Mouseplanet Artice -2 hours for fireworks!!

[DaveO]

Hi,

I am planing a trip for late June. I just read the Mouseplanet.com article on waiting with kids at DL. Do you really have to stake out a spot for Fantasmic and fireworks 2 hours beforehand!! My ids are 3, 5, and 16. I am a WDW vet and never have to stand around that long to get a decent view at any time of the year. I could give or take Fantasmic (at least the one at WDW) but do not want to miss the fireworks.

One last question will they be running daily fireworks in late june around the 20th?

Thanks for your input !!

Dave O.

 

[iceskatejen]

2 hours would be the bare minumum for the fireworks if you're planning on watching them from the hub. It's now standing room only, so if you want a spot where your 3 and 5 yos can actually see, you might want to get there much earlier. People are filling it up as soon as the second parade is over in that area. Watching it from just behind isn't so good as DL's hub has trees, unlike MK's. BTW, DL's Fantasmic is far superior to the WDW one, and my group is usually there about 4-5 hours (or more) before so we are front and center. We enjoy watching them set up.

 

[disneychrista]

Yep as bad as it may sound, you really do have to wait for good views.

For less of a wait, see the seond Fantasmic.

 

[psimon]

This is scary.... given that I have all of 3 days for both parks, to think I would have to kill 2+ hours just to hold a spot for the fireworks is pretty unnerving!

At WDW, I can find a good spot within 20 minutes of the fireworks! Why is it so different at DL?

---Paul in southern NJ

 

[HydroGuy]

My opinion is that the two hour minimum comments are overly conservative. We were there in early August for four days and saw the Remember fireworks show in the hub with a one hour wait.

I have kids (9, 10, 12 and 13 at the time) and was concerned about the 9 and 10 year olds being able to see the castle after everyone stands up. In addition, in the two weeks before we came DL cancelled the fireworks three times due to high winds. I was not about to spend 3 hours waiting to see the fireworks and have them get cancelled. People who have 3 hours to risk like this are usually AP holders who come to DL frequently. I was willing to risk an hour.

We got to the hub at 8:25PM on Tuesday Aug. 2, exactly one hour before the fireworks started. We got a spot in the hub in between the Adventureland entrance and Main Street. If the hub was a clock, and the castle is 12:00, we were at 8:00. From this spot we could clearly see the castle, and we could see the Matterhorn through and above the trees. We got a spot on the sidewalk on the curb. Right behind us a rope was put up for a walk way for walking traffic before and during the fireworks. No one could walk in front of us, and my 9 and 10 year old were able to clearly see through and above all the folks in front of them in the hub itself. The curb gave them a 4-6 inch advantage, which really helped.

I only saw the fireworks once, and cannot compare to the experience of sitting right in front of the castle. But we only risked one hour, and I felt our view was excellent. It is hard for me to imagine the front of castle spot being significantly better. But others who have tried our spot and the front of castle spot can comment with more authority.

BTW, the Remember fireworks show was fabulous and I highly recommend you see it. It is more than a fireworks show, with laser effects too. Many of the best effects will only be visible in the hub and, to some degree, on Main Street.

 

[goodeats]

If you don't want to wait, and don't mind missing some of the laser effects, watch at the train station. Very good view.

 

[daannzzz]

""Why is it so different at DL?""

The Fireworks show is designed to be seen from the hub area in particular. There are effects and fireworks on the castle that can only be seen clearly from right in front of the castle but you can still see them somewhat from the hub. Anywhere else in the park you can't see them and many of the effects around the hub don't make as much sense when viewed from other areas of the park. The soundtrack for this show is super important and takes you on a tour of the Disneyland attractions with music and dialogue soundbits from many of the rides and the fireworks and effects are coordinated for this.

SPOILER: One example is during the Haunted Mansion segmant the Ghost Host says "Is this Haunted Room actaully stretching?" and a group of green flares burst up into the sky in a circle around the hub making it appear like the hub is sinking. This effect only works in the hub. There are little bits from Pirates, Big Thunder, much of Fantasyland and even the shooting gallery and a fun section from Star Tours. If you have been going to the parks for many years this is all very nostalgiac.
We were at Disneyland over the July 17th Birthday weekend. It was packed but you could get a spot in the hub an hour before hand. If you want to be in front of the castle plan on two hours.
If you want really goods spots for Fantasmic, plan on being there early for the first show or slipping in after the first show to see the second (if there is one). Be aware that the whole area, New Orleans Square and Frontierland are insane during Fantasmic.
One of the reasons for all this crowding is that there are many, many, many, many people with AP's who live with in an hours drive and come into the park just for Fantasmic and the fireworks...every weekend.

 

[dcfromva]

If you don't want to wait, and don't mind missing some of the laser effects, watch at the train station. Very good view.

That is a good view, that is where Disney placed the reserved seats for folks who are on the 50th anniversary tour. There were still some spots to stand in the non-reserved area of the train station, but it looked to be pretty crowded, too.

""Why is it so different at DL?""

My favorite thing was Tinkerbell flying all throughout the show. She was awesome! I sat at the train station and the view was great, but I also wanted to stand in the hub to get a better view of Tinkerbell.

-DC

 

[quartz7]

Hi all,

Does anyone think the same waiting time frame will in December too?

Thanks

Janelle

 

[disneychrista]

Yes, the waits will be the same. And depending on WHEN you go in december it may be even longer.

 

[daannzzz]

In december it will be interesting as right after the Fireworks it will snow and the best place to see the snow will be on Main St and not in the hub. There is some snow there but it doesn't work as good. The question will be as to wether the regular AP and locals who go each week end to see everything will move to the middle of Main St or, since they have seen the snow for the last few years, stay in the hub and in front of the castle. If you really want to see the fireworks from the hub area I woiuld plan activities in that area in the couple hours before the show and keep an eye on the crowd.
If you don't want to invest time you can always head over to the Small World area and get a close up view of the fireworks. There are a couple of projections on the small world facade and it snows there too though not as well.

 

[tinagirl]

If you weasel, it's not too bad.

lol.

Me and my DB go often, and find it easy to snag an area for 2 adults who don't mind being in close proximity down a little farther on main street near Coke Corner. The view from here isn't AS great, but it's good, and we can do it at 5min till showtime.

If you have a large brood, or want room to spread out directly in front of the castle, then yes, you need the time.

The reason it is different than WDW is pure logistics.

Disneyland Main Street is about half the size of WDW main street, therefore, double the wait.

It's tough to cram every soul in the park into a few square feet of space. But everyone wants to see the fireworks.

 

[wackywexler]

The fireworks are absolutely fantastic from the hub ,I was amazed and in awe of the fantastically choreographed production. Truely awesome. However, the first time I saw the show was from the middle of the crowd halfway down Main Street. I didn't know what I was missing at that time so I thought it was great then too. I could certainly understand not wanting to waste a precious second of your Disney Time sitting and waiting in the hub. I would compromise with the best spot you can find at 30 minutes prior to show time. Thats just my opinion though.

 

[nursemelis374]

I think that it is worth it to wait for the fireworks at least once. Are you the only adult or is there somebody that can hold your spot with a blanket until about 30 minutes before?

Don't forget they also do projections and some other minimal effects on IASMW during the fireworks. I think that if I were taking kids I would take them back there. The beauty of the Remember show is the nostalgia associated with the E-tickets and unless your kids will really understand this, just go somewhere where you can see the sky.

 

[brenda1966]

We waited about 90 minutes for Fireworks one night and then Fantasmic the next. We had planned ahead of time and grabbed fastpasses for rides so that 2 people could sit and save the spots while others went to ride, grab food, etc. and then trade off. IT worked out well and the wait didn't seem like such a terrible waste of time.

 

[caliangel528]

Usually you have to wait awhile to get a "good spot" for the fireworks. Before the 50th anni. fireworks show you can stand over by It's a Small World and you still get a good show. But now the 50th anni. fireworks show...you should be in the front of the castle b/c they use the castle as part of the show now. My friends and I waited right in front of the castle last time for an hour and a half but the fireworks ended up bein cancel b/c of winds..which suck big time!!! (hope that doesn't happen to you and we went durin the summer...the weather can be really funny at times) What I would suggest is get a good spot near the front of the castle durin the parade that goes on late afternoon/early evening that way you can just wait there the rest of the time till the firework show. That's what we usually do. And to not get bored durin the waitin...we try trading posts and save our area. two people sit and save our spot, while others do whatever and trade off later. Try not to shove yourself towards the front if you are late in savin spots for the show....you can end up gettin into arguements and that'll just ruin your night. I know b/c people just try to shove my friends and I aside when we already been savin our spots for almost 2 hrs. already. Plus sittin there waitin...you get to meet new families. It's fun chattin with others. Then after the show you can head on over to see Fantasmic (show at 10:30).
I hope that helps ya. Have a fun time when you go!

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

My ids are 3, 5, and 16.

Your "ids" Sorry if this just cracks me up! I'm not slamming your typing, DaveO, just laughing at the freudian slip. DS is 5 and is ALL about id!

Anyhoo. . . (must stop laughing), my tentative plan for December is to try fireworks on W or Th night (fireworks are scheduled for every night we are there) and the late show of Fantasmic Friday night (only night of our trip w/F!). I'm hoping that the combination of:
1. Mid-December
2. Mid-week
and
3. Last show
will work in our favor. I'm thinking statistically, even if the crowds are larger because of the 50th anniversary (come on, that's why WE are going this year!), we're still going during the slowER season on the slowER weekdays. Maybe we try for the fireworks W night and see whether we need to adjust and save it for Th. I am flexible, if anal-retentive.

Good luck!