Holiday Fireworks and WOC on Same Night?

[HydroGuy]

I have one evening at DLR on Nov 13th and am considering trying to stretch my day past the 8PM park closures.

Believe...In Holiday Magic plays at 7:45. I have never seen that and that is priority #1.

WOC is at 8:15. Sounds like no one knows for sure if Winter Dreams starts this night but if so I would like to catch it. I saw WOCWD last year so if I miss it no big deal.

I am wondering about trying to see both. Does anyone know how long Believe fireworks lasts? I will be solo and thus nimble to get down Main Street, out of DL and into DCA. I would expect I can make it to DCA by 8:15 and just catch a spot anywhere I can fit - maybe on the bridge?

Comments/suggestions/advice? Anyone try this last year?

 

[figment_jii]

If one believes Disneyland.com and Wikipedia, then the fireworks show is about 13.5 or 14 minutes. So it'll finish up right before 8:00 pm, assuming it starts on time. I think that gives you enough time to get into DCA, especially if you're solo and fairly nimble! Good luck!

 

[GatorChris]

The actual Fireworks last 10 minutes. I remember this because last year as we were in line waiting to stampede into the WOC viewing area, the fireworks at DL began. When the last firework finished, I remember mentioning in shock, "That was only 10 minutes long!" Now right after the fireworks stop, a Christmas song is sung while snow begins blowing into the hub and Main Street. That lasts about 3-4 minutes. If you stay for all of that you'll have to be near the gate and rush like mad to DCA. You might be able to catch WOC but from a standing area if you're lucky. It's doable, but it would take away from the Magic of seeing the Fireworks at DL. It's very calm and peaceful at the end. Doesn't really lend itself to running across the promenade.

 

[goooof1]

Doesn't DCA close at 8:00 pm? From what I remember, everything closes at 8:00 and then WOC starts at 8:15. I think you will have to be IN DCA before 8:00.......

 

[gmi3804]

The BIHM soundtrack clocks in at 13:30, FYI. You could shave off some transit time by standing in Town Square, but if it's a priority, I'd rather be a bit late for WoC.

And yeah, you'd probably have to be in before 8, but they might let you in if you bat your eyelashes and ask sweetly.

 

[MommyJKM]

I have one evening at DLR on Nov 13th and am considering trying to stretch my day past the 8PM park closures.

Believe...In Holiday Magic plays at 7:45. I have never seen that and that is priority #1.

WOC is at 8:15. Sounds like no one knows for sure if Winter Dreams starts this night but if so I would like to catch it. I saw WOCWD last year so if I miss it no big deal.

I am wondering about trying to see both. Does anyone know how long Believe fireworks lasts? I will be solo and thus nimble to get down Main Street, out of DL and into DCA. I would expect I can make it to DCA by 8:15 and just catch a spot anywhere I can fit - maybe on the bridge?

Comments/suggestions/advice? Anyone try this last year?

We went last year in November and the fireworks are tried this. The fireworks are 23 minutes exactly. You HAVE to be in DCA by 8pm so it wont work

 

[HydroGuy]

Doesn't DCA close at 8:00 pm? From what I remember, everything closes at 8:00 and then WOC starts at 8:15. I think you will have to be IN DCA before 8:00.......

The BIHM soundtrack clocks in at 13:30, FYI. You could shave off some transit time by standing in Town Square, but if it's a priority, I'd rather be a bit late for WoC.

And yeah, you'd probably have to be in before 8, but they might let you in if you bat your eyelashes and ask sweetly.

We went last year in November and the fireworks are tried this. The fireworks are 23 minutes exactly. You HAVE to be in DCA by 8pm so it wont work

Thanks for all the replies.

First, I did a late WOC one time after the park closed (two years ago) and as long as you show your WOC FP at the turnstile, they let you in after park closing. They did for me after first saying I could not enter. So I do not expect this to be an issue. Anyone else had this experience?

The 23 minutes MommyJKM mentions sounds very similar to the length of Remember Dreams Come True. Since DL has four different fireworks shows, it would not surprise me if RDCT and BIHM are being confused here.

If BIHM is 23 minutes long I would not expect to be able to make it to WOC. But at 10-14 minutes (which is what I was guessing but wanted to get feedback from all of you) it sounds possible.

 

[gunka]

We have done this before, can't remember the time of year but California Adventure was not crowded. We watched the DL fireworks from the Main Street Train Station and then walked very easily over to CA and was able to walk up to a spot on the bridge and watch WOC.

I am thinking this must have been before Carsland, since I have never seen the park that uncrowded since.

 

[ricardol]

Thanks for all the replies.

First, I did a late WOC one time after the park closed (two years ago) and as long as you show your WOC FP at the turnstile, they let you in after park closing. They did for me after first saying I could not enter. So I do not expect this to be an issue. Anyone else had this experience.

The 23 minutes MommyJKM mentions sounds very similar to the length of Remember Dreams Come True. Since DL has four different fireworks shows, it would not surprise me if RDCT and BIHM are being confused here.

If BIHM is 23 minutes long I would not expect to be able to make it to WOC. But at 10-14 minutes (which is what I was guessing but wanted to get feedback from all of you) it sounds possible.

Hidroguy: I never seen BIHM but I checked on youtube, and all videos for BIHM there are ~10 minutes long, so that can give you more certainty for your planning

Link for search page: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=disneyland+believe+in+holday+magic

Hope this helps!, your Guides have helped me a lot so Thanks!

 

[HydroGuy]

I have one evening at DLR on Nov 13th and am considering trying to stretch my day past the 8PM park closures.

Believe...In Holiday Magic plays at 7:45. I have never seen that and that is priority #1.

WOC is at 8:15. Sounds like no one knows for sure if Winter Dreams starts this night but if so I would like to catch it. I saw WOCWD last year so if I miss it no big deal.

I am wondering about trying to see both. Does anyone know how long Believe fireworks lasts? I will be solo and thus nimble to get down Main Street, out of DL and into DCA. I would expect I can make it to DCA by 8:15 and just catch a spot anywhere I can fit - maybe on the bridge?

Comments/suggestions/advice? Anyone try this last year?

I was able to successfully do this on Thursday night, which was the opening night of Winter Dreams like I was hoping.

I can confirm a few things that were debated in this thread.


1. The holiday fireworks Believe in Holiday Magic lasts 10 minutes. The music continues for several minutes after as the 'snow" falls onto Main Street and the hub. I did not time the ending of the music but my guess is the 14 minute length reported earlier in this thread is correct.


2. You can get into DCA after it closes if you have a WOC FP. I did this once before two years ago and it was still the case Thursday night. I got to the DCA gates at 8PM on a night DCA closed at 8PM and WOC was at 8:15. The DCA CMs at the turnstiles were specifically asking guests if they had a WOC FP and then allowing them to enter.


I got a WOC FP at 2:30PM on Thursday. The park opened at 10AM. I was hoping to get to DCA earlier but was driving in from another SoCal city. I got a FP for the yellow section. I was concerned that the FPs would be gone by the time I arrived but I was in luck.

I watched BIHM fireworks from right behind the rope on Main Street near Coke Corner.

When the fireworks ended (7:55PM) the lights came up a bit and I walked with purpose up the east sidewalk which was already clear for traffic. It did start to clog a bit but I was able to make it to the DCA gate around 8PM. There were several WOC FP guests in front of me and the CMs asked each of us to show our WOC FP. I walked with purpose to the WOC viewing area and arrived at 8:05. I went to the far right facing WOC and walked along behind the rope that kept a walkway open. This was in the wet zone but there were no winds that night so it was not very wet. Being alone I was easily able to find a spot to squeeze in and I had a pretty good view of the show.

I am working on a DIS blog of the WOC Winter Dreams show, but I will say that Disney put some serious effort into improving it over last year. It feels much more "Disney" now.

 

[rentayenta]

Thanks for all the replies.

First, I did a late WOC one time after the park closed (two years ago) and as long as you show your WOC FP at the turnstile, they let you in after park closing. They did for me after first saying I could not enter. So I do not expect this to be an issue. Anyone else had this experience?

The 23 minutes MommyJKM mentions sounds very similar to the length of Remember Dreams Come True. Since DL has four different fireworks shows, it would not surprise me if RDCT and BIHM are being confused here.

If BIHM is 23 minutes long I would not expect to be able to make it to WOC. But at 10-14 minutes (which is what I was guessing but wanted to get feedback from all of you) it sounds possible.

Great tip in bold (by me)!