'Ohana & Resort Hopping - any suggestions?

[Minnieshoes]

Hi there! Fam of 4 (kids ages 7 & 10); we did the "big WDW" trip this past spring, and just found out my in-laws are renting in Orlando for a month in 2017. We will be staying with them for a few nights & tho we're not really planning any parks this trip, we've surprise-reserved a dinner res for 'Ohana for all of us to say thx (none of us have ever been), and thought we'd make a night of it with the monorail, checking out the other resorts on the line, and maybe finding a spot for the fireworks...?

Wondering if any tips/suggestions to make a little magic come to life that night - things we could stop to do at GF/Poly/CR? Thx!!

 

[Donald - my hero]

You can find lots of places to watch the fireworks at any of the monorail resorts and if you time it right, watch the Water Parade (forget the name but it's a favourite of mine.) I would suggest going to the resort boards and reading up on the events that take place -- all are free.
You only mentioned the monorail resorts BUT i have a suggestion that will give you a touch of one of the parks ... Go to AKL and wander around the resort, watch the animals and ask the CM to tell you about them (ask the names of the giraffes, last January there was a GEORGE and a little boy laughed so hard he had to sit down, kept saying "George of the jungle") poke around in the lobby (sometime they have paper & crayons out for the kids to do rubbings from the floors), if it's after dark there will be a CM standing around with night vision goggles down past the pool-ish area (can't remember what to call it) You can park if you tell them you just want to look around. ) Here's a few pictures i took -- i didn't go to AK but by resting my arms on the fence and then cropping when i got home, you'd never know!

 

[Liv4Dis]

I don't know if you are aware but you should check what time Wishes is on the day you are planning to eat at Ohana's. Make your reservation about 45 minutes or an hour before Wishes and when you check in ask to be seated so you can see the fireworks. They play the music from Wishes and it is a great way to see the fireworks.

 

[Minnieshoes]

Thx for both responses - AKL is waiting in the wings for us as a close 2nd choice, your pics may put us over the edge, lol!! We have looked into the Wishes time, as it is right now, the "perfect window" of time is already taken for that night, so we only have the option of what is avail...which means a res approx 3.5h prior to the show. Will keep checking for cxlns, of course, but would like a plan to fill in the time if needed