Star Wars fireworks... worth it?

[Miss Frankie J]

i have an upcoming trip in August and I was curious about people's personal feelings about the Star Wars firework show.

Me and my sister are not the biggest Star Wars fans but we enjoy it. We also are more interested in awesome firework shows and we never saw it so I was planning on catching it one night during our vacation. However I read some things here on the dis and in the Star Wars thread that the "firework" portion of the show is greatly diminished and the show focuses on projections on the Chinese theater.


My question is for your opinion on the show and advice. We mainly would watch solely for wonderful fireworks and can care less about projections. Do you think it's worth it to try and see it or spend a night elsewhere either watching illuminations (my favorite show) happily ever after, or even fantasmic?

 

[Klayfish]

Yes, I think the fireworks are worth it. I like Star Wars, but am not even close to a true "fan", just a very, very casual one. The projections are neat, as they go along with the fireworks. But the fireworks themselves are cool, as are some other effects (fire, lasers, etc...). Worth the time for sure.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

If you are a Star Wars fan you will love the show. If you are not a Star Wars fan you will still really like the show. My mother has never seen a Star Wars movie but she, my niece and I went to the dessert party in January and they both loved the show. I really really loved it and now it's a must do for me as long as it's around.

 

[Miss Frankie J]

If you are a Star Wars fan you will love the show. If you are not a Star Wars fan you will still really like the show. My mother has never seen a Star Wars movie but she, my niece and I went to the dessert party in January and they both loved the show. I really really loved it and now it's a must do for me as long as it's around.

Would you recommend splurging on the dessert party for a good view? I've always wanted to try a dessert party but both MK and Epcot ones got mixed reviews. We are parkhopping from Epcot to HS and we hate waiting hours before a show to get a good view.

Also random: if it rains do they cancel the show and party?

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

That was the only dessert party I have ever attended and it was great not having to camp out for a spot. It's the only place I have ever seen the show from so I can't really speak to other places to watch other than to say that some of the effects won't be nearly as cool if you aren't looking at the theater straight on. As for dessert party value, if your party enjoys and adult beverage or two and likes dessert enough to make a small meal out of those and cheese then it's a great deal (or if you mother at 2 in the afternoon says "I wonder if they still have any tickets for the dessert party" and buys them for everyone )

 

[BrianL]

Also random: if it rains do they cancel the show and party?

Most of the desert party takes place inside and they typically do not cancel fireworks shows for just rain. A more serious storm though with high winds could cancel the show. This does not happen that often.

As for the show in general, I think it's great, but I'm a hardcore Star Wars fan. It's not the best fireworks show on property, but that's a high bar as it is. It's still pretty top notch in a general sense. There is more pyro than just fireworks too (meaning flame columns and stuff). The projections and lasers do take focus though.

Honestly, in your shoes, I would certainly see it if I were in HS that day but I wouldn't make special plans. I would see it over something I had already seen (though as you said Illuminations is your favorite, so maybe not over that). I would not see it over Happily Ever After, which looks AMAZING (and has more fireworks)!

 

[MattsPrincess]

I love Star Wars. Huge fan. Did not like the show. I'm not sure there are enough fireworks to actually qualify it as "a fireworks show", it's more of a laser and projection show with some fireworks thrown in. For all the talk on here of what and amazing show it is, we were very disappointed. We agreed we wouldn't be seeing this one again.

 

[Accident]

a year go, I would say don't miss the star wards fireworks even if not a fan. Today as it's less fireworks and more projections, If nobody in the group is a star war fan and your giving up something else, then skip it... If your around for it anyway, I wouldn't leave the park early without watching it, there's enough that its not a waste of time but it's not worth skipping something else anymore.

this is coming from someone who loves fireworks..

 

[PanamaMike]

I watched it once and that was enough for me.

 

[yulilin3]

Would you recommend splurging on the dessert party for a good view? I've always wanted to try a dessert party but both MK and Epcot ones got mixed reviews. We are parkhopping from Epcot to HS and we hate waiting hours before a show to get a good view.

Also random: if it rains do they cancel the show and party?

if you follow the link in my signature, first page you can find the dessert party post, a lot of reviews there, plus pictures
This is not a fireworks show, it's a spectacular that includes fireworks, projections, lasers, fire and sound effects. I am a huge SW fan and I have watched it plenty of times and love it. If you go expecting tons of fireworks you will be disappointed

 

[HopperFan]

- Agree it is less fireworks and more projections & lasers.
- Have seen twice and dead center view was a MUCH better than slight side view.
- It's good due to some lasers and effects but it's no where the fireworks show it used to be.
- I would say go if it's not conflicting as I think they did a decent job ...
- BUT if you are all about FIREWORKS more than anything else, may not live up.

Agree you should look at @yulilin3 link. ^

 

[Davey Jones II]

On a weekday, is it realistic to try to see Fantasmic! and SW Fireworks in the same evening? We will be there at the end of October/beginning of Nov.

 

[yulilin3]

On a weekday, is it realistic to try to see Fantasmic! and SW Fireworks in the same evening? We will be there at the end of October/beginning of Nov.

To get a decent view you need at least 15 minutes between the end of F! and the beginning of SWaGS
That is by sitting toward the top of F!, exiting as soon as the last boom goes off, walking fast and squeezing into Hollywood Blvd, preferably close to GMR

 

[CAS239]

Definitely see if, it's a great show

 

[gumbypee]

I was disappointed in it. If you are there, check it out but I wouldn't make special plans for it or to skip something else.

 

[loves to dive]

I agree with others that it's worth seeing if you happen to be there but don't go out of your way if it's FWs you are interested in. There are a few FWs but it is mostly projections and pyro. As far as the dessert party, I've never done it but I've seen the show twice. Once when I was solo and didn't really have anything to do so I thought why not, I believe you should see everything at least once and form your own opinion. I was there about a hour early and picked a spot and plopped down. A nice CM came along later and told me I wouldn't be able to see from there (I'm height challenged) and took me by the hand and moved me to a pretty good spot dead center pretty close to the front. There were a few family's around me and we all agreed to leave a little space in front of me open for kids and other height challenged people. We should have had a couple of tall burley men stand there because about 5 min. before the show, two very tall, very large men squeezed in right smack dab in front of me. I couldn't see a thing except what happened in the sky. My son came with me in March this year and he is a SW fan so we decided to watch them. We got a spot around half hour before the show. My son is taller than me so we found a spot that had a row of wheel chairs and EVCs lined up and got behind them thinking those people wouldn't stand and get in my way. We were also in the middle section but right on the left hand side by the taped off aisle. Our thinking was I could always peek around the aisle to see. Again, 5 min. before the show, two men came and stood in front of the ECV in front of me. The poor woman had to stand and sort of lean her knee on the seat since she had a bad leg. All I saw was what was in the sky and anything projected on the left building if I sort of leaned out with my son holding on to my waist.

 

[BeerMe]

In a word, yes.

 

[bladiator]

I like the immersion feeling that I got from it. I enjoyed the addition of the lasers as well as the fact that I could actually tell what was being projected on the buildings unlike sometimes with the castle projections. Perhaps its also because I went ahead and got a spot ahead of time (although not way ahead, but we were there right after Labor Day so it was pretty light crowds) and enjoyed it immensely.

It's definitely a letdown if you were looking for the number of fireworks in the old Star Wars fireworks show (which was pretty much the only one I have ever seen where afterwards I turned to absolute strangers and said "DID YOU SEE THAT" and they were saying the same), but again ... the immersion is well done in this new one.

 

[Miss Frankie J]

I love Star Wars. Huge fan. Did not like the show. I'm not sure there are enough fireworks to actually qualify it as "a fireworks show", it's more of a laser and projection show with some fireworks thrown in. For all the talk on here of what and amazing show it is, we were very disappointed. We agreed we wouldn't be seeing this one again.

Thank you for your honest feedback. I enjoy star wars but my sister I think could care even less.

a year go, I would say don't miss the star wards fireworks even if not a fan. Today as it's less fireworks and more projections, If nobody in the group is a star war fan and your giving up something else, then skip it... If your around for it anyway, I wouldn't leave the park early without watching it, there's enough that its not a waste of time but it's not worth skipping something else anymore.

this is coming from someone who loves fireworks..

That is what im hearing mostly that the previous show was alot better than the current show. we were going to hop from epcot to HS to spend one evening there and check it out but I'm starting to think it may be better not to.

I agree with others that it's worth seeing if you happen to be there but don't go out of your way if it's FWs you are interested in. There are a few FWs but it is mostly projections and pyro. As far as the dessert party, I've never done it but I've seen the show twice. Once when I was solo and didn't really have anything to do so I thought why not, I believe you should see everything at least once and form your own opinion. I was there about a hour early and picked a spot and plopped down. A nice CM came along later and told me I wouldn't be able to see from there (I'm height challenged) and took me by the hand and moved me to a pretty good spot dead center pretty close to the front. There were a few family's around me and we all agreed to leave a little space in front of me open for kids and other height challenged people. We should have had a couple of tall burley men stand there because about 5 min. before the show, two very tall, very large men squeezed in right smack dab in front of me. I couldn't see a thing except what happened in the sky. My son came with me in March this year and he is a SW fan so we decided to watch them. We got a spot around half hour before the show. My son is taller than me so we found a spot that had a row of wheel chairs and EVCs lined up and got behind them thinking those people wouldn't stand and get in my way. We were also in the middle section but right on the left hand side by the taped off aisle. Our thinking was I could always peek around the aisle to see. Again, 5 min. before the show, two men came and stood in front of the ECV in front of me. The poor woman had to stand and sort of lean her knee on the seat since she had a bad leg. All I saw was what was in the sky and anything projected on the left building if I sort of leaned out with my son holding on to my waist.

When I saw hallowishes last year I saw how ugly the crowd can get when it comes to getting a good view. Thankfully I had a wonderful view. I'm sorry that happened to you twice, tho I'm not sure in august weather my sister would wait an hour for a good spot.

I like the immersion feeling that I got from it. I enjoyed the addition of the lasers as well as the fact that I could actually tell what was being projected on the buildings unlike sometimes with the castle projections. Perhaps its also because I went ahead and got a spot ahead of time (although not way ahead, but we were there right after Labor Day so it was pretty light crowds) and enjoyed it immensely.

It's definitely a letdown if you were looking for the number of fireworks in the old Star Wars fireworks show (which was pretty much the only one I have ever seen where afterwards I turned to absolute strangers and said "DID YOU SEE THAT" and they were saying the same), but again ... the immersion is well done in this new one.

Thank you for the detailed description! its really helpful. Im not expecting to be wishes or illuminations but I might wanna watch one of those shows twice.

 

[Miss Frankie J]

Thank you for all the helpful responses!


In a nutshell i guess my main dilemma is that me and my sister originally had no plans this vacation to go to HS. HS is easily our least favorite park and with my sister refusing to get on ToT or RnRC we usually skip it.

This year we have Annual Passes and Park hoppers so our trip is much more flexible. My plan was to just do epcot that day (Our favorite park), But when I realized that there was a star wars show we both never saw I thought it might be a good idea to cut that day short and hop to HS for the show and use FP on a few rides. But I cannot see myself sacrificing half a day to go to a park to see a show we both might not like. I went last year to HS and we completed the major rides and what we wanted to do in 3 hours. I think since we have the park hoppers if we decide to hop over and catch the show we will if the mood strikes us. but for now, thanks to all your help I wont sacrifice other stuff in order to do it I'll leave my plans as that being a complete epcot day.