setup roped areas for people to see the fireworks and to keep walkways open. They have a perimeter walkway with one-way traffic - usually counter-clickwise around the hub.

 

[raftislander]

My DD and I were in Disneyland in late April. The night my daughter had to watch the fireworks we went to the Hub and took a spot in the street near the popcorn vendor at the top of the Hub. Most of the people were sitting in the road way waiting for the show to start. We saw empty spaces that had a clearer view of the castle, but did not try to get to them because we would have had to step over a a lot of people to get to the spaces and couldn't tell for certain if they were being reserved or not. We expected CMs to make everyone stand up and move forward and this would move us out from behind the trees partially blocking our view. It didn't happen. . That night, and the next, everyone was allowed to watch the fireworks seated on the ground. Unfortunately my DD could hardly see Tink. I so wish we had "fought" our way over to the empty spaces. This was a relative low attendance time of year so it looks like a different set of rules were in use. So my advice is to locate a CM doing crowd control and ask what the plan is for that night before you decide where to reserve a spot.

 

[GrandBob]

There are four fireworks shows at DL right now:

Magical (shown in summer starting in 2009)
Holiday (shown in Nov/Dec forever)
Halloween (shown in Oct - I think they just started in 2009)
Remember Dreams Come True (RDCT - in times when all of the above are not in season, started in 2005)

RDCT is designed to be seen in the hub area and if you are not there you will miss out on many of the very cool special effects. Totally worth it to fight any crowds that may exist to see them IMO.

True for Hallowishes, too, IMHO.

-Bob

 

[frazzle]

So we will be in DLR June 22-26. If the crowds are really bad I'm thinking of skipping the big queue-fest for the fireworks and just finding a good spot to watch. We have 3 active little boys and I think 2 hours on the spot will be pain. I'm also not keen on leaving my poor old hubbie there for 2 hours on his own saving a spot while I frag the boys around on my own.

Now because we come form NZ my kids have no idea of what is in the fierworks display and therefore what they are missing So I'm wondering is there some good spots we could go to (not 2 hours in advance) where they could see most of the good stuff.

OR is the whole show so super amazing that I should really just get over it and find grab a great spot 2 hours ahead?

Your thought guys?

 

[HydroGuy]

So we will be in DLR June 22-26. If the crowds are really bad I'm thinking of skipping the big queue-fest for the fireworks and just finding a good spot to watch. We have 3 active little boys and I think 2 hours on the spot will be pain. I'm also not keen on leaving my poor old hubbie there for 2 hours on his own saving a spot while I frag the boys around on my own.

Now because we come form NZ my kids have no idea of what is in the fierworks display and therefore what they are missing So I'm wondering is there some good spots we could go to (not 2 hours in advance) where they could see most of the good stuff.

OR is the whole show so super amazing that I should really just get over it and find grab a great spot 2 hours ahead?

Your thought guys?

I do not think you need to get a spot 2 hours in advance to see fireworks. Maybe 30-45 minutes if you want a good spot. If not then you can go back to Fantasyland area or IASW.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I prefer seeing them from in front of IASW. Still get the projections with less of a sardine feel! We braved the Halloween fireworks on Halloween last year at the hub and it was MADNESS!!! Almost didn't get back to DH (in the middle of the sardine can).

 

[Luv Bunnies]

If you don't mind being a little further away, you can stand in the middle of Main Street facing the castle. They keep the sidewalks clear for moving traffic but you can stand in the street. We've had pretty good luck finding a spot with a clear view of the castle. Except, it's my luck that just as the fireworks are about to start, some guy in front of us hoists his 6 year old onto his shoulders!!!!!

 

[Garthilk]

Anyone got a map with highlights of sitting or standing areas?

 

[Canadian Traveler]

We always do..