Watching Wishes from Pinocchio Village Haus or Other Similar?

[BelleBriarRose]

I'll be in Magic Kingdom 3 times in May and I'd like to see Wishes from some places besides Main Street. I thought I'd like to see it behind the castle once, since I love the view of Fantasyland at night with the carousel and the castle. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[JimmyV]

Love watching the fireworks from behind the castle.

 

[Kirby]

While the Beast's castle is much, much smaller you can get some good pictures of the fireworks over it if you behind Cinderella's castle.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I have seen Wishes before, albeit it was 7 years ago (No idea why we haven't watched it once the past 3 times we've been at Disney...). My boyfriend has not seen them, though, and I don't think he would enjoy it as much standing in the crowd on Main Street trying to see around shoulder kids. So I'm looking for a more chill place to sit with a reasonable view (neither of us would care if we couldn't see Tinkerbell's flight). Which brings me to my question:

I've seen it mentioned on a few different websites that it is possible to watch Wishes from Pinocchio Village Haus. Has anyone ever done this before? If so:
1. does the music come through well in that area? That's all I really care about
2. Is it well-known by others that this is an option (meaning, does it get crowded up there and do we need to stake out a spot more than 30 min. early)?

I'm also wondering about Celebrate the Magic. Is it projected on the back of the castle as well? Would we be able to see it at all from any location (including Village Haus) besides standing on Main/the Hub?

Are there other good sitting spots for CTM/Wishes that you know of besides the train station?

First, if you have a 9pm dinner, you probably won't be done in time for Wishes (at 10pm). Getting a different BOG time is not particularly likely either.

I think perhaps you are overestimating what you will be able to do (timing), and underestimating how crowded the parks are. If you are spending part of the day at HS, then hopping to MK in the afternoon, then having a TS dinner- and this is your only park day. It sounds like perhaps you are over estimating what you will get done. (especially if your trip is during a holiday time frame)

Dinners usually take 90minutes, and that is if you are seated on time. With a dinner that late, you could be seated late. Several times we've dined at BOG (about 7pm) and been seated well after our ADR.

If you are arriving at MK at 2:30pm, and won't have any FP, you'll be limited to standby. You'll probably only do one ride per hour at best, especially if you try to do a headliner ride like space Mtn. Even rides that were formerly non-headliners now have waits under FP+. So, that works out do doing maybe 5-6 rides at MK before you need to make your way to dinner. That's only a fraction of the park.

Add to that, the knowledge that you will be paying for one day MK admission hoppers.

There's no wrong way to tour, but you are paying a premium $ for perks you simply won't be using, IMO.

 

[kaymil]

First, if you have a 9pm dinner, you probably won't be done in time for Wishes (at 10pm). Getting a different BOG time is not particularly likely either.

I think perhaps you are overestimating what you will be able to do (timing), and underestimating how crowded the parks are. If you are spending part of the day at HS, then hopping to MK in the afternoon, then having a TS dinner- and this is your only park day. It sounds like perhaps you are over estimating what you will get done. (especially if your trip is during a holiday time frame)

Dinners usually take 90minutes, and that is if you are seated on time. With a dinner that late, you could be seated late. Several times we've dined at BOG (about 7pm) and been seated well after our ADR.

If you are arriving at MK at 2:30pm, and won't have any FP, you'll be limited to standby. You'll probably only do one ride per hour at best, especially if you try to do a headliner ride like space Mtn. Even rides that were formerly non-headliners now have waits under FP+. So, that works out do doing maybe 5-6 rides at MK before you need to make your way to dinner. That's only a fraction of the park.

Add to that, the knowledge that you will be paying for one day MK admission hoppers.

There's no wrong way to tour, but you are paying a premium $ for perks you simply won't be using, IMO.

I'm pretty confident I'll find another BOG time. In June, after checking daily, I had a reservation for every day of our 4 day trip, 3 of which I obtained the day before we left. We only kept one of them, but it can be done. Finding a time much earlier than 9 I know will be challenging, but I'll just see what happens.

I also am not concerned about what we'll be able to get done. I've done WDW enough times to know what we're capable of, including with FP+, and that's in the summer months, so the very end of February at least should not be any worse, and is predicted to be significantly better, according to every crowd calendar I've seen. I think your opinion of 1 hour per attractions may be based on other things; it's only two adults and we're very efficient. And even if that is all we get done, I'm cool with that.

Although I appreciate your advice, I'm definitely aware of what we're spending our money on, and it's without a doubt worth it. My question was only pertaining to alternate Wishes viewing locations because I have everything else pretty well planned out.

 

[Love Tink]

I watched Wishes from right behind the castle in August, kind of by default. (I was waiting to meet my family at Peter Pan, and the fireworks started.)

I thought it was awesome. It definitely wasn't the same show as from the front - you can't see all the fireworks, and they aren't all in the "right" places. But there are fireworks being shot off from the rooftops right around you, and it is really loud and exciting. I felt much more immersed in the experience, and it was one of the really memorable moments of the trip for me. (I even skipped Peter Pan.)

I'd give it a try.

 

[kaymil]

I watched Wishes from right behind the castle in August, kind of by default. (I was waiting to meet my family at Peter Pan, and the fireworks started.)

I thought it was awesome. It definitely wasn't the same show as from the front - you can't see all the fireworks, and they aren't all in the "right" places. But there are fireworks being shot off from the rooftops right around you, and it is really loud and exciting. I felt much more immersed in the experience, and it was one of the really memorable moments of the trip for me. (I even skipped Peter Pan.)

I'd give it a try.

After all the positive responses, I definitely think we'll try this. If the area around Village Haus is as thinly crowded as most are saying, it sounds perfect. Neither of us will be too upset if the fireworks aren't in the right spots, and all the talk of the fireworks going off all around you sound really awesome! I'm hoping maybe we can find a seat on the Village Haus balcony unless that would somehow block the view more from not being able to look around/behind? Anyone done this before?

 

[Kirby]

They do block off certain areas behind the castle for the fireworks. And from our vantage point on the bridge we did see sprinklers going just in case a spark was able to make it to the ground.

You can sit outside at Gaston's Tavern and wait until the fireworks begin and then move to the position you want.

 

[Bellanota]

We saw Wishes right next to the Carousel the week of Thanksgiving. I wouldnt have traded that view for the world

plan on seeing it here again and i recommend others try it... well not to many it was nice not to be crowded

 

[Bellanota]

But the best part of this view point was this

she is in awe of the fireworks going off all around her.. asked to do it again and said she loved Wishes even without Tinkerbell

 

[kaymil]

But the best part of this view point was this

she is in awe of the fireworks going off all around her.. asked to do it again and said she loved Wishes even without Tinkerbell

I think that face would make just about anything worth it!

Thanks for helping me decide! Definitely seems like a great choice.

 

[Bellanota]

I think that face would make just about anything worth it!

Thanks for helping me decide! Definitely seems like a great choice.

No Problem. If your standing by the carousel like we were is 360 degree view of fireworks. we were turing in circles at some points cause it was so amazing.

And the plus side if your on this side of the castle most of the rides were walk on following Wishes (except Pan and Mine train)