Claustrophobic crowds after the parade and fireworks at MK???

[adoptivemomx2]

I have heard thet the crowds leaving the park after the MK fireworks are horrendous. And that's coming from people who are not claustrophobic!

Any ideas on how we can still see the show and not get caught in the crowds? We are going in September and touringplans.com says that MK will be at a crowd level of 1.1 on the days we are going.

 

[buffettgirl]

I have heard thet the crowds leaving the park after the MK fireworks are horrendous. And that's coming from people who are not claustrophobic!

Any ideas on how we can still see the show and not get caught in the crowds? We are going in September and touringplans.com says that MK will be at a crowd level of 1.1 on the days we are going.

For the fireworks you position yourself way down by the train station on main street and scoot out just as they're ending. You'll be ahead of most people.

or

Just sit. and don't move. Wherever you are. Let the crowds thin out over the next 30 or more minutes. And then walk out.


on a crowd level 1.1 day it shouldn't be horrible - it probably will initially feel shoulder to shoulder but it will thin right out. We're normally there during the summer where we have to walk shoulder to shoulder the entire length of main street. So depending on how tired everyone seems, that's how we pick our spot. If we can wait it out we do.

 

[Michigan]

You can see the MK fireworks from the parking lot.

 

[SDSorority]

I have heard thet the crowds leaving the park after the MK fireworks are horrendous. And that's coming from people who are not claustrophobic!

Any ideas on how we can still see the show and not get caught in the crowds? We are going in September and touringplans.com says that MK will be at a crowd level of 1.1 on the days we are going.

We watched from the area by the Christmas Shop last trip. We didn't see the "front" of the show because we were off to the side of the castle, but it was still an ok view. We were then able to scoot ourselves over to the area where Princess T does her meet and greets.... a bridge that's to the left of the castle (when facing it and Main St. is behind you) that connects Adventureland to Liberty Square (ish). We just stood there and let the crowds slowly drift toward the entrance. When the back of the masses hit us, then we slowly made our way to the front of the park. It was just fine!



All that said, we enjoyed watching the MK fireworks from the Poly beach- it was actually the highlight of the trip!

 

[persimmondeb]

Wait it out. Find a quiet spot and sit down. If you can get into it, Main Street Bakery will be open, serving food, and not super crowded. I also strongly recommend the Wishes dessert party, since it keeps you away from the crowds. Well worth the money.

 

[momto3pirates]

I second the dessert party. It is great to be able to sit and watch the show without fighting for a spot. After you can just sit (may have to move to the tables out of the dessert party area) and wait for the crowd to thin.

 

[buffettgirl]

Wait it out. Find a quiet spot and sit down. If you can get into it, Main Street Bakery will be open, serving food, and not super crowded. I also strongly recommend the Wishes dessert party, since it keeps you away from the crowds. Well worth the money.

I second the dessert party. It is great to be able to sit and watch the show without fighting for a spot. After you can just sit (may have to move to the tables out of the dessert party area) and wait for the crowd to thin.

oh yeah - also good suggestions and one that I was actually going to do this trip too since my son also can't stand the pushing and the shoving at that time of night. his tolerance gets low.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would second the recommendation for either the dessert party or staying put and waiting for the crowds to leave your area.

I’m not a fan of trying to leave right before the end of the fireworks for several reasons:

1. Lots of people are trying to sneak out the same way as you are, so it still may be busy getting out.
2. Even if you get out ahead of the crowds, they will be behind you and will eventually catch up with you.
3. Waiting 10-15 minutes should be enough at that time of year and by the time you leave, almost all of the crowd will be gone.

 

[JennyDrake]

Park on a bench and just people watch until the crowds diminish.

 

[Michigan]

If you are paying to valet at the Contemporary Hotel you can see them from the parking lot

 

[CarrieR]

I don't have a spectrum disorder of any type, but for whatever reason I absolutely cannot handle crowds. I melt down in a way that, despite my best efforts, I absolutely cannot diffuse. We say I have personal space issues, lol.

We've done the dessert party twice -- it has worked out VERY well for us. While it's certainly not worth the cost of desserts, it's well worth the cost to be able to see the show without risking ruining the evening. I would gladly pay for an uncrowded area with a seat, the food is a bonus, lol. I definitely agree with that recommendation.

But honestly, our favorite way to take in Wishes is in Fantasyland. We show up there a few minutes before the show -- ten, fifteen minutes tops, grab a spot wherever, and enjoy the 360* view. It's very uncrowded, even with more people stopping to watch as the show goes on, and although it's not being viewed "as intended," you're in the middle of the action and for us, it's no less magical. When the show is over, you are in the uncrowded back of the park and can easily hop on a ride with little to no wait. If there's nothing in Fantasyland that suits your fancy, it's easy to zip over to Tomorrowland or Liberty Square/Frontierland -- and then around to Adventureland. (Just beware the parade route!) We've done this on some of the very most crowded days (Christmas week, Presidents Day weekend,) and have had great success. Enjoyment of Wishes with no crowds, no party cost, and no meltdown.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't have a spectrum disorder of any type, but for whatever reason I absolutely cannot handle crowds. I melt down in a way that, despite my best efforts, I absolutely cannot diffuse. We say I have personal space issues, lol.

We've done the dessert party twice -- it has worked out VERY well for us. While it's certainly not worth the cost of desserts, it's well worth the cost to be able to see the show without risking ruining the evening. I would gladly pay for an uncrowded area with a seat, the food is a bonus, lol. I definitely agree with that recommendation.

But honestly, our favorite way to take in Wishes is in Fantasyland. We show up there a few minutes before the show -- ten, fifteen minutes tops, grab a spot wherever, and enjoy the 360* view. It's very uncrowded, even with more people stopping to watch as the show goes on, and although it's not being viewed "as intended," you're in the middle of the action and for us, it's no less magical. When the show is over, you are in the uncrowded back of the park and can easily hop on a ride with little to no wait. If there's nothing in Fantasyland that suits your fancy, it's easy to zip over to Tomorrowland or Liberty Square/Frontierland -- and then around to Adventureland. (Just beware the parade route!) We've done this on some of the very most crowded days (Christmas week, Presidents Day weekend,) and have had great success. Enjoyment of Wishes with no crowds, no party cost, and no meltdown.

We do that too. It's a different experience, but kind of neat because fireworks ate just not in front of you, but around you.
Plus, not the crowding of Being in front of the castle.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I have a question for those of you who are recommending the Dessert Party. I've ready many reviews that have said that everybody crowds up to the wall. Can you see from behind the crowd right up front if you stand back? My 14yo wouldn't be comfortable in a tight group squishing up to a wall.

We usually watch the fireworks from the Polynesian though the one time we did watch from the park we found a bench on a path between Adventureland and Crystal Place. The view was at an angle and the castle was partially obstructed by trees but that was fine since we weren't crowded in meaning we could actually relax and enjoy ourselves (and even sit) without having to scope out a spot over an hour ahead of time. We even got to see Spectromagic from a little bit of a distance which was nice.

 

[SDSorority]

We do that too. It's a different experience, but kind of neat because fireworks ate just not in front of you, but around you.
Plus, not the crowding of Being in front of the castle.

Are you so close that ashes fall on you in Fantasyland? I haven't thought of watching the fireworks from here before. This is a good idea because you'll automatically be at the back of the herd when it's over.

 

[buffettgirl]

we've sat behind the castle, and once my daughter and mother were on dumbo during the fireworks. But that area behind, where it's not roped off, is usually not crowded at all. And no, you're not actually getting ashes on you because most of the largest fireworks are actually coming from somewhere else other than the castle.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You can see the fireworks for the beach at the Poly.