How early do you need to find a spot for HEA?

[proud_canadian]

It will just be me and my husband, in April (so pretty busy?)

It doesn't have to be the best view in the place, but we'd like to watch it.

Do they keep the main street area open for traffic? Or do they let people watch from there and keep the sidewalks open? Where is a good place to watch?

 

[gharter]

They have areas on the sidewalks and crossing areas in the street taped off with CMs there to keep people from using those areas as viewing locations.
If you arent too picky, you can usually get a good location about 30 minutes ahead of the show on Mainstreet near the hub.
If its super busy, you might need to get there earlier.
When we have been there in lmid April and mid May, 30 minutes has been good.

 

[Gehrig1B]

We have always found a spot in the garden area in front of Casey's at about 30 minutes prior to fireworks, even on the most crowded days during the holidays except Christmas Day and NYE.

 

[disneygirlsng]

15-20 minutes, no problem. 30 during holiday times.

 

[Klayfish]

Yep, for a "non-prime" area, I'd say 30 minutes is about right.

 

[thegales]

We have always found a spot in the garden area in front of Casey's at about 30 minutes prior to fireworks, even on the most crowded days during the holidays except Christmas Day and NYE.

Has this been recently? We have found the garden in front of Casey's to be unavailable since it is reserved for special events (I think the dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table).

 

[Tink9721]

We have always found a spot in the garden area in front of Casey's at about 30 minutes prior to fireworks, even on the most crowded days during the holidays except Christmas Day and NYE.

Has this been recently? We have found the garden in front of Casey's to be unavailable since it is reserved for special events (I think the dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table).

Yeah the garden in front of Casey's used to be my go-to spot, but it was blocked off both nights I tried on my trip last week

 

[epcotty]

It was really busy when we were there in December (although not too bad), and we got a really good spot about 30 minutes before in the hub area

 

[Gehrig1B]

Has this been recently? We have found the garden in front of Casey's to be unavailable since it is reserved for special events (I think the dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table).

Honestly, it was September, not tried recently.

 

[gharter]

We have usually been able to find a spot near the corner of Caseys on Main Street at 30 minutes. Last time was October.
We used to sit in the hub area, but most of that is now reserved for parties.

 

[Lizgistix]

We claimed a spot about an hour before the show, but we were over in the wheelchair/ecv section and had a lovely time talking to the families around us. I was hoping for a seat in one of the garden areas but it was roped off.

...just don't do what another guest did and climb over the fence and sit leaned up against the fountain.