F! to SW fireworks. What to expect.

[momof2n2]

We have F! dinner package on 5/9. There are 10 in our party. We'll be in that center section.

What will it be like when it ends? We'll have to search for our stroller then head to fireworks. Does that throng of folks all head to Hollywood Blvd and just stop? Does it become impassable? Do folks head deeper into park for fireworks? What would be an appropriate goal and/or strategy for our party?

DH & self, six kids, my sis and mom. Two in stroller.

 

[Robo]

We have F! dinner package on 5/9. There are 10 in our party. We'll be in that center section.

What will it be like when it ends? We'll have to search for our stroller then head to fireworks. Does that throng of folks all head to Hollywood Blvd and just stop? Does it become impassable? Do folks head deeper into park for fireworks? What would be an appropriate goal and/or strategy for our party?

DH & self, six kids, my sis and mom. Two in stroller.

Sit in an upper row in F! for a quicker exit.

The stroller situation (finding it) could very well be your biggest problem.
You might want to bring and attach a bike "safety strobe" (example HERE) to the stroller and
leave it flashing to help locate your stroller after the show.
Not foolproof, but it could save you a lot of "hunting."

There's not much "deeper in the park" that guests can go.
They close everything past the Gt. Movie Ride for the fireworks.

 

[elmoandzoey]

I thought the SW fireworks only run till 4/30? Has this changed and I missed the announcement? Please tell me I missed the announcement....

 

[Robo]

I thought the SW fireworks only run till 4/30? Has this changed and I missed the announcement? Please tell me I missed the announcement....

There will be a new SW fireworks extravaganza "Star Wars A Galactic Spectacular" (HERE) coming to DHS that runs at least through this summer.

As to what will be happening on 5/9/16, I don't know.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

I am watching (stalking) for May as well and there is still no word if there will be FW yet.

 

[elmoandzoey]

There will be a new SW fireworks extravaganza "Star Wars A Galactic Spectacular" (HERE) coming to DHS that runs at least through this summer.

As to what will be happening on 5/9/16, I don't know.

I was more thinking about 5/9 that the OP mentioned because that's the same day we'll be there. So far I couldn't find any info that either the current fireworks have been extended to that week or that the new ones will be ready by then. hence my asking

 

[momof2n2]

Thanks for the map and answer, @Robo. Do people pretty much stand shoulder to shoulder in the street for the fireworks?
Does the Echo Lake area get filled up with people who have not come from F!? I'm just wondering if it gets so bottle necked at the Sunset Blvd./Hollywood Blvd. intersection that some people get locked out of the fireworks observation areas.

@elmoandzoey I read so many message boards and blogs I have no idea where I got the impression that the current fireworks were holding over until the new ones started. Maybe trying to get from one to the other will be a non-issue.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I followed Robo's map and we went straight back (no stroller) to the Echo Lake area. Hollywood Blvd. Was already pretty crowded but the Echo Lake close to A was fine.

 

[Robo]

Thanks for the map and answer, @Robo. 1. Do people pretty much stand shoulder to shoulder in the street for the fireworks?
2. Does the Echo Lake area get filled up with people who have not come from F!?
3. I'm just wondering if it gets so bottle necked at the Sunset Blvd./Hollywood Blvd. intersection that some people get locked out of the fireworks observation areas.

1. Yes.
2. It is a busy area. I'd not say it was specifically full of F! guests.
3. It can get busy.
But, I've not read any reports of guests trying to see the fireworks, yet not being able to do so.

 

[HatboxHaint]

@Robo , What are your thoughts on leaving thru the non-Sunset exit from F! and still trying to see the fireworks? Is it practical to use that alternate exit from F! if you have a stroller or wheelchair to pickup?

 

[Robo]

@Robo , What are your thoughts on leaving thru the non-Sunset exit from F! and still trying to see the fireworks? Is it practical to use that alternate exit from F! if you have a stroller or wheelchair to pickup?

That exit is fine.
On select nights/times, it allows guests to exit at the front of the park near Oscars Filling Station.
On other nights/times, it routes guests back to Sunset Blvd. just on the other side of Beauty and the Beast's theater,
and back into the same crowd on the street as exited the other route.

 

[Araminta18]

Does everything pretty much shut down for the fireworks, or are there rides still open to ride if we want to?

 

[Robo]

Does everything pretty much shut down for the fireworks, or are there rides still open to ride if we want to?

The CURRENT fireworks at DHS are fired from locations behind The Great Movie Ride (but still inside DHS) so, the attractions that are in that firing/fallout area are closed up to an hour before the fireworks begin.

When the NEW show begins this summer, those fireworks will be fired from a location behind DHS, outside the
area where the attractions are located.
That new show won't require the closing of attractions.

That said, if (IF) any fireworks start-time is at what otherwise is "park closing time," attraction entrances will close
to further admission at the start of the fireworks show.

Or... If the fireworks begin at a time earlier than "park closing time," attractions (not in the fireworks fallout area) will continue to operate during the fireworks show.

 

[Araminta18]

The CURRENT fireworks at DHS are fired from locations behind The Great Movie Ride (but still inside DHS) so, the attractions that are in that firing/fallout area are closed up to an hour before the fireworks begin.

When the NEW show begins this summer, those fireworks will be fired from a location behind DHS, outside the
area where the attractions are located.
That new show won't require the closing of attractions.

That said, if (IF) any fireworks start-time is at what otherwise is "park closing time," attraction entrances will close
to further admission at the start of the fireworks show.

Or... If the fireworks begin at a time earlier than "park closing time," attractions (not in the fireworks fallout area) will continue to operate during the fireworks show.

Thank you for the info! We're going to be there next week (it's my first time), so I wanted to make sure my plans would still work. We're planning dinner at 7 and then going to try and hit the Rockin Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror, which looks like it should be fine. *crosses fingers*

 

[SunnyKYLake]

For what it's worth (because I don't know how things are changing up) this is what we experience at the end of Feb: F! was packed out the night we went. We were with my mom in a wheelchair and couldn't risk moving her into the herd of wilderbeaste ... I mean guests exiting the show. So we waited, and waited, and waited ... finally the crowds thinned out enough (15 min?) to get her out.
We did go through the exit that they open up that comes out by Beauty and the Beast. Crowds were pretty well dispersed on Sunset by the time we got there (except at the restrooms - which we also had time to use before the fireworks began). We lingered on Sunset and claimed the first bench on the right after the intersection of Hollywood and Sunset.
Now, I admit I don't know if there was anything super cool that could only be seen from the Echo Lake area or Hollywood Blvd, but from that bench we watched the fireworks over the top of shops. We were happy as can be with our view.

So, I don't think you have to be to concerned with missing out on the fireworks - unless they do the upcoming fireworks differently.

 

[momof2n2]

For what it's worth (because I don't know how things are changing up) this is what we experience at the end of Feb: F! was packed out the night we went. We were with my mom in a wheelchair and couldn't risk moving her into the herd of wilderbeaste ... I mean guests exiting the show. So we waited, and waited, and waited ... finally the crowds thinned out enough (15 min?) to get her out.
We did go through the exit that they open up that comes out by Beauty and the Beast. Crowds were pretty well dispersed on Sunset by the time we got there (except at the restrooms - which we also had time to use before the fireworks began). We lingered on Sunset and claimed the first bench on the right after the intersection of Hollywood and Sunset.
Now, I admit I don't know if there was anything super cool that could only be seen from the Echo Lake area or Hollywood Blvd, but from that bench we watched the fireworks over the top of shops. We were happy as can be with our view.

So, I don't think you have to be to concerned with missing out on the fireworks - unless they do the upcoming fireworks differently.

This is a great example. Thank you.

 

[SunnyKYLake]

This is a great example. Thank you.

This is a great example. Thank you.

Welcome! I'm always trying to figure out timing too!

 

[jimandami]

The above strategy won't work next week though. Fantamsic is at 8:30 and the fireworks are at 9:15.

 

[momof2n2]

The above strategy won't work next week though. Fantamsic is at 8:30 and the fireworks are at 9:15.

Was there a bigger time gap in Feb?
What would you recommend now?

 

[jimandami]

Yes, in February there was an hour gap between the start of Fantasmic and the start of the fireworks, giving you an extra 15 minutes to wait out the crowds or whatever. If you have a stroller, I would do as Robo suggested and sit high in the theater and I would actually probably leave a couple minutes early...like maybe when the boat comes out with all the characters? You would likely to get a slight jump on the crowd that way.