Illuminations for free? Any advice?

[magicmat]

We will be visiting Orlando in 34 days (!) but won't be visiting Epcot, only WDW for the day. I know the Illuminations fireworks are amazing...can anyone give me thier top tips for where to view them from? I understand the Boardwalk is pretty good...anywhere else? Any particular spots? I know a lot of the action is on the water, but we would like to se as much as we can. Trying to get a couple of spaces on one of the cruises, but no luck so far! (7th to 15th Nov if anyone can help!)

Thanks!!
:sohappy:

 

[unkadug]

Epcot is in WDW. So if you are at WDW why don't you go to Epcot and watch?

Anywhere you view it from outside the park is going to be only half the show. There is nothing comparable to viewing it by the water. Sorry.

 

[magicmat]

Epcot is in WDW. So if you are at WDW why don't you go to Epcot and watch?

Anywhere you view it from outside the park is going to be only half the show. There is nothing comparable to viewing it by the water. Sorry.

Ahh, sorry, not very good with my Disney "lingo" I meant Magic Kingdom! We're going to Mickeys Christmas thingy! So, won't be able to go into the park, and won't be getting a ticket to just watch the fireworks, but it would be nice to see some of it if we can one evening!

 

[unkadug]

How many days are you there for?

 

[Hurricane]

Is there a place at the Swan / Dolphin that a non-guest could go to at least view the fireworks? I'm thinking those because they're taller than the Beach Club or Boardwalk. Another option would be to see the fireworks from just outside the park at the International Gateway. This is basically a 'back door' to EPCOT. You can park at either the Boardwalk or Beach Club and take a short walk through the hotel, out the back and towards Epcot. Because there is a walking bridge that separates England from France inside Epcot, you'll have an obstructed view of the lagoon but will probably be able to see the firework portion. Another option is to view the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom (on a non-Christmas party night), which can be viewed from a number of places on property including the Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian. Thought I believe the Christmas hard ticket event has a special Christmas version of Wishes so you should be getting a dose of fireworks during your visit to the Kingdom.

<Edited for typo and clarity>

 

[Bug715]

Sometimes the CMs at the International Gateway entrance have let us slip in just to watch the fireworks. Its worth a shot.

 

[ChrisFL]

You can see most of the fireworks portion from the International Gateway area without going IN Epcot.

Just go to the Boardwalk, say you're going to do shopping there, they'll let you park, then you can walk from there.

 

[Bug715]

You can see most of the fireworks portion from the International Gateway area without going IN Epcot.

Just go to the Boardwalk, say you're going to do shopping there, they'll let you park, then you can walk from there.

Actually say you are eating at ESPN club. That works better since you can get the stuff in the shops at the boardwalk at DTD.

 

[magicmat]

Brilliant tips...I love the internet! Yes, the boardwalk was my initial thoughts. So, I should actually go into the hotel, and back out of it, towards Epcot? it whould be obvious where to go I presume? Its hard to imagine without having been there! I thought Boardwalk was a self contained tourist area anyway, with bars, restaurants etc so should be a problem geting in and parking etc? Will it be obvious where the International Gateway entrance is? Charming one of the CM's to let us in for the fireworks sounds like quite a good plan, or getting up to the bride...again quite hard to imagine but hopefully it will be clear once we get there.

Yes, we will get our Wishes viewing at MK, and it may be nice to get a second viewing elsewhere outside of the park. I know you can view from the American Grill and Nacossies....any other tips for a good viewing point of Wishes? I do love fireworks!!!

 

[magicmat]

How many days are you there for?

In Orlando for 8 days, 7 nights. Why do you ask? I then go down south for a 4 day skydiving course!! All very exciting!

 

[unkadug]

In Orlando for 8 days, 7 nights. Why do you ask? I then go down south for a 4 day skydiving course!! All very exciting!

You will be in Orlando for 7 nights, but ONLY going to the Magic Kingdom?

 

[magicmat]

You will be in Orlando for 7 nights, but ONLY going to the Magic Kingdom?

haha! Also going to Universal, IOA, Seaworld, Aquatica, Beaches, etc ...I think thats enough for a week! We're 2 adults, and MK evening is just to get a touch of the Disney "magic"...I think thats all that we could take! (except for the fireworks, of course!).

In all fairness, if we could get a sensibly priced hopping ticket for 2 days, we would go to the 3 or 4 rides in each park that we fancy, but can't justify the prices! Give me Universal anyday :ROFLOL:

 

[Bug715]

Brilliant tips...I love the internet! Yes, the boardwalk was my initial thoughts. So, I should actually go into the hotel, and back out of it, towards Epcot? it whould be obvious where to go I presume? Its hard to imagine without having been there! I thought Boardwalk was a self contained tourist area anyway, with bars, restaurants etc so should be a problem geting in and parking etc? Will it be obvious where the International Gateway entrance is? Charming one of the CM's to let us in for the fireworks sounds like quite a good plan, or getting up to the bride...again quite hard to imagine but hopefully it will be clear once we get there.

Yes, we will get our Wishes viewing at MK, and it may be nice to get a second viewing elsewhere outside of the park. I know you can view from the American Grill and Nacossies....any other tips for a good viewing point of Wishes? I do love fireworks!!!

It shouldn't be a problem getting in but I don't think they'll let you in if you say I'm coming to watch EPCOT's fireworks. It does have a few bars and a few resturants. You'll park (or valet park) walk into the lobby and keep going straight out the back doors onto the porch. Go down the stairs that are on the left and once you get to the boardwalk go to the right and you'll be headed to EPCOT.

 

[wdwmagic]

My advice would be to skip one of those other parks and go to Epcot. Without being inside the park you wont really get anywhere near a good IllumiNations experience. You wont see the Earth barge, the fountains, most of the low pyro, the inferno barge, or any of the audio. You will really just be seeing a colelction of random fireworks over tree tops. You mention you are two adults - Epcot is definitely for you!

 

[Since1976]

There's no way to truly experience the music and sounds of Epcot the way they were meant to be without being in the park itself. Ever watch fireworks on the 4th of July from afar? It's just not the same.

If you really want to go cheap, download the music from the show from somewhere, burn it to CD, drive over to one of the Epcot resorts, and play it on a boombox "Say Anything"-style.

 

[tigsmom]

And there is no need to lie when attempting to park at the boardwalk. Since it is a public space (shopping, dining & entertainment) you can park there without being a resort guest. There is a public lot & a hotel lot for the Boardwalk Inn and villas. And I would skip one of the other parks and get a ticket to EPCOT

 

[RiversideBunny]

... Give me Universal anyday..

Enjoy Universal.

This is like that V8 juice commercial:

":hammer:Wow. I could have been at Walt Disney World, including EPCOT and Illuminations !"

 

[magicmat]

I have been to Epcot, and even then (10 years or so) it was pretty dated and tired. There are a couple of rides I would go back to for the retro element, and I would like the space one, and soarin', but thats about it. Bloomin' expensive firework display otherwise. I do appreciate its not the same if your not in the park, but "them's the breaks"! It would just be nice to see a bit of the action if we can....like I said, we will be seeing Wishes which is the main thing

 

[Laura]

Sorry magicmat, but I am not following you.

You said you will be going to Magic Kingdom and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. You also said you plan to watch Wishes once from inside the park and once from outside the park, and you also want to watch IllumiNations without paying a park admission, and you've tried the IllumiNations cruises and have had no luck getting one. You also said you will only be at WDW for 1 day of your trip.

Here's some things that don't line up:
1. Wishes is not shown during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party so you would need to go on a separate day to catch that.
2. If you are paying $100+ to go to MVMCP then why do you want to LEAVE in the middle of the party to see a couple fireworks from IllumiNations over the treetops?
3. If you are willing to pay the extremely huge amount required for an IllumiNations cruise, why are you not willing to add a park hopping option or second day to your ticket to see IllumiNations from inside the park?

Now, overlooking all of that it seems you want to know good locations for viewing both Wishes and IllumiNations from outside of the park. The best place to view Wishes outside of the park is sitting at a window table at 'Ohana or on the Polynesian beach. From any other location the fireworks will be crooked instead of framed on the castle like they are intended to be. As far as IllumiNations, you just can't view it outside of the park. Most of the action is down over the water and there are only a few bursts that are high enough to clear the treetops, and you won't be able to hear the music (which is the best part). I have "watched" IllumiNations from the Boardwalk before and there really was nothing to see. I just happened to be at the Boardwalk when the show started so I stopped for a minute and watched and saw just about nothing. You'd be better off watching it on YouTube if you don't want to pay for an admission.

 

[dazzer68]

*WARNING* FREELOADER ALERT* FREELOADER ALERT* WARNING*
basically they want to see the fireworks for free ,that thousands of people have paid for, for them, and they want recommendation on where to see it?!