WDW fireworks compared to DLR

[halfmonkey]

We've seen the DLR fireworks many times and now we're planning our first trip to WDW. We'll be there 5 days at the end of March. Our plan is to go to MK on Wednesday and Thursday and I saw that they offer a dessert dining package for the fireworks viewing. I also see that if you book a reservation at the California Grill, you can go out on the observation deck to view the fireworks as well.

I'm wondering if it's worth our money to book a dessert package because it'll be 3 adults and 3 kids or to even dine at the California Grill? Our time there is limited so I would prefer to do the things that WDW has that DLR doesn't have and if the fireworks are the same, then I'd like to skip it.

Now, the view from the observation deck certainly makes viewing the fireworks unique but logistically, I'd probably want to watch the fireworks on Tuesday night when we plan on going into the Epcot park. We'd leave the Epcot park early, say around 7 and go to a reservation at 8 at the California Grill. That would be the plan but I don't have any reservations yet so just planning out loud. If we did book the dessert dining package, then of course we would watch it on Wednesday or Thursday night. I don't necessarily want to leave MK to go to California Grill for a reservation because I want to maximize our time at MK. We'll be in Epcot on Tuesday and Epcot is a park that I'd be willing to leave early to head over to the restaurant and then watch the fireworks from the observation deck.

What are your thoughts? I know that the value of watching fireworks is subjective from one person to another and so that's why I'm wondering how similar the show is to DLR. The experience may be different but is the show any different? I've lined up for hours to watch Paint the Night and the fireworks at DLR and had great "seats" but because we have AP and can come back, that time lost to camping out for a great seat wasn't too painful. We don't do it everytime or even a lot but at least once for the kids to see. Since we won't be going back to WDW so easily, that's why I'm wondering if it'll be worth all of the effort.

 

[Robo]

DLRs fireworks beat Wishes by a long way, IMO.

And, Tink's flying (and sometimes Dumbo) knocks the MK version of that in the creek.


(And, just so you know, I do LOVE MK's Wishes!
But, by comparison... they are not in the same league.)

 

[hakepb]

For an only experience, I would try to see Wishes and the projection show from the hub area. I think they now have a hub area for dessert party guests.

To me, being there is like like having front row basketball seats while being up in Cali grill is like being up in a luxury box. While the box is fun and easy, it's not the same experience.

 

[bbjunkie]

I have never been to DLR, so I cannot compare my experience with Wishes at WDW. (Although I would certainly defer to Robo and trust his judgement). But in my opinion, Celebrate the Magic, which cannot be viewed from California Grill, is worth seeing from the hub or somewhere near it. And if I'm making the effort to be in the hub to see it, I'm sticking around for Wishes.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

MK's fireworks will never be canceled one minute after they begin, one minute before the finale, or completely, because at the last minute the wind starts blowing towards residents who live adjacent to the park, as happens...well as a fellow DL vet, I'm sure I don't have to tell you how often that happens in Anaheim. It. Is. Awesome.

 

[gatorlisa]

Which version of DLR fireworks should be used for comparison? The ones for the diamond anniversary were awesome and I would say better than MK's Wishes. I haven't seen the regular non-diamond anniversary DLR fireworks, but I've heard they are very short and Wishes is much better. I have been to WDW many times and have never found getting a decent viewing spot to be difficult. I don't see nearly as many people camping out really early for fireworks at WDW as I saw at DLR, so I think you would be able to get a decent spot near the hub without having to give up a ton of ride time. I would much rather pick my own spot for fireworks viewing than watch from a remote location or do a dessert party.

 

[BrianL]

Usually DL's are better. I've seen tehir Halloween version and it was the ebst fireworks show I had seen until I caught Disneyland Forever last month. Of course, now DL has moved to a very scaled back show for the time being, so right now MK has the edge, but that's not the norm.

 

[GeneralTso]

DLR show is really sad now. About 5 minutes long. The 60th Anniversary show was out of this world. The best I've ever seen at WDW or DL. It was incredible. Now it's basically pathetic. Halloween show will run with the parties.

 

[sharonabe]

We'll be in Epcot on Tuesday and Epcot is a park that I'd be willing to leave early to head over to the restaurant and then watch the fireworks from the observation deck.

If you leave EP early, then you miss Illuminations which is definitely different than anything at DL/CA. I wouldn't miss Illuminations for an outside view of MK fireworks.

 

[AngiTN]

For an only experience, I would try to see Wishes and the projection show from the hub area. I think they now have a hub area for dessert party guests.

To me, being there is like like having front row basketball seats while being up in Cali grill is like being up in a luxury box. While the box is fun and easy, it's not the same experience.

This. No matter what, if you are going all the way to WDW you need to catch Celebrate the Magic and Wishes from inside MK. Preferably in one of the locations in green on Robo's famous maps.

 

[halfmonkey]

If you leave EP early, then you miss Illuminations which is definitely different than anything at DL/CA. I wouldn't miss Illuminations for an outside view of MK fireworks.

I didn't even think about Illuminations and that is a good point about it not being available at DLR. Maybe my idea of leaving MK isn't going to work then. I guess if I'm going to watch the fireworks show, it'll be either on Wednesday or Thursday night when we're in MK. I guess we won't leave to eat at California Grill either then because if I was going to do that, I would have done that on the day that we got into Epcot.

Sounds like Robo has some good insights. I'll do a search to see if he/she has any information on Illuminations or any other topics that might be of good use. Thanks.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I didn't even think about Illuminations and that is a good point about it not being available at DLR. Maybe my idea of leaving MK isn't going to work then. I guess if I'm going to watch the fireworks show, it'll be either on Wednesday or Thursday night when we're in MK. I guess we won't leave to eat at California Grill either then because if I was going to do that, I would have done that on the day that we got into Epcot.

Sounds like Robo has some good insights. I'll do a search to see if he/she has any information on Illuminations or any other topics that might be of good use. Thanks.

Just...and I'm a minority on this, I'm sure...when you experience first Fantasmic, World of Color, DL's 60th Anniversary fireworks show, MK's Wishes, etc., don't expect too much from IllumiNations. It's a good show. But it's also barely 12 minutes long, and its wow factor is basically, "Ooh, fire hot!", "Ooh, fireworks loud!", and especially, "Ooh, 17-year-old-stock-footage-on-faraway-rotating-screen hard to see!" My partner and I saw it for the first time last month and...people who grew up with it love it. Let's just say we didn't grow up with it.

 

[halfmonkey]

Just...and I'm a minority on this, I'm sure...when you experience first Fantasmic, World of Color, DL's 60th Anniversary fireworks show, MK's Wishes, etc., don't expect too much from IllumiNations. It's a good show. But it's also barely 12 minutes long, and its wow factor is basically, "Ooh, fire hot!", "Ooh, fireworks loud!", and especially, "Ooh, 17-year-old-stock-footage-on-faraway-rotating-screen hard to see!" My partner and I saw it for the first time last month and...people who grew up with it love it. Let's just say we didn't grow up with it.

Thanks for the info. Good to know. Well, having visited DLR during their 60th celebration, I can say that their fireworks was really great compared to their regular fireworks shows. I will say that the best show that I've ever seen at DLR is the Paint the Night Parade. It is absolutely the best in every which way. I like that parade more than the 60th fireworks and my kids really enjoyed it too. Part of the reason we like it is because, we feel like we're at a party when the parade rolls through. Everybody is singing along and clapping and dancing whereas with the fireworks, you're watching and oh-ing and ah-ing. My kids love the Paint the Night parade and were dancing along too. Luckily, we saw it when they first premiered it and saw the very last showing at DLR.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

DLRs fireworks beat Wishes by a long way, IMO.

And, Tink's flying (and sometimes Dumbo) knocks the MK version of that in the creek.


(And, just so you know, I do LOVE MK's Wishes!
But, by comparison... they are not in the same league.)

ALL of THIS^^^^^!

 

[Baptist]

I would definitely stick around Epcot for IllumiNations. It's a good show, especially if you have never seen it. Also, I would not go to California Grill just for the fireworks view. It's a great restaurant, but pricey.

 

[geoffw35]

Thanks for the info. Good to know. Well, having visited DLR during their 60th celebration, I can say that their fireworks was really great compared to their regular fireworks shows. I will say that the best show that I've ever seen at DLR is the Paint the Night Parade. It is absolutely the best in every which way. I like that parade more than the 60th fireworks and my kids really enjoyed it too. Part of the reason we like it is because, we feel like we're at a party when the parade rolls through. Everybody is singing along and clapping and dancing whereas with the fireworks, you're watching and oh-ing and ah-ing. My kids love the Paint the Night parade and were dancing along too. Luckily, we saw it when they first premiered it and saw the very last showing at DLR.

I completely agree. That parade is magnificent! Such gorgeous music! I especially love the music starting at 14 minutes and 30 seconds and continuing for 2 1/2 minutes. If you want to relive it watch the video from the Disneyland Paris website here:

. No crowd noise in this one and a good pair of headphones shows you how much is going on in that music. I wish it showed production credits.

 

[DVC Jen]

In my opinion, if you can't do both Wishes and Illuminations - stay at Epcot and see Illuminations. You have seen fireworks around a castle - but Illuminations is completely different.