Fireworks: Honest opinions...

[only hope]

September is no longer the slowest month of the year. It’s actually quite crowded now. We’re locals who always go in Sept and have found the past two years to be as crowded as December. Reports now are that the lowest (but still not low) crowds seem to be over the summer and maybe mid-Jan to Feb, except for holiday weeks. HEA and MK in general are a nightmare on non-party days, especially on Saturdays. If you can go on a weekday and don’t mind being halfway back Main Street or futher, you probably won’t have to show up early. I actually really like about halfway back MS. I hate waiting for things and I hate being stuck in the crowd leaving; I’d rather be at the front of that crowd. I can see the projections well enough, but always have to reposition a bit when it starts due to parents putting kids on their shoulders, like no one behind them is interested in seeing the castle. Never get a totally clear view but can see most of it. I prefer focusing on the fireworks anyways, and no ones tall enough to block the view of the sky.

So if you want a view, you don’t need the party. If you want a good view, you have to get there really early and hope no one in front of you picks kids up once it starts, or you have to book the garden party.

 

[deedubb]

One more thing to keep in mind if you decide to just stake out a spot instead of doing the party. No matter how good a spot you think you have, it will almost certainly change once it is close to show time. People will cram into that tiny space in front of you, someone will put their child on their shoulders right in front of you, and/or someone will stick their phone/iPad up above their head, right in your view, so they can tape the show. It never fails. It might be tolerable for an adult, but for a short child who is already struggling to see the show, it will ruin it.

 

[mshanson3121]

One more thing to keep in mind if you decide to just stake out a spot instead of doing the party. No matter how good a spot you think you have, it will almost certainly change once it is close to show time. People will cram into that tiny space in front of you, someone will put their child on their shoulders right in front of you, and/or someone will stick their phone/iPad up above their head, right in your view, so they can tape the show. It never fails. It might be tolerable for an adult, but for a short child who is already struggling to see the show, it will ruin it.

Good point. And I will not be able to hold her/pick her up.

 

[StageTek]

We love it where the cross is. There is a little ledge to sit on and there is no one in front of you.

 

[mshanson3121]

We love it where the cross is. There is a little ledge to sit on and there is no one in front of you.

How do you manage to not get anyone in front of you? The "seating area", that's Casey's, right?

Eta: is this the spot?

 

[gharter]

We have watched HEA several times. I would not spend the money on a dessert party.
We have gotten a spot on Main Street, around Caseys Corner as close to the front of the taped area as possible. A really good view and so far has been available about 30 minutes before HEA.
You really do need to be on Main Street to see the fireworks and the Castle projections.

 

[MainMom]

Honestly, if you are focused on value/budget/money of this party you will probably not enjoy it. I find that if I am struggling with how much I paid for something it kind of ruins the experience.

You cannot cancel this party the day of if it rains. You can't get a refund if you don't feel well that day and don't want to go anymore.

In September I don't see a reason why you can't find a spot and just sit and hold it until the show starts. That's when they make you stand.

On the other hand, some of our favorite trip memories involve the dessert parties. We've done MK twice and HS once. We enjoyed them very much, but I don't go in trying to maximize the value or worth of it.

Just think on it and if you can swing paying for it now at least you don't get handed a bill at the event.

My son was sick. We called and told them that. They refunded all 6 of us.

 

[robinb]

You have a lot of challenges. I think if you splurged on the party you would be significantly more comfortable during the fireworks. Plus, the bathroom is right there.

 

[StageTek]

How do you manage to not get anyone in front of you? The "seating area", that's Casey's, right?

If you stand right at the little ledge (even have little kids stand on the ledge) there is no one in front of you. Yes, the "seating area" is the seating for Casey's.

 

[glocon]

Plus, the bathroom is right there.

I was wondering about that- is there a restroom available at the dessert party?

 

[disneygirlsng]

I've seen HEA several times and each time I've been able to find a very good spot in the hub 15-20 minutes before show time. Did the dessert party the first time I saw it. While it was nice, I wouldn't do it again simply because I've been able to get spots that are just as good (if not better) for free and little wait. If you want to do it for the experience, go for it. But I definitely wouldn't do it again just to get a spot.

 

[mshanson3121]

If you stand right at the little ledge (even have little kids stand on the ledge) there is no one in front of you. Yes, the "seating area" is the seating for Casey's.

I'm assuming it would be a good spot for the party fireworks and stage show, too?

 

[maxiesmom]

OP I think you should splurge on a dessert party. No matter when you go, the area in front of the castle will be packed during fireworks. No matter which fireworks you go to see, if you watch from behind the castle, you do miss out on some projections.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm assuming it would be a good spot for the party fireworks and stage show, too?

That's a great fireworks spot, but too far back for any stage show.

 

[Tomh]

We have found the crowds for HEA to be miserable, and I'm not terribly bothered by crowds. I never had a problem standing in the hub for Wishes, but this show really concentrates everyone right in front of the castle.

Usually, we go into the Plaza Gardens West. It still gets crowded, but not as bad as it does out in the hub.

With your situation though, I would probably not want to be in that sea of people. I would suggest either going with the dessert party, or perhaps paying to valet park at either the Poly, or the Grand Floridian for the day. In that way, you could take one of the boat launches back to the resort a while before the fireworks, and watch either from the beach at the Poly, or the dock at the Grand Floridian.

 

[jenPSU]

If you stand right at the little ledge (even have little kids stand on the ledge) there is no one in front of you. Yes, the "seating area" is the seating for Casey's.

How early do you stake out that spot?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I was wondering about that- is there a restroom available at the dessert party?

There is a restroom right next to the Tomorrowland Terrace where the dessert party takes place. The Plaza Garden is also very close to these same restrooms.

 

[holden]

If you only want to see the fireworks, Poly, GF and Bat Lake Towers all have good views. We watched Hallowishes from our balcony at GF last fall. The view was fantastic. There’s a large area with limited seating that has a good view (that area was right below our window).

 

[bigbabyblues]

We found a spot between close to the Ice Cream Parlor last June right around the time they were putting the tape lines down in that area. Toes up to the tape, which had created a walkway between the Ice Cream Parlor and Caseys. There were people in front of us, but the walkway was a nice gap so we weren't close to the people in front of us, if that makes sense. There were a lot of people behind us, but no one is allowed to stand in the walkway and it helped not feel as crowded.

Honestly, we were very disappointed with HEA and won't bother again. The dessert parties look like fun, but we are 2 adults and 2 older teens (Disney adults), and one of my kids doesn't eat sweets/junk food (by choice), so it wouldn't be worth it at all for us.

We found a very similar spot to watch the SW Fireworks at HS, and it worked really well too.

 

[mshanson3121]

We found a very similar spot to watch the SW Fireworks at HS, and it worked really well too.

How crowded are the SW fireworks normally?