New fireworks at MK during July 4th?

[Anal Annie]

So we're going on our first July 4th week trip this summer. We were planning to spend the 3rd at MK and the 4th at EP for the special July 4th fireworks at each park. Now today they announced that Wishes will be ending in May and there will be a new fireworks show starting to replace it. Since this is our first 4th I was curious - in the past did they have the regular Wishes and THEN add more fireworks onto it at the end for the 4th or is the whole show something new and special?? I want to be sure to see the new fireworks show AND the July 4th fireworks so didn't know if we needed to be sure to plan 2 nights at MK that week to see fireworks? As of right now I somehow have NO MK evenings planned beyond our all day July 3rd day and 1 other EMH morning (was planning some extra time this trip for AK / Pandora) and we hope to be able to book the DVC Magical evening thing at Typhoon Lagoon one night. I keep staring at my draft on our plans for each day and am not sure how to re-arrange...unless I scratch our arrival day plans. Hummmmmmm???!!! I'm feeling like a newbie!!

 

[cw62803]

Last year on the 3rd and 4th, the MK fireworks were a special "3 D" show where they shot off fireworks from all over the park. They did not have Wishes those two nights.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks for the news. Everyone can go to TTOTWL on the 2nd to see the fireworks. I just found out we'll be getting to MCO around 2 on the second, so that should be good!

 

[Anal Annie]

Last year on the 3rd and 4th, the MK fireworks were a special "3 D" show where they shot off fireworks from all over the park. They did not have Wishes those two nights.

Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to know! All these changes sure make plannIng complicated! I will change our arrival day park from HS to MK. That only leaves us with 1 evening at HS but oh well.

 

[MelCald]

What time are the MK fireworks usually July 3 and 4?

 

[Anal Annie]

What time are the MK fireworks usually July 3 and 4?

OH! Another great question!!

 

[keishashadow]

Jumping on this thread, I have same questions.

Bobbi I didn't think DVC members not @ BLT could access the lounge on the 2nd. That would be great way to start our trip.

Found the following via a search for last year's info but it seems 'early' based upon the park hours/released for this year


http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/4th_July.htm



DISNEY'S CELEBRATE AMERICA - A FOURTH OF JULY CONCERT IN THE SKY"

• July 3rd, 2016
  9:00 pm - "Celebrate America - A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky" Fireworks
  
  
• July 4th, 2016
  9:00 pm - "Celebrate America - A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky" Fireworks

MK's EMH pm hours appear. To be switched to Monday, 7/3

Epcot's FW display set for 10 pm

 

[MelCald]

I am hoping those are the times because I grabbed some great ADR's at 180 days out.

 

[keishashadow]

I am hoping those are the times because I grabbed some great ADR's at 180 days out.

I was shocked to be able to grab ADRs just 2 weeks ago for party of 4 pp.

BoG (lunch both 3rd & 4th) &
Crystal palace for dinner on 7/3 & Garden Grill on 7/4

Even saw Ca Grill available on 3rd but not until 9 pm, would like closer to 7:30 pm. Keeping my eye out for cancellations tho

 

[cw62803]

Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to know! All these changes sure make plannIng complicated! I will change our arrival day park from HS to MK. That only leaves us with 1 evening at HS but oh well.

Make sure you see Fantasmic on that HS evening. It's my very favorite experience in all of WDW.

 

[Anal Annie]

Make sure you see Fantasmic on that HS evening. It's my very favorite experience in all of WDW.

We'll see how the standby line looks. We've seen it so many times it's not a "must see" for us any more if the line is horrific...

 

[Anal Annie]

I was shocked to be able to grab ADRs just 2 weeks ago for party of 4 pp.

BoG (lunch both 3rd & 4th) &
Crystal palace for dinner on 7/3 & Garden Grill on 7/4

Even saw Ca Grill available on 3rd but not until 9 pm, would like closer to 7:30 pm. Keeping my eye out for cancellations tho

I tried to book early but didn't look for BOG. I got the Plaza for lunch on the 3rd (earlier than I would really prefer at 11:15) and then got CRT at 7:15. I wish the MK fireworks would be at 10:00 rather than at 9:00 so we could have more time after CRT to get out & find a spot to watch but it is what it is I guess now. On the 4th I wanted Rose & Crown for dinner but missed it (only thing I could find by the time I looked was at like 5:00 which is just too weird of a time for us) so we ended up booking Tokyo Dining at 8:00. I had considered trying to see about booking the dessert party on the 4th if it's offered but may just try to book a FP & if I can't get that we may stay in Japan & try to watch from the steps. We've never done Tokyo Dining, only Teppan Edo in the past but DH wanted to try something new. We saw Illuminations from Japan once or twice & it seemed like a decent view from there if you can be up on the steps. TIW is blacked out on the 4th but we should be able to get 10% off with the AP's I think. (I'm assuming there's no blackout dates on the DVC & AP discounts). I'm wondering if I need to try to book a lunch at EP that day too? I just looked and there's plenty of lunch availability just about everywhere right now...but DH wants to "wing it" for lunch to try to both save money and not be so stressed trying to fit in too many ADRs and maybe just do like Tangeriene Cafe or something...I hope planning for a counter service lunch isn't a mistake. (I would kinda like to sit in A/C ). Both Spice Road Table and Rose & Crown still have slots open for lunch...even LeCellier has lunch open!!

I'm still waiting for the RoL dining packages to open for July....checking every day is going to get old really fast...

 

[keishashadow]

I am getting frustrated re waiting to book TL moonlight hours. Was great they finally took heed of members comments & announced it early. However, there's been plenty of time to allow members to get their ducks in a row as to 11 month window for many of the dates IMO. Xmas booking Rush is over, I don't understand the delay. If anything would hope they don't open all the dates at once! Does appear to be bookable online, going by what I read on the website.Don't want to do another long wait Ala trying o book Soarin and be told, sorry.

I was surprised to see last year the MK '4th' FW didn't start later. However, if EMH pm on 3rd, the park may clear out a bit afterwards.

Great pics for MK. CP now only does that first hour for ADR, rest is walk ups. 2 TS too much for us in FLA heat. We often only eat once with just a bite for breakfast. I'll probably eliminate either lunch or dinner. Not sure if teppan edo permits u to watch FW from balcony/steps if you dine there. Please post if you find out.

I have had very good luck making last minute (as in day prior) ADRs past few trips, even @ BoG for lunch. Not confident that will hold tho for the busy 4th week, glad I have plans in place.

 

[Anal Annie]

I am getting frustrated re waiting to book TL moonlight hours. Was great they finally took heed of members comments & announced it early. However, there's been plenty of time to allow members to get their ducks in a row as to 11 month window for many of the dates IMO. Xmas booking Rush is over, I don't understand the delay. If anything would hope they don't open all the dates at once! Does appear to be bookable online, going by what I read on the website.Don't want to do another long wait Ala trying o book Soarin and be told, sorry.

I was surprised to see last year the MK '4th' FW didn't start later. However, if EMH pm on 3rd, the park may clear out a bit afterwards.

Great pics for MK. CP now only does that first hour for ADR, rest is walk ups. 2 TS too much for us in FLA heat. We often only eat once with just a bite for breakfast. I'll probably eliminate either lunch or dinner. Not sure if teppan edo permits u to watch FW from balcony/steps if you dine there. Please post if you find out.

I have had very good luck making last minute (as in day prior) ADRs past few trips, even @ BoG for lunch. Not confident that will hold tho for the busy 4th week, glad I have plans in place.

CP as in Crystal Palace? Really? They dropped ADR's for most of the day? How silly. I hated that they changed the Plaza to lunch ADR's only and made the rest of the day walk-ups. We used to always eat there at least once but haven't eaten there in 3 or 4 trips - not since they changed the ADR thing. We're not going to sit around for an hour waiting on a walk-up slot. When I saw the 11:15 opening I had to grab it even tho it's at least an hour earlier than we would normally prefer. I have more ADR's booked for this trip than what we usually do - I'm just afraid of the crowds at the counter service places - plus I know it's going to be hotter than hades so I want some AC breaks.

The moonlight thing at TL is the other thing I am watching to book for the 5th too!! I wish they would say what the hours will be. I'm planning to do AK morning EMH's that day then a nice afternoon nap or swim. Like you, I don't want to find out that I am on hold for 45 minutes to not get anything so I keep checking the site every couple of days. It's all too time consuming. I tried to book lunch with an Imagineer at the HBD but missed out on that one too. So frustrating. We haven't eaten there before and we like to have an ADR in HS because we don't care for any of the CS options. So I did go ahead & book a dinner there on the only night I have truely planned there.

I think we watched Illuminations from the steps in Japan once after dinner at Teppan Edo. Figured Tokyo Dining is right next door - should be doable I think if we don't book a FP for it... Maybe I'll ask over on another board to see if anyone knows for sure.

 

[keishashadow]

Sorry, no I was thinking of the Plaza dropping the ADRs other than the one hour. My brain must've been out to lunch lol

Actually 2nd guessing CP now that you mention it, hate how we always have such a long wait for a table there for some reason.