Wishes is now standing room, shoulder to shoulder, only...?

[DisneyOma]

Unfortunately, or fortunately, FP+ is the only way to really enjoy the fireworks without much issue. I would say it's a good thing though, as this way you at least have an option of a somewhat guaranteed good way of viewing them. Before you just had to hope and get there really early.

Disagreeing, as we always have a spectacular view from behind the castle, no crowds, and we are surrounded by fireworks!

Also, a lot of the "best viewing" depends on the wind direction on a particular night. We've been known to move from a 'prime' viewing spot and head off more to one side to get a better angle for the fireworks. There have been some nights when the fireworks aren't even close to being centered over the castle.

 

[okilydokily]

I can't understand the feeling that just because someone decides to wait for hours in a place they want to be, that it entitles them to have all the room in front of where they are as well for the show. It is an open viewing area and people should be able to come in and stand in an open spot. I never stake out my place. I come in before and find a place to stand and watch. Now that there is a FP viewing area, I am even less sympathetic. If it is that important to you, get a FP, but don't get mad because you think all that time means you get more space. I think it is a waste to wait more than 15 minutes.

Of course don't think that the dessert party is better for viewing. The time I tried it, about 15 minutes before, people started lining up in front of my table, so I paid a lot of extra money to have to stand and hold my son on my shoulders to see the fireworks off to the side. I don't suggest that to anyone.

 

[North of Mouse]

Disagreeing, as we always have a spectacular view from behind the castle, no crowds, and we are surrounded by fireworks!

Also, a lot of the "best viewing" depends on the wind direction on a particular night. We've been known to move from a 'prime' viewing spot and head off more to one side to get a better angle for the fireworks. There have been some nights when the fireworks aren't even close to being centered over the castle.

We did watch them from behind the castle once when we got 'caught' there, but the experience for us was not the same.

I stand corrected by Robo, but to my knowledge, the fireworks are always detonated from the same place, so will 'always' be centered with the castle from the center front. They would seem off center if you stand at a different angle, but we're usually in the center.

 

[North of Mouse]

I can't understand the feeling that just because someone decides to wait for hours in a place they want to be, that it entitles them to have all the room in front of where they are as well for the show. It is an open viewing area and people should be able to come in and stand in an open spot. I never stake out my place. I come in before and find a place to stand and watch.

We never wait for hours, for sure, and I feel the same to a degree. What is 'very' wrong is when people 'squeeze' you out, and put their whole 'herd' in an open spot that can handle 2-3, then sometimes proceed to put a child on their shoulders, or put their phone/i pad right in front of your face - 'that', I don't like!

 

[monkyby87]

We did watch them from behind the castle once when we got 'caught' there, but the experience for us was not the same.

I stand corrected by Robo, but to my knowledge, the fireworks are always detonated from the same place, so will 'always' be centered with the castle from the center front. They would seem off center if you stand at a different angle, but we're usually in the center.

Yes I apologize, I was really only referring to being at the front of the Castle and viewing the fireworks. There are plenty of other places you can view the fireworks, but the show is "meant" to be seen from the front, hence the FP+ in front. They are quite nice to view from behind the castle, though you don't get the full experience.

 

[JenniferW33]

If we have a later ADR at Crystal Palace what are the chances of walking out of there before the start of the show and being able to stand in that area if its FP+ only?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You can't stand in the FP+ area if you don't have a FP.

 

[AngieInOH]

Regardless of where you stand/sit or how early you choose your spot for any spectacular, there's an 80% chance that some entitled nut-job will squeeze their way in at the last minute, stand in front of you, toss their kid on their shoulders, obscuring your view and symbolically peeing in your overly prepared well-planned patch of pixie dust.

I so agree with this. People are downright rude and inconsiderate. I had a worker tell us he would let my daughters move up front when he closed off a walkway for a parade. A "nut-job" behind us heard the CM and immediately pushed himself in next to us and was telling his wife and kid to run to the front when the CM told my girls. I could keep going, so many instances of this during my 8 night stay last week but I didn't let it "rain on our parade"!

 

[Accident]

I rarely watch the fireworks from in front of the castle unless the show has changes or we are with someone that has never seen them before.

Here is where generally works for us to get in front of the castle:

• We'll watch the electric light parade near Ye ole christmas shoppe. If it's a night where there is a short gap to following shows, many scatter trying to get a prime hub spot and I find the view with the slight angle from that area to be less crowded and comfortable to just hang around and enjoy them. The projections on that side of the castle are much better than the other side and you can see enough across the front to enjoy 2 walls instead of one (and the animations go between those 2 walls).

Celebrate the magic from this area:

• While the parade is happening, we'll come in from tomorrowland on the pathway near teacups and cosmic rays. It'll look really really crowded but as we turn the edge you'll find an area with almost nobody between the people watching the parade and the castle. This location will fill up, but everyone has to look up to see everything so it's not horrible unless you hate crowds. You are a little close so high altitude fireworks behind the castle can be somewhat obscured. I don't have a recent picture after the hub renovation of this spot.

• Fastpass it. If it's a big part/must do, get that fastpass.

Why I prefer behind the castle:

1. The fireworks next to the castle generally create more and more smoke making it harder and harder to see them as the show progresses.
2. Your in the middle of it. your standing next to the castle fireworks. Especially during parties and holiday fireworks where they are a full 360 around mk. It's a lot of looking up and moving around but not too many places in the world you can get that close to where they launch and be safe/not working for the event.
3. It's never crowded
4. Your near 7DMT to make a dash before they close it to guests for that last ride (when fireworks end the night). (usually doesn't work but when it does, generally a 10-20 minute wait)
5. The only negative is you can't see the projections on the castle so I recommend seeing it once somewhere in front but after that, experience it from the back at least once..

A couple pics from the back:

 

[ougrad86]

I have been staring at the map trying to figure out exactly where we were. As far as I can figure out, when we left The Plaza and walked diagonally toward the hub, and stopped just a left of the center. I think we were up against the railing in front of the FP area. It is a smaller fenced off area with plants and we stood right there, leaning forward against the railing. Great view since no one was in front of us. The parade came up MS then went to the right and around the hub. People were trying to push in but I held my place. A little boy did wedge himself between me and DH and I let him there. At some point he disappeared and was replaced by a women with a camera. I was so focused on the castle show I did not notice her till after. She walked away after the castle show and I stood closer to DH. She came back when Wishes started but I wanted to stand by DH and DS on my other side. Myself and DS were trying to get pictures, plus I like having them near me because Wishes always makes me cry - need someone I love to lean on!

 

[DVCcurious]

If we can help it, we only watch fireworks from New Fantasyland. It's really breathtaking when the whole sky is lit up with fireworks. We don't care about the projection show.

My family's favorite spot is.....by dumbo and the barnstormer! There's never anybody back there, they have little walls you can sit on, or you can ride either ride with no waits and still watch the fireworks while you're riding.