Planning for Wishes

[DisneySOS]

I'm trying to figure out how to plan for Wishes. We've never had any kind of plan before and just tried to make sure we were somewhere on Main Street to catch it. Last time we didn't even make it that far, saw it from the side and still really enjoyed both the show and not that mad crush of people either.

There will be 5 of us and one person will be in an ECV & is too nervous about the Main Street crowds. Also worth noting we are going at the end of July and our MK day was picked using the TP crowd calendar.

So far our TP has us in the Adventure Land area about an hour beforehand & I was wondering if it was worth it to stay there or try to go to Liberty Square?

I'm just confused as to how people stake out a spot for it. Since the fireworks are in the sky do people sit on the curbs (like the parades) until show time then stand and watch?

Would love to hear some suggestions.

I know it sounds crazy to ask now but I'm currently playing around with TP and am trying to see what rides we may be able to squeeze in afterwards and knowing at least which land we will be in for Wishes will be very helpful.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I decided to do the FP for it one evening.

Sure it locks me out of a 4th FP during the day but have a Touringplans.com subscription so I figured I'd create a plan there and follow it so I don't have too many long lines for attractions hopefully.

I go to Casey's Corner and grab a snack - then about 40 minutes beforehand, I step outside and find a spot someplace. It's usually standing only at that point which is fine with me since I can't sit on the ground or curb anyways (I can't get down that low easily).

The problem is the whole main street/hub area is extremely crowded during Wishes so if you want to see it looking straight on to the castle, you'll have to brave the crowds.

I haven't been since the new construction so I don't know what the site lines are like now. The last time I tried to watch from just outside Adventureland there were several trees that blocked the castle view so I didn't enjoy it as much. Plus the CM's were working to keep walkways open so you couldn't just stop anywhere and watch.

I really, really liked the view from over in Fantasyland near Dumbo - no castle view but it sure felt like I was surrounded by fireworks. But it sounds like you are planning for the totally opposite end of the park just beforehand so that won't work for you.

I would say just check your site lines while you are touring during the day and decide then. Good luck!

 

[Sparkly]

Actually we had success watching Wishes from the new hub area- they've opened up a lot more space so not only is it easier to get around during the nighttime shows, it's easier to get a spot for the fireworks! We managed to get a decent view in front of the castle about 10 minutes before the show began and had a good view. My Mum was in a ECV and had no issue watching either. For comparison, last year we tried to get a spot for the fireworks 10 minutes before and had a lot of trouble. Mum ended up having a obstructed view.

I also enjoy watching from back in Fantasyland- they come from both sides so you'll be turning your head a lot, but having fireworks surround you at the grand finale is magical! I've even watched the fireworks from Liberty Square on the walkway around the river. That's not a bad view at all- I could see the castle and the bulk of the fireworks. Only one other family near me and a dole whip made it a very relaxed way to watch the show without the crowds.

 

[DisneySOS]

I've even watched the fireworks from Liberty Square on the walkway around the river. That's not a bad view at all- I could see the castle and the bulk of the fireworks. Only one other family near me and a dole whip made it a very relaxed way to watch the show without the crowds.

That's EXACTLY what I had in mind...although there's this whole no more vanilla swirl business to contend with now! Just wasn't sure if we needed to stake out a spot and how early we should do it.

 

[AllieBoo]

We have watched from Fantasyland and while you don't get the full view of everything, it is a pretty neat place to watch from. We also enjoy watching from the Liberty Square area - usually very few people over there and you get a pretty good view.