Disneyland and fireworks shows for kids with disabilities

[friedela]

I was watching the new Mikey Mix firework show at DL on youtube and all I can think about is how much my daughter (autistic) is going to hate having people all around her during the fireworks show, does anyone know where we can sit to watch the show where we are not completely surrounded by people? Everyone looked SO cramped in the youtube video. When we did fireworks at DW last year we were infront of a garden so there was no one behind us and even having a bit of space on one side of us was ok. Any tips for us?

 

[gap2368]

do they offer any dessert party for the fireworks this is what I have to do at Disney world

 

[friedela]

do they offer any dessert party for the fireworks this is what I have to do at Disney world

They do, but it'll be over $300 for us all to do it I was hoping there was a quieter (if possible, lol) spot to go and watch them.

 

[gap2368]

They do, but it'll be over $300 for us all to do it I was hoping there was a quieter (if possible, lol) spot to go and watch them.

maybe you could do one person and your DD do it and then meet the rest of your group, or if you have enough people in your group you can make a circle around your DD and give her some space this way. I know at WDW anywhere but main street is a good place, no you do not get the projection

 

[theluckyrabbit]

do they offer any dessert party for the fireworks this is what I have to do at Disney world

Please post this thread in the Disneyland (California) forum, too, because I think you can get more help there from people who are familiar with DLR and the help that is available to you at that resort. DLR is very different from WDW when it comes to fireworks.

Actually, DL doesn't currently offer dessert parties for fireworks viewing. There is the Tomorrowland Skyline Lounge Experience (https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/tomorrowland-skyline-lounge/) which gives you a poor view of any fireworks (and MMM, the current show, does not have fireworks every night) and no view of the projections since you can't see the castle or Main Street from the Skyline Lounge. And if the fireworks are cancelled, there is no refund.
A better option for your family would be to do a Fantasmic! dining package for the first show on a weekend night (Fri., Sat., Sun. -- make sure to confirm on the entertainment schedule that the MMM show on your F! viewing night says "Mickey's Mix Magic with Fireworks") -- either Hungry Bear (the most economical choice with the most flexible menu since you can choose items from the dining package or regular menu -- same dining package price), River Belle Terrace (moderate choice), or Blue Bayou (most expensive choice). After F!, you will be invited to stay in your reserved viewing area to watch MMM on the Rivers of America. The projections will be shown on the water screens and you will be able to see the fireworks since they launch from behind Toon Town. The viewing areas are not packed like Main Street. A F! dining package for the first show would allow you to see two shows for one price, from one reserved viewing area.
Also, many families do the "buffer trick" -- have the other members of your family make a buffer zone/circle (with some elbow room) around your daughter so that she isn't packed in by strangers. That should help her in crowds, in ride lines, while watching shows, etc.
For free viewing areas, you might try viewing MMM by It's a Small World -- that area can be much less crowded than Main Street since it is a wider area with more room to move around.
If you are fine with being much further back, we have watched the show from Town Square, sitting on the curb in front of the middle of Main Street (the curb of the island in between the Emporium and the Magic Shoppe). It was not crowded and not packed. You won't see the castle as well, but you will have breathing room.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

They do, but it'll be over $300 for us all to do it I was hoping there was a quieter (if possible, lol) spot to go and watch them.

Which dessert party are you referring to at DL? There isn't a fireworks dessert party at DL right now. Are you talking about the WOC Dessert Party at DCA? That isn't being offered right now while WOC is being refurbed.

 

[friedela]

Which dessert party are you referring to at DL? There isn't a fireworks dessert party at DL right now. Are you talking about the WOC Dessert Party at DCA? That isn't being offered right now while WOC is being refurbed.

Oh that's right, it was the dessert party for WOC I was looking at, I think I read in another post that it'll be up again by the time we go.
For the Hungry Bear MMM with Fireworks, any idea how much it usually is? I tried looking it up but it's under refurb right now so I can't get any pricing.

Also, do you know if there is a map of DL with the best viewing spots for shows? (Fantamic, MMM and WOC?) I looked through all the stickies in the DL threads but couldn't see any.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The sticky threads you are looking for are at the top of the Disneyland (California) page -- TONS of good info here: * DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here!
Please keep asking as many questions as you need for your trip in the DLR forum -- you really need accurate answers from people who know that resort inside out. I worry that your questions will get lost in the different boards and that you'll get inaccurate information.
For WOC: World of Color Superthread. Read the first post VERY carefully! The map on the first page is very good. The WOC Dessert Party is your best bet for the best view without crowding your daughter. Otherwise, try to get HC (handicap) seating for her using free FPs. If she qualifies for DAS, she may well qualify for HC seating, too. It can't hurt to ask. For regular, free, non-HC viewing (all standing except for the Dessert Party and HC), you are looking at about a 90 minute investment for good viewing spots -- in all seriousness. Otherwise you risk having a bad view of a great show.
For MMM: Where to view Mickey's Mix Magic w/ no fireworks?, Reviews so far: Main Street is the most crowded area, but includes the snow machines during the show several times and projections on the buildings on both sides of the street; IASW is easier to view the projections because you are only looking in one direction at a flat building facade and it is a bit less crowded; ROA is convenient because you can watch F! first, then stay where you are to watch MMM without having to fight crowds to get to another viewing spot.
Fantasmic!: Hungry Bear Dining Package is for F! (not MMM -- MMM is free and there are no dining packages right now for this -- you can watch MMM after the first F! show by staying in place in your reserved dining package section). The HB package for adults runs around $30. For children it is around $20.
Viewing Area Map: (HT Casey Starnes)

 

[friedela]

The sticky threads you are looking for are at the top of the Disneyland (California) page -- TONS of good info here: * DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here!
Please keep asking as many questions as you need for your trip in the DLR forum -- you really need accurate answers from people who know that resort inside out. I worry that your questions will get lost in the different boards and that you'll get inaccurate information.

OK thank you once again!! I thought I looked through all of the stickies but I guess not! I am on information overload! lol.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Let us know if you decide to do F! -- there is always a crushing crowd exiting that show and there are some good ways to avoid getting stuck in that.

 

[2tinkerbell]

My DD doesn't like to have people "in her bubble" and we go to DLR all the time. Watching the fireworks, parades, etc. can sometimes be difficult because of how crowded they are. We find that we take a blanket to sit on and also it marks our spot. You have to be prepared to go early and sit a long time (approx. an hour). We go, spread out our blanket marking our spot with games and a snack. People watching is a great pastime as well. We have had some people try to crowd us or sit on our blanket and I just say, "I would appreciate it if you would please not sit (move, etc.) on our blanket." I have had only 1 time when someone got testy and wanted their 3 children up on the curb instead of my DD. I just looked at them and said, "It is an accommodation, we got here early to accommodate my DD with her visual integration problems."

I should note that our blanket is one of those fleece travel blankets so it isn't a huge one. Also we have found that the spaces by the light poles are good because no one can sit behind you. To the side of the garbage cans is also a good space because then you are only protecting one side and the back.

I also walk behind my DD in lines so that I can give her a buffer zone.

We did Fantasmic this past Christmas as a present for my DD. She has never been able to see it because she needs to be front and center. We purchased the BB dining package for lunch and had the first showing. We sort of hovered around the area where you line up and when the cast members started the line, we were right there and first in line. We were dead center for Fantasmic. My DD knows that Jack Sparrow looked right at her as he swung out of the Black Pearl ;-)