Wishes without noise?

[momofbgtwins]

We are heading to Orlando 2/26-3/5. We will be staying offsite. Our twins will be 3.5 years old. They LOVE to watch the fireworks at the end of their Disneyland video, but they've never seen fireworks in person. We think the noise will scare them. While we are there Wishes will be starting at 8:00 a few nights, which is within their schedule.

Is there anywhere; restaurant or Downtown Disney, etc. where we can see the fireworks, but the noise will be muffled? Can we see Wishes from the Contemporary? We plan to go to Chef Mickey's for breakfast, but we would change the reservation to dinner if that would help. Also, could we go to Chef Mickey's, take the monorail to the TTC, and see Wishes from the TTC, then take the monorail back to the Contemporary? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Amy&Dan]

You can see Wishes from a very few tables inside Chef Mickey's but they will not guarantee you sit there either when you make the reservation or when you check in. There is an observation deck at the top you can go out on if you are dining at California Grille but I don't think I'd want to eat there with two, three year olds! Also, its outside so the sound of the fireworks can certainly be heard. There are some tables at O'Hana where you could also see Wishes but again, no guarantee you would get one.

My son has sensitive hearing and when we first took him to Disneyland I was worried he would not like the sound. So I bought him earplugs which he wore the first few times but after that, he didn't need them anymore. I would recommend you prepare them for loud noises and see them from inside the park. You can see them very well from Liberty Square, right near Liberty Tree Tavern. If one or both of them gets scared you could duck into one of the nearby shops or into the waiting area of Liberty Tree Tavern and wait it out. It would be easy to do this as this is not nearly as crowded as congested Main Street during the fireworks. We enjoy watching Spectro from this location (your kids will love that) and then staying for the fireworks. You miss some of the affects on the castle and Tinkerbelle flying but it is so much less crowded its kind of nice. You could also see them back by Dumbo and duck into Mickey's Philharmagic if the noise gets to be an issue. On Main Street I have been inside shops during Wishes and you can certainly hear them but at a very muffled rate. But the crowds on Main Street could make it tough to quickly get into a quieter spot. Most little ones I have seen really enjoy the fireworks. Unfortunately, this is one of those things you just don't know until you try! Good luck!

 

[Ilovestitch]

You can sit on the beach at the Polynesian and watch them.

 

[skippy]

We took my ds last year. He was 4 and before we left we tried to prepare him for how loud it was going to be. It wasn't enough, he was terrified, he didn't scream but there were plenty of tears. If you think your child isn't ready, I would try the Poly or one of the restaurants. Good Luck!

 

[EEYOREMAMA]

Absolutely recommend the beach at the Polynesian. Full effect of the beautiful display and no noise.

 

[TiggerStac]

Another vote for the beach at the Poly!!

 

[Robo]

Getting to the Poly is easy (and you don't have to be a resort guest to go to any of the resorts).
Allow at least 40-50 minutes travel time to get to the Poly beach.

By BOAT to Poly:
There are little "Jungle Cruise-type" boats that shuttle between MK and Grand Floridian and the Poly. Just go to the MK boat dock and read the signs.
The boats are FREE to anyone who wants to travel to/from these resorts.
This boat stops first at Grand Fl. then goes on to the Poly.
Exit the boat, stroll up the dock to the sandy beach and get ready for the show.
(The music from Wishes is piped in so you can enjoy the show.)
Afterwards, you can take the same little boat back to MK.
OR... if you are ready to leave for the day
and YOU ARE PARKED IN THE MK LOT...
Take the monorail to TTC (that's the MK parking lot). Just go inside the main Poly building behind the beach, go upstars and look for the doors that go to the monorail. Ride all around past Grand Floridian, MK, Comtemp... the next stop is TTC and MK parking.
(There are PLENTY of annoucements as to which stop is which.)

By MONORAIL to Poly:
Get on the RESORT monorail at MK (its marked RESORT).
You do not need to be a resort guest to ride the monorail to the resorts.
Monorail stops at Contemp, the TTC, then the Poly (then on to Grand Flor. and MK again).
Exit monorail at Poly, go thru the Poly building, go downstairs and out to the swimming pool/beach area.
Enjoy the Wishes show.
Return to MK by boat or monorail.
Or go to your car at TTC/MK parking by monorail.

 

[lorli]

DD (4) has been sensitive about loud noises, but loves fireworks. Knowing this we prepared her by desensitising her to the noise of fireworks before our first trip when she was 3. We went to as many firework shows as we could find the summer before we went. By the time we went she handled it very well. She is still sensitive to noise but now does all fireworks very well. First we started by letting her sit in the car, then be very far away, and worked up until we were actually at the shows. Worked for her. Good luck.

 

[freakylick]

You can watch them from the boatdock at ttc and still hear the music the only thing you'll miss is tink flying and the special lights on the castle. We watched hallowishes from there in oct.
Renee

 

[Deb & Bill]

If they won't wear earplugs, how about some headphones? They might muffle the noise and shouldn't be very expensive. How about one of those head wraps that kids wear so they won't get water in their ears?

 

[momofbgtwins]

Thanks for your quick responses! I didn't realize that we could go to the Poly beach if we weren't guests there? Wonderful! I'm thinking our best bet would be to book a dinner at Chef Mickey's and leave the car at the Contemporary. After dinner hop on the resort monorail to the Poly, then take the monorail back to the car at the Contemporary. Easy in and out. Thanks again!!!!

 

[Robo]

Thanks for your quick responses! I didn't realize that we could go to the Poly beach if we weren't guests there? Wonderful! I'm thinking our best bet would be to book a dinner at Chef Mickey's and leave the car at the Contemporary. After dinner hop on the resort monorail to the Poly, then take the monorail back to the car at the Contemporary. Easy in and out. Thanks again!!!!

Even easier:
Park at the Poly, monorail to Contemp.
After dinner and (later) Wishes from Poly beach, your car will be THERE.

Should not be a problem to park at Poly if you explain to the gate-keeper what's up.

Tip: Arrive an hour or so early, and stop at the Grand Floridian on your way to the Contemp.
Its a WONDERFUL place to see!
Sit in the HUGE multi-story atrium lobby for a bit and RELAX.

 

[DisneyKevin]

You can also watch the fireworks from the 4th floor Concourse of the Contemporary. The end of the hotel (opposite end from Chef Mickey's) faces
the Magic Kingdom. There is a platform (actually the outside fire escape stairway)if you want to watch outside and if the noise is too much or the weather is not the best, you can scoot inside where the noise would be muffled.

Kevin

 

[momofbgtwins]

Great ideas from everyone! Thanks! I'll run all the options by DH tonight, and see what he thinks.

Another question - we currently have breakfast reservations at Chef Mickey's. We're reluctant to committ to dinner because depending on whether the kids got a nap, or are tired, dinner in public could be a meltdown disaster! If we didn't have a dinner ressie, and were hoping to wing it, would we be able to park at the Contemporary or the Poly?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Even easier:
Park at the Poly, monorail to Contemp.
After dinner and (later) Wishes from Poly beach, your car will be THERE.

Should not be a problem to park at Poly if you explain to the gate-keeper what's up.

Tip: Arrive an hour or so early, and stop at the Grand Floridian on your way to the Contemp.
Its a WONDERFUL place to see!
Sit in the HUGE multi-story atrium lobby for a bit and RELAX.

Actually, it may be a problem to park at the Polynesian if you are not a guest there and you don't have an ADR for there. The best you will get will be a 3 hour pass, if they even let you in. The parking is so limited at the Polynesian resort that guests of that resort who try to self park have a problem finding a parking place. Just like at the Contemporary.

If you have a meal at Chef Mickey's they might let you park at the Contemporary, but again, you might only get a three hour parking pass. After that they have towed vehicles.

There are signs at the resorts that they cannot provide parking for the theme parks. It's so easy to park at the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC), take a shuttle over to the TTC and then a monorail over to your destination.

There are signs at the Polynesian that say that the beach is for the guests of the Polynesian resort. Some times other guests are permitted, but sometimes they can ask you to leave. Probably as long as it isn't Fourth of July or some other holiday with special fireworks, you won't have a problem. Just leave the cabanas and hammocks for the Polynesian resort guests.

Hope your kids enjoy the fireworks. Wishes really is a neat show.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

A great place for "quiet" Wishes viewing is from the Observation Deck at the California Grill.

 

[skiwee1]

Even easier:
Park at the Poly, monorail to Contemp.
After dinner and (later) Wishes from Poly beach, your car will be THERE.

Should not be a problem to park at Poly if you explain to the gate-keeper what's up.

Tip: Arrive an hour or so early, and stop at the Grand Floridian on your way to the Contemp.
Its a WONDERFUL place to see!
Sit in the HUGE multi-story atrium lobby for a bit and RELAX.

You can't park at the Poly unless you are going to be there 3 hours or less. After that and they thankfully tow. How about parking at TTC and taking the monorail or walking from there? That then saves parking spaces for actual paying resort guests.

 

[momofbgtwins]

I was worried about parking at the Contemporary or Polynesian without dinner ressies because I have read stories about not being admitted to the parking areas without a ressie #. But, how do people spontaneously decide to try to go to dinner there without a ressie? Not everyone wants to stay onsite! I've heard that people have just walked into Chef Mickey's without a reservation. Where do they park? Believe me, I have no intention of hogging a parking space from a paying guest (for instance, no desire to try to park there and take the monorail to the parks for the whole day). I just want to find a quiet place for the twins to see the fireworks!

 

[skiwee1]

I was worried about parking at the Contemporary or Polynesian without dinner ressies because I have read stories about not being admitted to the parking areas without a ressie #. But, how do people spontaneously decide to try to go to dinner there without a ressie? Not everyone wants to stay onsite! I've heard that people have just walked into Chef Mickey's without a reservation. Where do they park? Believe me, I have no intention of hogging a parking space from a paying guest (for instance, no desire to try to park there and take the monorail to the parks for the whole day). I just want to find a quiet place for the twins to see the fireworks!

Spontaneous people get a 3 hour parking pass. Whether you have an ADR or not you are still allowed 3 hours. No more. You can park at TTC and then easily walk to the Poly or take the monorail to the Poly or the CR.

 

[momofbgtwins]

Thanks for the info about the parking time limitations. 3 hours will be more than enough time! I will keep our breakfast ressie at Chef Mickey's, and not turn them in for a dinner ressie. We will go either to Poly, Contemporary or TTC to see the fireworks only, and be out in an hour or so. The everyone will be happy.