Fireworks and ferry boat

[bluejeansmum]

Has anyone watched the fireworks from the ferry boat leaving Magic Kingdom? Is there a big crowd to try to get on to watch them from the ferry? Or do people generally stick around if they are still there at fireworks time? We are going to be leaving dinner right around 8:45 and I want to get back to the Polynesian before the crowds head out after the fireworks. I'm hoping the ferry won't be too crowded and we can still see the fireworks. Thanks!

 

[popy]

You can see some of them, no music and the ferry keeps moving changing your veiwing area. All in all not as good as a stationary vewing point but the night ride is nice.

 

[popy]

Oh the boat gets full so, get in back or front of the ferry. You will miss most of the show, I was disappointed.

 

[mom2rtk]

The night we watched from TTC, lots of folks getting off the ferry stopped on the dock to watch. Some said they timed it that way for a great view and a quick getaway.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

If you are going to the Poly, you can just take the resort boat back. They are never as crowded as the big Ferry to the TTC. I have even had the boat captain stop and let us watch the fireworks from the lagoon when heading back to the Poly. Not sure why you would need the Ferry if going to a WDW resort. Good luck!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We did what the pp talked about. We took the resort launch and it's a decent view although the launch turns a couple times so don't sit in the seats that face outwards in one direction.

 

[Accident]

Is your dinner in Magic Kingdom?.. Even if eating at tony's there is no chance you can get back to the poly dock before they happen unless it's scheduled for 10pm when finishing dinner at 8:45ish..

 

[bluejeansmum]

If you are going to the Poly, you can just take the resort boat back. They are never as crowded as the big Ferry to the TTC. I have even had the boat captain stop and let us watch the fireworks from the lagoon when heading back to the Poly. Not sure why you would need the Ferry if going to a WDW resort. Good luck!

Great idea!!! I think we will try this!

 

[bluejeansmum]

Is your dinner in Magic Kingdom?.. Even if eating at tony's there is no chance you can get back to the poly dock before they happen unless it's scheduled for 10pm when finishing dinner at 8:45ish..

I think I will be praying that an earlier reservation comes up so we can head back sooner!

 

[Accident]

I have to ask something. If your in the magic kingdom already, why the rush to the poly to see the fireworks?

 

[bluejeansmum]

I have to ask something. If your in the magic kingdom already, why the rush to the poly to see the fireworks?

We are planning to be there for rope drop at 8 AM, go back to Poly mid day for a break and then go back to MK late afternoon to fit in a little more and dinner at Crystal Palace. My kids are 5 and 8 and I'm thinking the day is going to be full enough without trying to see the fireworks from the park. If we can be on the way or back at Poly to see fireworks, I can get them in bed at a decent hour without dealing with the park crowds. If they take a nap midday, we might be able to hang around the park later. That would be ideal!

 

[Accident]

We are planning to be there for rope drop at 8 AM, go back to Poly mid day for a break and then go back to MK late afternoon to fit in a little more and dinner at Crystal Palace. My kids are 5 and 8 and I'm thinking the day is going to be full enough without trying to see the fireworks from the park. If we can be on the way or back at Poly to see fireworks, I can get them in bed at a decent hour without dealing with the park crowds. If they take a nap midday, we might be able to hang around the park later. That would be ideal!

if you can't find a way to make it.. you should be able to make your way to main street near the train station. Monorail and ferry will already have a pretty good crowd before you even finish dinner but the resort boat is usually empty right as they end. I would (and have) watched near the train station and then head directly to the resort boat exiting on the town hall side (right if the castle is to your back). you'll pass the monorail entrance to look up and see if there is a more than 1 monorail worth of people waiting which will be faster than the boat and decide if that is better and use the resort boat if it's not.

 

[bluejeansmum]

if you can't find a way to make it.. you should be able to make your way to main street near the train station. Monorail and ferry will already have a pretty good crowd before you even finish dinner but the resort boat is usually empty right as they end. I would (and have) watched near the train station and then head directly to the resort boat exiting on the town hall side (right if the castle is to your back). you'll pass the monorail entrance to look up and see if there is a more than 1 monorail worth of people waiting which will be faster than the boat and decide if that is better and use the resort boat if it's not.

Thank you so much!! This is very helpful!!

 

[dreiwhit]

We've watched them from the MK and TTC ferry docks, and on the ferry itself.

Definitely not as crowded as inside the MK and I thought the view was better. Give it a try.

 

[Klayfish]

if you can't find a way to make it.. you should be able to make your way to main street near the train station. Monorail and ferry will already have a pretty good crowd before you even finish dinner but the resort boat is usually empty right as they end. I would (and have) watched near the train station and then head directly to the resort boat exiting on the town hall side (right if the castle is to your back). you'll pass the monorail entrance to look up and see if there is a more than 1 monorail worth of people waiting which will be faster than the boat and decide if that is better and use the resort boat if it's not.

Have you found that you can find a good viewing spot for the fireworks from the "back" of Main St? Our experience is that the train station is usually packed, people camp that spot out. Also, that has always been one of the challenges of watching fireworks in MK if you're off site...getting back to the TTC. The monorail line gets really, really long and the main ferry also gets packed. Could we take the Poly ferry and then just walk to the TTC? Would that be quicker?

OP, to answer your question, yes, we have purposefully timed watching the fireworks from the ferry that runs from MK to TTC. As noted, your view will change as the boat moves and there is no music. However, typically the boat isn't that packed as the fireworks are actually happening, as most people are either camped out in the park, or already at TTC ferry landing to watch, so you can get a good view. On a nice night, the breeze of the moving boat along with the view of the fireworks (without a massive crowd) make it very, very pleasant. We really enjoyed it. When we got to the TTC dock, we waited for most everyone to exit the boat, then hurried off and watched the rest from the dock.

 

[Accident]

Have you found that you can find a good viewing spot for the fireworks from the "back" of Main St? Our experience is that the train station is usually packed, people camp that spot out. Also, that has always been one of the challenges of watching fireworks in MK if you're off site...getting back to the TTC. The monorail line gets really, really long and the main ferry also gets packed. Could we take the Poly ferry and then just walk to the TTC? Would that be quicker?

What I've noticed is the pattern seems to have changed this year. People are sitting until being asked to stop sitting up until about 10 minutes before the show, when they stand, it makes a lot of room for more people so the crowd is rarely past starbucks these days.. some stop and turn around to watch but it's not camping out like it was in the past and you can have a nice comfortable spot to see the fireworks and be at the head of the rush out.. It's also created a pain in the *** to get through the hub and down main street, even if using the store to cut through.

My suggestion was just if they find themselves without enough time to get to where they would prefer to be.. Also it doesnt' take into account that on may 12 it's no longer just fireworks and the way they are talking about projections, I suspect it might be a show you don't want to watch if you can't see the castle. Crossing my fingers it's still a fireworks show but all the patterns lately is they want to do a 15 minute short with some pyro and minor fireworks and have turn other fireworks shows into that already.

 

[Klayfish]

Thanks. What are your thoughts on using the Poly ferry to get back to the TTC? Is it less crowded? Does it drop you off close enough to make it a short walk back to the TTC?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks. What are your thoughts on using the Poly ferry to get back to the TTC? Is it less crowded? Does it drop you off close enough to make it a short walk back to the TTC?

It's an option if needed depending on your plan I guess. The Poly resort launch is a tiny fraction the size of the TTC ferry. It shares a route with GF, so from the MK you stop at GF first, then Poly, then back to MK. The walk from the Poly boat dock to the TTC is in the 5-10 minute range depending on your pace. I haven't actually timed that route but making an educated guess. It's close - but not "steps away" close.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree, the Poly launch is way smaller than the Ferry. I would even worry that it would fill to capacity and I would have to wait for the next launch.
The walk is a bit of a hike from the TTC

 

[Klayfish]

Great, thanks for letting me know. We've never tried it, so I had no idea what it was like or where it goes. Frankly, we haven't had any MAJOR issues getting out of MK, even after fireworks. We're pretty good at bolting out of there and beating most of the crowd, but it's always good to explore other options.