Fireworks: OOOH! AAAH! NOOO WAY?

[ReluctantDisaholic]

I don't like fireworks anywhere but at WDW. There, I love them

 

[ArielDreams]

I dislike fireworks in general for 2 reasons - a) I have sensitive ears and hate loud noises and b) I'm also pyrophobic and am always afraid things will catch on fire (same reasons I detest thunderstorms). I have to be forced to go to them on 4th of July. One of my earliest Disney memories when I was 5 years old was my dad carrying me all the way from the World Showcase to the Epcot parking lot with me screaming during whatever fireworks show they had in 1990.

Now, as an adult, I'm pretty cool with Illuminations because (as someone earlier said) there's more to it than just fireworks. It's also quite relaxing to sip on a cocktail around the World Showcase and take in the ambiance. I don't really consider Fantasmic a fireworks show because it's so minimal - this is a must see for me every time. We always go to the second showing if available and arrive as close to start as possible. And I have yet to see Wishes - perfect time to go on rides!

 

[eeyorepixie]

Well I like Disney fireworks but my middle daughter who is now a teen HATES them and gets close to hysterical when they go off. So we do anything we can to avoid them. She can deal with them from the POLY beach though. LOL! OP I feel the way you do about fireworks about Fantasmic.

 

[DVCcurious]

I wonder if any vets have PTSD when they hear/see fireworks. I'd imagine that could be a real problem for some of them.

 

[Tomh]

Love the fireworks. Sometimes I brave the crowds, other times I stake out a spot a bit off the beaten path where there is plenty of room. As for the crowds leaving after the show, I generally stick around in the park until that craziness has cleared out.

 

[kwdw]

I really like Wishes - but I can only deal with the crowds once during a trip. It is fun to watch them from Fantasyland sometimes - but the framing with the castle is really nice. The off angles we used to like are now blocked by those stupid new towers they put in. The projection stuff on the castle beforehand? Simply too long. It's kinda cool for those who haven't seen it a million times - but it's long. We did like the 3-D presents and happy face fireworks that we saw the night of the Christmas party - but I don't think those fireworks types are in the regular show yet. I also find all the cell phones/cameras held above heads really annoying. I'm pretty tall - and holding your arm above your head blocks my view, too. So - I get it why short people might not like the fireworks!

As for the ones at Epcot and HS - blah. They REALLY need a new show at Epcot. That world globe thing with the pictures? BORING - and not novel technology anymore. And you can't watch that from farther away. Fantasmic - there is NO way I am waiting in that uncomfortable theater in advance for an hour! The pre-show stuff is ANNOYING - loud, stupid, and frankly - one of the reasons we rarely go. If it's not full yet about 20 minutes before the show - we might go - but otherwise - blah. Story line is just not that clear and if you aren't seated to get a good view of one of the water shows - it's just a blurry picture.

 

[Micca]

I am completely over fireworks, except the ones at WDW. I think Disney does a better job with the music and effects, and the presentations are just about the right length. I've lived in a couple of places where the city but on a huge display that went waaaaay too long.

But I am with those who don't want to deal the the huge crowds of people exiting the park after the shows, and I'm sure not gonna stake out a spot way ahead of time. Top Of The World Lounge is a nice spot for Wishes.

 

[SoCalTrojanSkip]

Personally,
I love *certain* fireworks shows, more than others. I love the Disneyland 4th of July and Christmas Fireworks and I loved Believe and the the 50th Fireworks. I'm not a huge fan of wishes, but I do enjoy the MNSSHP Fireworks show. I'll also watch just about any other random fireworks show out there if there is one playing.

My fiancee on the other hand, doesn't really care for them at all, and any trip we take to WDW (usually for the Halloween Party) usually involves some degree of negotiation in order for us to stop and actually watch the. This was not an issue this year as I was pretty sick the night of our MNSSHP and ended up having to be pushed around in a WC by her...so I didn't really get much of a say on when we stopped.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

I don't see the appeal either. My husband's family loves them though, when we visited Disney World with the inlaws they insisted that we had to watch the fireworks. We finally got to the point that I told them, "you stay here and wait for your fireworks, I'm going to go do something fun". And Christmas lights, they love Christmas lights too. Bright flashy lights trigger my migraines, that's my excuse for being such a Debbie Downer about fireworks and lights.

 

[niffer5150]

i like disney fireworks for the most part but certainly not enough to stake out a spot or anything. i'm far happier just finding a spot out of the way, partial view or whatever, and just seeing them that way if the mood strikes me. i only feel the need to see most of a show once a trip, at most. i really prefer to ride rides since they are often less trafficked at those times. i can see fireworks at home so it's much more important to me to soak up all the stuff i may never see again.

 

[Klinger13]

I wonder if any vets have PTSD when they hear/see fireworks. I'd imagine that could be a real problem for some of them.

My DH is an Iraq war vet and when we were first dating, he did not do well with fireworks. We saw some up in Providence RI at the time and he couldn't sleep for a couple of days afterwards. Of course it didn't help that his idiot sister asked him if the sound reminded him of being over in Iraq. Ugh!!

He does better with fireworks now, 8 years later, but we don't go out of our way to see them.

 

[BroganMc]

Am I alone in my "I can't stand fireworks" stance? I just don't get it.
- Craning your neck to look up at the sky (plus I'm a short person so my vantage point is the back of someone)
- Staking out a spot and having to "defend" it! (If that's the case I'd carry a sword! I like to picture Main Street full of pirates battling it out )
- People holding up cameras, phones, IPads to video the fireworks... seriously are you really, truly going to go home and sit at your computer and watch this video? I can just see someone...alone at home... OOOH! AAAH! So pretty!!! well it's just not the same....
- When the fireworks start people all over the park stop dead... and look up like a giant space ship is hovering above the park waiting to be beamed up. ok those are fireworks keep moving.....
-The exit after... all the exhausted masses moving oh....so.....slowly....toward the single exit.... and the lines for all transportation....

I love it when people post something like this and I have the perfect answer why I film all fireworks shows (at Disney and elsewhere).

My family puts up a train garden every winter. In it I have a Magic Kingdom section. Cinderella's Castle, Emporium, train station, Haunted Mansion, several rides, a castle stage show, a monorail that goes all around it. And in the back located directly behind the castle we put up a big screen TV. Attached to that is a video player that streams fireworks videos and other background shots I've collected over the years. So yes, we will sit alone at home or together and watch the fireworks... over Cinderella's Castle. Again and again and again.

The only thing it lacks is the percussion sounds of some of those big booms. The ending of Illuminations is a bit lacking as is the end of Symphony of the Stars. (It's impossible to replicate the percussion those fireworks create.)

We also include background videos of snowstorms, Osborne Lights and beach sunrises. I love my videos of Hallowishes in 2007, HolidayWishes in 2009 & 2011, Illuminations and New Year's fireworks. Now I have Star Wars fireworks to add to the playlist.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Simply..........There is nothing more magical then Disney fireworks!

AKK

 

[sunshine1]

Been wdw at least 7 times and never seen the fireworks.
I am noise sensitive and never used to enjoy fireworks.

BUT i was at DLP this week and made the effort to see the fireworks.

I actually quite liked it.

Hopefully when i can get back to wdw i will make the effort to watch the fireworks.

 

[dlavender]

We never used to watch them. Went probably 30 times without seeing them. I thought it was a waste of time, to stand around for 45 mins and see a few fire crackers. We would always take advantage of lower ride wait times. This past October, we sat and watched them. I was amazed, "blown" away, really. Everyone has to see them at least once. That being said, I would not watch them more than once during a vacation.

 

[mom2rtk]

We never used to watch them. Went probably 30 times without seeing them. I thought it was a waste of time, to stand around for 45 mins and see a few fire crackers. We would always take advantage of lower ride wait times. This past October, we sat and watched them. I was amazed, "blown" away, really. Everyone has to see them at least once. That being said, I would not watch them more than once during a vacation.

Um..... they are firecrackers over a CASTLE. For whatever reason, that makes a big difference. To me anyway.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

I wonder if any vets have PTSD when they hear/see fireworks. I'd imagine that could be a real problem for some of them.

I'm an OEF vet and me and fireworks get along about as much as a cat and a bath, but seeing as I've never been to Disney, I'm going to do my best to watch the fireworks when I go in April.

They use to trigger my PTSD really bad, but so did large crowds. I've managed to get over my fear of large crowds in the last ten years, so maybe I can manage fireworks. Never know until we try. I just don't think a first time Disney experience would be complete without at least attempting to view the fireworks.

 

[Networth]

Watching the fireworks while sitting on our balcony enjoying a nice porter, yeah that's about as happy as I get...

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Am I alone in my "I can't stand fireworks" stance? I just don't get it.
- Craning your neck to look up at the sky (plus I'm a short person so my vantage point is the back of someone)
- Staking out a spot and having to "defend" it! (If that's the case I'd carry a sword! I like to picture Main Street full of pirates battling it out )
- People holding up cameras, phones, IPads to video the fireworks... seriously are you really, truly going to go home and sit at your computer and watch this video? I can just see someone...alone at home... OOOH! AAAH! So pretty!!! well it's just not the same....
- When the fireworks start people all over the park stop dead... and look up like a giant space ship is hovering above the park waiting to be beamed up. ok those are fireworks keep moving.....
-The exit after... all the exhausted masses moving oh....so.....slowly....toward the single exit.... and the lines for all transportation....

Love fireworks!!! They are part of the reason I keep going back!

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Can you still see Tink from there or no? Thx!!

Omgoodness! I almost forgot about Tink! She's so Cool!
DH and I could not believe how high up she was!
Very brave!