Kona

[babygirlamg]

Can you see MK fireworks from the Kona Cafe....

 

[Disneykidsdad]

No you can't. You can see them from O'hana.

 

[TDC Nala]

Kona is on the wrong side of the building to see MK, and I don't think it even has any windows in the dining area.

 

[Huff]

Not from Kona. Ohana you can but only if you get seated along the windows. Best bet is to view from the Polynesian beach before or after dinner. Or plan your ADR so you can view from MK then take the boat to Poly.

 

[babygirlamg]

what resort dinning can you see the fireworks from....we are arriving at the airport at 4:30 probably wont get to the hotel till around 6...i would like to have a nice dinner with my 9 year old daughter and be able to watch the wishes (8pm) or epcot fireworks (9pm)....so i guess dinner would have to be after 7 to make sure we get to the restaurant in time....any thoughts then....

 

[TDC Nala]

Do you want to eat at the Polynesian, or are you asking in general for all of WDW? Are you staying at the Polynesian?

'Ohana is the only restaurant at the Polynesian from which you have a view of the Magic Kingdom...and not all the tables have the view, you'd have to be lucky enough to be placed at one.

Have dinner when you get there at Kona, and go down to the beach to watch Wishes. If you have travel delays or you'd just rather see the fireworks, there won't be a fee charged for missing a reservation at Kona, like there would be at 'Ohana.

If you must watch from inside a restaurant there is also the California Grill, but that too has a credit card hold and a no-show fee attached if you miss it.

I don't recommend booking a reservation at a restaurant with a credit card hold on a travel day, especially if the travel is by air, unless your landing time is at least a good five or six hours before the reservation.

 

[babygirlamg]

no im staying at the pop....im just asking in general....any place would be fine...yes a place with no credit card hold is better...

 

[Hopefully]

When are you going? Are you taking DME from the airport to POP. The average travel time via DME from MCO to the resort is 70 = 90 minutes.
You need to allow about 90 minutes travel time from one resort to another, after you check in.
So if you land at MCO at 4:30, say 6 ish to get to POP to check in. 15 -30 minutes to check in and stow your luggage. And then 60 - 90 minutes to the Poly for dinner. This has you at the Poly at any where from 7:15 - 8, if everything goes exactly right. Then if you can get a reservation for 'OHana, which has a MK view, you may or may not have a window table to see the fireworks that are happening exactly as you arrive. Most likely, you would not be seated right away, and you would be waiting out of view while Wishes is on. Or you could be lucky and get seated right away, but without a window view.
I am not trying to be negative. I am trying to be realistic.
I think you are expecting too much on arrival day. I would plan on something more low key on arrival night, early to bed and up bright and early to start your vacation in the morning.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I second the idea of eating at Konas and then watching from Poly beach. We have done this many times and DD (now 12) still enjoys playing in the sand while waiting for the FW. I think it's one of her fav things to do. We did this last year after eating at Capt. Cooks. This may be an option for yoru arrival day. Though Kona's food is better than CC. I reviewed CC in my QSDP report-link below.

 

[Huff]

Make an ADR at Konas for 8:30pm. Watch the 8pm Wishes from the Polynesian beach. They have the sound for the show playing on the beach near the pool area. Then head on inside for dinner.

 

[babygirlamg]

I just did that booked Kona for 8:30....thanks so much for that advice Huff....how long is the firework show usually

 

[jacksmom]

The food is great at Kona! It is one of our "must do's"

 

[Huff]

I just did that booked Kona for 8:30....thanks so much for that advice Huff....how long is the firework show usually

The Wishes show is a little less than 15 minutes long. Its a very short walk from the beach to inside Polynesian and up the elevator or stairs to Kona.

From POP take the bus to Magic Kingdom and then monorail or boat to Polynesian. I find the boat is almost always faster. After dinner hopefully MK is still open so you can take a bus back to POP from there. Otherwise bus to Downtown Disney then transfer to bus to POP.

 

[babygirlamg]

Yea Magic Kingdom closes at 9pm that night...so i dont think i would make the buses back to pop with dinner at 8:30

 

[Huff]

Yea Magic Kingdom closes at 9pm that night...so i dont think i would make the buses back to pop with dinner at 8:30

MK buses will run at least until till 10pm and probably later. They won't leave people stranded who have late ADR's at MK restaurants. Is Epcot open late that night to take bus there and transfer to POP? Parks are faster to transfer than Downtown Disney but DTD will work fine and has buses running late.

 

[babygirlamg]

Epcot also closes at 9pm that night...not sure if the hours will change before i go but probably not...im arriving on the 28th of this month....