Consensus on where to watch Together Forever?

[pharmama]

I joked that I wanted to go to DLR for Mother's Day earlier this week and DH said OK lets go! So doing a last minute one day trip just to DL on Saturday (for reference, I am an AP holder though DH and 3 DD don't have them. We're all experienced park goers...even if DH won't admit he is). Got a pretty cheap room last minute at the Tropicana too. We've never stayed there before so I'm interested to check it out.

Anyway, my real question is about Together Forever. I looked at couple threads when it first started but now that its been running for a bit, what's the consensus on the best place to view? I don't think we're up for the front of castle stake out since its just a one day trip and I've been burned on cancelled fireworks too many times. I did watch the Disney Parks Blog post/video with a snippet from each location but I'm still not sure.

I'm mostly debating Main Street and RoA. I love F! and still haven't seen the refurbished show (after it shut down 5 minutes in last December when we had done a dining package and everything and fireworks cancelled that time too). So do I do the first F! and watch fireworks from there or is Main Street better? I'm not totally sure I want to invest the time in F! (not doing a dining package) but I could be swayed.

And if someone wants to make a really strong case for IASW I could be convinced to go there too...

 

[BrianL]

Main Street has some extra effects like Disneyland Forever had. Between having the projections all around you and that, I think a little ways down Main Street is a great way to watch them.

 

[Whistlebee]

If you want to see Fantasmic anyway...I’d recommend the ROA area. I’ve seen them from Main Street & ROA. We did the Hungry Bear dinner package (which we were very happy with). Lined up 30 minutes before Fantasmic started and had a great view. I believe most people are going to prefer the Main Street view over ROA because it’s immersive, there are some special effects there, and you can see the characters flying above the castle...HOWEVER...I actually preferred the view from the Hungry Bear ROA area. Its just a really low stress way to see the show. We were not crammed in like sardines. It’s efficient, since we invested 30 minutes and saw 2 shows. I actually liked how the projections are in front of you. You can see the projections and the Fireworks all at once. On Main Street I’m always turning to the side to see the projections and then turning back towards the castle to see the Fireworks. This is just my opinion and I would only do this if you are wanting to see Fantasmic anyway.

 

[Lesley Wake]

I would do fireworks from Main Street. If you get a spot just south of Penny Arcade (but before the trees) it is a good spot for projections. They also do effects during CoCo and Toy Story. You can see the castle and Buzz and the Up house (as long as people stop putting all their phones up in the air), though it is too far to get a good view of castle projections.

I would then do F! second show. I know you mentioned you weren't interested in dining package, but I'd consider the Hungry Bear option. Not too expensive and gives a great view.

 

[pharmama]

Thanks everyone. I should clarify that I have done the F! dining packages before, I just don't want the added cost this trip since its last minute. I know the On the Go one at Hungry Bear isn't too expensive and we did that one in December when the show had technical difficulties. While I loved the F! seating etc, everyone in the family was seriously underwhelmed by the food. My husband's entree was minuscule (the mushroom and leek frittata- it wasn't even a 3" round) and he ended up having to go back and order a whole second meal. I had a burger off the regular menu and the meat was so tough and overdone it was almost inedible. There was something funky with 2 of my kids food too but I can't remember what. Maybe I should give them a second chance since I've eaten there plenty of other times and the food was fine. Perhaps it was an off night.

Anyway, much to think about. It may come down to the rest of my family not caring as much about F! as me .

I would do fireworks from Main Street. If you get a spot just south of Penny Arcade (but before the trees) it is a good spot for projections. They also do effects during CoCo and Toy Story. You can see the castle and Buzz and the Up house (as long as people stop putting all their phones up in the air), though it is too far to get a good view of castle projections.

Thank you for the specific suggestion on where to aim for on Main Street!!

 

[Whistlebee]

I completely misunderstood your post. I thought you were saying you were interested in doing a dining package. If you don’t want to do a dining package then I think 100 percent watch from Main Street!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Anyway, much to think about. It may come down to the rest of my family not caring as much about F! as me .

It's Mother's Day! You should get a chance to see Fantasmic!

You can go for a Fastpass for the 2nd show. I think it's also less crowded (though I don't usually stick around for it)!

 

[figment_jii]

I've only watched Together Forever from Main Street, but I did watch videos on YouTube of the show from the RoA and IaSW perspective. It seems like RoA and IaSW are a pretty good option if you want to see the projections that are on the castle and don't want to deal with the wait or crowds. The biggest drawback is that there isn't much of a view of Buzz or the Up House. You can, in theory, turn around and see Buzz and the Up House from IaSW mall, but the effect is not the same (basically you would have to choose between the fireworks and projections or the flying characters). Main Street has similiar, but different projections, and one major special effect that is not offered elsewhere (similiar to the Little Mermaid sequence in Disneyland Forever).

My personal preference is to watch Together Forever from Main Street, somewhere about parallel to the Candy Palace/Penny Arcade. It's such an immersive experience. For the Candy Palace, note that the main projections will either be to the left or right of the Candy Palace entrance (the area above the Candy Palace entrance will have projections, but they tend to be the supporting ones like in the photo below).

I think Refreshment Corner is also another good building to be near, but being at the end of Main Street, you'll need to look back for some of the elements (like the special feature during the Coco sequence). Also the Incredibles sequence doesn't work quite as well from there because it needs a series of buildings to work along, but it does have a pretty good view of the castle and the fireworks.

 

[tzeitel]

I would not watch from the RoA area. We did the BB F! package and then watched TF fron there. It was fine for the projections but not for the actual fireworks. We are planning on watching them today from MS.

 

[pharmama]

It's Mother's Day! You should get a chance to see Fantasmic!

You can go for a Fastpass for the 2nd show. I think it's also less crowded (though I don't usually stick around for it)!

Ha! An excellent point! Maybe I will send everyone back to the hotel with DH and go to the second F! by myself!

Thank you for the photos and input! I think we will plan for mid Main Street as described above.

Another question- if the fireworks are cancelled due to winds do they still run the projections and show just without the actual fireworks?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

So you can get an idea of how things look live, this link has a Parks Blog video with views of TF from the different viewing areas: Together Forever fireworks view from different locations (video).

 

[tzeitel]

I've only watched Together Forever from Main Street, but I did watch videos on YouTube of the show from the RoA and IaSW perspective. It seems like RoA and IaSW are a pretty good option if you want to see the projections that are on the castle and don't want to deal with the wait or crowds. The biggest drawback is that there isn't much of a view of Buzz or the Up House. You can, in theory, turn around and see Buzz and the Up House from IaSW mall, but the effect is not the same (basically you would have to choose between the fireworks and projections or the flying characters). Main Street has similiar, but different projections, and one major special effect that is not offered elsewhere (similiar to the Little Mermaid sequence in Disneyland Forever).

My personal preference is to watch Together Forever from Main Street, somewhere about parallel to the Candy Palace/Penny Arcade. It's such an immersive experience. For the Candy Palace, note that the main projections will either be to the left or right of the Candy Palace entrance (the area above the Candy Palace entrance will have projections, but they tend to be the supporting ones like in the photo below).

I think Refreshment Corner is also another good building to be near, but being at the end of Main Street, you'll need to look back for some of the elements (like the special feature during the Coco sequence). Also the Incredibles sequence doesn't work quite as well from there because it needs a series of buildings to work along, but it does have a pretty good view of the castle and the fireworks.

Thanks! This was the perfect spot. We were able to see the castle, Buzz, the Up house and the projections on the buildings.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Main St! We were maybe one facade down from the hub end and we were able to see all around us. If you go too far back you may miss the flying features over the castle, and those. are. so. cool!!

 

[momof2n2]

Main St! We were maybe one facade down from the hub end and we were able to see all around us. If you go too far back you may miss the flying features over the castle, and those. are. so. cool!!

Can you offer a more specific suggestion? Like having never been there before. Thank you!!!

 

[Darkhaund]

We want a good view of BUZZ and the UP house.. so i8 guess it is main street right?

 

[DizneyMommy]

We want a good view of BUZZ and the UP house.. so i8 guess it is main street right?

You cannot see them from RoA at all, and from Small World they are backlit and hard to see, the light is shining toward you from the other side. So yes.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Can you offer a more specific suggestion? Like having never been there before. Thank you!!!

Anywhere between hot dogs and ice cream, basically! Lol
Or to be technical, between Coke Corner/Refreshment Corner and Gibson Girl Ice Cream parlor. Right between them, towards the right side of the street facing the castle is where we ended up. Walked up 20 minutes prior, no problem!

 

[Darkhaund]

Awesome.... I will target a spot near the HUB to get a CLOSE look at the castle so my kid cand see buzz

 

[DizneyMommy]

Awesome.... I will target a spot near the HUB to get a CLOSE look at the castle so my kid cand see buzz

We could see Buzz and Up great from main st, just past Coke Corner heading toward the gate. And then you get all of the other projections on the buildings and the fun Coco surprises too. Plus less people and you don’t have to camp out for hours with kids! The hub was packed when we walked by but we had no problem finding room on Main St.

 

[Darkhaund]

Thank you.. I will look for the COKE CORNER as soon as i get there and post a pic here to confirm the spot