Viewing fireworks from outside the parks
Walt Disney World: Where can you see the theme park fireworks from outside the theme park gates?
My family is going to be spending one night in August at the Port Orleans Riverside resort at DisneyWorld after disembarking from a Disney cruise. We have been to the Disney theme parks dozens of times before and love the fireworks displays they do. We are not going to be entering the theme parks on this trip but would love to still see some of the fireworks. Does anyone know of a place outside the theme park gates where you can still get a good view of the fireworks from inside one of the parks? I have heard that the restaurant at the top of the Contemporary is a great spot, but we're hoping for somewhere that is totally free to us. Thanks!
From Karin S
Posted July 2, 2007 at 12:47 PM
I've watched the Magic Kingdom's fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian Resort.
From Lee Mak
Posted July 2, 2007 at 12:51 PM
The best bet is the beach at the Polynesian, for sure, to see the Magic Kingdom Fireworks over the castle. The MGM fireworks can not be seen from outside the park unless you are staying in the Dolphin Tower and that goes for Epcot too. Really, the only free spot that is unobstructed is the beach at the Poly
If you have money to spend, I think their is a restaurant on the top of the Contemperary Resort that has a good view and plays the music from the show.
Sorry about my post. I didn't see that part in the post. Probably from a hotel near the Magic Kingdom would be the best spot.
if u wanted to see epcot fireworks, go to beach club resort near the lighthouse.great view
If i remember Fantasmic's fireworks are rather low compared to say the MAgic Kingdom. Most of the fireworks go at angels to stay within the audiences veiw.
In between the walkway between MGM and EPCOT. You get to see two!
Also, Disney does do this dessert cruise on the Seven Seas Lagoon where you can see wishes
Isn't that cruise expensive ( just wondering )
Yeah, most likely expensive, but you suppositly get alot of great stuff. I have heard good things about it!
When I inquired a few weeks ago, the Wishes Fireworks cruise was around $250 for up to 10 people. The "dessert" is sodas and snacks, which sounds likes bags of chips to me. We did the cruise two years ago, minus the food, when it was only $150. It is magical. We got a very nice tour of the lagoon, and the best view ever of the fireworks.
Is that 250 for ten people or 250 per person?
$250 for the trip. You can put as many people as you like, up to ten.
oh ok thanks!
$250 doesn't sound too bad if you have more than 5 people.
I've done the Wishes cruise -- worth every penny, IMO.
I would add a vote for the beach at the Polynesian. From there you also have a great view of the Electrical Water Pageant, which is a fun little parade on the water that a lot of people never see. It comes by a little while before the fireworks.
At the disney boardwalk you can see the fireworks from fantasmic and epcot. To get in just say you are going to eat dinner. There are several great restaurants if you actually do want to eat there. Another great place is the Contemporary Resort. Here you can see the magic kingdom fireworks. To get in just tell the guard that you are going to get a drink. At the back balcony you get the best view
I've veiwed EPCOT's fireworks from my Best Western LBV room balcony, it was great no crowds to deal with in my room.
Park in the Contemporary parking lot. You can see a lot from behind Space Mountain!
grand floridian beach is also a good view.
I'm sure the Wishes cruise is wonderful, but my only experience with a fireworks cruise was during stormy weather, which is not always easy to predict in advance. It was an Illuminations cruise at Epcot & the boat driver had to park under a bridge for shelter. This gave us an obstructed view of the show, which was not very impressive. In our case, the snacks were soda & cake (a special birthday request).
If you don't want to pay to eat at the Contemporary Resort restaurant (California Grill), you can always walk outside onto an observation deck & watch from there. You won't hear the cool way that the fireworks synch up with the music played inside the restaurant, but if that doesn't matter to you, then you won't miss anything without the music. You can try to sit at the bar and have a drink until the fireworks start, then venture outside when the lights in the restaurant dim in preparation for the show.
Thank you to all of you for your insights and experiences--we're really looking forward to seeing the fireworks in just a few weeks!
We did look into the Wishes cruise on the Seven Seas Lagoon, which several of you mentioned. For those who are interested, here's the info we received. You must have 8 paying people to book a cruise. The price is $39.99 per adult and $18.99 per child (ages 3-10). It is described as a "snacks" cruise; we were told they would serve popcorn, trail mix, cookies, and brownies.
We've opted to try to watch the fireworks from somewhere along the coast of Seven Seas Lagoon to catch the water parade, if it is held that night, and the fireworks--that is unless we decide to spend the evening at SeaWorld.
Another idea (though not too cheap as well) is to make a reservation at the California Grill on the very top floor of the Contemporary. I hear they dim the lights and make a big deal out of it!
The water prades on Bay lake over By the wilderness Lodge right?
As far as I know, it stops over there!
A great little show I must say!
Michael, the water parade starts over near the Grand Floridian side and travels all the way over to Fort Wilderness, around the old Discovery Island and then heads back across. It usually stops playing just before it crosses back through the narrow canal near the Contemporary.
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