Where to watch Fireworks with 7 & 9 year old

[jennilouwho]

Hi! We used to get a spot about an hour early by the hub where they rope off so my kids could see the fireworks without an adult obstructing their view. I am thinking with PTNP we won't be able to do that anymore. Where should we watch now so the kids aren't just looking at the grown up in front of them's back and behind? Or am I imagining it's worse than it is and they can see just fine on Main Street?

 

[Angrose]

You're not imagining it, it's very packed on Main St. I had to hold DS7 up when we went last summer. The only other place we've seen them was in the Fantasmic! area, but that's not really the best place, especially now that F! is down for the next year plus. It is so much better facing the castle anyway. Unfortunately I don't have any other suggestions. Hopefully someone else will chime in. Good luck!

 

[ADLFAN]

I admit, I'm a tall adult. But I loved watching the fireworks on Main Street because I saw the projections much better right above me (across the street) on the Main Street buildings than on the castle. We were closer and also the buildings are flatter and that helps the projections look more defined. They also do some projections where each building has its own theme and that looked cool, too. We stood about halfway down the street facing the castle. We just ducked under the ropes after the parade and even though it was squished, we were up against the rope and since there was the walkway behind us, it didn't feel as claustrophobic as the hub. And I knew we'd have a quicker escape! We didn't have a great view of the Matterhorn's part, but I thought we saw its peak... We did watch from the hub area, too, so my memories might be blending together! We definitely got snowed on on Main St. but around the hub we didn't really because the breeze carried it away. But that was just our night, and I bet everyone gets snowed on if there isn't a breeze. We held kids on our hips and piggyback and they somehow quadrupled in weight throughout the show! Piggyback was a bit easier than the other options... That show is awesome! Have fun!

 

[VickiHD]

We find the up at the train station at the end of Main Street works for our Mouseketeer. It's also a good place to watch the PTNP too. Bonus....the bathrooms if the kids need it aren't too far away. Hope this helps.

 

[jennilouwho]

Yeah, we can't hold these guys. It would throw my back out and my husband will already be piggy backing the 3 year old. How early do we need to get there before the parade to watch at the train station?

 

[VickiHD]

Yeah, we can't hold these guys. It would throw my back out and my husband will already be piggy backing the 3 year old. How early do we need to get there before the parade to watch at the train station?

Honestly, it depends on the crowd and if any AP are blockout or not. We've gotten there about 1hr before to get a bench and we've also ran in a few min. before the parade started. Sorry I can't help more than that. Another place we've watch is on the ramp right in front of the bathrooms between City Hall and the Fire Station. That one is really only good for the parade...then you could always move to the flag pole area to see the fireworks.

 

[jennilouwho]

I appreciate your info, Vicki!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

When I took my son to see it for his 5th birthday, we sat on Main St. next to the photo store. Great seats for the parade, but the fireworks were a madhouse and I had to hold all 45 lbs. of him on my shoulders so he could see the castle. In all honesty, if you want to make it easy and don't care about seeing the view in front of the castle (which is the best view, but not the easiest), I'd recommend going to the raised platform area across from IASM. It won't be the same view, but it's a good view, the projections are easier to see on IASM, and if you get there early and grab the front row of the raised area, your kids should have an unobstructed view.

 

[jennilouwho]

When I took my son to see it for his 5th birthday, we sat on Main St. next to the photo store. Great seats for the parade, but the fireworks were a madhouse and I had to hold all 45 lbs. of him on my shoulders so he could see the castle. In all honesty, if you want to make it easy and don't care about seeing the view in front of the castle (which is the best view, but not the easiest), I'd recommend going to the raised platform area across from IASM. It won't be the same view, but it's a good view, the projections are easier to see on IASM, and if you get there early and grab the front row of the raised area, your kids should have an unobstructed view.

Do you know if this is where the Paint the Night Package counter service meals sit now? Might be worth just getting those and then we could see parade and fireworks....

 

[closetmickey]

I would just stand on main street. You can see similar projections on all the surrounding buildings that are being projected on the castle. And it snows! I'm worried they would miss a lot of this at the station. For this new show, the projections and effects on either side of you are as integral as the fireworks themselves! I am a shot adult who couldn't really see the castle and it really didn't matter. Enjoy!

 

[jennilouwho]

I had a thought last night. We could probably still get a spot by the hub where they put the rope up if we stand on the Frontierland side while everyone is watching the parade and then go to the later parade? I had forgotten that the parade would only be going down one side of the hub, so maybe people wouldn't be staking out spots on the other side too early?

 

[SMD]

I did the fireworks from the Frontierland side last week. I was eating at Jolly Holiday (standing because people were holding tables to get a minimal view of the parade) and as I exited the CMs were creating a waiting area for the street area for fireworks. The benches were already full and the sidewalks remained blocked off. They actually put ropes up and filtered everyone through an opening near Adventureland. You do have to look through the trees and it still was only a partial view of the castle. I prefer the Main St view, where you can see the projections on multiple buildings. Every time I've been on Main St it's been packed and there's been dozens of kids younger than 7 who don't need to be held up to see. I think you're worrying for nothing. They will be able to see the projections on the buildings and the fireworks from anywhere on Main St because of the angles.

 

[jennilouwho]

I did the fireworks from the Frontierland side last week. I was eating at Jolly Holiday (standing because people were holding tables to get a minimal view of the parade) and as I exited the CMs were creating a waiting area for the street area for fireworks. The benches were already full and the sidewalks remained blocked off. They actually put ropes up and filtered everyone through an opening near Adventureland. You do have to look through the trees and it still was only a partial view of the castle. I prefer the Main St view, where you can see the projections on multiple buildings. Every time I've been on Main St it's been packed and there's been dozens of kids younger than 7 who don't need to be held up to see. I think you're worrying for nothing. They will be able to see the projections on the buildings and the fireworks from anywhere on Main St because of the angles.

I really appreciate that. We've never not watched them from our coveted spot on the Tomorrowland side by the hub, so I wasn't sure. Thanks!

 

[SMD]

Although thinking about it you might want to stay a little more to the Penny Arcade and Carnation side because I think you get a better angle on Tink and Nemo. You're not going to see them the whole time they're out from Main St because of the trees, but I think just a glimpse as they cross the castle is still pretty cool.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Do you know if this is where the Paint the Night Package counter service meals sit now? Might be worth just getting those and then we could see parade and fireworks....

I think it might be...but I'm not sure if they're using the whole area or just a portion. It may be worth looking into if you're willing to spend the money.