FP for Illuminations?

[thebigman65]

We booked a FP for illuminations during our upcoming trip....never had this before....does it give you a special viewing area?

 

[disneygolfer1985]

It's in the area when you first enter the WS from future world. Personally, there are much better places to watch illuminations from around the promenade than the FP location. It's always crowded from what I've heard. I have some favorite spots to watch from that are never crowded and I enjoy those locations. I would use your FP for something else personally.

 

[innoculation]

When we used it, the viewing area was directly behind one of the shops at Showcase Plaza. Wile it was a separated viewing area, I was not pleased with the location/viewing. There were several people packed in, just like everywhere else, and (to me), the most annoying part was that there was a light that kept the area illuminated throughout the show.

Please keep in mind that this was also during a low crowd volume time period, which meant that there was plenty of viewing areas open. That fact did skew my perception

 

[tinkfan160]

We thought the viewing area was really nice, but there are also a lot of great areas throughout the WS. We don't really use FP+ so it wasn't like we were wasting a pass that could be used on something else, I actually found the open spot the same day we were there. The. Ice thing was that you could show up a few minutes before the show and still find a pretty decent spot, it made it nice to not have to stake out a spot hours before. We did not have a FP for Wishes so I can't completely compare, but looking into the FP area for Wishes it seemed MUCH more crowded than where we were for Illuminations.

 

[Robo]

We booked a FP for illuminations...does it give you a special viewing area?

At #16 below:

 

[MischaOz]

If you are not doing TT or Soarin, I personally like the FP area. We were there the first week of Dec with our 2yo daughter and it worked great for us. We did not find it to be crowded at all. It is an enclosed area so we felt comfortable sitting down and relaxing while our daughter ran around and played with the other children (we were right there and could see her the entire time obv). Also it puts you in a good position if you are exiting right after the show. We beat most of the crown out of the park and parking lot. Have fun!

 

[disnut8]

We booked a FP for illuminations during our upcoming trip....never had this before....does it give you a special viewing area?

Yes, it does. Personally, I wouldn't use a FastPass on this because we've watched Illuminations probably two dozen times, never with a FastPass and always from the back of the park. While that doesn't give you a private viewing area, it does give you time. Time to slowly walk out after the show, take a bathroom break, be near bathrooms and drink stands before the show and allow a walk up just fifteen minutes prior to the show. By doing this, we've watched the show at 9:00, exited slowly after (taking that bathroom break in Norway), then gotten to the bus for Pop Century (had to wait ten minutes for one once) and been in our room before 10:30.

 

[FofMM]

We used it in May. Enjoyed it very much. Got the best photos I have ever gotten (20 trips). Area slopes downward a little in front. We positioned ourselves in very back and had great view. There were no kids in our party so can't answer for what view a little one would have had. That having been said, if you enjoy Illuminations like we do, any spot is awesome! Just hearing it gives that great feeling.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Personally the bridge between the UK and France is a great viewing location.

 

[Robo]

Personally the bridge between the UK and France is a great viewing location.

Yup.
The upper #6 on my map below.

And, directly below that bridge is where the $$$ IllumiNations Cruise boats tie-off to view the show. (#7)

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Yup.
The upper #6 on my map below.

And, directly below that bridge is where the $$$ IllumiNations Cruise boats tie-off to view the show. (#7)

That's actually where the illuminations area for candlelight processional was a few years back.

However, I don't like that spot in the winter months as that is usually the direction the wind is blowing.

I think that is something people should pay attention to is the wind direction because having smoke and debris pelt does not help the experience.

 

[thebigman65]

Thanks Everyone!.....great comments and advice!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was wondering about this also. So if you come in from the International Gateway, just to watch Illuminations, you have to walk all the way over to the area by where FW and WS meet, between the stores? It would seem to me that it might make more sense for us to just find an area in the WS area.

 

[Robo]

That's actually where the illuminations area for candlelight processional was a few years back.

That may have likely been in one of the #8 locations on certain nights.
(They would not block off the #6 bridges for a reserved spot.)

But, the principle location for CP reserved viewing was #14 on my map in Post #5 of this thread.