Where to view Fireworks on July 4th?

[polkadotladybug]

Hi there,

I posted previously about getting a room out of the MK for July 4th, prior to starting our FTP on July 5 - well - a room came available at the All-Stars Music (where we will be for the FTP) (they didn't have any rooms available this morning, but when I called back this afternoon - they had an opening!!) I saw the light and decided to stay onsite Friday too - especially for the convenience of already being checked in and somewhat settled in by the time our passes start!

Anyhoo - Our park passes won't be starting until July 5th, but what do you recommend for viewing the fireworks outside of the parks - and can we ride the monorails before our passes start? Any suggestions on what to do that night with our 3 and 6 year old - who will be tired from riding all day!

 

[colleen costello]

We were there last July 4th, when the new Beach Club Villas just opened. It was so exciting and a nice CM there told me that on special occasions the MK fireworks go off from all around Bay Lake. This was a great tip. We ate at the Polynesian that evening and then went to the beach for the fireworks (along with about a million other folks). It was breathtaking. The best fireworks display I have ever seen -- you don't know where to look because the whole sky is exploding. I can't imagine a better place for July 4th fireworks than the Polynesian!

 

[Tikiman]

Just remember the Polynesian beach is for guests only and eventhough they did not do a good job of checking resort ID they did the years before last and they plan to check better this year after last years problems.

 

[ducklite]

After last years fiasco I have a feeling they'll be VERY guarded about who gets on that beach--even if you're planning on eating at the Poly that night, it's very possible you won't be allowed on the beach for viewing, so plan accordingly.

The walkway between the Poly and the Wedding Chapel might be a good place to view from without imposing on other guests.

Anne

 

[polkadotladybug]

So, what happened last year? I'm curious as to what you describe as a "fiasco"! Do tell!

 

[Tikiman]

Hey ducklite. I will leave that story up to you. If I tell it again I will just get angry. The 4th at the Polynesian has been our favorite thing for years and now we are not returning partly because of the people who invaded the resort last year. Atleast we paid to be there and I can even let those who ate there get away with it.

Lets just say it was a perfect example of how rude and thoughtless people can be.

 

[ducklite]

Long story short, the place was OVERRUN with thousands of people who were not guests there. People dragged chairs from the pools onto the beach. They dragged chairs from guests patios onto the beach. The completely blocked the view of those staying in lagoon view rooms. They left litter strewn all over the place.

People who were paying guests there came back to their rooms expecting to sit on their patios and watch the fireworks, only to find that either their chairs had been stolen, or someone was sitting in them, and people actually REFUSED TO GET OFF OF PEOPLE'S PATIOS and out of their chairs!!! Other stood right in front of patios blocking the view.

The place was overrun, trashed, and not what one paying over $400+ a night for a lagoon view room wants to be dealing with.

The beach has clearly posted signs that it is for the exclusive use of the Polynesian guests. People completely ignored them, and made for a very bad experience for people who had paid for the right to sit and watch the fireworks there.

I think there were also problems with the parking lot.

Hopefully this year they will have security requiring room keys for each and every person who tries to sit on that beach, and toss those who are not entitled to be there.

Anne

 

[gepetto]

With all of the un-official websites and guidebooks promoting the Polynesian beach as a nice, free place for MK fireworks it's no wonder it was so bad last year.

 

[colleen costello]

Tikiman, I am sorry for making a recommendation that obviously pushed some buttons here. It was extrememly crowded last year, and I hadn't thought about any grief the crowd caused the folks staying at the Polynesian. We weren't sitting near anyone's patio so it didn't occur to me that some had been blocked; we sat on the grass so I didn't think about anyone's chairs being taken. Finally, we visited on the recommendation of a CM so it never occured to me that the Polynesian beach was "off limits." After dinner we simply watched the fireworks. The family we sat with had come over from Boardwalk Villas so obviously there were lots of folks there who were not staying at the Polynesian.

Why was last year so bad as opposed to other years?

For original poster here, I would assume an equally nice place for viewing would be on the path between the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian if the areas right around these hotels are for their guests only.

 

[Tikiman]

I could not have said it better myself. I wish it was like the other years where they even checked us getting of the monorail that day and I saw a few get escorted off the beach before the show other years. Some were very embarrassed and a few guests made comments to them as they were asked to leave. They needed that type of security last year. I use to be ok with some people sharing the experience but when they got rude and had no regard for those staying there my feelings changed.

I do know a few people who had dinner there and watched the show but I also know they were respectful of the resort guests and did not leave a mess.

 

[Tikiman]

colleen Costello,

My anger is not towards you. Like I said above I knew some that were there and were respectful. I am sure every year I was there some were not from the resort but last year just got to be too much. It is not your fault when a CM at another resort suggest it. I heard a few stories of CMs from other resorts telling guests to go to the Polynesian. You have to remember not all CMs know the rules of other resorts and this must have been the case. I think that was part of the problem.

Don’t feel bad. If anything maybe this posting will inform many who will be there on the 4th. That is what the DIS is all about, information.

Aloha

Steve

 

[Lewisc]

I just got back from Las Vegas. The hotels swipe your room key before you're allowed to enter the pool area. If your'e not a current registered guest you don't get to enter.

For what people are paying for POLY Disney should have security check people. Check at the monorail, walkway from TTC and in the parking entrance. Obviously people with PS should be allowed in.

There are numerous threads on refillable mgs and pool hopping. Amazing that (except for SAB) Disney does very little to discourage abuses. I sometimes think posters here care more about guests who break rules than Disney.

 

[jk1]

polkadotladybug, there are public displays of fireworks in and around Orlando, possibly including Celebration. I know the big ones are up at Lake Eola (I think I have the name of the lake right).

 

[Braque]

As I posted on another thread, I called the resort. They said if you were dining at the resort, it was OK to stay on-site, walk around, shop and watch the fireworks on the fourth. Just don't try to park your vehicle there.

I have never been to the Poly on the fourth and feel very bad for the nasty and unruly behavior that those staying at the resort must have to put up with. Seems to me to be a crowd control issue. We all know how unbelievably rude and disgusting some people can be. Denying everyone with a PS the opportunity to stay on-site to view the fireworks seems to be a rather simplistic overreaction. I've got the CM's names I spoke with and will carry them with me, along with my PS Confirmation Number.

Call Guest Services and verify:
Polynesian: 407-824-2000

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

We were staying at the GF over the 4th last year, and it was crazy with people! Luckily, our building was way at the end, and there was no way for people to go out on the lawn infront of it. But, all of the rest of the shorefront was packed! It was amazing how many people were there! While walking thru the grounds, someone came up to me and asked me where I was staying, they were staying offsite. I'd say about everyone wasn't staying at the GF. I would have been very upset if I would have had one of those first floor rooms that were blocked by people. But, maybe that's why when I checked-in they said that I had the best room in the house!

 

[mickey'sbud]

I am wondering the same thing, where should we go to view the fireworks. We are staying at CSR. We are paying WDW guests and we would like to see the fireworks on WDW property...not outside. We will not be using passes on the 4th either......yet we do want to celebrate the 4th also. We don't want to envade anyone else's paid for location. However, being that we are off the beaten path and are paying guests....where can we see good fireworks...preferably MK. I would appreciate other suggestions in case the walkway between the Poly and the Wedding Chapel is overrun----as well as how to get there and what time to arrive. Thanks in advance.

 

[colleen costello]

What about the path where you can walk from the Contemporary to the MK? It's all paved and in some spots you might be able to get a good view. If you parked at the TTC, you could take the boat or monorail and then find a spot along here. We walked it once to eat at the Contemporary and I think it might work -- I remember we had a good view of Space Mountain...