Obstructed Castle View or Clear Small World View for RDCT fireworks?

[BrianF]

I've seen each of Remember... Dreams Come True, Halloween Screams, and Together Forever from in front of the castle with heads and trees blocking part of the view and we're about to head down in September for the last visit of a great year of having APs and I'd like to get the best view of the fireworks possible and catch Fantasmic! one more time. We'll have some first time DL visitors with us too.

If we are watching the fireworks and don't really have time to stake out a spot is it a better idea to watch at It's a Small World instead of fighting the crowds around the castle? I don't remember how critical the projections are for RDCT and HS (the two we'll be around for) and if they're important are they equally good on IASAW? I know we'll miss Tink and Rocket flying if we do IASAW and that's a bummer (we'd probably brave the smaller crowds for HS at the castle actually).

Thoughts? Should we do the first Fantasmic! instead and then just watch on the water screens? I'll probably do some youtube research but if anyone has first hand experience with the pros and cons I'd love to hear them.

 

[CO2CA]

If you don't have much time and only 1 night to see everything, I would do F! then fireworks from the projection screen on the ROA. That way, you're at least seeing Fantasmic and not devoting too much time to fireworks in case they're cancelled. If you have more than one day, I would try to do as close to the castle as you can on one night then F! on the other night. You can get pretty good side view (Tomorrowland side) with not too much time devoted and still be able to see most of the projections, too.

I don't have any experience with the Small World area, so hopefully someone will be able to say how that view is.

As a side note, you will probably still have to get there quite early for the HS fireworks at the party. I'm thinking 7:30-8 (at least) for the 9:30 fireworks for front and center or around that area.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The IASW view of RDCT and HS is pretty nice -- the projections are shown on the IASW buildling facade (and for both shows, the projections are important) and the actual fireworks are very big/huge from that vantage point. The viewing area is usually not super crowded, so having the elbow room is a plus. If you view from the ROA after the first F! show, the projections should be shown on the water screens. The elbow room there is nice, too. You might want to look on YouTube for some videos of RDCT and HS from IASW and ROA to get an idea of how those views compare to the castle view.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can't even imagine trying to make it from Fantasmic to IASW quickly either right before or after fireworks.

 

[maltdizzy]

I will say that RDCT is best around the plaza/hub where the the flames and lasers can immerse you. Unless the added something, there are no projections for RDCT. But the fireworks and music can be enjoyed for any relatively good view.

The patio/grandstand or whatever it's supposed to be across from IASW has a obstructed, but good view of the castle and fireworks and a unobstructed view of the Matterhorn for Tickerbell's flight.

 

[DaveNinja]

When I saw RDCT last year, it did not have the lasers for the Star Wars part.

 

[ExcitedMama]

If unobstructed is important and it’s worth it to you to see Fantasmic do it that way. It’s not too bad with the Hungry Bear package. We had great views of both.

On a different night we caught fireworks by IASW and it was great that we just walked up right before, but it was obstructed. There were people at the front standing up to get pictures of the fireworks which blocked the projections which was frustrating. My daughter wanted to see them again. We saw absolutely no CMs there so I’d imagine there’s no way to prevent that from happening every time.

 

[figment_jii]

I haven't watched Halloween Screams from IaSW, but I have watched a video of it. They use the clock face as the globe and project images of Zero flying around. For me, seeing Zero fly is a big part of HS, so I would aim to see that one from Main Street if at all possible.

In terms of RDCT and F!, that's a tougher call. I've watched fireworks from the RoA and make sure you're at a spot where you can see the mist screens and the fireworks at the same time (so basically be on the NOS side of the RoA, opposed to the Frontierland side). Because it is the mist screen, the images aren't super sharp and blur out at the edges, but you can tell what you're seeing. You won't see the characters fly (you might get a glimpse as they come and go, but it won't be framed right within the show).

The times I've watched fireworks from over by IaSW, I've had a tough time finding a good spot where you can see the fireworks and the IaSW facade at the same time. The fireworks seem to be to the left of IaSW (more over the Toy Shop than the building). While there was definitely more room, it wasn't empty and the view could still be obstructed by taller guests or kids on shoulders or balloons, etc. This is a view of the holiday fireworks (early December) and I would guess that September might be of similar magnitude in terms of crowds because fireworks are only offered on weekends (so more concentrated crowds).