Fireworks Worth It?

[FamilyFirstTime]

When we go to the MK in late June we will have a 1 and an almost 3 year old. The kids are usually in bed by 7:30-8 and have a tough time staying up any later. Is it worth trying to keep the kids up to see the fireworks and to fight the crowds that there will surely be after the show? If so, any tips on where to watch the fireworks in order to get to the parking lot quickly (if that's even possible) after the show and make our escape? Thanks so much for any advice!

 

[Robo]

1. any tips on where to watch the fireworks

2. in order to get to the parking lot quickly (if that's even possible) after the show and make our escape? Thanks so much for any advice!

1. You also want to be able to see the spectacular show that is actually projected on the front of the Castle, "Celebrate the Magic," which begins about 15 minutes before the fireworks.
The show is considered by many to be more entertaining and unique than the fireworks or the parade. You can see CtM anyplace with a clear view of the front of the castle.

2. Seeing BOTH of those shows from a good vantage point but "escaping quickly" are incompatible ideas. It is also helpful to know that MANY guests will actually be exiting the park DURING the fireworks, so even if you were to exit right after the show, the transportation lines will be far from empty.

Many with experience find a spot and sit and wait for the crush of guests to exit before
attempting to leave, themselves.

Below is a rough estimate of the Fireworks viewing spots
based on other posters' info on the boards and personal experience.

AND...

to posting on the DISBOARDS, FamilyFirstTime!

 

[cedricandsophie]

I'd suggst you get on the monorail and head over to the Grand Floridian where yiu have a great view from the pier. Then you can easily get back on the monorail to the parking lot. Or if you are a DVC member, go to the top of Bay Lake and watch from there.

 

[Quellman]

My 2 year old likes watching fireworks from a safe distance. We did Mickey's Not So Scary with him last year and he was asleep in the stroller and remained that way through the show. In June it will be hot hot hot. So either head to back to your lodging mid day if it is close by and come back out later at night or just forego the fireworks instead try and time it so you can watch some of them from the ferry boat back to the parking lot.

 

[Moms]

Okay ... I'm likely to be blasted here but I would tend to say "no". Unless you are really anxious to have the experience for yourself I would skip it and get the little ones to bed at a time that is closer to their regular time. Your one year old will not really understand and/or appreciate the experience and while your three year old might enjoy some of the spectacle; he or she may be more confused and frightened than anything else.

The weather in June is HOT and the parks will be crowded. The fireworks are loud and can frighten little ones and the "crush" of the crowd (you will be elbow to elbow ... and remember it is going to be hot and I can promise at least one person in your vicinity will be in serious need of a shower!) can be frightening as well.

It is a wonderful "show" but a meltdown from one or the other or both of your children will negate any pleasure. If you can take them back to the room for a nap in the afternoon and take them back in the evening; the Grand Floridian or the Polynesian have lovely views ... away from the worst of the noise and you can make an easy (or easier) getaway when the show is over.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am fine watching them from
The TTC. No crowds and quick trip back to the car.

But my husband LOVES fireworks and prefers in the park. So we try to do it at least once. With no plans to leave immediately. We linger.

 

[msmama]

I didn't take my son to a nighttime show until he was 5. And even now we only do one late night per trip (if that).

Yeah, I may have wanted to see the fireworks, but I wanted a non cranky kid more.

 

[Parker Clan]

Watch them from the ferry on the way to the parking lot! The crowds are ridiculous (at least when we go in August) we've waited 45 mins to an hour for the transportation back. It's claustrophobic and hot in the lines and I've seen mothers holding their infants all red and random people splashing water on them. From the ferry you still get a good glimpse and they play the song that goes with Wishes on it. Stand on the top deck for a really good view!

 

[karasmom]

Are you staying on property? If so where?

I want to give you a few suggestions but what I would do or not due would be based upon my hotel

 

[FamilyFirstTime]

Are you staying on property? If so where?

I want to give you a few suggestions but what I would do or not due would be based upon my hotel

We will be staying at Port Orleans: French Quarter. Thanks so much!

 

[karasmom]

Have you considered Epcot fireworks? If you are driving you could take your own car that day to Epcot and after fireworks just head to your vehicle compared to getting in a long line for a Disney bus.

How will your kids do in a stroller? I was Pretty lucky that mine napped in it throughout the day and due to that always made it longer at night...

Could you extend their bedtime?
I will preface this by saying my 5 and 7 year old have a pretty strict bedtime of 7pm on school nights. At Disney however all bets are off and they can stay up. You could try to extend their bedtime before you get there.... Keep them up 15 minutes longer every two days (yes, at first you they will get up at the same time in the am which will result into crankier kids but after a few days they will sleep longer - hence you starting this at home).
This might be too drastic of a strategy but we LOVE the parks at night and the crowd is so much less and it's not so hot ... So we do it this way till this day

 

[mkla2015]

Do you plan on taking a mid-day break? Do your kids nap?

Our normal park touring plan is go to the park early, go back to the resort for swimming and naps around 1-2pm and head back to the parks around 6pm and stay until closing. The fireworks really are great (at all parks) and I usually recommend seeing them.

If you don't plan on taking a break/nap, I'd say no way. Kids will be cranky and irritable and it won't be a pleasant experience.

If you do stay in the park to view them- just stay in the park afterwards- get a snack, look in the shops, hit up some rides, and let the mass rush of people exit first.

 

[ttintagel]

Is it was me in your particular situation, I probably wouldn't stay in the park for the fireworks. Watching from the TTC would put you close to the parking lot to make good your escape.

 

[Keyser]

One thing I was told a while back, that I have to keep reminding myself of, is that there is nothing in the parks that is so worthwhile that it's worth messing up your vacation. It's easy to read all the planning information and start thinking of things that must be done, and that will ruin your vacation if you can't do them. Trust me - there's nothing in that category.

With regards to fireworks specifically, they're great, but they are one of many great things at WDW. If it's going to throw off your kids' schedules significantly, and thereby cause problems for your family, then no, it's not worth it. We've been fortunate enough to go to WDW several times, and there are many things we have skipped, especially when kids were younger, that would have been nice to do, but we decided we couldn't. We've never regretted it in the long term. We had to get over the "pack as much as possible into a day" mode so that we could be in the "enjoy your entire day" mode.

Now, that said, your kids probably will end up with a different schedule on the trip than at home (it just happens, even when you try to keep a very regular schedule!). Others have given some good suggestions, about naps, and adjusing your overall schedule, etc. Another question is what you'll be doing the next day. If you have managed to build in a rest day following the MK, then it might not be so bad to keep them up late, and let them reset the next day. Also, if you have a stroller and your kids can sleep in it, then that's another option.

To your specific question, Robo answered it well - better fireworks views == longer crowds. And, at the end of the day, you will experience huge crowds on leaving - do not plan on being out of the park and back at your hotel in a short amount of time.

 

[Matty_Disfan]

Amen to PP.

We never had full melt downs when we took our girls at 3 and 5 (but 3 year old was and is eerily mature) but things just got weird the night we got stuck in MK for the full fireworks deal. They were just off, and when they announced that Wishes would soon be starting, the girls needed to see it. Basically just stopped where we were (left side of Hub by Adventureland) and watched it as best we could. Getting out was slow. Getting into the bus lines was madness. an hour later we were standing on a bus with two little zombies. My wife wasn't pleased I had agreed with the kids to stay, and she was right. Kids did not sleep well, they were well beyond their window and our 3 year old had dozed in my arms while waiting in line for the bus. The next day was a write-off.

With older kids and allowing ourselves time to slowly leave and a car at the TTC, it would have been magical (Ferry lines at least had dwindled but we were all still waiting for buses, couldn't see monorail lines to TTC).

 

[themommy]

I would only do it with the kids if I watched it from the Poly or the Grand. The kids are usually not really going to care that much about them anyway. If it is you and your spouse that want to watch, take turns. Help your spouse get the kids back to the room and settled and then head out alone to watch. Switch it up the next night. That way you both get to watch and there will be no scared or cranky kids. Not to mention the fact that you both will be getting a well deserved break without the kids in the heat.

 

[kalamazoo]

I have to agree with those counselling not to go to the fireworks. We always did our best to keep to the kids' bedtime and it worked well. Just remember that throwing kids off their routine will have you suffering long after your vacation is done. Quite honestly I think the early nights did the adults just as much good. However, if you find yourselves pacing the floor with extra energy in the evening maybe you can take turns on your MK nights going out on your own to see the fireworks and maybe get in a ride or two. While it is nice to share experiences as a family, it can be very liberating to be off on your own for a bit when you have been catering to the needs of young children all day.

 

[thesugarpixie]

Last year we had hoped to keep our 6 & 8 yo up for fireworks at MK, but the whine and overtired came out in full force at 930 (even with a 2 hour nap/which they never do in the middle of the day) so we just left. This year I had hoped to get fastpasses for the nighttime shows, but alas...they discontinue right before our trip.

One day early in the vacation usually won't break a kid, but we try to be flexible and understanding that we will not do everything and be happy with what we can do. Last year we rode on the teacups 3x in a row because the line was so short, which was unexpected and crazy fun! It's much easier to explain tiredness and why you're leaving to an older child than a 1 and 3 yo. When our kids were younger our schedule was totally around them - rubbing eyes, we're outta there!

 

[scanmom]

We took the grandkids last May at ages 3,4 & 5. I love Wishes, but knew it would be a madhouse, and difficult with the kids. I booked a Wishes cruise and it was great! We booked it on our arrival day so we got to do some Disney w/o using a park day. It was very relaxing, they piped in the music, and the kids enjoyed the boat ride and snacks before and during the fireworks. It was a great view, but best of all.....only our group on the boat, and since we left from the CR marina, no crowds. We were in bed in our offsite condo about 30-45 minutes after the show. And, the boats are big enough for the kids to crash on the seats if needed.

 

[Eastern]

With kids that young, I would not stay for the fireworks in June. When my kids were younger (they are adults now) we would watch the show from the beginning of Main St., right near the exit. Yes, you will miss the close up effects, but being able to get on the buses with fewer lines was more important to us, with 3 sleepy kids.

I would see how your kids do with all the daytime activity. They may or may not be able to be up that late. Definitely plan for naps though.