Fp+ for Wishes?

[Sophie_2003]

hello,

How does it work! There is a designated area, where is it and what time do we need to get there if we get one? The night were going is July 15...we are planning on seeing the electrical parade first.

Tks in advance!

 

[jtwibih]

The area is in the hub towards the back of it I believe. There are signs that designate the viewing areas. The WDW site gives you the designated return time so anytime in that window.

I've heard a ton of feedback about using a FP+ for Wishes is not the best but I can't speak for myself on that because I haven't tried it yet.

 

[mom2rtk]

There are FP areas on either side of Main Street in front of Crystal Palace and Plaza Inn. It is no longer in the hub (which has been under construction for some time).

We did this last Saturday. After a hand to hand combat fireworks viewing experience in DL last December (on a low crowd night) I did actually enjoy using this FP. I was able to set up my tripod without fearing someone would squeeze in and knock it over. While waiting we had plenty of room to spread out, even lay down on the ground. Viewing was still reliant upon the manners of the people around you though, as someone hoisted their child on their shoulders in the middle of the section part way through.

So some will find it worthwhile. Others will not.

 

[Robo]

Below is a "work-in-progress" of my overview of the new Hub. Some of the "outer" sidewalks shown have not been built yet. Some of the unfinished areas have since been finished. The original photo is by Scott Keating, posted on WDWMagic.

 

[jimim]

There are FP areas on either side of Main Street in front of Crystal Palace and Plaza Inn. It is no longer in the hub (which has been under construction for some time).

We did this last Saturday. After a hand to hand combat fireworks viewing experience in DL last December (on a low crowd night) I did actually enjoy using this FP. I was able to set up my tripod without fearing someone would squeeze in and knock it over. While waiting we had plenty of room to spread out, even lay down on the ground. Viewing was still reliant upon the manners of the people around you though, as someone hoisted their child on their shoulders in the middle of the section part way through.

So some will find it worthwhile. Others will not.

How long before did u setup? Were u close to the front of the area or back? Which side were u on and did u setup on the right or left of that side? We have a fast pass for it tonight cause I wanted to take some pics and figured it would be a good way to shoot it.

Thanks as always for the shooting tips!

 

[Robo]

There are FP areas on either side of Main Street in front of Crystal Palace and Plaza Inn. It is no longer in the hub (which has been under construction for some time).

I consider the entire area between the castle and Casey's / The Plaza and the entrances to all of the "Lands" to be in the Hub.
(Not just the circle around the Walt and Mickey "Partners" statue.)

And, AFAIK, that's the way most posters on the various reporting sites regard the general classification of the area, as they have referred to the entire area as the "hub reconstruction" (including the Rose Garden, which is quite a distance from the "Partners" statue.)

 

[mom2rtk]

How long before did u setup? Were u close to the front of the area or back? Which side were u on and did u setup on the right or left of that side? We have a fast pass for it tonight cause I wanted to take some pics and figured it would be a good way to shoot it.

Thanks as always for the shooting tips!

For me, the most critical part of the choice on where to set up was getting the most centered view without interference from all the light poles they have put up. We chose the Crystal palace side, as far in (close to Main Street) as possible. I had been told to stand behind the topiary there, but someone was already there. So I sat up in front of the topiary. We got there somewhere between 75 and 90 minutes early. Not ideal to have to get there that early using a FP, but I knew going in that I would be disappointed if I ended up with a light pole blocking the castle in my shots.

What I will say about using a fastpass here is that it made the time waiting much more pleasant since I didn't feel anyone crowded my tripod and we got to sit/lay on the astroturf comfortable spread out while we waited.

We were probably about 2/3 of the way back in the section. I prefer staying back since most will crowd toward the front when the show starts. They did come through and tell everyone they had to stand when it started, which seemed kind of silly.

Let me know if you have other questions. Good luck tonight!



Wishes by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[mom2rtk]

I consider the entire area between the castle and Casey's / The Plaza and the entrances to all of the "Lands" to be in the Hub.
(Not just the circle around the Walt and Mickey "Partners" statue.)

And, AFAIK, that's the way most posters on the various reporting sites regard the general classification of the area, as they have referred to the entire area as the "hub reconstruction" (including the Rose Garden, which is quite a distance from the "Partners" statue.)

OK, I thought by "hub" he meant the area it used to be up near the castle.


And I have no idea why the quote showed up that way. So strange.

 

[Robo]

And I have no idea why the quote showed up that way. So strange.

The strike-thru is now on my original post, too.

 

[jimim]

For me, the most critical part of the choice on where to set up was getting the most centered view without interference from all the light poles they have put up. We chose the Crystal palace side, as far in (close to Main Street) as possible. I had been told to stand behind the topiary there, but someone was already there. So I sat up in front of the topiary. We got there somewhere between 75 and 90 minutes early. Not ideal to have to get there that early using a FP, but I knew going in that I would be disappointed if I ended up with a light pole blocking the castle in my shots.

What I will say about using a fastpass here is that it made the time waiting much more pleasant since I didn't feel anyone crowded my tripod and we got to sit/lay on the astroturf comfortable spread out while we waited.

We were probably about 2/3 of the way back in the section. I prefer staying back since most will crowd toward the front when the show starts. They did come through and tell everyone they had to stand when it started, which seemed kind of silly.

Let me know if you have other questions. Good luck tonight!



Wishes by mom2rtk, on Flickr

Nice pic real nice! Wait so u got in the fast pass section 90 mins early? I thought u could o let go in so early?

 

[mom2rtk]

The strike-thru is now on my original post, too.

That is so odd. It wasn't on your original post when I copied it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Nice pic real nice! Wait so u got in the fast pass section 90 mins early? I thought u could o let go in so early?

I think they have been opening it 2 hours early. Sort of defeats the purpose, don't you think? It was hard for us to give up that much time since we only had one day in the park, but you can leave and come back if needed. We went in and chose a spot, and my daughter went back out to get my tripod from the locker. She was going to get something for us to eat but the line at Casey's was just too long.

I think you can get a decent spot near the rear of the section (which I think is better than fighting the crowds up front) closer to show time, but I just knew I needed that particular spot with the castle centered between those dang poles.

 

[Robo]

That is so odd. It wasn't on your original post when I copied it.

I've found that several odd things can happen "spontaneously" to text in the post composing box.
(Many times parts of a post will jump down in text size like this.

Anyway, I just went back and located where the strike-through setting is and fixed my original post.
The strike-through on/off setting can be found under the little icon to the left of the camera icon in the top of the composition window.

 

[BarbieGal457]

We did this on 6/5 and were let into the rose garden area at 8:20pm. We had went to the FP entrance to ask if we were in the correct place so we could make sure we showed up there on time, and they told us we could go in right then. Only maybe 10 people were there so we got a fantastic area right along the front fence area. We saw the parade, Celebrate the Magic and Wishes and had such great views! It was awesome.

 

[jimim]

I think they have been opening it 2 hours early. Sort of defeats the purpose, don't you think? It was hard for us to give up that much time since we only had one day in the park, but you can leave and come back if needed. We went in and chose a spot, and my daughter went back out to get my tripod from the locker. She was going to get something for us to eat but the line at Casey's was just too long.

I think you can get a decent spot near the rear of the section (which I think is better than fighting the crowds up front) closer to show time, but I just knew I needed that particular spot with the castle centered between those dang poles.

I was just looking. Those friggin poles suck. I think getting 1/2 back will be good. I'm going to roll in 45 or so early. I think I'll just hope for the spot that way. The piles don't look bad at all in ur pics. Barely see them.

Last question. I assume u shot ISO 100 at f10 or 11. Did u use bulb then? Also ur focus point. I always struggle with it. On the castle towards the top of it?

 

[mom2rtk]

I was just looking. Those friggin poles suck. I think getting 1/2 back will be good. I'm going to roll in 45 or so early. I think I'll just hope for the spot that way. The piles don't look bad at all in ur pics. Barely see them.

Last question. I assume u shot ISO 100 at f10 or 11. Did u use bulb then? Also ur focus point. I always struggle with it. On the castle towards the top of it?

The poles are pretty awful. Thankfully they mostly fade away in your shot if they aren't between you and the castle.

I still think you can do fairly well 45 minutes out. Keep in mind though that Celebrate the Magic will start 15-20 minutes before Wishes.

That shot was 17 seconds (bulb mode) at f/16 ISO 100.

I focused on the castle when I set up, then swapped to manual focus so the camera would not spend time hunting for focus on each shot.

If you have image stabilization on your lens, remember some lenses need that turned off when you use a tripod.

I knew all of this when I shot from around the same spot in 2013 and still missed focus. So I took particular care to zoom in and check my focus on the castle when I was setting up.

My mistake this year was leaving my neutral density filter in the room that morning. I used it the next night shooting at the TTC and was able to get much longer shots with more bursts. But it's always something.

 

[Baklava]

For my dates the MSEP is at 7 and Wishes is at 8. Can I enter the Wishes FP area in time to see the parade or is it better to do those on separate nights? (My 5 year old might not want to hold still for 2 "shows" in a row.) I've heard there is good fireworks viewing on the beach near... the Poly? Would it be easier to just go there the night we do Spirit of Aloha?

 

[Robo]

For my dates the MSEP is at 7 and Wishes is at 8. Can I enter the Wishes FP area in time to see the parade or is it better to do those on separate nights?

If you are like most guests, you want to see the parade at curbside.
The lighted parades are designed to be experienced close-up as there are quite few entries that closely interact with
curbside guests and many that can't be seen unless
you have an unobstructed view of the street.

From the Wishes FP area, you will be blocked by at least two layers of guests (likely more like 3-4 layers in the Main Street Hub area on a busy night)
and you will miss (I'd estimate) 40+% of the guest-parade experience.

 

[Robo]

1. I've heard there is good fireworks viewing on the beach near... the Poly?

2. Would it be easier to just go there the night we do Spirit of Aloha?

1. Well, that USED to be the case, but with the MAJOR new DVC construction there, it is much, much more limited.

2. The MK fireworks view from near Luau Cove (Spirit of Aloha show building area) is pretty good- EXCEPT, the Spirit of Aloha show will often still be going on DURING the MK fireworks.

>>> For much, much more info about viewing the MK fireworks outside MK- click HERE.

 

[Missyrose]

I liked getting to the Wishes viewing area early. We had a snack, chilled on the hub grass and watched MSEP float by. Awesome evening.