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Tag Archives: Disney fireworks locations
Walt Disney World Quick Tip – Watching Wishes At The Magic Kingdom
A lot of my tips come from careful study and planning but this one was a total accident. A lot of visitors love to watch Wishes (Hallowishes etc.) from Main Street USA for many reasons. Some think they will get out of the park faster, but unless they watch from the far end near the train station they will not. Others like the crowds (not me) and still others just have to see the fireworks framing Cinderella Castle. I can appreciate the last one but I’m not quite that fussy as long as I see the fireworks.
On one particular evening we were searching for a spot on the Tomorrowland Bridge but found it just as crowded as the Hub. Apparently not everyone has to see the Castle framed by the fireworks. We headed towards the Hub to see if we could get to the other side and just at the end of the bridge there was a small path off to the left that looked like it could be a shortcut. We took the path and about 1/3 of the way down we happened to look toward the Castle and the view was perfect. We decided to try viewing the fireworks from that spot and were surprised to find that we could see all of the fireworks and even more surprising there were only five or six other people standing there. That spot is where we will stand from now on!!
If you are coming down Main Street USA, the path is off to your right just after you cross the water coming into the Hub area. Hush – don’t tell anyone and enjoy the fireworks!!
Best 4th of July viewing spots at Disneyworld
Just in time for the 4th of July, here are the best fireworks viewing spots for the Magic Kingdom and Epcot in Walt Disney World.
Magic Kingdom:
- Main Street, U.S.A.
- Tomorrowland Terrace patio.
- Entrance to the ferry boats at the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Magic Kingdom resorts:
- Contemporary Resort 4th floor outside observation deck.
- California Grill observation deck and tables with a view of the Magic Kingdom.
- ‘Ohana restaurant at the Polynesian Resort.
- Narcoossee’s restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort.
- From a Disney boat on the Seven Seas Lagoon, located in front of the Magic Kingdom.
Epcot:
- The Mexico and Italy pavilions offer spectacular views of the Epcot fireworks, including the Illuminations Reflections of Earth globe, which features video images.
- Avoid spots in which large trees or buildings obstruct your view.
- If the wind is blowing in your face, smoke will surely follow once the show starts. Find another spot.
- If you don’t mind missing the globe’s video images and some of the fire, smoke, and laser effects that can only be seen from World Showcase, a great place to watch the fireworks is along the long walkway in front of Spaceship Earth. You will be ideally positioned to make a quick exit to the parking lot or monorail before the masses.
- A great spot to view the fireworks is the small bridge between Mexico and World Showplace…ideally with a Mexican margarita in your hand.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers a 4th of July fireworks show. Fantasmic! is the park’s regular nighttime show, however, while the Magic Kingdom and Epcot offer fireworks every night. Moreover, Disney’s Hollywood Studios was not designed to accommodate large crowds as well as the older Magic Kingdom and Epcot parks. Since the 4th of July is one of the most crowded days at the Disney parks, and Hollywood Studios is not known for its fireworks, the true fireworks aficionado would be happier at one of the older parks.
For more tips on Disney’s 4th of July fireworks, click here.
Ask a Disney Question: Where Can You Watch Wishes from the Contemporary?
Stephen S. asks: Are there balcony viewing areas at the contemporary resort (4th floor @ chef mickeys maybe? ) that can be accessed without eating there in order to see “wishes”?
Stephen: Thanks for your question and for reading. I knew that you could watch Wishes from the balcony outside the California Grill if you had dinner there, in the 14th Floor concierge lounge if you were a concierge level guest, and in the very exclusive Top of the World Lounge located in Bay Lake Towers if you were a guest of BLT, but I’d never heard of other places where you could watch. Curious, I decided to talk the Mouse himself and I called Disney. According to cast member I spoke to, you can view Wishes from a balcony located on the 4th Floor, in the north side of the tower. The space, which includes benches, is first come, first served. You do not have to be a resort guest. He did warn me that the monorail can sometimes obstruct the view. Apparently, some visitors also watch Wishes from the walkway running from the Contemporary to Bay Lake Towers, but this wasn’t listed as one of the official viewing areas, so I’m not sure how Disney feels about it.
Hope that helps!
