Where's a good place to watch Wishes from the Poly beach??

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Just what the title says...

Is there a really good place to watch the "wishes" fireworks from the Poly?
Thank You!!

 

[Hopefully]

I am interested in the answer too. We are staying at the Poly in 2 weeks. My DGD and DGS are 3 and 5, so we will be in early for bedtime. I thought at least one night I could walk out to the beach and watch Wishes. Is there somewhere in particular that is best? Is there somewhere special where they pipe in the music? Thanks in Adnavce!!!!!

 

[grimley1968]

There's really no best place on the beach to watch it. It's not like there is anything to block your view here.

They do pipe in the Wishes sound (last I heard the sound system was on the fritz due to rehabs, though). The speakers that I saw for this were located at the edge of the beach next to the sidewalks. There may be others that I don't know of, but these are the ones I saw.

 

[ruzer28]

Anywhere. You can't beat the view from the Poly beach.

 

[SnwflkCts]

Anywhere on the beach is great. In Feb, I could not hear any sound ... but it was soooo cold maybe it was my hat and hood over my ears prevented that! Anyway ... if you can score a hammock that is fun -- or a chaise lounge. The view is great anywhere on the beach even if you have to sit in the sand!

I wanted to see what wishes is like from the beach in front of the luau cove but didn't get to. That looks more secluded .... one night as we walked from the GCH back to our room in FIGI, we saw the KISS GOODNIGHT! Ooooo that was magical!

The POLY ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I was going now too!

 

[Robo]

There's really no best place on the beach to watch it. It's not like there is anything to block your view here.

There absolutely is PLENTY to block the view, IF you want to see the CASTLE along with the fireworks show.

I know, as I just shot a multi-camera-position video of Wishes.

There is a large island that sits between the Poly and MK, and its trees block the castle.
My original plan was to shoot from the end of the boat-dock that sticks way out into the lake... no good here, trees in the way,
So I had to locate a better spot with a clear viewing position of the castle in order to set up my camera gear.

That "sweet-spot" for viewing Wishes with the castle took much more walking along the beach than I thought, but it can easily be found by walking along the sidewalk until the castle becomes unobstructed by the trees. Its a pretty good distance up the sidewalk from the pool (walking in the direction of the TTC.)

Sound is definately not always piped in here, either.
(The night I taped from here, it was not.)
But on the nights its not, you CAN hear some of the louder music as it wafts over the water.
Remember that at this distance from MK (if the music is not "piped-in"), the music will be VERY out-of-sync (delayed) from the image of the fireworks as they explode.
And the SOUND of those firework explosions is even MORE delayed... but quite LOUD, boomy and echoey... kind of "cool" in its own right.

 

[byoung]

By the walkway you can here the speakers.

 

[Robo]

By the walkway you can here the speakers.

Not when they don't turn them on.

 

[Princess Amy]

I have stayed at the Poly numerous times...if you do not have a room already to where you can see Wishes, any of the beach spots will do. I have seen them from the boat dock and have enjoyed it. It feels as if your floating out on the water...it is also sheltered (could be wrong) and they have benches for you to sit on. Good luck!

 

[cara loves the poly]

There absolutely is PLENTY to block the view, IF you want to see the CASTLE along with the fireworks show.

I know, as I just shot a multi-camera-position video of Wishes.

There is a large island that sits between the Poly and MK, and its trees block the castle.
My original plan was to shoot from the end of the boat-dock that sticks way out into the lake... no good here, trees in the way,
So I had to locate a better spot with a clear viewing position of the castle in order to set up my camera gear.

That "sweet-spot" for viewing Wishes with the castle took much more walking along the beach than I thought, but it can easily be found by walking along the sidewalk until the castle becomes unobstructed by the trees. Its a pretty good distance up the sidewalk from the pool (walking in the direction of the TTC.)

Sound is definately not always piped in here, either.
(The night I taped from here, it was not.)
But on the nights its not, you CAN hear some of the louder music as it wafts over the water.
Remember that at this distance from MK (if the music is not "piped-in"), the music will be VERY out-of-sync (delayed) from the image of the fireworks as they explode.
And the SOUND of those firework explosions is even MORE delayed... but quite LOUD, boomy and echoey... kind of "cool" in its own right.

Oh good lord, the fireworks are WAY above any "blockage" and so is the top of the castle......ANYWHERE on the beach.

 

[addicted2wdw]

We have watched them from the pool and they were great! I wish I was there now!!!

 

[Robo]

Oh good lord, the fireworks are WAY above any "blockage" and so is the top of the castle......ANYWHERE on the beach.

What an odd thing that this disturbs you.

I'm not making this up.
I shot a professional video presentation of Wishes.

The MK (and the castle) is nearly compelety blocked by trees over much of the beach.
And certainly on the boat docks.

What a strange thing that you didn't notice or care about the blockage.

Properly scouting a shooting location is always a priority.
We took special care to ensure proper framing and compostion of the wide-shot from this location.
It offers some of the most dramatic angles we recorded.

Here are 4 "Frame-Grabs" from the finished DVD.
The first 3 images are from my "Camera 6" position on the Poly beach.
As you can see, with a clear view of the castle at this angle, the reflection in the lake is spectacular.
(As always, a "frame-grab" from video is lower quality than a standard still image, but these are a good sample.)

 

[Robo]

After looking at the frame-grabs, it occurs to me than many guests may not understand that there are two fireworks "Stages" used in Wishes.
That means there are two staging centers for the pyros.
The BACKGROUND (larger-higher) fireworks (fired from back in the "non-guest" areas behind the MK) can be seen very high in the sky.
The farther from MK you get, the larger these appear.

And then there are the FOREGROUND (smaller-lower) fireworks (fired from the rooftops of Fantasyland/Liberty Square).
These are designed to "frame" and/or interact with the castle-lighting (which is also part of the show).

The last 2 images in my post above demonstrate that if your view of the castle is obstructed, these beautiful "foreground effects" can be mostly-hidden or never seen at all.

I guess I assumed that guests viewing at the Poly would want to see the as much of "the SHOW" as possible, and not just "most of the FIREWORKS".

That's the difference I see between "fireworks" and "Wishes"... and the difference between "everywhere else" and "Disney".

 

[SnwflkCts]

Wishes is most likely gorgeous in the park -- but I will say ... it was fun to be snuggled up in DH's arms on a chilly night at the Poly Beach and know that when it was over, I was only steps away from my room. And it was beautiful to watch from the Poly beach. Did I miss some music? ... probably. Did I miss the lower fireworks? .... obviously! Did I miss the magic? .... NO -- I was delighted with what I saw .... imperfect as it might have been. I'm still feeling the magic now ....