Pixar fireworks...

[DizneyMommy]

was so freaking awesome!!! I’m not generally a fan of fireworks, and pretty much refuse to spend time camped out in a crowd when the kids are already tired just so I can stand behind the tallest person on earth and see nothing (I’m 5’1”)

BUT Pixar was so awesome!! The focus isn’t even on the fireworks, the projections on Main St are absolutely amazing and fun and immersive and exciting to watch and I barely noticed the actual fireworks. We couldn’t even see the castle (see above lol), but we did see Buzz and Up and my kids were so excited! I think I squealed a handful of times I loved it so much! Everyone was singing along the whole time, too, which is so fun. This has got to be hands down by FAR my favorite fireworks show ever since I’ve had a pass (22-ish years). Actually it might be the only one I’ve ever been excited about at all.

So moral of the story... if fireworks aren’t really your thing, grab a spot anywhere on Main St between the buildings and prepare to have your mind changed!

 

[maburke]

Thanks for the report. My son is absolutely phobic of fireworks, but he loves Pixar. Hmmmm.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Thanks for the report. My son is absolutely phobic of fireworks, but he loves Pixar. Hmmmm.

I would try standing towards the train station end of Main St, in between the buildings. Maybe in front of the Emporium. He’ll be able to see the projections on the buildings with no problem. We barely noticed the fireworks, they definitely went off but we were so distracted watching the projections that it wasn’t a focal point. Less big loud boomers up in the sky and more shooting star type, fire effects, and those big bright ones that shoot Up from the castle.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Did you watch Disneyland Forever from Main Street? I find this a very similar type of show with the Main Street projections.

I think the Pixar ones are nice enough (and the Up house is adorable), but I don’t find the Pixar soundtrack nearly as good as the other shows, so I’d put it behind RDCT, Disneyland Forever, or even Christmas fireworks, honestly.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Did you watch Disneyland Forever from Main Street? I find this a very similar type of show with the Main Street projections.

I think the Pixar ones are nice enough (and the Up house is adorable), but I don’t find the Pixar soundtrack nearly as good as the other shows, so I’d put it behind RDCT, Disneyland Forever, or even Christmas fireworks, honestly.

Ha see and I liked it better than anything I’ve ever seen. And yes, I’ve seen them all, since 1996! Just not usually a fan, until Pixar!

 

[mtn335]

I was really, really unimpressed with this show. No narrative thread, REALLY short on actual fireworks, my whole group was really underwhelmed. Such a bummer, as we'd been really excited! The other two shows I've seen (Remember, Dreams Come True and Disneyland Forever) were stunning; Disneyland Forever in particular has stuck with me. This one made me regret the wasted park time.

 

[lilmissfoodie]

Did you try watching it from IASW?

 

[DizneyMommy]

Did you try watching it from IASW?

No. I talked with a cast member and he confirmed what I though, the up balloon and Buzz are lit from the front of the castle, so they would be backlit and hard to see. Plus since the buildings on Main St have so much real estate for projections, and we had no problem walking up 20 minutes prior, we stuck with Main st this time. I’m glad we did! IASW doesn’t have the same immersive feeling as being surrounded on Main st.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...I think the Pixar ones are nice enough (and the Up house is adorable), but I don’t find the Pixar soundtrack nearly as good as the other shows, so I’d put it behind RDCT, Disneyland Forever, or even Christmas fireworks, honestly.

I agree. I'd heard a lot about the soundtrack for this show and was waiting for it to grab me... and waiting... and waiting... and then the show was over! Which is one of the weirdest things that has ever happened to me with a Disney firework's score. So odd. And, for me, nothing tugs my heart like RDCT. Dumbo flying in Magical did much more for me than Buzz Lightyear in TF. (But, you're right, the UP house is so cool! And the Coco segment is super fun, too!) So, I like this show, but I don't love it like I hoped I would.
One thing I do really like about this show, though, is that it is more of a projections show; so that when the wind speed doesn't allow for pyrotechnics, the projections show can still go on.

Warning: If your child or anyone in your group was NOT a fan of the incinerator scene in Toy Story 3, just be aware that there is a fire sequence based on that scene. Most kids seem to do fine with it, but I've seen a few kids be pretty upset by it.

 

[Princess Katelet]

I saw these from my Fantasmic Blue Bayou viewing area and was underwhelmed. It was mostly a projection show and not a fireworks show. I want fireworks to BE fireworks and there were so few and the ones they had were so minimal and boring. The music was dull, too. We managed to ride Thunder another night during the fireworks (something we've done other years, too) and that was underwhelming as well because there are so few fireworks and they are spaced sooooo far apart! Very disappointed.

 

[Disney127]

We love Pixar and was looking so forward to the fireworks. The first time, we saw it from the Fantasmic River Belle area and the second time, from IASW but both times, it failed to impress us. The other fireworks were much better in our opinions - the music and more fireworks. Usually, DL fireworks would tug at our heartstrings and bring a tear to our eyes but this one just made us leave the park before the after the fireworks crowds.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Obviously if you live and die by actual fireworks then you aren’t who my post was directed to ;-)

I am not usually a fan of fireworks as I mentioned, but the immersive atmosphere of the projections was something my kids and I really enjoyed. This is not your typical fireworks show and I know there are plenty of people like me who usually just skip it because of the hassle and it not being really exciting to them.

We loved the music, my kids loved the incinerator scene and just thought all around it was fun and upbeat and really easy to enjoy without stressing about trying to see over peoples heads.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... really easy to enjoy without stressing about trying to see over peoples heads.

This part is a major improvement for this show. But I think what hasn't trickled down yet is the fact that the actual fireworks themselves aren't the be all and end all of this show. So for the people who are expecting that (and who are still in the have-to-camp-out-for-hours mindset), I can see how TF is disappointing. On the other hand, I'm looking forward to reading about how the show still went on (mostly) every scheduled showing during Santa Ana wind season because it wasn't totally dependent on the pyrotechnics!

 

[Disney127]

We loved the music, my kids loved the incinerator scene and just thought all around it was fun and upbeat and really easy to enjoy without stressing about trying to see over peoples heads.

I’m glad that your family enjoyed the show and happy that Disney has something for everyone

 

[DizneyMommy]

This part is a major improvement for this show. But I think what hasn't trickled down yet is the fact that the actual fireworks themselves aren't the be all and end all of this show. So for the people who are expecting that (and who are still in the have-to-camp-out-for-hours mindset), I can see how TF is disappointing. On the other hand, I'm looking forward to reading about how the show still went on (mostly) every scheduled showing during Santa Ana wind season because it wasn't totally dependent on the pyrotechnics!

Well I think Pixar was supposed to end in September, and Santa Anas typically ramp up in Late September through Nov/Dec, but this type of show would be awesome during those times!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Another poster commented that the fireworks were cancelled on a night he viewed from Main Street, but that the projections went on as scheduled. He said it was fun, so I would hope that there were few disappointed guests on Main Street that night. I can see Disney rolling out these projections as filler later on (like they did with Fantasy in the Sky last year) or using this as a tester to see what else they can do with projections to keep the show rolling since fireworks get cancelled so often here.