Watching fireworks near Pixie Hollow -- good place?

[PHXscuba]

We will be to Disneyland in about 3 weeks and I am trying to find a good spot to watch the fireworks. We plan to be near Pixie Hollow after dark to see the lights/show at night and I was wondering if camping out somewhere outside Pixie Hollow was a good place to see the majority of the fireworks show.

We haven't been to DLR in the summer in forever, so I'm not sure how early on a Friday in July I'll have to find a place. It doesn't have to be a perfect spot, but it would be nice to find a nook we can sit in and rotate through bathroom, snack, etc.

Thanks for any good advice or experiences,

PHXscuba

 

[50sjayne]

I think that's a great idea. I don't know about being that far away and being able to see Dumbo though....We liked our 'spot' on the castle side of the astro orbiter. I've also heard by the matterhorn is good-- that they do some projections on it. I don't know if that applies to magical or just dreams come true.

 

[PHXscuba]

Thanks for the idea about being in front of the Astro Orbiter.

I don't have to be near Pixie Hollow specifically; that's just where we'll be after dark so I figured it was a good area to start looking for a spot from. I would love to see Dumbo fly!

PHXscuba

 

[50sjayne]

You have to be pretending to watch someone there and out of the path or they will scoot you out. When the fireworks start you can turn around and watch-- as long as you stay out of the path.

 

[cypressmom]

We watched them from a sectioned off area in the walkway between IASM and Pixie Hollow. There were very few people in the section we were in. We could see Tinkerbell and Dumbo, but tree blocked some of the fireworks. When we were leaving WOC the fireworks were going off and we could see them great from DCA! We watched them all the back to the hotel.

 

[50sjayne]

We watched them from a sectioned off area in the walkway between IASM and Pixie Hollow. There were very few people in the section we were in. We could see Tinkerbell and Dumbo, but tree blocked some of the fireworks. When we were leaving WOC the fireworks were going off and we could see them great from DCA! We watched them all the back to the hotel.

Oh gosh yes-- we were coming out of the first WOC and stopped and watched them in front of the golden gate bridge--wonderful! Again, you have to stay out of the path.

 

[PHXscuba]

Part of my problem is figuring out the sightlines. Most of the maps don't really show where Pixie Hollow is in detail or are outdated. I guess I'll just have to scout it during the day.

Anyone else with any good viewing tips for this area or in general? I don't want to spend hours camped out but I would like to see something!

PHXscuba

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

Honesty, if you want the full fireworks show experience with light show and castle effects then the Pixie Hollow area is a bad spot. Trees will be blocking you and you won't be able to appreciate the castle effects. Unfortunately the best location is a spot actually facing the castle from the front. If you are a small group, say 2 to 3 people then you can easily worm your way into the crowd about 10 - 15 minutes before show time, a little before would be better. When it's close to show time everyone is asked to stand up and when that happens huge empty areas appear within the crowd.

If you don't really care to see the castle effects - the castle is the main character so that's really the best thing to see, but if you are pretty much only interested in the fireworks then you should go to Fantasyland and stand behind the roped off section between the Carousal and the Pinocchio restaurant. We finished up at the restaurant as the fireworks were starting and ending up hanging around to watch them. Had a pretty clear view, but what was extremely awesome was that Tinkerbell and Dumbo were very close, closer than you would see if you were in front of the castle. Of course there's probably better non castle viewing areas, but I would stand there again just to see Dumbo and Tinkerbell - everyone around us went nuts when Dumbo came out! By the way, the fireworks are very loud in this area - the explosions are drowned out by the music when viewing from the castle area.

I remember the Tomorrowland Terrace area being a good place to view the fireworks only, but the best place and experience is facing the castle.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

I really like small world not many people over there and the project images on small world.

In front of the castle is the best but small world is a fun place to watch and not many people go there.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I really like small world not many people over there and the project images on small world.

In front of the castle is the best but small world is a fun place to watch and not many people go there.

I also agree with the pp, I like the projection images on IASW and it is quiet in the back than at the hub. Around the castle will always be crowded every night when DL does fireworks. But I like the special effects on the castle and around the fireworks around Fantasyland.

 

[PHXscuba]

OK, so maybe we head back into Fantasyland ... Can you still see Tink and Dumbo farther back near IASW? I think that might be really cool.

I have two taller kids (one is now my height) but two smaller kids who will have trouble seeing over a sea of grownups. I know it's harder to find space for a family of 6 anywhere, but since we rarely go during peak season with full fireworks I am willing to work a little harder/longer to see them.

Thanks for the ideas!

PHXscuba

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

No you really cant see tink or dumbo back there but you get your own little show on small world and you dont have to wait for hours to stake out a spot just go back there with 10 min for fireworks and you will be good.

How many days are you going I ask because maybe 1 night go back by small world and another night just go back on main street and find a spot when its ready to start to see tink and dumbo.

We do not like waiting hours for a spot to watch I like to be riding rides instead of waiting around.

Aladdin show perfect example parents and sister waited around for a good hour before they let them in so when they finally got in they were in the back on main floor.

They ask us if we wanted to wait im like no gonna ride tower of terror and monsters inc so after we got done with those rides they were letting people in.

We ended up on the second floor in the 2nd row and the show was amazing from there. My parents after said wow we should just follow you guys around lol.

We did do the perferred seating for world of color because it was only 4 days old at the time. We loved the view it was great but if I was to do it again i would do the picnic meal.

fantasmic I have done the reserved seating to it 2 times loved it instead of fighting the crowd. The key to that show is do the later show when everyone leaves find you a spot a lot less waiting around then for the first show.

These are my tips and they work well but there are people that like to wait so if that works for them then great.

One other tip for you guys have a fastpass runner send 1 person in your party to gather as many as you can in the morning so you can ride them later. Alot of times we go in disneyland first get our tickets scanned i will go out the exit and run over to soarin grab us fastpasses then head back to disneyland for space mountain fastpass and then head to roger rabbit fastpass and get one for that. (roger rabbit is not connected to the rest of them).

Big thunder mountain you can get a fastpass there and never have to wait 2 hours to get another one so I gather a lot of big thunder mountain rail road passes during the day.

 

[PHXscuba]

We've been to DLR numerous times but haven't ever "staked out" a fireworks spot because of restless little kids or going on an off-peak weekday with no fireworks. This is a one-day trip using our GAD tickets.

I am even more determined to have some kind of plan after last night: We went to a MLB game and they had fireworks afterward. Unfortunately our view was almost totally blocked by the stadium wall and roof overhang. We had to clamber down from the upper half of the upper deck and get outside to watch the latter half of the show. Grrr...

Thanks for the tips; I may try in Fantasyland and move back toward IASW if it doesn't work out.

PHXscuba