Thoughts on when fireworks are returning

[Amyshubby]

Just booked a trip. We were going to book in February but feel like many of the restrictions will still be in place so we pushed it to the end of March. We can deal with the lack of extended hours and parades but really would miss the fireworks. Any guess on when those will return?

 

[yulilin3]

Lack of fireworks and parades and shows has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with saving money. No clue on when they will return

 

[gharter]

Lack of fireworks and parades and shows has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with saving money. No clue on when they will return

I disagree. They are still trying to keep people somewhat socially distanced. This is very difficult with parades.
Parades, people line up tightly along the streets. Not sure how you could change that.
Fireworks at MK always draws a crowd.
EPCOT, I think there is enough room around the lake, that it could work.
Fantasmic, you just let fewer people in and space them out.

Does not having them save money, for the evening shows, definitely.

 

[Upatnoon]

If I were going in March I would not expect them, but that is just speculation.

There is more speculation here.....

https://www.disboards.com/threads/magic-kingdom-fireworks.3819462/#post-62527093

 

[kwdw]

My guess - Fall 2021. I'm thinking for the 50th at the latest unless suddenly the COVID vaccines don't actually work.

I think March is unlikely. Though I'd give a maybe to "around Memorial Day".

 

[WawaCoffee]

Purely speculation, but don't expect anything before Fall 2021.

 

[cdoc29]

I think it's a saving money tactic and keeping people socially distant is the excuse. I agree it would be irresponsible to have a nightly show as people would pack in but they could always have fireworks show over the Seven Seas Lagoon and allow people to spread out. Look at the parades, having a scheduled parade encourages people to pack the sidewalks but they have calvacades which are basically unannounced mini parades they keep people socially distanced.

 

[yulilin3]

I disagree. They are still trying to keep people somewhat socially distanced. This is very difficult with parades.
Parades, people line up tightly along the streets. Not sure how you could change that.
Fireworks at MK always draws a crowd.
EPCOT, I think there is enough room around the lake, that it could work.
Fantasmic, you just let fewer people in and space them out.

Does not having them save money, for the evening shows, definitely.

There are ways to do fireworks and big stadium shows while social distancing, universal and sea world have already proved that. Disney did the projections and quick bursts at MK with no crowd control whatsoever. It's not hard, they just choose not to do it.

 

[Upatnoon]

I think it is both to save money and to control crowds.

The end of the fireworks is the signal for everyone to leave at once and you end up with logjams of people.

At Sea World and Universal, people just walk to their cars at the end of the night, they don't cram onto ferries, busses and monorails.

It also saves money, of course.

They are working on a new show for EPCOT, so perhaps it will be the first to restart. EPCOT is a bit easier to leave and has more open space.

 

[gharter]

There are ways to do fireworks and big stadium shows while social distancing, universal and sea world have already proved that. Disney did the projections and quick bursts at MK with no crowd control whatsoever. It's not hard, they just choose not to do it.

Arguably neither of those parks have the attendance numbers that Disney has.
Not sure they could pull it off with the same number of guests.

 

[yulilin3]

Arguably neither of those parks have the attendance numbers that Disney has.
Not sure they could pull it off with the same number of guests.

With the current guidelines Disney has less attendance at any specific park than universal and SWO A right now
I'm not hating on Disney at all but I have to call it how I see it, and working at SWO and seeing for myself how they handled fireworks in the Summer and during the holiday season and working all shows in the stadiums I can tell you it is possible to have them in a semi controlled fashion.
When Disney announced no shows because of crowding but then brought back Frozen and all the other theater shows that are running and when they brought back projections with fireworks bursts where people are standing for long periods of time without any guidelines or attempts at social distancing by CM I knew it was more of an excuse on safety and in reality an attempt to save money, which I completely understand they've lost billions of dollars, it's just we have to call it what it is

 

[Heather07438]

There are ways to do fireworks and big stadium shows while social distancing, universal and sea world have already proved that. Disney did the projections and quick bursts at MK with no crowd control whatsoever. It's not hard, they just choose not to do it.

Yep. Don't think they mind saving the money now... then when capacity gets expanded and they need to sell more tickets/rooms, they announce fireworks etc as a carrot to entice the hoards back. I'm hoping we see that for the 50th.

I wonder about Fantasmic! Maybe that comes back earlier? Some rumours say it's trying to open in a few months. Who knows? It could serve as a good consolation prize for people unable to get RotR that day.

 

[WawaCoffee]

when they brought back projections with fireworks bursts where people are standing for long periods of time without any guidelines or attempts at social distancing by CM I knew it was more of an excuse on safety and in reality an attempt to save money

Totally agree. I haven't been to the parks since all the craziness started, but I've been watching several live streams. Several nights leading up to Christmas, it looked like a regular night in front of Cinderella's Castle (in terms of crowding). Not a single cast member even attempting to break up the crowds.

 

[yulilin3]

Totally agree. I haven't been to the parks since all the craziness started, but I've been watching several live streams. Several nights leading up to Christmas, it looked like a regular night in front of Cinderella's Castle (in terms of crowding). Not a single cast member even attempting to break up the crowds.

It's really not hard
Have circles on the HUB and down MS USA where parties can stand socially distanced. Then have CM in all HUB entrance points, just like they did before when that area fills up just ask people to go elsewhere. You can basically see fireworks from anywhere at MK
I don't blame them wanting to save money but just call it what it is

 

[wilbret]

I also agree it's not a pure safety issue. They spend $50k per show, based on google university. That adds up, across all the parks.

Other parks have proven you can have fireworks and spread people out. People may not like it, but you don't have to be in front of the castle to see fireworks. We watched NYE fireworks from several different locations at SeaWorld this year. They had several displays every couple hours from 6pm to 11pm, and the big one at midnight. They had kiddie NYE celebrations earlier in the day with confetti at Sesame Street. It was brilliant, and the crowds were great. It was MORE crowded when we when back on January 2. They have social distance patrols making sure you don't cluster. They have markings on the ground in the areas where you can view fireworks. It was fine. They also opened a second exit so you had crowds split up.

Fireworks and parades probably need rethinking at Disney, anyway. How frustrating is it to have kids that can't see because everyone is standing up? And if you pick your kid up, the person behind you gets ticked off? Do it like they do in Japan. Sit down! It makes it better for everyone, and you can rest. We used to camp out to save a spot, but after the umpteenth time of having late arrivers shove their way in front of you, blocking little kids' views... we don't worry about it. We choose to ride rides during shows, and just catch fireworks from behind the castle, etc. It's not the same, but it has gotten us on 7DMT several times!

 

[skeeter31]

I also agree it's not a pure safety issue. They spend $50k per show, based on google university. That adds up, across all the parks.

Other parks have proven you can have fireworks and spread people out. People may not like it, but you don't have to be in front of the castle to see fireworks. We watched NYE fireworks from several different locations at SeaWorld this year. They had several displays every couple hours from 6pm to 11pm, and the big one at midnight. They had kiddie NYE celebrations earlier in the day with confetti at Sesame Street. It was brilliant, and the crowds were great. It was MORE crowded when we when back on January 2. They have social distance patrols making sure you don't cluster. They have markings on the ground in the areas where you can view fireworks. It was fine. They also opened a second exit so you had crowds split up.

Fireworks and parades probably need rethinking at Disney, anyway. How frustrating is it to have kids that can't see because everyone is standing up? And if you pick your kid up, the person behind you gets ticked off? Do it like they do in Japan. Sit down! It makes it better for everyone, and you can rest. We used to camp out to save a spot, but after the umpteenth time of having late arrivers shove their way in front of you, blocking little kids' views... we don't worry about it. We choose to ride rides during shows, and just catch fireworks from behind the castle, etc. It's not the same, but it has gotten us on 7DMT several times!

Ugh, I would never want to sit down for fireworks. I think worse than kids on shoulders is the hundreds of people with their phone held at full arms length above their heads recording the entire show.

 

[Maribeth71]

Will the castle projections continue now that the holidays are over?

 

[yulilin3]

Will the castle projections continue now that the holidays are over?

Nothing announced and nothing is on the schedule

 

[hp_lovecraft]

We used to camp out to save a spot, but after the umpteenth time of having late arrivers shove their way in front of you, blocking little kids' views... we don't worry about it.

there are a few specific spots that we found perfect for camping. Spots that CMs need to keep clear, but have a small gate or Fence nearby for me to park our strollers and bags, then assign one adult to “guard” until close to event time.

we have it down to a science. Because the “push back” became a huge issue

But you are right, most times that is the best time to hit all the good rides. Except near the end of the event. I remember last feb, it was near the end of the fireworks and we raced over to space mtn. It said only 15min. THe line was short.... but as soon as the show ended, a wave of people flooded to SM to make the end of the fastpass window. That 15 wait bacame well over an hour as the CMs has to prioritize some FPs

 

[wdw&sonny]

Fireworks, shows, restaurants, resorts, parades, meet n greets, monorails, reduced hours are just some of the experiences currently not available. Of course these are closed to save money. From a safety standpoint, Disney could have every restaurant open. That would disperse people further, and be safest. But, they need to try to operate their business while minimizing financial loss. They, like every business, are balancing covid restrictions with business operations.

When will these experiences return...when vaccinations increase, then covid cases will decrease, then restrictions can be reduced, then capacity limits can increase, then some experiences will return, gradually over time.

How long? I think that's our frustration. This has already lasted far longer than we all expected. The vaccine distribution does not seem to be gaining momentum as we hoped.

Every day I just keep hoping for some more positive news than expected. But, it just keeps extending the timeline.

Sorry, not trying to sound preachy. just venting frustration.
I think a return of these experience over the summer is optimistic.