Waiting for fireworks

[jaygatsby]

We're going to Magic Kingdom on Dec. 30 and Epcot on Dec. 31. How early should we start waiting for the fireworks? Where should we wait for the best viewing? Are there certain areas cast members won't let you watch them like streets or anything?

 

[nickys]

This might be a stupid question but I was just curious. My family and I are planning a trip during the holidays. We know its busy and we know we will need to save spots for fireworks early. We haven't been there at a time where we couldn't just stop and wait a half hour before hand. This time we'll have to wait for a few hours if we want good spots (from what we've heard, the hub near the walt and mickey statue is a good place). How does that happen when you're so early? Do you just sit down in your spot even if that's in the street? I've heard that people have sat down in the grass areas and then been asked to move by cast members. Like I said this might sound really stupid and obvious but we haven't ever had to be super early to our fireworks spots. So basically, how does waiting for hours in the hub usually work?

Any info or tips would be appreciated!

Can't help with saving that spot. I would say we were there on Christmas Eve in 2016 and arrived 30 minutes before. Found a spot in front of the wall on the path that runs by Walt's statue, on the far side of the gardens from CP. we just walked along the path and decided to stop there. There is no way I would be waiting around for fireworks for hours! I mean they go up into the sky, and the castle is pretty tall so even projections are going to be visible. Now I get that some people just must have the perfect spot, but for me it's really not worth the wasted time.

And the chances of being asked to move on are fairly high, or people pushing in front, etc etc. There is no way you could just stop in the middle of a street and not be moved on one way or another. Lining a path / street - maybe would work.

 

[John park hopper]

We watched athe EPCOT fireworks in May found across fromthe Canada pavillion along the fence facing the lake was able to see it all. Picked a spot at least 30 min prior to the start

 

[danyoung56]

We watched at the EPCOT fireworks in May found across from the Canada pavilion along the fence facing the lake was able to see it all. Picked a spot at least 30 min prior to the start

This is my favorite spot. The cool thing about it is that there are trees there, and it kinda looks like it would be a bad spot, so it doesn't attract a large crowd. In addition, just before showtime speakers come up on towers our of the surrounding rocks. I usually arrive 10 to 15 minutes before showtime, and always have a terrific view.

It's a little tougher in the MK, though, as the best place to see the show is in the central plaza, and that's a REALLY crowded place. I'm trying a new thing this year - the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party. It costs $59 per person, and includes a lot of sweets and munchies. The real value, though, is that you move out to the central plaza into one of those park areas with the astroturf, and then have a perfect, uncrowded view of the show. I'm looking forward to seeing how well this works in a few weeks.

 

[I am Timmy]

This is my favorite spot. The cool thing about it is that there are trees there, and it kinda looks like it would be a bad spot, so it doesn't attract a large crowd. In addition, just before showtime speakers come up on towers our of the surrounding rocks. I usually arrive 10 to 15 minutes before showtime, and always have a terrific view.

It's a little tougher in the MK, though, as the best place to see the show is in the central plaza, and that's a REALLY crowded place. I'm trying a new thing this year - the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party. It costs $59 per person, and includes a lot of sweets and munchies. The real value, though, is that you move out to the central plaza into one of those park areas with the astroturf, and then have a perfect, uncrowded view of the show. I'm looking forward to seeing how well this works in a few weeks.

Let us know how that works out! Do they still have a fastpass area for fireworks in MK and Epcot? We've done those in the past and they have been pretty good - although people were lining up for the fastpass area at Epcot over an hour early (?!).

 

[danyoung56]

...I suggest doing a desert party...The desert party for Illuminations...The desert parties...

Really? Three times in one quote? Sorry, but I just gotta say that you're probably talking about "dessert" parties, right? Otherwise there's a whole buncha sand and cacti that I've never seen in WDW . . . . .

 

[pilka214]

I've spent up to 3 hours waiting for new years fireworks at MK, had to have that ideal photo spot just to the right of walt and mickey. It's a ridiculously busy time and people will spend hours waiting. But if you're not into sitting around for that long, the fireworks are visible across most of main street and you can probably get pretty solid viewing as long as you're there 30-60 minutes prior. Epcot is a little more tough since there's only a handful of prime viewing and tons of sub-par sight-lines

 

[jaygatsby]

I've spent up to 3 hours waiting for new years fireworks at MK, had to have that ideal photo spot just to the right of walt and mickey. It's a ridiculously busy time and people will spend hours waiting. But if you're not into sitting around for that long, the fireworks are visible across most of main street and you can probably get pretty solid viewing as long as you're there 30-60 minutes prior. Epcot is a little more tough since there's only a handful of prime viewing and tons of sub-par sight-lines

I'm ok with waiting im just wondering when i should start. I know that night they do fireworks at 6:30 as well as at 11:50 so I wasnt sure if people started waiting for second fireworks as soon as the first ones ended. also wondering if cast members ever ask you to f youre waiting by the walt and mickey statue? i would hate to wait there for a long time just to have to move to a different spot. that's my main concern at epcot as well. wherever we end up waiting we don't wanna be forced to move. so how about this... are there any places in epcot you can't wait for fireworks for a few hours?

Thanks for all the feedback by the way this is all very helpful!!