Halloween Screams Tips & Tricks

[edwaffle]

Hello everyone! Husb and I are WDW yearly guests heading to DLR next Sunday (yay). We really really really love fireworks and we can't wait to watch Halloween Screams with fireworks! We have tickets for Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. We might stop to watch the projections-only show but our main focus is the one with fireworks.

I've done some homework and watched a few videos for tips but I really would like to have your take on this, like, what time to head to the show area and what do you think is the the best spot to watch the show?

Also, can we take turns into saving the spot in case one needs to go to the restroom or get something to eat? Is that ok or is it something that's frowned upon over there?

And, if you may, does anyone know how often do they cancel the fireworks? Does it happen often?

(Sorry for the questionrama, I have a bunch of them but these are more or less the core of it haha)

 

[LKing]

Fireworks do get canceled. Nothing that you can do to plan for that.

You can save a spot or two (easier if you have a bag, sweatshirt or blanket to hold the spot). It would be difficult for one person to hold spaces for 4 or more people.

What time you arrive depends on where you plan on watching the show. Viewing areas with projections can be seen from:
1. In front of castle - requires lining up very early
2. Main Street
3. Small World
4. Rivers of America

 

[BrianL]

Hello everyone! Husb and I are WDW yearly guests heading to DLR this coming Sunday (yay). We really really really love fireworks and we can't wait to watch Halloween Screams!

I've done some homework and watched a few videos for tips but I really would like to have your take on some things like what time to head to the show area and what do you think is the the best spot to watch the show?

Also, can we take turns into saving the spot in case one needs to go to the restroom or get something to eat? Is that ok or is it something that's frowned upon over there?

And how often do they cancel the fireworks, does it happen often?

(I have so many other questions but these are the more or less the core of it haha)

It's not really that different than at WDW, however one thing to note is that the hub area at DL is a lot smaller than at WDW, which means it fills up faster and gets more crowded. It can be difficult to move about once it packs in. That's not to say you cant leave and return to someone holding the spot, but that may become challenging at some point. In my experience too, CMs working the crowd can be a little more, let's say... stern, than they are at WDW, so try not to be going against the flow.

Fireworks cancellation can be common due to wind. I am not sure how that is this time of year. Chances are it will be fine though.

 

[BrianL]

Fireworks do get canceled. Nothing that you can do to plan for that.

You can save a spot or two (easier if you have a bag, sweatshirt or blanket to hold the spot). It would be difficult for one person to hold spaces for 4 or more people.

What time you arrive depends on where you plan on watching the show. Viewing areas with projections can be seen from:
1. In front of castle - requires lining up very early
2. Main Street
3. Small World
4. Rivers of America

This is also a good point. DL has alternate viewing locations at It's a Small World and Rivers of America (where tehy hold Fantasmic!). They will show projections on either the IASW facade or the water screens. It's a slightly different experience, but those areas do not fill in as fast and don't get quite as packed as the Hub/Main Street.

 

[edwaffle]

Nice, thank you so much for the tips. We thought about watching it by the Partners statue, would getting there 2 hours before be feasible? Or am I out of my mind?

 

[LKing]

Nice, thank you so much for the tips. We thought about watching it by the Partners statue, would getting there 2 hours before be feasible? Or am I out of my mind?

I don't believe they allow you to watch from that area. I think they use it for foot traffic crossing.

 

[BrianL]

Nice, thank you so much for the tips. We thought about watching it by the Partners statue, would getting there 2 hours before be feasible? Or am I out of my mind?

Well, I couldn't necessarily estimate a time, but that is probably one of the most popular areas to watch from, so, good luck! As @LKing says, I don't think you can be right in the circle with the statue (there are trees anyway), but you can be around the outside of it. I think the East-West path is kept open. There might be some reserved disability seating near the front of the circle, but I am not sure.

Since you are coming from a WDW background, I would like to mention what I refer to as "Disneyland People" - calm down, everyone, I don't mean it in a bad way. A lot of visitors to DLR are locals, and as such they have a bit of a different mentality than they do at WDW. It is not uncommon for people to enter the park at 8 AM, sit down on a porch on Main Street or a specific bench, and never move from that spot. It becomes a "home base" if you will. Others in the party will go do whatever while someone minds the spot - this could be for the parade, fireworks, what have you. People can take the choice areas quite early, almost shockingly so. They come all the time, so they know how it goes. Earlier is going to be better in this case.

 

[edwaffle]

I don't believe they allow you to watch from that area. I think they use it for foot traffic crossing.

Oh, see, that's the kind of info I'm looking for no one else talks about. I did not know that. Gotta rethink my stratetgy then.

It is not uncommon for people to enter the park at 8 AM, sit down on a porch on Main Street or a specific bench, and never move from that spot. It becomes a "home base" if you will

This is what makes this forum so great! Thank you so much!

 

[BrianL]

Oh, see, that's the kind of info I'm looking for no one else talks about. I did not know that. Gotta rethink my stratetgy then.


This is what makes this forum so great! Thank you so much!

I take it this is your first time to DLR as a WDW vet? Have you looked at ride comparisons? I have a post floating around if you want it.

Disneyland will seem a little weird at first. The castle will seem tiny! It will feel more crowded because the walkways aren't as wide. You will also notice how pristine most of it is and how much charm it has. It is the original, after all. Culturally, it's a bit different. Some guests do act like they own the place, but most SoCal folks are pretty laid back. They are not in a hurry! The CMs are a little more like, "this is a job," than they are at WDW, but still mostly friendly. When heavy crowds cause bottlenecks I can feel their frustration - usually directed at me because they assume everyone has been there a million times and knows exactly what to do. Counter service food is better, but table service is generally not - well, the food is on par, but there are fewer options. Big Thunder Mountain is on the other side of the river.

Anyway, I'm sure it'll be fun no matter what!

 

[edwaffle]

I take it this is your first time to DLR as a WDW vet? Have you looked at ride comparisons? I have a post floating around if you want it.

Disneyland will seem a little weird at first. The castle will seem tiny! It will feel more crowded because the walkways aren't as wide. You will also notice how pristine most of it is and how much charm it has. It is the original, after all. Culturally, it's a bit different. Some guests do act like they own the place, but most SoCal folks are pretty laid back. They are not in a hurry! The CMs are a little more like, "this is a job," than they are at WDW, but still mostly friendly. When heavy crowds cause bottlenecks I can feel their frustration - usually directed at me because they assume everyone has been there a million times and knows exactly what to do. Counter service food is better, but table service is generally not - well, the food is on par, but there are fewer options. Big Thunder Mountain is on the other side of the river.

Anyway, I'm sure it'll be fun no matter what!

Thank you so much! Getting a local's perspective like this is priceless!
I gotta say I'm obsessed with Disneyland right now, everything looks much more... "magical" than its Orlando sibling. I love WDW but Disneyland definitely has a complete different charm and vibe from all the videos I've watched.
Anyway thank you tons for the help. Can't wait for my landing next Monday!

 

[BrianL]

Thank you so much! Getting a local's perspective like this is priceless!
I gotta say I'm obsessed with Disneyland right now, everything looks much more... "magical" than its Orlando sibling. I love WDW but Disneyland definitely has a complete different charm and vibe from all the videos I've watched.
Anyway thank you tons for the help. Can't wait for my landing next Monday!

Oh, I'm not a local. I've just been to both quite a few times and an mildly obsessed with the similarities and differences between the parks. WDW is more home base, but I like to get out to DLR too and appreciate each in slightly different ways.

 

[edwaffle]

Oh, I'm not a local. I've just been to both quite a few times and an mildly obsessed with the similarities and differences between the parks. WDW is more home base, but I like to get out to DLR too and appreciate each in slightly different ways.

Oh, my bad. You gave me so many interesting tips you sounded like a local haha

 

[BrianL]

Oh, my bad. You gave me so many interesting tips you sounded like a local haha

Nope - just another Disney super-fan.

 

[LKing]

Checking in with you @edwaffle . How was your trip? Did you get to see the fireworks with projections? If so, where did you stand and how early did you get there?

 

[edwaffle]

Hey @LKing, thanks for checking up on me! I intend to write a trip report in a couple of days (we just got back home yesterday, unfortunately ) we are still organizing stuff around the house, complete chaos in here haha

But let me tell you! I did arrive early, up to 2 hours before the show. We were about to get what I thought was a “good spot”, but John Legend messed it up for us… hahahaha. They were recording a special for Christmas I think and the entire front of the castle was roped off. So we were a bit on the side of the castle with a few trees blocking some of the view. I asked a few cast members if they were opening the front part later and they all said yes. Guess what? they did open it… for D23 vip members… so I watched the show, can’t say I wasn’t frustrated though.

But on the next day we unintentionally watched the show by the Rivers of America. We were trying to get a good spot for Fantasmic and I’d completely forgotten HS also runs on the same place, and I gotta admit, it was a much better experience! The projections on the water were surprisingly much sharper and colorful than on the castle and we could see all of the fireworks spread across the sky. It was so magical!! I told my husband “this is Disney slapping me in the face again for trying to control too much” and he agreed haha

Anyway, thank you again for the help! Everything worked out in the end somehow

 

[LKing]

That's a bummer about the castle. Did you get to see John Legend?

Where did you end up standing for Fantasmic and the fireworks? Glad you enjoyed it.

Looking forward to reading your trip report.