July 4th Fireworks

[bigjellyroll]

Has anyone been during the 4th of July week fireworks? I'm trying to find good places to watch the fireworks on July 3rd at MK and July 4th at Epcot. I've heard that the ones at MK are shot off from two locations...behind the castle and over the lake in front of the MK. Can anyone verify this? If so, is outside of the MK, like on the beach at the Poly a good place to watch them? What about getting reservations at the California Grill and watching them from there? Any suggestions/comments? Thanks in advance.

 

[Duggas]

We were there last year on the 4th and it was great, although we didn't do MK fireworks. At midnight on the 3rd there was a fantastic display at Downtown Disney. We stood just between West Side and Pleasure Island and had a brilliant view as the fireworks were set off from the building right next to us and a boat out in the lagoon right in front of us. On the 4th we went to EPCOT where they had the normal Illuminations followed by the 4th July firework display which was even better and very loud. When it finished we managed to get out of the park and the car park really quickly so we headed straight back to Downtown Disney again where they had another midnight display which was even longer and louder than the previous night. We think we did pretty good managing to see three displays in 24hrs!

Advice on where to stand at EPCOT really depends on which way the wind is blowing, you want the wind behind you. Last July, people who had stood on the England/Canada side hardly saw anything because all the smoke was blowing in their direction.

Wherever you go, you'll have a great time.

 

[Greg K.]

I'd love to know if they are planning to have the BIG 4th show at the MK on the 3rd, as well (which, I understand, they have done in the past...)

Any strategies on how early we should stake out a spot? Is it at all possible to visit the MK in the morning, and return later for the fireworks? Or do the crowds make that prohibitive??

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Greg K.]

Just doin' duh bump...

 

[bigjellyroll]

The fireworks schedule is already on Disneyworld's site. (I can't pu the url because I don't have enough posts to be allowed). Just go to Calendar, then click on the number of the day to see the parades and showtimes.
On the 3rd and 4th the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks will show at the MK, on the 4th only is the MGM fireworks at 9 and illuminations at Epcot at 10. Hope this helps!

 

[bigjellyroll]

bump!

 

[Greg K.]

It looks like the big MK fireworks will go on, as I expected, on both the 3rd and 4th.

That way, we can take in the MK extravaganza on the 3rd, and IllumiNations on the 4th!

 

[Aroura]

We were at Epcot year before last for the 4th, and it was amazing. We sat in the benches next to the American Pavillian. We staked out these seats at 7:00 mind you, but with the music from the Pavilion, it was all still a very good time, and the best show ever.

 

[bigjellyroll]

ump-bay

 

[Mickey Fliers]

We were at WDW for July 4th last year. The MK fireworks were indeed shown on the 3rd and the 4th. I did, however, feel that the show on the 4th was a little longer. I could be mistaken.

The MK fireworks are actually shot off from lots of places. The front of the CR, back of the castle, island in the center of the lagoon, by the Poly beach, back behind Frontierland. Literally, the sky was filled with fireworks.

The only advice I would give is to be NO WHERE inside the MK on the night of the 4th. We enjoyed the show from the balcony of our CR tower view room. Not a better place to be, IMO. I did see lots of people just hanging out in front of the CR. I would make an ADR for Chef Mickey's or Cali Grill and then just head outside before the show started. Lots of people were hanging out between the lobby and the road.

HTH.

 

[dwtootles]

If you want to see the fireworks on the 4th and are not going to be at MK be sure you have a ADR or a room at a MK Resort. They will have security checking at the gates to keep the attendance down as much as possible in the resorts. I got turned away at the Poly this year, but have been lucky enough to work at BB on the 4th and after it closed got to go up to the top of Summit Plummit and see all the shows from there (AMAZING!!!)

 

[Greg K.]

Bump bump bump

 

[disgirl]

We, too, will be at WDW that week. We were thinking of going to MK on the 3rd and MGM on the 4th.

Mickey Fliers: Just wondering was the MK packed on the 3rd as well, that you would recommend maybe not being at the park when they show them. The reason I ask is we plan to go to MK on the 3rd, but we have an ADR at Ohana and am wondering if we should just go to Poly's beach (to watch fireworks) after dinner and then take the monorail back to get the bus back to BCV or should we watch the fireworks from the MK on the 3rd? Thanks.

 

[LUVMICKEY]

We were there year before last and we saw the fireworks in MK. IMO the best place to see them is in the park so you really get the effect of the fireworks 360 degrees. They were honestly the best fireworks we have ever seen. Absolutely incredable. However, the crowd was also incredable. I have never seen that many people trying to get out of the park at the same time. That was the second time we had been there for the 4TH so we really knew what to expect. If you decide to go on the 3RD it may not be as bad. We picked our spot to sit around 7:00 and it was none too soon, there were people already sitting getting ready to watch. We sat around the circle where Walt & Mickey are, facing the Castle. After returning to our resort, we got back just in time, to see Epcot's fireworks which were just as wonderful. Anyway, where ever you decide to see them you'll love it. They're beautiful. Have a Magical trip.

Michele

 

[java]

If you have small children be warned that it is LOUD. Not just regular fireworks loud but super duper loud. We watched from our hotel-at the GF last year and there were fireworks shooting right in front of our building. But it was an amazing show and couldn't be better than avoiding the crowds on the 4th.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We were there last year on the 4th. We watched the 3rd of July show from inside MK and it was really stirring. On the 4th we went over to EPCOT for the day and watched the 4th of July fireworks from our patio lagoon view room at GF. It was quite a show.

 

[msgrimm23]

last year a cm told us it was the first time epcot did the display they did and it was huge try and find out if they are doing something there it was awesome

 

[Mickey Fliers]

We, too, will be at WDW that week. We were thinking of going to MK on the 3rd and MGM on the 4th.

Mickey Fliers: Just wondering was the MK packed on the 3rd as well, that you would recommend maybe not being at the park when they show them. The reason I ask is we plan to go to MK on the 3rd, but we have an ADR at Ohana and am wondering if we should just go to Poly's beach (to watch fireworks) after dinner and then take the monorail back to get the bus back to BCV or should we watch the fireworks from the MK on the 3rd? Thanks.

Honestly, I don't remember the 3rd being overly crowded at the MK, but it was a Sunday last year. That may have had some affect on the crowds. On the 4th, the MK closed for capacity at about Noon. We went to MGM that morning and then spend the afternoon at the pool and watched the show from our room at the CR. The idea of being in the MK (all day b/c you have to get in there early before they shut the gates) with 90,000 sweaty, cranky and tired other people, is just not my idea of a fun night.

I would absolutely recommend watching from the Poly beach if you are already going to eat at Ohana. Besides, if you leave the MK, they may very well not let you back in. Believe me, the fireworks were ALL around us. It was an amazing show, but you couldn't pay me enough to be in the MK on the 4th.

The third might not be AS bad, but it will still be extremely crowded.

I will try to find my pics, but they aren't that great.

HTH

 

[mouseaddicts]

We will be at MK for the 4th of July AGAIN this year - this is our 3rd trip for that week! We have ALWAYS been IN the MK for the fireworks & they are awesome!!!

I can't remember about the 1st trip, but last year, they shot off the fireworks 360 degrees around the park for the specific reason of being able to see the display NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE in the MK. We were actually in AdventureLand & the view was awesome. We were even riding Magic Carpets of Aladdin for part of the show.

We wouldn't dream of being anywhere BUT the MK on Independence Day! Sure, stay out ..... more room for us. Seriously, if you are a Disney guest, you'll get back in. We saw them turning people away last year mid-day & got back in around 6:00 with no problem. We were told by a friendly CM in TomorrowLand that they officially close the gates to the general public at 75,000. All those people & we still managed to hit 22 attractions on that day! woohooo ......... can't wait to go back!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Taken from our 9th Floor Tower CR room...

Red, White and Blue Castle