Will we regret missing Wishes and a night in MK?

[BarbieGal457]

To echo almost everyone here - do not miss Wishes!!! At least try to catch it once. MK at night has such a magical atmosphere, and Wishes is just a gorgeous show. It's easily my favorite, and the only one I refuse to miss on a trip. I don't think the crowds leaving will be as crazy as you dread, and personally, going to bed two hours later than normal wouldn't totally ruin my schedule. I feel like Disney is so different than home. I am not much of a morning person here, but in Disney I shoot out of bed at 6am! Maybe you will find the same to be true, that you can stay up a little later and not feel it as much! If you don't have set plans for the next morning, you can always sleep in a bit longer, too. I think you really would regret missing it.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Honestly if you have never seen it you may not. I would definitely regret it; but I have seen it and the night time entertainment at MK is my favorite thing at Disney World.

Actually I missed it one trip when I left it to the last day. I know sage advice says not to leave anyone’s favorite thing until the last day. We had driven down and since there was no Magical Express pick up to deal with on departure day I figured we could sleep in the morning we left since we only had to be out of the room by 11am.

The last park day came and per the plan we did the morning at MK (until noon) then came back to rest. Came time to eat dinner and go back to the park and my daughter declared she was done. She wouldn’t even get out of bed and we had been going slow and going to bed early all week so I didn’t see this coming at all. That meant we were all done because I travel alone with my two children.

So next trip we went back to what we normally do. MSEP, Castle show and Wishes within the first 3 days of the trip. We start out late that day so the children can make it and do Epcot the day after because Epcot is the one park we don’t hit at opening as neither Soarin nor Test Track are options for us because my son is little. My son passes out as we applaud the last of the fireworks; but he sees it all.

We honestly have not seen the fireworks at the other two parks. We haven’t been in Epcot past 7:30 and that only happened once because it was the last chance that trip to meet Jasmine and Aladdin and we waited for them through a break. After seeing Fantasmic on YouTube, they both said no. Well, my daughter said no. My son covered his eyes, which sent the message.

 

[CarolynFH]

DGD (6) has been to WDW 3 times now & has never seen Wishes or MSEP. She doesn't know that Tinkerbell flies before Wishes. I know, we're bad grandparents! But she's seen FoF and wasn't happy about it - she wants to ride rides!! So, do what's best for your family. If they would be too tired to enjoy it, or if the next day would be ruined by being tired and off sleep schedule, don't do it. You can't really miss what you don't know you're missing .

 

[sweetnjmom]

We went November 2013 when my son was 4 and he just could NOT stay awake for Wishes. We'd seen the MSEP and he was whining and asking to go "home" to our resort. We were staying at Wilderness Lodge and we just left and saw some of the fireworks from the resort ferry. He couldn't handle being up that late. That was our last night and it was bittersweet, but you do what you have to as a parent.

This trip we are doing the Pirates & Pals Fireworks cruise, which will be our only time seeing Wishes. So he'll still miss seeing it IN the Magic Kingdom. We are going to try to see Illuminations and Fantasmic as well. We "scheduled" later mornings AFTER the fireworks in case he does stay awake. He's 5-1/2 now.

 

[richmo]

This is a tough one. Wishes is a great show, as well as MSEP (usually an hour before) and the projection show at the castle the last 15 minutes or so before Wishes. If you can, try to go.

But I get it. It's not just a matter of Wishes being done at 10:15 or so. Getting out of MK after that can be an adventure. Some have suggested staying even later...that's not a bad plan, but it is later. I assume you'll be taking a bus back to your Epcot resort afterwards. The walk out of Main Street is slow and you may or may not have to wait for multiple buses. Certainly don't plan on getting back to your room before 11:00, quite possibly later. Perhaps plan the day after your MK night as one where you'll show up a little later than usual.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I can't go to WDW and not see Wishes. It's a must do on arrival night.

How about do a relaxing morning at the resort and go to MK late afternoon. Then the next day take the morning off?

 

[Fastpassminus]

I don't feel the need to do it every single trip. I DO feel like I NEED to see one of the shows every trip. I find that if I alternate certain things and DON'T do them every trip I appreciate them more when I do see them again.

This trip we are PLANNING on doing both Illuminations and Wishes. We are skipping AK to make that happen.

 

[DisneyFive]

Honestly if you have never seen it you may not.

This is a very good point. Kind like the old saying "Ignorance is bliss"

You can't really miss what you don't know. Basically, what we're all saying is... we've seen it. We love it. However, if you choose not to see it, you won't know what you're missing. I would still suggest staying up on that one night to see it. (weather depending of course).

Dan

 

[amandals2007]

i cry everytime i see it. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. and ive seen it so many times. dont miss it!!!

 

[starsweeper]

I just got back from a trip with my 4 kids (8, 8, 4 & 3) and had to return to the room by 5-6pm each day since my preschoolers were exhausted by then (we go early each morning) and I was fine with missing Wishes. However, if my DH was on the trip and I could go out with the 8yos for a night at MK and Wishes, I wouldn't miss it. Maybe go back to the room mid-day for a nap and hit MK around 5pm for more rides and to see Wishes so you're not so tired.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

I would definitely make sure you stay and see Wishes! I don't know what it is, but it really is just more than "some fireworks over the castle", it is pure emotional magic. On our October 2013, I did not plan great and had one night towards the end of our trip as our Wishes night. Well, DH came down with a cold at the end of the trip and he was feeling rough that night. So we had to watch it as we were leaving the park. Really regret not planning it earlier in the trip. That was the last Wishes before we left for home so could not redo. This time I will not make that mistake and will plan an early Wishes evening in the trip.

I do try not to cry during Wishes, but it's impossible. On that last trip, I was crying watching it and because I was "missing" it.

 

[DonaldDuck77]

We have seen Wishes, Illuminations, and Fantasmic. We will not go out of our way to see Illuminations and Fantasmic again (they are great shows, but not must sees every trip). We will see Wishes every trip, and every time it is available to see on a day when we are in MK.

 

[Karin1984]

One of the few, but I can do without seeing Wishes. I do see it as i am in the park anyway not bothered by the time. But every time I see a show (Disney or non Disney) the music is always out of sync with the fireworks.

It's usually a disappointment for me. Especially because everyone around me is in tears and lots of ohs and ahs, and I just don't get it.

So if the hour doesn't work for you, I would say: skip it.

 

[IWRBIE]

Unless you really love fireworks, I say skip it. You’re already seeing Fantasmic and Illuminations, that should be plenty to scratch the firework itch for one trip.

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

I would make it a point to see them at least once on your trip. You will not be disappointed!

 

[mybestieismickey]

I think you should do what feels right for your family. I love wishes and on an ideal trip, I would watch it as much as possible, with one Illuminations viewing and and one Fantasmic! if convenient (prefer the Disneyland version). But on our next trip, I will be thrilled if we get one viewing in. Best case scenario, I'll get two, but I am not counting on it. The other night time shows are not in the plans.

With toddlers, we like to get up and go in the morning, and even my little night owl is worn out by the time fireworks roll around.

Some kids cannot sleep in regardless of how late they stay up and that could cost you a full day of touring if you find yourself with an uncooperative cranky beast. Might not be worth it if that is your child.

If, on the other hand, your child can sleep in, I highly recommend watching Wishes and taking advantage of Fast Pass Plus later the next day.

 

[Nancyg56]

We have seen Wishes, Illuminations, and Fantasmic. We will not go out of our way to see Illuminations and Fantasmic again (they are great shows, but not must sees every trip). We will see Wishes every trip, and every time it is available to see on a day when we are in MK.

I agree. I don't care if I never see Fantasmic again, and while Illuminations is my favorite show, I am the only one in the family that likes it. Wishes, OTOH, is a never miss for my family

 

[asbyrneva]

Since kiddo we haven't done wishes. We are early to bed folks as well and rope drop is our thing. We go a couple times a year and Im sure that I would tear up again watching it but I dont regret having a kid that isnt overly tired while we are vacationing. I have been on the bus with sleeping, screaming, crying, whining kids when mom and dad kept them out to watch the fireworks. Also how many times have you seen kids sleeping in the strollers from exhaustion cause they are out too late. (doesnt apply with the 9 year olds but they get tired too). I dont think that 20 minutes of fireworks and music is worth the negatives impacting my vacation.

Yes it can be magical but it is also crowded, late and all the folks saying stay and watch havent told you how long it takes to get out of the crowds and deal with transportation and get to your resort. So 10:00 to some may not be late but 11:30 or 12:00 with crowded buses to get to your room is crazy to me.

I have over 10 trips with DS and not once have we stayed for Wishes. We would have to totally change the way we tour for us to stay for wishes
1) stay at monorail resort
2) sleep in day of and go late to park (fight crowds that are all doing the same thing)
3) sleep in next day go late to park.

While I am sure all the folks with wonderful things to say about the fireworks are right there are also things you and your family must weigh. If you weigh all the pros and cons then you shouldn't regret any decision you make.

 

[lllGurulll]

That's not necessarily true. We always go during the summer when there are 2 shows. It's been years since I've see the theater much more than half full or so for the late show.

We never show up more than 10 minutes before showtime.

second shows weren't available the days we went. They are more commonplace now. Still not entirely sure I want to take the time to watch it. If the kids change their mind then maybe we will try again.

 

[philschrek]

Our kids are up by 5am and we always do Rope Drop/EMH mornings, for US it's definitely not a must-do. We tried it our first trip with kids when my nephew was 5 and our oldest was 1. It was SO crowded and then my son fell asleep waiting so we left and didn't try again the rest of the week. We have watched it from our balcony at the Wilderness Lodge several times (and watched Illuminations from our BC balcony) and that is plenty good enough for our kids. That said my oldest has a hearing sensitivity so he may always prefer to watch from a distance. If we didn't see them even from our room, I don't think my kids would care and I wouldn't be heartbroken either. My favorite thing is actually to watch wishes from riding Dumbo and around there. I avoid the crowds and the nephew and I get some rides with little to no wait