Electric Water Pageant - best viewing location?

[2Tiggies]

We have never seen this. Or should I say, we have caught glimpses of it many times, but never actually watched it go by. We have booked for next year and have 3 days with no park tickets so I thought that is a golden opportunity to go and check this out without feeling like was have "wasted a park opportunity"

I know it goes by various resorts and can be viewed from outside MK as well, but wondered where your favorite places are to watch this from. Open to suggestions as well if you like to tie it in with an evening doing something at one of the resorts .... or any other ideas.

 

[Robo]

We have never seen this. Or should I say, we have caught glimpses of it many times, but never actually watched it go by. We have booked for next year and have 3 days with no park tickets so I thought that is a golden opportunity to go and check this out without feeling like was have "wasted a park opportunity"

I know it goes by various resorts and can be viewed from outside MK as well, but wondered where your favorite places are to watch this from. Open to suggestions as well if you like to tie it in with an evening doing something at one of the resorts .... or any other ideas.

Don't choose MK. They often run the show without audio there (less confusion for exiting guests.)

I'd pick the Poly Beach.

But, it's fine from the Floridian (near Narcoossee's,) and "behind" the Contemporary (boat dock,) and behind Wilderness Lodge and at the Ft. Wilderness beach, too.

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In general, you can see the Electrical Water Pageant from the beaches or Marinas on the open lake side of any of the MK area resorts.
Its just a very short (5-7 minutes) "show" that takes place ON the lagoon.

http://allearsnet.com/tp/ewp.htm

Although Electrical Water Pageant generally follows the schedule below... Inclement weather can cause cancellation of the pageant.

Polynesian Resort -- 9 p.m.
Grand Floridian -- 9:15 p.m.
Wilderness Lodge -- 9:35 p.m.
Fort Wilderness -- 9:45 p.m.
Contemporary Resort -- 10:05 p.m.
Magic Kingdom -- 10:20 p.m. (only during extended MK park hours)

Note that when the Magic Kingdom Fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m., the Electrical Water Pageant runs about 7-20 minutes later.

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Electrical Water Pageant

The words conjure some phantasmagorical display of
dazzling lightning-like high voltage interplay with glittering aquatic delights, no?

Well...

My favorite saying about these kind of "simple" things comes from Hawkeye Pierce on the old M*A*S*H TV show.

"Its not much, but its really nothing."


Although I never miss a chance to see it... inappropriate "over-anticipation"
can be built up over the "Electrical Water Pageant".

People seem to be expecting to see "Spectromagic on the water", when it is really closer to oversized "Lite Brite" pegs mounted on some barges,

with a "Casio Keyboard" music track.

Don't get me wrong, I still love it, and it's a piece of WDW History, but first-timers, please don't get your hopes set too HIGH.

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks Robo

You made me laugh with the little bits you threw in at the end

We've seen snippets of it so we are well ready for the Casio backing track

It's just one of those things that has never been priority to do as it is so short and simple, but we've been enough times that it's almost inexcusable not to have at least tried. I thought we would just make an evening of it at one of the resorts. Poly beach sounds like a plan

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I second that with the Poly. That is my favorite place to watch it...

 

[SCDisneyMom]

People seem to be expecting to see "Spectromagic on the water", when it is really closer to oversized "Lite Brite" pegs mounted on some barges,

with a "Casio Keyboard" music track.

LOL!!! That's hilarious! I'll think about this post every time I see it now, lol.

We also like to watch it from the Poly. We love to get Dole Whips from Captain Cook's and eat them while we watch it from the beach.

 

[wvulion]

Since my first visit as a child, it has been our tradition to start our Disney vacation the night before we go in the park for the first time to watch the water pageant. Weird tradition, right? We've found the nicest spot is the Polynesian beach near where you rent the cabanas, or oddly enough, on a stopped monorail before you enter the Magic Kingdom station (minus the audio, obviously).

 

[mickeyonasticky]

I like the Contemporary marina WAY better than the Poly. When it's at the Poly at the same time that Wishes is going on, there's no Electrical Water Pageant audio. Super lame. Also, the Poly always seems insanely crowded with people watching Wishes from there.

 

[fostrmom2mny]

Best place hands down is on a Wishes Cruise pontoon boat!! Without a doubt!

 

[Mr. Pig]

We recently did a split stay at WL and POLY and watched the Water Pageant several times. We had a couple of curious views. During the Halloween party the MK fireworks are at 9:30 and the Water Pageant was 9:35 at WL. They were both going on at the same time which was a little distracting. Also at Poly the Water Pageant went on at 9:00 as scheduled which is the same time Wishes was going on at MK. The Water Pageant went on without sound at the same time as the fireworks.

 

[aloha517]

Does the pagent run during MVMCP nights?

 

[blue65829]

We had great luck watching it from the dock at the WL, we must have lucked out on MK fireworks timing.

It wasn't very crowded either, which was nice.

 

[Robo]

Does the pagent run during MVMCP nights?

Yes.
It is not dependent on MK hours.
It's really a "resort" thing.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would say the best place to watch it is from the Beach at the Polynesian.

 

[figment_jii]

I've really enjoyed watching it from Narcoossee's. If you're out on the veranda, it seems so close! We usual time dinner so we can eat at Narcoossee's and see the Pageant and fireworks.

As Robo indicated, it's not really like SpectroMagic or MSEP, but it's still cute.

 

[SDSorority]

OP, as others have said- the Poly beach is a great view. When we were there they did 2 shows- one facing the Contemporary (with music pumped through the Poly speakers), and once facing the Poly (again, with music pumped through the speakers). And then Wishes started... in the middle of the show... UGH. Get out of the way so I can watch Wishes, thanks.

Dunno- we didn't really like it.