Skip Wishes and see Fantasmic and Illuminations?

[SFMommy]

We are officially staying at the Boardwalk Villas for our first ever trip to WDW in early May. Our DD9 abhors naps and is not a night owl AT ALL. Meldown City after about 9:00 p.m.

We are definitely going to see Illuminations one night. And I had thought that we would tough it out to see MSEP and Wishes at MK one night.

But since we are staying at the BWV, I'm wondering if we should see Illuminations and Fantasmic (easier to get back to the room afterwards) and skip a night in the MK.

Big mistake? Thoughts? Thanks!

PS - We have seen Fireworks at Disneyland a few times. Never seen Fantasmic or World of Color though.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you've never been to WDW, I think you must see Wishes, right along with the "Celebrate the Magic" projection show that happens right before. It's a much grander experience than fireworks at DL.

 

[CynBeth]

You will also want to see the Main Street Electrical Parade.

 

[starjazz]

I agree with both posters above. MSEP, Celebrate the Magic, and Wishes are my absolute favorite night time experience in all of Disneyland or Disney World. (World of Color comes in a close second for me). I don't think Fantasmic (not the WDW version) or Illimunations (I'm not a fan) even come close.

 

[MainMom]

I would choose MSEP and Wishes over Illuminations and Fantasmic. Maybe split them and do one/night? We found the Wishes FP to be worth it.

 

[Skywise]

Thirded - MSEP, Celebrate the Magic and Wishes greatly outrank Fantasmic and Illuminations. (I like Illuminations but it's not quite the same oomph as Wishes and Fantasmic really only has fireworks at the end of the show)

It's possible that the fireworks times in May might be around 8 too.

 

[ajwolfe]

Definitely do Wishes and Celebrate the Magic....Love it!!

 

[minnie mum]

It's possible that the fireworks times in May might be around 8 too.

No. The calendars are out for May. Fantasmic, Illuminations and MSEP are at 9:00. Wishes at 10:00.

OP, I agree with the others that Wishes and MSEP are much better that the other evening shows. But it will also be your latest night.

I know you said that your child never naps. But he's never been to WDW before either. The stimulation in the parks, plus the heat, plus your jet lag from California - I predict that if you take a mid day resort break, he will very likely nap. Even if he doesn't, down time back in your room and maybe a swim in the afternoon may very well give him the energy recharge he needs to make it through that one late night. Maybe plan a late start the next morning.

 

[Keels]

I just had my 8yo "little" visit over Christmas and we saw all three shows. This is how she ranked them (with her comments):

1. Fantasmic!
"I like villains and all the action and special effects were great. There were a lot of princesses though." (She's kind of a tomboy.)
2. Illuminations
"Amazing! I liked sitting further back so I could see all the big fireworks and that the Eiffel Tower lit up." (We usually sit at the tables in the "Africa" area, but the park was almost empty, so she sat on the ground about 50 feet away from our table to get an unobstructed view).
3. Celebrate the Magic/Wishes
"The fireworks were nice, but there were a lot of people and you couldn't sit down. And I'd already saw the fireworks on that night we drove to the luau."

Anyway - just a kid's view!

 

[Rigby]

Fantasmic is absolutely amazing! Not to be missed!!!

 

[Jess30]

My 9yo doesn't nap either, but we still took a mid day break. We would pull the curtains and shut off all the lights and have it be mandatory quiet time. Even if they didn't sleep (my teens sometimes would but never the 9yo), it still refreshed us all.

You have to do celebrate the magic and wishes.

 

[drea21]

Another vote for celebrate the magic and Wishes. We did Fantasmic once and I have no need to ever see it again, but I would never go to WDW and miss celebrate the magic and Wishes.

 

[cruisingtwins]

I guess I'll be the dissenting voice and say do whatever you think it will make your life easier unless this is a once in a life time trip. After the MK shows the buses are a nightmare. We skipped the evening shows when our kids when they were younger because we were all tired. We knew we were going to be back when they were older to enjoy everything else we didn't when they were little. There's no point on anyone being miserable just to see everything.

You could send DH back to the room with DD and stay for the show by yourself.

 

[klove]

Out of those 3, only Wishes is a must do with my young kids. If we get to the others, great. They are nice, but they don't give me the happy chills like Wishes does!

 

[JayDubs]

I'll be the Devil's advocate here. We are at the parks now and, while there is a certain iconic nature to Wishes (nothing says Disney like fireworks at the castle), the shows at Hollywood Studios are better. There. I said it. Not only has Fantasmic! been my favorite night time show for the longest time, the new Star Wars Sympjony in the Sky fireworks are OUT OF THIS WORLD! (pun intended)

Fantasmic and Star Wars Symphony in the Sky fireworks combined make for an insanely epic night of entertainment!

We saw Fantasmic and SWSITS on Monday and Wishes on Tuesday. Today was our second day in the MK but those of us that had already seen Wishes voted unanimously to ditch Wishes and head back over to Hs for SWSITS. It's awesome.

Just my two cents.

 

[maryj11]

You cannot miss Wishes, Celebrate the Magic or the Main Street Electrical Parade. They are the best things at Disney World. I can skip Illuminations and Fantasmic but never those.

 

[ps17]

I guess it is a matter of opinion. While we think that Holiday wishes would give Illumunations and Fantasmic a run for it's money, we rank standard wishes far below. We also preferred the old Spectromagiic to the MSEP. I suppose the right answer is to see them all, if not in a single trip, just go to the ones that you have not seen on return visits.

 

[mom4fun]

I'll be the Devil's advocate here. We are at the parks now and, while there is a certain iconic nature to Wishes (nothing says Disney like fireworks at the castle), the shows at Hollywood Studios are better. There. I said it. Not only has Fantasmic! been my favorite night time show for the longest time, the new Star Wars Sympjony in the Sky fireworks are OUT OF THIS WORLD! (pun intended)

Fantasmic and Star Wars Symphony in the Sky fireworks combined make for an insanely epic night of entertainment!

We saw Fantasmic and SWSITS on Monday and Wishes on Tuesday. Today was our second day in the MK but those of us that had already seen Wishes voted unanimously to ditch Wishes and head back over to Hs for SWSITS. It's awesome.

Just my two cents.

Will the Star Wars show be going on in March?

 

[DebbieB]

If you've never been to WDW, I think you must see Wishes, right along with the "Celebrate the Magic" projection show that happens right before. It's a much grander experience than fireworks at DL.

DL has new fireworks for the 60th and a projection show. Also Paint the Night, the new electrical parade. They blew me away.

 

[mom2rtk]

DL has new fireworks for the 60th and a projection show. Also Paint the Night, the new electrical parade. They blew me away.

I've seen them all. I loved them all. They blew me away. I still like Wishes better. It probably has to do with the grander castle.