fireworks from all about

[dvccruiser]

Is there any place outside dl park that you can see the fireworks like restaurants or rooftops bars anything other then hotel rooms .Fireworks only happening the sat we get there but will not get to hotel till about 2 really dont want to usea pass for that day. and can see fantasmic on sunday.
Thanks for your time .

 

[newfamilyman]

If you don't mind paying $10, the rooftop of the Mickey and Friends parking lot provides a fantastic spot for viewing the fireworks.

 

[ArielsMelody]

I know it sounds crazy but it is ABSOLUTELY worth it to use a pass to see the fireworks! The 50th anniversary fireworks "Remember, Dreams Come True" cannot be appreciated for the incredible experience they are unless you are in the park in front of the castle. From anywhere outside of the park you cannot hear the narration or music and will miss more than half of the experience. In fact, the fireworks themselves are not really at all impressive from outside the park. (I've seen them from Mickey and Friends.) But in front of the castle the experience will be one of the highlights of your trip. In fact, if you've seen Fantasmic! before in WDW, or are planning another trip to WDW or DL, I would pass it up just to see "Remember, Dreams Come True."

I know I sound crazy but seriously, I usually can take or leave Disney fireworks. I usually use the time to get some good rides in. But these fireworks are the highlight of my day in DL and so far I've seen them 5 times. If you get to the park by 2:30 or 3:00 you'll still have plenty of time and it won't be a waste. The park is small enough that you don't need to be there when it opens everyday.

Have a great trip and have fun!

Ariel

 

[Eeyorecln]

I agree the Fireworks were the highlight of our trip. My DH complained about sitting around for an hour when he already(in his opinion) saw the fireworks from DCA the night before. Of course once the show started he quickly ate his words. He was still talking about them the drive home. The special effects and music/narration really make the show otherwise it's just fireworks like any other fireworks. In fact the fireworks were the highlight of our trip. My youngest just sat in his stroller enraptured.

 

[Earstou]

Have to agree with the other posters, you really need to see the show from in front of the castle. We usually skip the fireworks to catch slow time on the rides, but this year I wanted to see the special 50th fireworks. I wouldn't recommend skipping it. We kept talking about it for days afterwards. It was truly awesome!!!

 

[kmsandrbs]

I'll agree with the others that it is best to see the show where you can see the castle and hear the narration.

But if you cannot ...

We had a good view of the fireworks from the Downtown Disney parking lot (which is free for <3 hours, I think, or for that time with validation). We were in the right-hand side (as you come in) lot. We saw it accidentally from there.

Also, I believe many have watched it from the esplanade between the two parks. You have to go through security, but you do not need to use a pass. Sit back as far as you can (right by the letters in "California") to minimize the monorail blocking your view.

If the fireworks by any chance are also going on Sunday ... if you get a good spot to see Fantasmic down by the water in the center or toward Haunted Mansion, you will have a good view of the fireworks and will hear the narration (and there are a few small effects on the water that go with the fireworks), but will miss the castle effects.

 

[Michelle2]

Eeyorecln, (or anyone else who knows?) I have a question. You had said that your youngest was enraptured watching the fireworks in his stroller...were you in the front somewhere where people could not block his/her view? I guess this is my worry, my youngest kids not being able to see with tall adults standing right in front of them..especially if you are right there at the castle and have to look UP. If you were in the front, how early did you have to be in order to secure the greatest fireworks spots in front of the castle??
Thanks, I just want to know when I need to stake out our seats.
And do they make you sit on the ground?
Thanks!

 

[NezzieRella]

I am also wondering where a good location would be, we will be there next week on Sept 7, 8, & 9, and only have the 9th to see the fireworks. I'll be with DH & DD(21 mos) and have read on other posts about the "hub". Can someone explain what and/or where that is to me? Thanks!

SO EXCITED FOR OUR TRIP!!!!

 

[colbybug]

I would REALLY love to see both - is that possible? We'll be there Friday 9/23 and Fantasmic is at 9:00 and the fireworks are at 9:30? Is it realistic to think that we can RUN from one to the other? If not, which one would y'all choose???? SO many decisions....

Bug

 

[Michelle2]

I have heard that there is no way with the crowds to get from Fantasmic over to the hub in front of the castle...They are pretty grid-locked in there around the Rivers of America, and the fireworks start pretty much right after Fantasmic ends. BUT you can see a pretty decent shot of the fireworks from Frontierland, and know that alot of people do see the fireworks from there after Fantasmic ends.

In my opinion though, and Arielsmelody has stated this already, if you have seen Fantasmic at WDW, or are going to WDW or DL sometime in the future, and only have time or opportunity to see one, skip Fantasmic and see the fireworks. They will show Fantasmic again for awhile, but the fireworks are a limited time thing....I personally cannot wait to see them!!!

 

[HaleyB]

I am also wondering where a good location would be, we will be there next week on Sept 7, 8, & 9, and only have the 9th to see the fireworks. I'll be with DH & DD(21 mos) and have read on other posts about the "hub". Can someone explain what and/or where that is to me? Thanks!

SO EXCITED FOR OUR TRIP!!!!

You can't miss it. It is a 'traffic circle' right in front of the castle at the end of Main Street. All the lands have an exit into it except 'Toon Town'.

How is your daughter with loud sounds and chaos? The fireworks are right over head and I have to say I found it a bit too close for comfort. You can feel the heat from the fire. And it was wall to wall people in the hub.

Really cool to see, but next time I think I will view it from a bit farther away.

 

[HaleyB]

Just read OP's question...

I thought the fireworks were every night. They were when we went in July. I can't remember for sure if that is true year round. I guess I am getting old. I feel like they were every night (I could see DL's fireworks from my driveway as a child) back when I lived in Brea, but that was a long time ago. Oh my gosh, that was almost 20 years ago. I am old.

 

[NezzieRella]

You can't miss it. It is a 'traffic circle' right in front of the castle at the end of Main Street. All the lands have an exit into it except 'Toon Town'.

How is your daughter with loud sounds and chaos? The fireworks are right over head and I have to say I found it a bit too close for comfort. You can feel the heat from the fire. And it was wall to wall people in the hub.

Really cool to see, but next time I think I will view it from a bit farther away.

HaleyB,

Thanks for the info. That's where I figured the hub was, I just wanted to make sure and what better place to ask questions than here with all the disney experts!

Also, thanks for pointing out how close that would be to the action. I want to be close enough to see what's on the castle but far enough so that DD won't be scared. It will be her first experience with big fireworks. On the 4th of July she did NOT like the small loud ones that our neighbors were setting off. I'm hoping & keeping my fingers crossed that she'll be okay with these! She likes them when we watch the Disneyland DVD, we'll just have to wait and see how she reacts to the real thing!

Can't wait!!

 

[brenda1966]

LAst time I saw the fireworks in WDW we were right in front of the castle and honestly it was too close. Everyone sat though so you didn't have to worry about anyone blocking your kid's view.

The prospect of standing in the hub and looking up doesn't thrill me. What about further back, down mainstreet? Is that too far away? Do they let people sit/stand in the street to watch? Any good spots near the hub?

 

[HaleyB]

LAst time I saw the fireworks in WDW we were right in front of the castle and honestly it was too close. Everyone sat though so you didn't have to worry about anyone blocking your kid's view.

The prospect of standing in the hub and looking up doesn't thrill me. What about further back, down mainstreet? Is that too far away? Do they let people sit/stand in the street to watch? Any good spots near the hub?

People sit on the street all around the hub and aways up Main Street. These new fireworks are really cool, but there is an effect with jets of fire that go up all around the hub. That is what scared my kids. The castle lighting effects are great too and if you are too far back you can't really see it. Tinkerbell has a whole new flight pattern and is much easier to see no. I was sort of sad to see the old Tinkerbell go...

The right viewing spot is a combination of factors. Being up close and in the hub is well worth it IF it is not going to scare your kids. Being back down Main Street is better for not being scary but I am not sure how much of the show will be blocked. It is hard to see much of the castle from down MS because of the wall of people in the way. Still this may be the best choice if you don't think your kids can handle the flame jets.

If you do go into the hub get there early and secure a clear view of the castle. So find a spot in front of those trees. The flame shoots over the crowd along the edges of the hub area (they are high up, but they feel close) so center of the hub is better than edges.

Next time we go I really want to try to view from the Main Street Train platform. I think that might be ideal viewing. Lots of people have the same idea so you need to go up there and camp on a spot pretty early.

 

[Michelle2]

That was the info I needed HaleyB, thank you! I was wondering how and if the trees all in the hub (even the ones in the center) would block any views from further back....hmm I don't know what to do now....

Can you see the fire jets from way back at the Main Street Train depot?? What about the projections on the castle? Can you see them from way back there? I had heard you didnt see them or Tink as well as in the main hub.

I have a 3 year old, so I really do not know if the hub would be too close to scare him or not....I don't know what to do or think now...
I only have one shot to see the fireworks while I am there too, so I want to try and get an ideal spot as possible for my kids to have the best view.

 

[kmsandrbs]

Our 6 month, 4 year, and 6 year olds had no problems with any of the elements from the fireworks show when we went and sat/stood in the hub but, of course, YMMV.