I do not plan on buying party tickets. Do you need to be in the MK to see the new night time show, or can it be enjoyed from one of the monorail resorts with piped in music? I am trying to work out a party night itinerary in early December. Thank you!
The new "
Happily Ever After" evening spectacular at MK
features many projections on the front facade of Cinderella Castle
in addition to the many fireworks in the show. Since those projections
will not be seen from viewing locations outside the MK park, seeing the
"full effect" of "Happily Ever After" will dictate viewing the show at least once
from a good vantage point inside MK, on Main Street, preferably in or near the Hub.
The Beach at the Polynesian Resort offers a great view
of the fireworks portion of the MK fireworks/evening spectacular shows (At least of the fireworks portion, but not the "castle-projection" portion.)
However, the area with an MK view is now much smaller than it used to be
due to the recent construction of the new DVC on-the-water rooms.
They do "pipe in" the audio of the shows, but it is very, very low in volume.
There are several ground-level speakers along the
sidewalk.
They also pipe the audio to the speakers at the Poly pool.
The audio level is better in some places (closer to the sidewalk, for instance) than others (far out on the beach, for instance.)
I marked the area of the beach still open for viewing on the Poly map.
Here's a photo I took from the Poly Beach-
MK Fireworks (MVMCP Christmas Finale)
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More Viewing Spots-
You can see the MK fireworks shows very well from the TTC
(and they pipe-in clear, crisp audio from the show.)
Note: you are not allowed to stand directly in the actual Ferry loading area.
You can see them from the boat-dock and an outside
observation deck near Narcoossee's restaurant at the Grand Floridian.
The Narcoossee's Deck shown is now reserved only for guests of the restaurant.
Good viewing from the Gasparilla Grill Patio overlooking the Marina.
The sound of the show is piped into these areas too.
At the Contemporary, there is viewing on an outdoor
observation area on the 4th floor.
The California Grill observation areas are reserved for patrons that day of the Grill or Bar.
(The audio of the fireworks show is also piped in to these locations.)
(Fireworks shown above are simulated.)
At Wilderness Lodge, the "secret place" to watch the MK fireworks is from the
northern area of the Cast Member (CM) Parking Lot. (No Audio)
At the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds Marina (angle shown on the map below,) some of the view (especially of the "Fantasyland" pyro) is blocked by the now unused Discovery Island in Bay Lake and by the high-rise buildings of the Contemporary Resort.
But, the view from the Ft. Wilderness' sand beach (farther north) is more open.
Still the tree-level can block the views of the lower-firing pyro.
Here are the angles of the views in the Bay Lake area.
Below are the angles of the views in the Seven Seas Lagoon area.
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As for viewing from INSIDE the dining area of restaurants (you need ADRs, and most are usually busy during the shows)...
you can see (and hear) them at California Grill at Contemporary,
'Ohana at the Poly, at Trader Sam's and Trader Sam's outdoor patio at the Poly, Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian,
and (if you have access there) the Top of the World at Bay Lake Tower.
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