Downtown disney and fireworks?

[OBDisney]

We are planning our first trip to disneyland and need some help.
We will be arriving at LAX around 2:30 on our first day, we figure by the time we get from LAX to the Disneyland hotel and check in it will be after 4pm and we have two young girls so we didn't bother getting passes for that day, we figure we'll take a look around DTD, have supper and basically relax so we will be ready to start bright and early the next day.
We would love to watch the fireworks that first night to get the girls excited and do something special the first day, is there a place in or around DTD that is good to watch the fireworks, we're plan to catch them another night while we're there from inside the park as well, but would love to see them the first night.
Thanks

 

[Captain Hindsight]

We are planning our first trip to disneyland and need some help.
We will be arriving at LAX around 2:30 on our first day, we figure by the time we get from LAX to the Disneyland hotel and check in it will be after 4pm and we have two young girls so we didn't bother getting passes for that day, we figure we'll take a look around DTD, have supper and basically relax so we will be ready to start bright and early the next day.
We would love to watch the fireworks that first night to get the girls excited and do something special the first day, is there a place in or around DTD that is good to watch the fireworks, we're plan to catch them another night while we're there from inside the park as well, but would love to see them the first night.
Thanks

DTD View rooms at GCH, or Theme Park View rooms at DLH have good views of the fireworks. You sure you don't want to watch them from Main St? It's usually only a couple of dollars to add a day to a park hopper! Also, are you sure they are doing the fireworks that night? You didn't post your dates!

 

[sonnyjane]

It's usually only a couple of dollars to add a day to a park hopper! Also, are you sure they are doing the fireworks that night? You didn't post your dates!

Great point about making sure they have fireworks during your stay.

I was also going to suggest adding a day to your tickets. A 4:00 PM arrival still leaves plenty of time in the parks! It's worth at least looking into the price difference.

 

[cloudconnected1039]

Another idea if they're doing the fireworks that night is to sit in the main plaza where the entrances are. You have an amazing view of the fireworks, you just miss out on the music pairing that you would get inside the park. I've seen TONS of people sitting there before, and other times not so much. Either way it's a great place to see the fireworks without having the extra day in the parks But make sure to see the fireworks from inside DL because the music really makes a difference and they are some things that you would have not been able to see from the entrance plaza

 

[skiingfast]

But make sure to see the fireworks from inside DL because the music really makes a difference and they are some things that you would have not been able to see from the entrance plaza

This is what I would say about watching from the Esplanade. It is ok, it's something but not like being in the park. But a fair analogy....watching from the hub is like a basball game with seats over the dugout. Waching from the Esplanade is like watching the baseball game on TV. You can be in to it, but you aren't really there.

Aside from adding another day and a room at the DLH or GCH some Harbor street hotels have great views and some have good viewing areas as well.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

You could also take the tram to the Mickey and Friends parking lot and watch the fireworks from the top level.

 

[pixiewings71]

If you're staying on site at the PPH you can go to the pool deck and watch the fireworks and they pipe in the music.
outside the parks we have enjoyed the fireworks in the esplanade between the parks, but they don't pipe in the music

 

[OBDisney]

Thanks so much, that sounds great, we'll try that the first night, we do want to see them from inside the park as well. We had thought about getting passes for the first day but decided to take it easy, we fly often with the girls and after a day of travelling they will need to take things easy, so we can get the trip off to a great start. I knew I could get great answers really quickly here, what a great site!
Our trip is the end of March, the website says they have fireworks every night.