Which Fireworks show to skip?

[stainbas]

So we're headed the week of October 20th, leaving Oct 26. During the trip we are doing the MNSSHP. We also booked the Pirates and Pals cruise on a MNSSHP night, so we'll basically see those fireworks twice.

So, unless I can manage to snag a cancellation for the Fireworks Cruise on a non-MNSSHP night (I feel lucky to have gotten the night I got), I think it will be hard to see all 3 of the regular fireworks shows. Which one or two should I prioritize - Fantasmic, Wishes, or Illuminations?

We plan to take a mid afternoon break from the parks each day and have Park Hopper, so I don't have to base it on which park we visit for the day, other than effectively losing the option for FP+ to reserve the show. The boys are 4 1/2 and almost 3.

 

[HopperFan]

Your kids might love Fantasmic and that was the best "fireworks show" FP+ I got (and I tried them all). Center seating is for FP+ and Dining Packages only right now. It is def something different if you have never been.

I would skip Illuminations, particularly with the younger kids and def would not waste a FP+ on it. I did it a couple weeks ago and that was a waste. I would only consider if you were planning on an EPCOT day and were already there.

I suggest you watch the ones you question on YouTube so you can get a better idea of what you think they/you will enjoy most.

 

[Frankiemack]

Your kids might love Fantasmic and that was the best "fireworks show" FP+ I got (and I tried them all). Center seating is for FP+ and Dining Packages only right now. It is def something different if you have never been.

I would skip Illuminations, particularly with the younger kids and def would not waste a FP+ on it. I did it a couple weeks ago and that was a waste. I would only consider if you were planning on an EPCOT day and were already there.

I suggest you watch the ones you question on YouTube so you can get a better idea of what you think they/you will enjoy most.

I agree that Illuminations is geared more towards an older crowd and can tell you that my DD was bored with it. Fantasmic is a must do....since you already have the cruises scheduled, especially on a MNSSHP night, your don't need another MK display.

 

[rachael95]

With your kids ages though, you might want to look at some of the youtube videos of Fantasmic. I've seen a lot of younger ones scared of it. There's a big dragon, bad guys, fire, water shooting up. It's intense and can scare little ones. I'd also not sit very close to the front because you'll get damp from the water and the heat from the fire can get pretty warm.

Fantasmic is by far my favorite fireworks show though. I always end up in happy tears at the end.

 

[stainbas]

Cool! Thanks for the feedback and heads up on the video. Based on easyWDW it sounds like Monday is a good night to see Fantasmic. That's our tentative Epcot day, so maybe we aim to leave Epcot in the midfternoon, take a break, and head out to HS for the first show. How early would we need to be there if we can't use FP+? (I imagine we'll need our FP+ for the Epcot rides).

Wednesday is our HS day, but they're going to be exhausted from the combination of the cruise the night before and the early wakeup call to be there for the rope drop/Jedi Training dash. I think I'll have a FP+ to burn, given my kids' heights, so I'll probably try to FP+ a Fantasmic regardless if it's available.

 

[Crystal824]

I would agree with skipping Illuminations. My 3 year DD LOVED Fantasmic. I was a bit worried she would be scared but she absolutely loved it and still talks about it sometimes even though our trip was 5 months ago. Wishes is obviously great for little ones.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Fantasmic is our favorite and Illuminations the least favorite. I have not done MNSSHP but we have done MVMCP and the fireworks were not that different an experience than wishes. Better and longer but not too different. I would say do Fantasmic for sure, and then between wishes again, and illuminations, I would choose which ever one is easier to work into the plans. Even with a break, sometime little ones need an early night or two, so you might want to be flexible there too.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We skip Fantasmic and love Illuminations. I love the music to Illuminations and don't really care for the drama of Fantasmic. I also don't like the mass exodus from the Fantasmic theater or having to get there an hour early to get a seat. We can usually walk up to a decent spot 10-15 minutes before Illuminations and have a good view.

 

[RedHeadedFairy]

I'd totally skip Illuminations. DD finds it too boring to pay attention to so the whole "story" gets lost on her.... Fantasmic isn't the most amazing show ever but the kids like seeing so many characters in one show I think.

I can't even imagine skipping Wishes. I think it's the best of the 3 by a long shot.

 

[North of Mouse]

So we're headed the week of October 20th, leaving Oct 26. During the trip we are doing the MNSSHP. We also booked the Pirates and Pals cruise on a MNSSHP night, so we'll basically see those fireworks twice.

So, unless I can manage to snag a cancellation for the Fireworks Cruise on a non-MNSSHP night (I feel lucky to have gotten the night I got), I think it will be hard to see all 3 of the regular fireworks shows. Which one or two should I prioritize - Fantasmic, Wishes, or Illuminations?

We plan to take a mid afternoon break from the parks each day and have Park Hopper, so I don't have to base it on which park we visit for the day, other than effectively losing the option for FP+ to reserve the show. The boys are 4 1/2 and almost 3.

Fantasmic is #1 with us - Wishes #2 and Illuminations #3

Illuminations is a very distant 3rd with us - haven't bothered to see it the last few trips - have seen Wishes and Fantasmic many times - love them!

 

[jedimeg16]

With your kids ages though, you might want to look at some of the youtube videos of Fantasmic. I've seen a lot of younger ones scared of it. There's a big dragon, bad guys, fire, water shooting up. It's intense and can scare little ones. I'd also not sit very close to the front because you'll get damp from the water and the heat from the fire can get pretty warm.

Fantasmic is by far my favorite fireworks show though. I always end up in happy tears at the end.

I agree with everything here. Fantasmic is by far my favorite nighttime show, but my oldest son (who was 34 months at the time of our trip in April) didn't even want to watch the YouTube video of the show. He was perfectly fine with the Electrical Light Parade, but was never awake to catch Illuminations.

 

[wallskm]

I'd skip Illuminations unless you think your kids will be afraid of Fantasmic. My ODS was 3 yrs 10 months when we went last time and he wasn't bothered by it. There were several points where I looked at him, worried that he would be scared, but he was mesmerized. He loved seeing all the characters on the boats too. We didn't do Illuminations with the boys last visit but I saw it when we went before we had kids and I didn't think it was anything exciting.