Wishes, Spectro...???????

[King of the Brits]

Hi

Travelling to Orlando in May and have read various threads about the above. Whats are they ? What is Spectro, Illuminations, fantasmic ( is this the firework display ?), Wishes etc etc and how does one book Priority Seating and is it required.

Im staying at All Star Movies with two young kids, so any advice would be helpful

Thanks

 

[SammieG]

Ok...

well Fantasmic is a "show" including Fireworks, Characters, and a weird way of projecting animated film onto water which is projected into a wide fountain type thing. Its a good vs evil theme - and takes place at MGM after dark. There are usually one or two performances per evening in May it will probably be around 9pm, maybe 8.30 ...
It is seated and seating is obviously limited, so you may need to go an hour or so early to get a seat.
There are also dinner packages where you get allocated seating at Fantasmic, after you have eaten at a certain restaurant in MGM, (not up to date with which restaurants are doing this right now).. this saves you the queuing time, but we have never needed to do this in May time, and quite enjoy waiting at Fantasmic, as there is usually quite a lot of stuff going on.. mexican waves, and stuff like that.

illuminations is the firework display at 9pm at Epcot every night. Its fireworks to music... (well thats an understatement!).. it includes, lasers, lights, dancing fireworks... a revolving globe which documents how the world has evolved..

all to an amazing score... its an absolute MUST DO!

you can view the fireworks from anywhere around the lagoon..

Spectromagic.. is an illuminated parade.. lots of characters.. great music.. its FAB!!! (although I personally prefer the old one, the Main street electrical parade!)
Its obviously in the dark, and is magical. One word of warning.. the magic kingdom is a nightmare to get out of after spectro and wishes.... we have been over 2 hours getting out before. BE PREPARED for a slow exit. If there are 2 spectro's then see the 2nd... and go home after that. (there probably wont be two in May). this is not on every day.. check your schedule.. but try and see it, its wonderful.

Wishes is the fireworks at the magic kingdom, on most nights - not sure if its every night.. but certainly most at least.
Its wonderful.. and can be seen from anywhere you can see the castle clearly.. (from main street is perfect!)

The fireworks at Disney are unlike anything you will have seen before..they are spectacular!

 

[rosiejo]

It is seated and seating is obviously limited, so you may need to go an hour or so early to get a seat.

I just thought I'd add to this one - as when Sammie says seats are limited there are 6,500 seats! And room for another 2,500 standing guests.

We've always just headed over about an hour before the show starts - at varying times of the year - and have never had a problem. Like Sammie says there is crowd particpation in the warm up and it's a good time to rest those aching feet! Obviously the later you go the nearer the back you'll be - or more likely to have to stand up but it's a great show. Go see it.

For Illuminations, Wishes and Spectro Magic - and the other parades - it's just a case of reserving a bit of concrete along the parade route.

Check out the Unoffical Guide for good places to watch from...



Oh and one more thing - the fireworks are the BEST you will ever see... I was lucky enough to visit the World when I was a kid and since then have only been to one Bonfire Night in the UK...why? Because they just pale in comparison, believe me you ain't seen fireworks until you've seen them done the Disney way!

 

[marv]

Oh yes ! wishes firework display was simply the best we had ever seen. i had tears welling up in my eyes and goose bumps all over me watching them. We stood just behind the disney and micky statue infront of the castle, good position. Apsolutely an amazing site and when we go again ime definatly not going to miss it.

Fantasmic was another amazing show the crowd at the start made the atmosphere electric, every one doing the mexican wave. We did the dinner package at holly wood & vine which made sure you had a seat. It was just a lovely end to the day.
What to any thing else feel free to pm me
Marv

 

[King of the Brits]

Thank you all for such a comprehensive reply...and it certainly gives me food for thought on how to spends our evenings. We are travelling with a three year old and my sone will be about 18 months so will need to think about how they are during the evening.

Anyone know if the fireworks can be seen from the resort hotel (Movies) ?

Thanks

 

[maleficent_man]

You not see anything from the ASMo (you might catch the odd glimpse of a firework from EPCOT but nothing major). The California Grill at the Contemporary is widely used for people watching Wishes at MK (and I plan to test this out in June!! ).

 

[SammieG]

Just for your info..

we started taking my son at around 1 yr and right from the beginnning, he loved all the evening activities. Now at home he NEVER EVER stays up past 7pm... we just dont do that, but on holiday it is a different thing. We always made sure he had a nap in the morning/lunchtime and headed to the park in the afternoon or sometimes late afternoon and just did the fireworks etc. We found it was just too much to try and do them on top of a full day. I know some children will happily sleep in a buggy, but mine wouldnt!

 

[slinky101]

The fantasmic dinner package is great for kids, we've done it twice and each time we went over to fantamic about half an hour before the show, had great seats, without the kids getting bored and restless.