Fireworks and Parks at Night

[MouseEarsJenny]

So, one thing we've never done is enjoy any of the parks after dark. (As a family - DH and I did see Fantasmic! once.)

What's cool to see after dark? Which fireworks are the best? Where should we stand to watch them?

I don't have a plan for any evening (we're getting our major touring done before lunch each day) other than dinners. So what should we do, now that our kids can probably last until dark?

Is it insomnia when you're "too excited to sleep" for 39 days??

 

[Robo]

You may be sorry you asked, because I have quite a bit of info:

Wishes:

If all you want to see is FIREWORKS, you can stand at MOST areas in the MK.
(And a wide variety of places OUTSIDE the MK.)

But if you are NOT at CERTAIN SPECIFIC LOCATIONS, you will MISS the "full impact" of the SHOW called "Wishes".

Wishes has two fireworks "STAGES":
One fires its missiles from a location FAR BEHIND any public area of MK.
The other fires its missiles from the ROOF-TOPS of Fantasyland/Liberty Square/the Castle.
The guests' VIEWING ANGLE will affect "if and how" these two stages can be viewed together (they are designed to be viewed "together".)

There is a full AUDIO TRACK that is synchronized with the fireworks.
It is the "motivation" for the unique fireworks effects that change with each MOOD and SECTION of the audio track.

The audio, and positioning of the two fireworks "stages" relative to the viewer will affect the impact of the show.

The front of the CASTLE ITSELF is part of the "show".
There is an elaborate lighting system that is used to change the color of the castle to suit each MOOD, and even "textures" and shapes are projected on the castle at key points in the show (Mickey's Sorcerer's HAT is a great one).

Tinkerbell's flight (which used to take place PRIOR to the old fireworks show at MK) is now WITHIN "Wishes". She doesn't fly EVERY night, but she OFTEN flies and you should be in a position to see her.

The SWEET-SPOT for Wishes is: starting from approx. the "bridge to Tomorrowland" ...on up Main Street to the "Main Street Cinema" (Pal Mickey Store).
That is simply the "optimum viewing" area.

There are MANY other places to watch, but they are all compromises that diminish the "full effect" of the show in one way or more:

Some have little or no SOUND.
Some have obstructed views of the fireworks.
Some only allow viewing of one of the two fireworks "stages".
Some places (like the Main Street train station) don't turn off the lights in the area, so there will likely be lights in your field-of-vision.
Some don't allow a view of the castle-front and/or Tinkerbell when she flies.

So, if you don't MIND this, you can choose from a multitude of "viewing spots" throughout the MK.

My point is that the show is designed for "FULL EFFECT" to be seen from the "Sweet spot" areas I described. (But, yes, those can be C-R-O-W-D-E-D!)

Wishes is the only fireworks show that can be (for the most part) seen from outside the presenting park.
Good viewing can be found at the beach of the Polynesian Resort (walk along the sidewalk there until you see a view of the castle unobstructed by trees.)
The Ohana restaurant at the Poly offers good views (and they pipe in the audio of the show). Same goes for the California Grill Restaurant (and outdoor terrace) at the Contemporary Resort.
At Grand Floridian, "Narcoossee's" is the restaurant with the MK and Wishes views (and sound).

The MK parking lot (TTC) offers views, as well as do other outdoor spots for several miles in any direction of MK. But without the sound, you miss a lot of the "show".
Best analogy:
Sitting across the highway from a Drive-In Theater and "watching the movie" with binoculars. You can do it, but it LACKS something.

-----------------------------------

IllumiNations:

Great viewing from:
Bridge between UK and France (under this bridge is where the so-called "IllumiNations Cruise" boats view the show.

The plaza area on the water (lagoon) at Italy.

Near Norway is prime.

Area to left of UK "Pub" (this is also near a roped-off Wheelchair viewing area.)

Front area of WS near the "twin gift shops" (very crowded here). Many times guests are asked to SIT on the pavement so others behind them can see.

Actually too many "good" spots to list.
Just remember that you don't want to stand under tree-limbs (obstructed sky-views) or DOWN-WIND of all that fireworks fall-out and SMOKE.

"Outside the park " viewing:
MOST of effects of IllumiNations take place ON (or just a few feet above) the surface of the water of the WS lagoon.
Except for the very first "Comet" firework effect, and several other major "sky-blasts" (some quite LOUD), IllumiNations can't really be enjoyed from outside Epcot's World Showcase.
One favorite outside spot to view the few "sky-blasts" is on the bridge coming toward Epcot's International Gateway from the Boardwalk Resort. You can't hear any of the music track, which is a very important part of the show.
You can't see very much either, and there will be very long periods of time where you see nothing at all.
-----------------------------------

Fantasmic!:

Simple. The show is all about STORY.
You "must" see it from inside the Fantasmic! Amphitheater to appreciate the show.
Arrive early (45-70 minutes before show-time) to get seats closer to front and center, but this is a HUGE show and can be enjoyed from most anywhere in the theater.
On nights when there are two showings, the second one will virtually always be much less crowded and easier to sit closer to front-and-center (if you want.)
The final "sky-blast" fireworks can be seen from outside the theater (on the parking lot side of MGM) but not really worth making a trip to see them.

 

[MagikMom]

We have a couple of favorites to share with you.
Spectromagic parade at MK: This is a night time parade that starts before wishes. It's beatiful! All the floats and characters are lit up.
Illuminations at Epcot: This is a must see! It is done at the Epcot countries. It's a laser show as well as fireworks.

 

[Hobbes]

I agree with all the above, but I will add, if you get more than one chance to see Wishes, and don't mind not seeing Tink strut her stuff go reound to fantasyland to watch-the fireworks are going off literally over your head, its the most amazing spectacle I've ever seen. For Spectromagic, you will need to grab a viewing spot around an hour beforehand (Yup, afraid so), round in Frontierland is less crowded, and you can stake out a spot near Splash Mountain.

 

[BrlDsguise]

I am going to Orlando this weekend on a business trip. I was planning on going to Epcot on Sunday but was wondering if it is possible to see both Illuminations (at 9:00PM) and Wishes (at 10:00PM) on the same night.

Anyone ever tried it? Any advice would be appreciated.

Wayne

BrlDsguise@aol.com

 

[Robo]

I am going to Orlando this weekend on a business trip. I was planning on going to Epcot on Sunday but was wondering if it is possible to see both Illuminations (at 9:00PM) and Wishes (at 10:00PM) on the same night.

Anyone ever tried it? Any advice would be appreciated.

Wayne

BrlDsguise@aol.com

With the crowds leaving after IllumiNations, it would be very "tight".

>>I'm EDITING back in here to say that since Sunday is MK EMH night, there may be MANY MORE guests on the monorail from Epcot to MK than usual.
You might have trouble getting over to TTC in time... something to consider.<<

Best bet would be to watch IllumiNations from the FRONT area of World Showcase (near the bridge to Future World.
Then, as soon as IllumiNations ends, jog to the monorail station and ride to TTC (its the only other stop that the Epcot monorail makes). You might have to wait for a train or two... if it takes too long waiting, you're "done-for".

Get off that monorail and (unless you have over 20 minutes before the 10pm Wishes) do NOT go to MK.

If you have less than 20 minutes, Just walk down by the lake at TTC and find the clearest view of the castle and watch the show from the TTC area.

The beach at the Poly resort is also nearby so, if you have time to walk over to it, watch Wishes from there.

You may not have the SOUND piped-in where you are viewing (sometimes its there) but the fireworks are spectacular at this distance (almost better than from inside the park)! But inside MK, the sound is better and the "castle effects" are better,

If you are at TTC and have a full 20 minutes before 10pm, you COULD try to ride the express monorail to MK, go through security, go through the front gates and get to find some reasonalbe spot to watch Wishes.
Remember that they DON'T turn off the lights of Main Street up near the train stationh during Wishes, so if yoiu watch from that end off the street, you will likely have lights in your field-of-vision.

 

[Albertan mom]

Subscribing.....

What rides are great at night?

At DL, we love to ride at night:
Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain, Matterhorn, SunWheel, Tower of Terror etc..

Plus many others that are only at DL.

What WDW rides are great at night?

 

[MinMouse]

So, one thing we've never done is enjoy any of the parks after dark. (As a family - DH and I did see Fantasmic! once.)

What's cool to see after dark? Which fireworks are the best? Where should we stand to watch them?

I don't have a plan for any evening (we're getting our major touring done before lunch each day) other than dinners. So what should we do, now that our kids can probably last until dark?

Our family loves Wishes. We have watched it from a variety of places. But I would say we enjoyed directly facing the castle at the end of Main St. The entire street fills up but that's our favorite spot. I cry every time.

Fantasmic is right up there too. We prefer to do a ADR dinner at either H&V or MM so we have a guaranteed seat and don't have to be herded in like cattle. This does give you a seat on the near side of the theater as you walk in so it is not a middle of the theater seat. We've sat in the front rows all the way to the top. We like sitting up a little higher and don't mind the side view that comes with the ADR for dinner. WE figure we have to eat anyway and it gets us a seat to the show.

Illuminations would be our least favorite. It's very loud and DD11 has always been "noise" sensitive. I'm glad she is able to tolerate the other shows (usually with her hands over her ears!).

Have fun in WDW after dark!

 

[Hobbes]

Subscribing.....

What rides are great at night?

BTMR and Splash, Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, Carrousel-just looks extra pretty at night-and Haunted mansion. Its weird but going in from the dark, and then coming back out into the dark make it extra spooky-ooky

 

[GarrettJD]

If you've already seen Wishes once and have an extra night in the MK, and if the park stays open that night after Wishes (say, Wishes is at 10:00 and the park closes at 11:00), head to Big Thunder Mountain and ride it while Wishes is going on. There's usually no line then, plus the fireworks going off over your head while on the ride is a great experience. This happened to us two years ago. Just make sure you don't see Wishes like this the first time.

 

[BrlDsguise]

With the crowds leaving after IllumiNations, it would be very "tight".

>>I'm EDITING back in here to say that since Sunday is MK EMH night, there may be MANY MORE guests on the monorail from Epcot to MK than usual.
You might have trouble getting over to TTC in time... something to consider.<<

Best bet would be to watch IllumiNations from the FRONT area of World Showcase (near the bridge to Future World.
Then, as soon as IllumiNations ends, jog to the monorail station and ride to TTC (its the only other stop that the Epcot monorail makes). You might have to wait for a train or two... if it takes too long waiting, you're "done-for".

Get off that monorail and (unless you have over 20 minutes before the 10pm Wishes) do NOT go to MK.

If you have less than 20 minutes, Just walk down by the lake at TTC and find the clearest view of the castle and watch the show from the TTC area.

The beach at the Poly resort is also nearby so, if you have time to walk over to it, watch Wishes from there.

You may not have the SOUND piped-in where you are viewing (sometimes its there) but the fireworks are spectacular at this distance (almost better than from inside the park)! But inside MK, the sound is better and the "castle effects" are better,

If you are at TTC and have a full 20 minutes before 10pm, you COULD try to ride the express monorail to MK, go through security, go through the front gates and get to find some reasonalbe spot to watch Wishes.
Remember that they DON'T turn off the lights of Main Street up near the train stationh during Wishes, so if yoiu watch from that end off the street, you will likely have lights in your field-of-vision.

Thanks for the advice - I was also considering looking for a vantage point without going to the MK so that sounds like the way I should go.

Wayne

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Wow! Thanks all for the great information!!! Anything besides fireworks we can only experience after dark??

 

[Twinprincesses]

I have been going to Disney for years and Wishes is just a amazing fireworks display!!!

 

[Hobbes]

Wow! Thanks all for the great information!!! Anything besides fireworks we can only experience after dark??

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