Rope drop at MK/wishes

[kcchief]

Hello all! I have a couple novice questions(even though this we be my 6th trip to WDW lol). I have never done rope drop at MK. What is the best strategy for this? What time should we get there, etc. Also, is there any suggestions for good places to view wishes without having to camp out hours ahead of time? Thanks in advance!!

 

[Robo]

Hello all! I have a couple novice questions(even though this we be my 6th trip to WDW lol).

1.I have never done rope drop at MK. What is the best strategy for this?

2. is there any suggestions for good places to view wishes without having to camp out hours ahead of time?

1. For a 9AM opening time, arrive by at least 8:30 (earlier is better.)
For an 8AM EMH opening time, arrive by at least 7:30 (earlier is better.)
If you want to be in a good position to see the MK Welcome show, stand about 20-30 feet away from and in front of the "Mickey Floral" that is planted in front of the MK Train Station.

2. I don't know of anyone having to "camp out for hours" to see Wishes.
The map below shows many of the areas for viewing.

HOWEVER: You also want to be able to see the spectacular show that is actually projected on the front of the Castle, "Celebrate the Magic," which begins about 15 minutes before the fireworks.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We've never camped out for Wishes. We usually stroll into one of the green or orange areas on Robo's past in the previous post about 15 minutes before the fireworks start.

 

[Lucius Best]

Hello all! I have a couple novice questions(even though this we be my 6th trip to WDW lol). I have never done rope drop at MK. What is the best strategy for this? What time should we get there, etc. Also, is there any suggestions for good places to view wishes without having to camp out hours ahead of time? Thanks in advance!!

Note that 9am rope drop at MK is probably closer to 8:45am (at least that's how it was on our last trip) with the welcome show starting at 8:40am. We tried to get there 8:15-8:20am.

As for Wishes, we used to have good luck finding a spot on the bridge to Tomorrowland 15 minutes before Wishes, Tinker Bell flies right over your head. But that was before the recent hub re-construction, and the creation of the Wishes viewing pens that were for FP but are now for dessert party viewers, and the start of the castle projection show. On our last trip the entire area in front of the castle was a madhouse, and it is very dark when the projection show was going on. People stake out spots for the parade, and then stay there for the projection show and then Wishes.

If you want to completely avoid the crowds, go behind the castle and hang out between 7DMT and Gaston's. You have to keep your head on a swivel, but you're closer to the fireworks going off behind the MK.

 

[Robo]

that was before the recent hub re-construction, and the creation of the Wishes viewing pens that were for FP but are now for dessert party viewers

Only the east "pen" is reserved for the Dessert Party guests.
The west "pen" is open to anyone who arrives in time to get in.

 

[BethR9]

Only the east "pen" is reserved for the Dessert Party guests.
The west "pen" is open to anyone who arrives in time to get in.

How many can they cram into the west pen and do they put a limit on it? What time do you recommend staking out a spot there if we want to see Celebrate the Magic also?

 

[Lucius Best]

How many can they cram into the west pen and do they put a limit on it? What time do you recommend staking out a spot there if we want to see Celebrate the Magic also?

About this many can fit in the pens:



I'm kidding, of course, they don't allow sheep inside the MK. I don't have experience with viewing Wishes from the pens, they were still FP+ viewing areas last time I was there. I would say get there as early as possible.

 

[quagmire0]

I'm assuming the red areas closest to the castle are bad because you'd have to look straight up and behind you to see the fireworks?

I was toying with the idea of watching Wishes from the Poly, but from the videos I've seen on Youtube, seems like we'd miss a good portion of what I'd consider 'the Wishes experience'. Don't want to be keeping our young kids up just for a long distance fireworks show.

 

[21stamps]

Only the east "pen" is reserved for the Dessert Party guests.
The west "pen" is open to anyone who arrives in time to get in.

We never had a "great" viewing spot for Celebrate the Magic. Is there any place that's highly recommended?

I'm assuming the red areas closest to the castle are bad because you'd have to look straight up and behind you to see the fireworks?

I was toying with the idea of watching Wishes from the Poly, but from the videos I've seen on Youtube, seems like we'd miss a good portion of what I'd consider 'the Wishes experience'. Don't want to be keeping our young kids up just for a long distance fireworks show.

Watching the EWP and Wishes from our balcony at Poly was my favorite moment of our trip.

 

[kaceyo]

We enjoyed watching Celebrate the Magic from directly beside Sleepy Hollow refreshments. The projections on the side of the castle are amazing and we also bought some nutella waffles to snack on during the show....

 

[Robo]

We never had a "great" viewing spot for Celebrate the Magic. Is there any place that's highly recommended?

Anywhere with a clear view of the front of the castle.
Of the three MK nighttime spectaculars, finding a spot for Celebrate the Magic is the easiest.

It's trying to find one spot from which to see ALL THREE shows well that is the most difficult.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

How many can they cram into the west pen and do they put a limit on it? What time do you recommend staking out a spot there if we want to see Celebrate the Magic also?

FWIW, we sat in one of the pens during the MNSSHP fireworks last year. During the parties there are no FP+s, and so the area was open "to the public." Many people did not seem to realize this, as the area stayed very empty the entire time. We had plenty of room to stretch out and take a break off our feet. I'm not sure if this is different now that there are no FP+s for Wishes at all, but I think in general, when people see a fenced off area, they don't think they can go in, especially if they see very few people in there.

 

[cosmicmommy]

Piggybacking off this - how is the viewing from the Cosmic Ray's balcony?

 

[21stamps]

We enjoyed watching Celebrate the Magic from directly beside Sleepy Hollow refreshments. The projections on the side of the castle are amazing and we also bought some nutella waffles to snack on during the show....

Nutella waffles? My kid will love that. I haven't been to Sleepy Hollow refreshments. Thanks for the tip!

 

[21stamps]

Anywhere with a clear view of the front of the castle.
Of the three MK nighttime spectaculars, finding a spot for Celebrate the Magic is the easiest.

It's trying to find one spot from which to see ALL THREE shows well that is the most difficult.

Last question- can you see the projections from CR or is it too far? We could not see them from Poly, only the different colors of the castle.

 

[kcchief]

So what is everyone's opinion on the best place to see all three?

 

[Robo]

Last question- can you see the projections from CR or is it too far? We could not see them from Poly, only the different colors of the castle.

Too far, and obstructed, and no audio.

 

[Robo]

So what is everyone's opinion on the best place to see all three?

Anywhere ON the Parade Route (bottom map) in any of the
"Prime " (green shading) areas, or anywhere ON the Parade Route (bottom map) in the "Good" (gold shading) on my Wishes map below.

 

[Robo]

Piggybacking off this - how is the viewing from the Cosmic Ray's balcony?

For MSEP: No.
For CtM: No.
For Wishes: Very poor.

 

[21stamps]

Anywhere with a clear view of the front of the castle.
Of the three MK nighttime spectaculars, finding a spot for Celebrate the Magic is the easiest.

It's trying to find one spot from which to see ALL THREE shows well that is the most difficult.

This was our spot one night, the best out of the 3. I'm thinking we were in "the hub" on your map? Hoping that next time we won't be directly behind a tree lol.