Originally Posted By joeysmommy Ok, I know you guys will have the solution to this one. This September we will be at DL Sun night thru Saturday morning. We will be in the parks Mon-Friday, leaving on Saturday. Sunday night we can watch the fireworks from our hotel across the street. But on Friday night I want my kids to experience the fireworks in the park. I don't want to have to stake out a spot to watch them 2-3 hours before. Any suggestions? Also, where to be so we can jet over to watch Fantasmic afterwards? I know it's a lot to ask but I want to make the most of our time on our last evening there. Last year we were there Mon-Friday morning so we didn't get to see Fantasmic or Fireworks. ; ( I know this sounds crazy, but when I used to go to DL as a single girl I always skipped fireworks for short lines on my favorite rides. So I have never sat thru a fireworks show either.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Two hours?!!??! Heck, you can walk up to great viewing spots 30 minutes or less before fireworks. A great place to stand is on Main Street, just above Coke Corner.
Originally Posted By grammy954 We never do fireworks and fantasmic on the same night - we might overload
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan The first year we saw the fireworks (this was the Christmas ones), we watched them from the Fantasmic viewing area (no F show that night). Some of my family watched them another night from in front of the castle, and said it was better there. But it was still impressive from along the river...and then you would already have a spot to watch F. Between fireworks and F your DH could stay and watch your spot and you could take the kids on Pooh or something. Although it might already be packed along the river, and I have no experience with the Sept fireworks. If we do Fantasmic this year, we will do the trick that was posted recently about standing behind the light pole/control board (or something like that....I'll have to re-read it before we go!).
Originally Posted By SuzieQ You definitely want to be where you can see the castle for these fireworks. They are the centerpiece of the 'performance'.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 While I agree with SuzieQ you can get a good viewing spot standing at the approach to the hub between the photo center and Coke Corner in the middle of Main Street, we usually do this as all adults. It's a bit tougher for kids to see though unless you are right up front where they block off for traffic. I'd say you need to get there about 45 minutes to 1 hour to stake out a decent spot if you have little ones. If you head through Frontierland as soon as the fireworks are over, you can make the 10:30 Fantasmic. The CM guide you through, while it's a bit like salmon going upstream in that it's really crowded you will get led that way. We have found great standing and seating spots while doing this in front of the RiverBelle restaurant.
Originally Posted By dl1956 Joeysmommy, here's my $.02. Since DL starts to cut back shows in Sept., and the 50th Fireworks are often cancelled due to wind conditions, I would recommend doing F! and the fireworks at the first opportunity if they are priorities for you.
Originally Posted By disnyfans joeysmommy- We were just there last week and we got to the hub about 15-20 minutes before they started. We just sat in the middle and waited until they started. We had the perfect viewing area. Try to see the fireworks as soon as you can on your trip. We were glad we did them on Monday, as Tuesday they were cancelled half way through the show. Then Wednesday they were cancelled right before they were to start. So get them in early in case of any cancellations. We have waited for the second show of Fantasmic and it is so much less crowded and you can get a good spot to watch them.
Originally Posted By joeysmommy Thanks everyone! We arrive Sunday afternoon, so if the fireworks aren't cancelled we'll watch them from our hotel (Park Vue Inn across the street). Friday night is the only opportunity we'll have to see them if they are not cancelled. Do they usually schedule 2 Fantasmic! shows in September on a Friday night? The DL website doesn't have any shows listed yet. On Sunday night we're going to have dinner in DTD. If we don't make it back to our hotel is there a good spot to see the fireworks from DTD? Do people give you the evil eye for showing up 15 minutes before the show starts? I'd love to watch them from BTMRR, but since it's our first time seeing them in the park I want to get some good pictures with the castle in the background. momofbuzzfan-we're going to try that trick for F! also. Hope it works! I showed the boys a short online video clip of Fantasmic and they loved it. I know nobody wants to stake out a spot 1 hour or more before the fireworks, I'm sure it's worth it for the kids to see.
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan I'm curious to know if there is a good spot to see the fireworks from DTD as well. We have never been able to see much from there.....
Originally Posted By SuzieQ We sit on the grass at the edge of the Disneyland Hotel, when not in the park. Right on the corner, just past the front entrance where valet parking is located.
Originally Posted By LuLu >>Do people give you the evil eye for showing up 15 minutes before the show starts?<< There's so many people joining friends, groups moving in closer to fill open spots, etc, in the last 15 minutes, I really don't think you'd be noticed! Sitting very close to the castle one time, I'd say the crowd doubled in the 15 minutes before the show.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ The only time I give people the evil eye in the last few minutes is if them come in a block my view. People do get upset when you do that. Especially, if you block children. However, if the adults don't block views and they have children with them, most people are very accommodating to help your kids get a good view.
