Where to watch fireworks?

[leebee]

I know you can see the MK fireworks from the Contemporary, Poly, or GF, but what about the fireworks from Disney Studios? Is there someplace not in the park where you can get a reasonable view of these fireworks? We are having dinner at either Artist's Point or California Grill for my birthday, and I'd like to see fireworks that evening. I know that if we are at CG we can watch from there... mostly curious about options if we go to Artist's Point for dinner. We are staying at Disney (POP) and will be having dinner on property, but we don't have park tickets for that day so can't actually go into MK or DS to see the show, but I'd sure love to finish up my birthday with a fireworks display!

 

[DaisyJ]

I know you can see the MK fireworks from the Contemporary, Poly, or GF, but what about the fireworks from DS? Is there someplace not in the park where you can get a reasonable view of these fireworks? We are having dinner at either Artist's Point or California Grill for my birthday, and I'd like to see fireworks that evening. I know that if we are at CG we can watch from there... mostly curious about options if we go to Artist's Point for dinner. We are staying at Disney (POP) and will be having dinner on property, but we don't have park tickets for that day so can't actually go into MK or DS to see the show, but I'd sure love to finish up my birthday with a fireworks display!

You don't need a park ticket to get into Disney Springs. It is nothing more than an outdoor mall.

 

[leebee]

Sorry... by DS I meant Disney Studios. Not sure what they are calling it now- around here we still refer to it as MGM. I'll edit the original post.

 

[Robo]

Sorry... by DS I meant Disney Studios. Not sure what they are calling it now- around here we still refer to it as MGM. I'll edit the original post.

Disney's Hollywood Studios-DHS

 

[Wood Nymph]

I know you can see the MK fireworks from the Contemporary, Poly, or GF, but what about the fireworks from Disney Studios? !

There isn't much of a view of the Star Wars fireworks from outside the park since much of it is a projection show. We have seen the Star Wars fireworks from our table at Narcoossee's and from the Beach Club, right in front of the main pool. But if you decide to just watch the MK fireworks and decide to eat at Artist Point then you could watch the MK fireworks from the beach area at Wilderness Lodge. You can only see the high fireworks from there but they do pipe in the music and it would be convenient if your dinner ends close to the time they show the fireworks. The Electric Water Pageant comes by the WL at 9:35pm, so you could add that to your evening. You can relax with an after dinner drink at the new Geyser Point Bar and Grill at the Wilderness Lodge. It has a great view of the water.

Sorry... by DS I meant Disney Studios. Not sure what they are calling it now- around here we still refer to it as MGM. I'll edit the original post.

We like to think of it as MGM, too. But most people call it Hollywood Studios now.

 

[Robo]

I know you can see the MK fireworks from the Contemporary, Poly, or GF, but what about the fireworks from Disney Studios? Is there someplace not in the park where you can get a reasonable view of these fireworks? We are having dinner at either Artist's Point or California Grill for my birthday, and I'd like to see fireworks that evening. I know that if we are at CG we can watch from there... mostly curious about options if we go to Artist's Point for dinner. We are staying at Disney (POP) and will be having dinner on property, but we don't have park tickets for that day so can't actually go into MK or DS to see the show, but I'd sure love to finish up my birthday with a fireworks display!

The Beach at the Polynesian Resort offers a great view

of Wishes and other MK Fireworks shows.

However, the area with an MK view is now much smaller than it used to be

due to the recent construction of the new DVC on-the-water rooms.



They do "pipe in" the audio of the shows, but it is very, very low in volume.

There are several ground-level speakers along the

sidewalk.



They also pipe the audio to the speakers at the Poly pool.

The audio level is better in some places (closer to the sidewalk, for instance) than others (far out on the beach, for instance.)



I marked the area of the beach still open for viewing on the Poly map.

Here's a photo I took from the Poly Beach-

MK Fireworks (MVMCP Christmas Finale)

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More Viewing Spots-



You can see the MK fireworks shows very well from the TTC

(and they pipe-in clear, crisp audio from the show.)

Note: you are not allowed to stand directly in the actual Ferry loading area.

You can see them from the boat-dock and an outside

observation deck near Narcoossee's restaurant at the Grand Floridian.

The Narcoossee's Deck shown is now reserved only for guests of the restaurant.



Good viewing from the Gasparilla Grill Patio overlooking the Marina.

The sound of the show is piped into these areas too.

At the Contemporary, there is viewing on an outdoor

observation area on the 4th floor.

The California Grill observation areas are reserved for patrons that day of the Grill or Bar.

(The audio of the fireworks show is also piped in to these locations.)

(Fireworks shown above are simulated.)



At Wilderness Lodge, the "secret place" to watch the MK fireworks is from the

northern area of the Cast Member (CM) Parking Lot. (No Audio)

At the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds Marina (angle shown on the map below,) some of the view (especially of the "Fantasyland" pyro) is blocked by the now unused Discovery Island in Bay Lake and by the high-rise buildings of the Contemporary Resort.

But, the view from the Ft. Wilderness' sand beach (farther north) is more open.

Still the tree-level can block the views of the lower-firing pyro.



Here are the angles of the views in the Bay Lake area.

Below are the angles of the views in the Seven Seas Lagoon area.

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As for viewing from INSIDE the dining area of restaurants (you need ADRs, and most are usually busy during the shows)...

you can see (and hear) them at California Grill at Contemporary,

'Ohana at the Poly, at Trader Sam's and Trader Sam's outdoor patio at the Poly, Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian,

and (if you have access there) the Top of the World at Bay Lake Tower.

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[Robo]

Views of the higher-flying Star Wars fireworks at DHS can be seen along the plum-colored pathway inside the area that I shaded in green on the map below.
(However... the show is now SO MUCH MORE than just "fireworks" that viewing the show from anywhere but the central area in front of the Great Movie Ride/Chinese Theater will be very disappointing.)

 

[leebee]

WOW, Robo, thanks so much for all this information!!