Electrical Water Pageant Question

[Expo_Seeker40]

I will be going to WDW for my 4th time (yay!) this coming mid January 2006. I hear the crowds get very light after the new years crowds filter out.

Only the first time I went to WDW in 1996 have I stayed on property. I have relatives that live close by to WDW and commute to a Disney park every other day with them.

This year it looks like we will be doing the Magic Kingdom tuesday the 10th of January.

I have never seen the EWP and was wondering with the low crowds, reduced hours, and weather if the EWP will even be viewable.

Since I am not staying on property, of course then not around the seven seas lagoon...is there anyway that I can see the EWP if it it is shown?

Good places to see? How long show runs? How original is it since 1971?

Thank you for any help. I really hope to see it! :sohappy:

 

[tigsmom]

You don't have to be staying on site to see it. You can end your day watching the parade from any of the vantage points along the way (depending, of course, on if it is running).

Our favorite place is on the beach or the boat dock at the WL, second would be the beach at the Polynesian.
I would imagine anywhere along the lake would be fine.

 

[JPVonDrake]

Here are the times the Electrical Water Pageant will pass by each Magic Kingdom Resort. As stated above you don't need to be staying at the Resort to visit and enjoy the water parade.

Polynesian Resort -- 9:00pm (best viewed from beach)
Grand Floridian -- 9:15pm (best viewed from around Narcoossee's)
Wilderness Lodge -- 9:35pm (best viewed from beach or Marina area)
Fort Wilderness -- 9:45pm (best viewed from beach or Marina area)
Contemporary Resort -- 10:05pm (best viewed from Marina area)
Magic Kingdom -- 10:20pm (only during extended Magic Kingdom Park hours)

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

 

[MooseImagineer]

What is the EWP???
I have never heard of that???:lookaroun :zipit:

Moose

 

[Laura]

What is the EWP???
I have never heard of that???:lookaroun :zipit:

Moose

A boat parade. All the boats have lights on them (shaped like a dragon, dolphins, etc), and they park out in front of each of the lagoon/lake resorts each night and play music.

 

[colliera]

EWP What it is.

Essentially it is the precursor to the Electric Light Parade except it is on water, is two dimensional, (so was the original ELP), and is an original opening year attraction for WDW.

Several floats support large metal frames that are covered in something like welded wire fencing except they are large. I think it is something like 12 feet high by 15 wide (?), anyway the screens are big and painted black. The scenes are outlined with Christmas tree bulbs. I seem to recall the strings of lights are attached with cable ties. The large screw in type bulbs are used - not the miniature twinkle type.

All these "screens" are animated in the sense that a neon sign can be animated by switching different strings or parts of strings on and off. I don't believe any have more than three sequences to a screen. Each screen has about three sections. There is a dino, a croc, an octopus, King Triton (Neptune?), and stars and US flags - (Did I forget any)?

There are lots of batteries to power the lights, switching circuits, a sound system, and the motors to propel it all through the water. I seem to recall they are electric to not cause noise as a gas engine would and there is a trolling motor at the end that is set to pull the whole arrangement in the opposite direction of travle so it will pull out into a straight line. The music is synthesized and quite catchy in a very simple way.

A really good place to see this is at the end of the marina pier at the Contemporary Resort. Not too many people will go that far out so the viewing can be almost private. It is one of the simple pleasures of WDW that isn't overly complicated but has many devoted fans. I know a lot of people that it is a ritual to do for any trip to WDW - weather permitting.

 

[shmmrname]

While staying in the Contemporary, I was able to see the EWP nightly from our room. I just lucked into the situation, but it was pretty cool each night, and a little thing that I'll always remember.

 

[maelstrom]

I love the EWP! I've watched it from the Contemporary, Poly, Wildy, & MK. One time when I watched it from the Contemp, though, the boat that services the Contemp, Wildy, & Ft. Wildy came by and docked and kind of blocked the view. Other than that they are all great places to view the EWP. You don't have to be staying on property to watch it, either. It's a great little show.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Thank you everyone for the information and viewing suggestions! :sohappy: Hopefully the weather won't be too cold or inclimate and I'm thinking maybe we'll view it from the beach of the Polynesian since it's the first on the list, and the EWP was used as a cermenony for the Polynesian back in late October 1971. :wave:

BTW any guesses when the fireworks would start at the MK in mid January? 8:00?

 

[bgraham34]

I wish they made add something new and exciting to it. But for a kid its really great.