Disneyland "Remember" Fireworks...

[quadaunt]

A question for all who have recently viewed the "Remember" fireworks at Disneyland. I understand that the music and explosions are the same as they were for the 50th celebration, but some have reported that when they were at the park recently they weren't showing the projections on the castle or the Matterhorn or doing the laser lights during the Star Tours segment. I was happy to hear that they were still showing the "Remember" fireworks as it would give my DNe9 a chance to experience them when we're there next month ... but the projections and lasers were just so cool. Anyone been there recently where they showed the projections and lasers?

 

[HydroGuy]

A question for all who have recently viewed the "Remember" fireworks at Disneyland. I understand that the music and explosions are the same as they were for the 50th celebration, but some have reported that when they were at the park recently they weren't showing the projections on the castle or the Matterhorn or doing the laser lights during the Star Tours segment. I was happy to hear that they were still showing the "Remember" fireworks as it would give my DNe9 a chance to experience them when we're there next month ... but the projections and lasers were just so cool. Anyone been there recently where they showed the projections and lasers?

Hi Betty:

Haven't heard from you for awhile.

The projections were mostly still there when we visited in June. I had a similar concern to yours before the June trip. I only saw RDCT twice during the 50th, so my memory is not exact, but it seems to me they reduced some of the projections on the castle. The projectioms on the Matterhorn are the same, and the Star Wars laser projections still exist. Overall, my sense is it detracted from the previous RDCT at most 5%. The experience is still pretty much the same. No need to worry.

 

[tinkerbelt]

The projections have been majorly reduced, not sure why, but it's been that way for a while. More often than not, we don't see them at all. The lasers are still there though!

 

[quadaunt]

Hey there, Trey. Good to see you!! After 12 months of not setting foot in a Disney park I'm going back to the DLR! It's also good to hear that perhaps my nephew will get to see at least an edited version of the RDCT fireworks. I did hear from one person that they also saw the RDCT fireworks in June and they seemed to be the same as the version shown during the 50th. However, it's the recent reports of no projections on the castle and Matterhorn that has me bummed. Loved that part. I was at DL three times during the 50th and during two of those visits the fireworks were cancelled due to "high winds" (which I realize at DL doesn't necessarily mean gale-force winds, but they have to be extremely cautious due to the proximity to homes, etc.). To get a spot good enough to see all that the RDCT fireworks had to offer it was necessary to stake out a good spot early. Therefore, when the fireworks get cancelled you can't help but think "Ack! An hour (or more) of park time wasted!" When I was visiting the DLR regularly during the time I traveled to southern Cal on business if I missed something during one visit I knew I'd see or do it the next time. However, when I have limited time there it's disappointing when favorite rides go down or shows like the fireworks are cancelled. Ah well... that's life.

Thanks for your reply, tinkerbelt. Sounds like you go to the DLR regularly. What is your favorite fireworks viewing spot? (Would like your suggestions as well, HydroGuy. I think it might be in your Guide to DLR so I'll have to re-read it before our trip in a few weeks).

 

[HydroGuy]

Hey there, Trey. Good to see you!! After 12 months of not setting foot in a Disney park I'm going back to the DLR! It's also good to hear that perhaps my nephew will get to see at least an edited version of the RDCT fireworks. I did hear from one person that they also saw the RDCT fireworks in June and they seemed to be the same as the version shown during the 50th. However, it's the recent reports of no projections on the castle and Matterhorn that has me bummed. Loved that part. I was at DL three times during the 50th and during two of those visits the fireworks were cancelled due to "high winds" (which I realize at DL doesn't necessarily mean gale-force winds, but they have to be extremely cautious due to the proximity to homes, etc.). To get a spot good enough to see all that the RDCT fireworks had to offer it was necessary to stake out a good spot early. Therefore, when the fireworks get cancelled you can't help but think "Ack! An hour (or more) of park time wasted!" When I was visiting the DLR regularly during the time I traveled to southern Cal on business if I missed something during one visit I knew I'd see or do it the next time. However, when I have limited time there it's disappointing when favorite rides go down or shows like the fireworks are cancelled. Ah well... that's life.

Thanks for your reply, tinkerbelt. Sounds like you go to the DLR regularly. What is your favorite fireworks viewing spot? (Would like your suggestions as well, HydroGuy. I think it might be in your Guide to DLR so I'll have to re-read it before our trip in a few weeks.

FWIW, early on during the 50th you had to get to the hub an hour early to get a decent spot. As the 50th went on, that reduced. You should be able to get a decent spot now 30-40 minutes ahead of time. Sometimes only 15-20 minutes.

I have now seen RDCT three times but I am by no means an expert. The spot I saw it first (in 2005) is my favorite. If the hub was a clock, and the castle at 12:00, we were at about 7:30 or 8:00 (out in front of Coke Corner). The second time I saw them it was still during the 50th and at about the 9:00 spot, and I felt we could not see the fireworks and effects behind the castle as well because we were too close. So last month in June we went back to the 7:30/8:00 spot.

 

[tinkerbelt]

I have now seen RDCT three times but I am by no means an expert. The spot I saw it first (in 2005) is my favorite. If the hub was a clock, and the castle at 12:00, we were at about 7:30 or 8:00 (out in front of Coke Corner). The second time I saw them it was still during the 50th and at about the 9:00 spot, and I felt we could not see the fireworks and effects behind the castle as well because we were too close. So last month in June we went back to the 7:30/8:00 spot.

Hey, that's a good way to look at it, like a clock!

My personal favorite spot would be right smack in front of the castle. During the 50th, our routine was to watch the evening parade from the side of the hub, and then immediately book it over to our fireworks spot. We love the seat right at 12:00, on the edge of the sidewalk part of the hub, or on the asphalt directly in front of there. I have also sat directly in front of the rope on the sidewalk in front of the drawbridge, but I like the hub better. My personal experience with sitting off to the sides a bit is that the trees tend to get in the way, but if you can get a good spot, it is still a really good area. I like being a little further up because it feels more like you are immersed in the fireworks because they go off to the sides and behind you.

Right smack in the middle of main street is good too, right about where Coke Corner is. You might have to deal w/ people in front of you, but it's really cool to see the fireworks + the castle + the partners statue. It gives me chills! Really though, as long as you are somewhere on Main Street or in the area between Main Street and the castle, you've got a good spot. It has been ages since we've camped out for a good spot, most of the time now, we just find a spot on Main Street at the last minute (but we do have the luxury of seeing the show whenever we want, so that affects our decision).

 

[HydroGuy]

Hey, that's a good way to look at it, like a clock!

My personal favorite spot would be right smack in front of the castle. During the 50th, our routine was to watch the evening parade from the side of the hub, and then immediately book it over to our fireworks spot. We love the seat right at 12:00, on the edge of the sidewalk part of the hub, or on the asphalt directly in front of there. I have also sat directly in front of the rope on the sidewalk in front of the drawbridge, but I like the hub better. My personal experience with sitting off to the sides a bit is that the trees tend to get in the way, but if you can get a good spot, it is still a really good area.

Yes, you have to watch out for trees. You want to get a clear view of the castle as you already know. And be able to see the Matterhorn if possible.

 

[tinkerbelt]

Yes, you have to watch out for trees. You want to get a clear view of the castle as you already know. And be able to see the Matterhorn if possible.

How far in advance do you usually get there to get a good spot?

 

[HydroGuy]

How far in advance do you usually get there to get a good spot?

We went on a Tuesday night in June and got there about 40-45 minutes early just to be safe. We would have done fine being 30 minutes early on that night. It depends on where you want to go. Some people like to be up close to the castle, and some people like to get benches. Those all get filled up much earlier. If you just want to see them in a spot like we did which was quite good IMO, then 40-45 minutes early should be fine. You may need to allow more time if it is a weekend night. Not sure, as I never go on weekends.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I remember the lasers being part of the show during our trip this past June.

 

[argusp2]

I was there yesterday. First of all it was a great day! The crowds weren't that bad, in fact it was very good. Longest waits were for Nemo (understandable, still new) and Splash Mountain (it was a hot day). One thing though, Tinkerbell was missing in the first parade and the fireworks.
They still had the projection on the castle and the Matterhorn. The laser lights for the Star Wars part also there! Not a problem with "staking out" a spot.
Went home with sore feet, a farmer's tan and a huge smile!!!

 

[tinkerbelt]

We went on a Tuesday night in June and got there about 40-45 minutes early just to be safe. We would have done fine being 30 minutes early on that night. It depends on where you want to go. Some people like to be up close to the castle, and some people like to get benches. Those all get filled up much earlier. If you just want to see them in a spot like we did which was quite good IMO, then 40-45 minutes early should be fine. You may need to allow more time if it is a weekend night. Not sure, as I never go on weekends.

That sounds about right. It used to be that you had to wait 2+ hours to sit in front of the hub, but for the past 8 months or so, I don't think we've ever had to get there earlier than 30 minutes beforehand on any of the nights we've gone (usually we go on Friday nights, specifically because we love the fireworks, and because Friday is a lot lighter than Saturday/Sunday). During the summer we will go during the week since they have fireworks every night. Even during summer crowds this year, we have been able to walk up to pretty much any spot 5-10 minutes before the show, which is nice! A couple of weeks ago, we went over to watch the IASW projections and there were less than 10 people over there watching.