Ideas for viewing Wishes

[Unearned Happiness]

Hey friends, our 2nd Disney vacation is this August and it will be our first stay at the Fort. During our last visit, we actively avoided viewing Wishes from in front of the Castle--the waiting and the crowds have zero appeal to us. Instead, we kept touring attractions and would catch the "rear end" of the show.

Still, I feel like we're missing out by not stopping to view Wishes in all its glory at least once. I've narrowed down a few options for us. I'm sure there are others:

1. Watch from Fort Wilderness during one of our break days. How's the view? Is it underwhelming being so far away?
   
   
2. Book one of the cruises, like Pirates And Pals, and view the show from the lake. It's extra $$$ but it seems like a neat option.
   
   
3. Suck it up and stake out a spot on Main Street. I really don't want to do this, but if you love it, I'm open to being convinced.

How about you? Any tips/ideas?

Thanks!

 

[jbrostek]

Catching it from the Marina is nice, but you only get to see the sky fireworks not the lower show.

I would at least once deal and watch it from Main Street or the center hub area. They now have FP+ viewing area for Wishes if you are willing to use it for that.

 

[kiltclan]

You could watch it from the beach, it's quite nice even if some of the fireworks are blocked. I'm doing the Pirates & Pals in just about a week now so I'll let you know how it is when we get back!!

I do like having a spot on main street. nothing quite like it. You could always get there early and grab a spot in the top of the train station. But with the glow-with-the-show ears, it makes it a bit awesome.

 

[North of Mouse]

Hey friends, our 2nd Disney vacation is this August and it will be our first stay at the Fort. During our last visit, we actively avoided viewing Wishes from in front of the Castle--the waiting and the crowds have zero appeal to us. Instead, we kept touring attractions and would catch the "rear end" of the show.

Still, I feel like we're missing out by not stopping to view Wishes in all its glory at least once. I've narrowed down a few options for us. I'm sure there are others:

1. Watch from Fort Wilderness during one of our break days. How's the view? Is it underwhelming being so far away?
   
   
2. Book one of the cruises, like Pirates And Pals, and view the show from the lake. It's extra $$$ but it seems like a neat option.
   
   
3. Suck it up and stake out a spot on Main Street. I really don't want to do this, but if you love it, I'm open to being convinced.

How about you? Any tips/ideas?

Thanks!

Agree with pp - have watched the fireworks a few times from the beach when we had previous plans that didn't include MK, but it's a 'make-do' viewing IMO, and doesn't do much for me. There are those that are satisfied with this viewing experience, but it's not for us.

There are some who view them from the Poly beach, again it's just 'ok', but you can see better than the Fort beach.

If you really want to experience it 'completely' and be totally immersed, you can't beat watching it (yes, with the masses LOL) from the 'front' of the castle. Yes, you can watch it other places, even inside the park, but you get the full effect straight on, in front of the castle.

Also, when they are projecting pictures 'on' the castle that is the 'only' place you can see them - to us that is as awesome to see as the fireworks!

Have a great stay at the Fort!

 

[serenitygr]

I think it may have to do with where you are from and the time of year as well- here's what I mean:

Our first trip to Disney was in Feb of 2012 as a family. We left the cold and subzero temperatures of MN to experience the most magical place on earth. We went to the beach one night- it was about 60 degrees, and I guess a lot of people don't think that's warm enough to sit on a beach at night, but to us it was simply balmy. So we sat there on lawn chairs, with the beach to ourselves, and watched our own "private showing" of Wishes, while we thought about the people at home in MN dealing with 40 below temperatures that night, and honestly- I've never had a more magical experience than that. We also watched it from the Tomorrowland Terrace dessert party location our 2nd trip last Christmas, and that was really amazing too- with Tinkerbelle flying over and all. But nothing will ever beat that very first time on the beach.

 

[ruthies12]

Wishes is definitely worth seeing! I've done both the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party and the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage and if your main objective is to see the fireworks, I would highly recommend the dessert party over the pirate cruise.

Here is a picture of the view of the castle from the tomorrowland terrace. We LOVED it! Tinkerbell flies right over your head (weather permitting). The desserts aren't spectacular but they are more than edible. We did the dessert party mainly for the crowd-free view. Sorry I don't have a picture of the fireworks, I was too busy enjoying them, but this should give you a good idea of what the view is like.



for comparison purposes, here is a picture from the cruise, which sucked IMO

 

[Unearned Happiness]

Wishes is definitely worth seeing! I've done both the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party and the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage and if your main objective is to see the fireworks, I would highly recommend the dessert party over the pirate cruise.

I've never heard of the Dessert Party. That sounds great! Yes, our objective is the fireworks and this looks like an excellent option AND it's cheaper than the Pirates voyage. I'm sold. Thanks!

 

[2goofycampers]

The viewing area from the CR is a great spot also. I believe it's the 4th floor.

 

[ruthies12]

I've never heard of the Dessert Party. That sounds great! Yes, our objective is the fireworks and this looks like an excellent option AND it's cheaper than the Pirates voyage. I'm sold. Thanks!

You're welcome! It books 6 months out just like the rest of the dining ADR's and I highly recommend booking it as soon as it opens up cause they do sell out frequently.

 

[Teamubr]

I'll second most everyone else's opinion. Seeing it once from Main Street is a "must do". This is a first night tradition for my family. It kind of kicks off the trip. We also try to catch it the last night, but miss that one sometimes. I know the waiting and camping out your spot sucks, but it is well worth it. We have watched from the train station at the entrance. That takes a lot of waiting as it fills up fast. We have watched from the edges of the hub and almost any place on the sidewalk along Main Street. If you are in front of the castle, there isn't really a bad spot.

The Fort beach or CR deck are nice once you've seen the whole show from in front, but you really do lose something because of the distance and angle.

j

 

[grumpyaggie]

Where is the FastPass+ viewing location for Wishes? There is also a viewing area for the 3 o'clock parade. You can ask as to what time it starts.

 

[kristywvu]

You have to watch Wishes from somewhere around the castle at least once! We liked the view best from near the Crystal Palace restaurant. It is crowded no matter where you try to view it from but can still see everything at the castle in the middle of the crowd. We liked the Pirates and Pals cruise because we have a 6 yr old son who loves pirates but I wouldn't go on the cruise just to see Wishes-- Go on the cruise for the experience-- especially if you have a little guy.

 

[rajak73]

Another vote for the dessert party here. You don't have to fight the crowds and you can linger after the fireworks until the crowd thins out on main street.

 

[Goofy14sure]

You can have dinner at the California Grill, they will let you come back and use the observation deck with your receipt. It's a nice boat ride from the Fort

 

[Southern Bell]

I have viewed the fireworks from the train station a couple of times. Makes for an easy exit afterwards, too.