Frazzled WDW newbie - need help with night fireworks/parades viewing spots

[AngelStar]

Hi all,

This is a multi-question post from a worried WDW newbie. I will be going on the Land/Sea vacation as part of my wish trip at the end of this month. All of these questions will be related to my 4 nights at WDW (Sun-Thurs morning -- 25th to the 29th).

I am planning to catch all of the special nightly events that happen there, including MK's Wishes and SpectroMagic; Epcot's Illuminations; and MGM's Fantasmic.

According to the schedule here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/july04.cfm - Wishes runs at 10pm (on the days I'm at WDW), Spectro at 9pm; Illuminations at 9pm; Fantasmic at 9pm (and 10:30 on two days).

1) Do you think we can do Wishes and Spectro on the same night? (They are one hour apart and Spectro is first at 20min and then Wishes at 12min).

2) For Fantasmic, would it be a lighter crowd at the 10:30 one? Since we are staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, will we have time to watch the show (26 min, so would end at about 11pm) and still catch transportation back to the CBR, seeing as MGM closes at 10pm all nights?

3) Can you suggest GREAT viewing spots for EACH of the four shows... I want to see/hear/experience all of the show as much as possible.

4) We are also planning a sit-down dinner at a restaurant 3 of the nights we are there... 1 at each of MK, Epcot, and MGM. And, then a lunch on the last full day at a restaurant.

EDIT: I just realized dinner doesn't have to be at the parks...esp if a resort offers a better restaurant-and-viewing-location combo.

a) For each of the shows, can you all suggest a GREAT (in terms of viewing location AND food/value/atmosphere) place to go for dinner where we could also watch the night show and see/hear/experience it all (preferably a place where we can get a table on a terrace/balcony, or something like that...)?

b) For MK dinner night, would we be able to catch BOTH shows from same restaurant or not (on the same day)?

c) If not, then can you suggest a good dinner place for each of the two shows (Spectro and Wishes) and recommend which one is better.

d) For each of the shows/dinners thing, what time would we have to make a PS for at each of the restaurants (taking into consideration the time of each night event)? Note: We are looking at normal restaurants and not really any character meals... HOWEVER, if a character meal offers the best location for a show, please let us know.

5) Can a not-too-pricey lunch be recommended at each of the parks OR any of the resorts at a restaurant? Something that's great food, good value, nice atmosphere!

Just for reference, four of us are going - dad and mom in the 40s, 22-year-old brother, I am 18.

For all of these questions, feel free to post a variety of suggestions. Thank you all so much for your tips thus far on the board... it's been so helpful and reassuring!


~Angel~ aka Frazzled Newbie

 

[Traveliz]

1) Do you think we can do Wishes and Spectro on the same night? (They are one hour apart and Spectro is first at 20min and then Wishes at 12min).

Absolutely - most people do. You can often sit in the same area if you wish or if not you can take a break and then find a spot elsewhere for Wishes.

2) For Fantasmic, would it be a lighter crowd at the 10:30 one? Since we are staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, will we have time to watch the show (26 min, so would end at about 11pm) and still catch transportation back to the CBR, seeing as MGM closes at 10pm all

The transportation will run for some time after Fantasmic lets out - lots and lots of resort guests will need to get back to their onsite hotels.

Liz

 

[julfre]

2) The later show is typically lighter in attendence than the earlier show. Don't worry about transportation, it runs for at least an hour(usually longer ) after shows.
3_) wishes and spectro- lots of good areas. really any where on main street works. I watched from the balcony at the train station at the entrance and that was really good also. Just make sure you are not behind any trees.
5) Best lunch bet is at beaches and cream at the beac club near epcott

I never try to watch a show from a restaurant. The chance of actually getting one of the great window seats is too small for me so I can't help there.

 

[rafikimom]

Definitely do the spectro parade on the later time. We just returned from there and tried the earlier time and couldn't get anywhere near it about an hour before hand. Then, we tried the later parade and there wasn't !/2 the people there and many prime locations to pick from. Enjoy your trip!

 

[2gether]

Don’t get frazzled! There are plenty of great places to eat and watch the shows….although as the recent poster said, they’re not necessarily the SAME places.

Let me start by saying our ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PLACE to eat in the WHOLE WORLD (and I was in the Navy and have visited restaurants on 5 continents) is the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort. It is pricey ($100 or so for 2 people with a full four course meal and wine), but the meal is DELECTABLE and well worth the view of Magic Kingdom if you can foot the bill. If you can get PS at 9:00 on your last night there DO IT. You will never forget the view of Wishes, and the night there will be one of your most treasured memories of WDW. My wife and I enjoyed it so much that we’ve been saving for 8 months so we can go back! You can find a review here:
http://www.disboards.com/ratings/ce...48ff536c7bdcaed84730c7f&cmd=details&itemid=81

For Illuminations, I would choose the Rose and Crown. It is an outstanding little pub right on the World Showcase Lagoon, and is a hidden gem IMHO. DW and I have had PS’s around 8 there each of our last two vacations, and got seats right on the edge of the balcony. Even if you are not in the best spot for the show, everyone moves towards the front, and you will get a great view and SAVE TIME, as you won’t have to steak out a spot in advance. Plus, it is not a real expensive meal, by Disney standards anyway. If you go have the fish and chips (my favorite). Reviews for it and the other Epcot restaurants are here:
http://www.disboards.com/ratings/ce...536c7bdcaed84730c7f&cmd=browse&category_id=54

DW and I did the Fantasmic Dinner Package last time and found it to be an awesome time saver, although I know some people on the boards don’t like it, primarily because it is an earlier meal and the seating is far stage left for the show. Still, for the opportunity to get an extra hour of touring in, it was well worth it for us. We ate at the Brown Derby (again, pricey. Catch the theme?), but the Cobb Salad, for which they are famous, was excellent, and the rest of the meal quite good. After the meal, you can catch some rides while everyone else is waiting 2 or more hours for Fantasmic, and then pop in through the side entrance about an hour before show time. All in all, a good deal. I haven’t eaten at the other two restaurants that offer the package (Hollywood and Vine and Mama Melrose’s), and they are quite a bit cheaper, so check out the reviews here:
http://www.disboards.com/ratings/ce...536c7bdcaed84730c7f&cmd=browse&category_id=55

As far as MK goes, the night you see Spectro and Wishes is sure to be special. You could try to get 7:30 PS at the Crystal Palace or Tony’s Town Square. Liberty Tree Tavern is also an option, although I am not sure if they take PS’s (someone else WILL know). We’ve eaten at Tony’s. and it was ok but not great. LTT seems to be the winner as far as ratings, which you can find here:
http://www.disboards.com/ratings/ce...536c7bdcaed84730c7f&cmd=browse&category_id=36
and here:
http://www.disboards.com/ratings/ce...536c7bdcaed84730c7f&cmd=browse&category_id=52
After the meal, get to a spot along the parade route (which will be clearly marked on your park map) quickly, as spots fill up. Come to think of it, maybe Tony’s would be the best choice, as you could see Spectro from the steps and then move onto the train station for Wishes. Sounds like a plan to me…..

Long and short, if I were doing it, I would get an 8:00 PS for the Rose and Crown at Epcot on the 25th, a Fantasmic Dinner Package (Dinner before 6:00) at the Brown Derby on the 26th, a 7:30 PS at Tony’s or the LTT at MK on the 27th, and a 9:00 at the Cali Grill (and be prepared for the meal of your life) on the 28th.

Above all….don’t stress! I’ve seen WAY too many people FREAKING OUT at WDW because they need to be here or there. At one time, I was one of them. RELAX and let the mouse take care of you.

Just be prepared!

 

[AngelStar]

Thanks so much for the info everyone!