Originally Posted By 2much2do We are making the 10-hour drive to Disneyland for a 4-day experience the last week of April. There are two families traveling together -- mine has done Disneyland twice, but the other family has never been. We will be in the park Sunday through Wednesday, which means there is only one night of fireworks, Fantasmic, and Electrical Parade. That's good in terms of crowds, but challenging to see everything we want to see. Although we will be checked in to the Disneyland Hotel Saturday night, we will not be in the park. How do we work this? We definitely want to see Fantasmic at least once. I'd love for the kids to see the Electrical Parade, but with it being at DCA at 8:45, I'm not sure it's feasible to get back over to DL and get a spot for the other things in time. Do we skip the electrical parade and save our spot for Fantasmic instead? Is it better to attend the first performance and watch fireworks from the Rivers of America, or to do fireworks from Main Street and late Fantasmic? There are a total of 4 adults and six kids, ages 9, 9, 7, 6, 3 and 2. BTW, on our two previous trips to DL, we have alway gone in October. We have never seen Fantasmic. We saw fireworks in October 2004, but I guess they're different now. We have seen the Electrical Parade once. Finally, will we be able to see the firework show Saturday night from somewhere in our hotel (Disneyland Hotel)? We have paid for a pool/resort view room (since everything else was sold), but we will probably try to find a better vantage point for viewing fireworks that night.
Originally Posted By AZDLDad Check the schedule for Electric Parade, it is not running recently. The biggest factor you face is weather. Rain or wind cancels at least fireworks if not Fantasmic too. We have seen the 50th Fireworks from in front of the castle to a little further back from the hub on Main St, to seeing it as we walked from ROA behind Big Thunder Mtn RR. Your best vantage from what I read here is near Coke Corner on Main St. This way you get to see the castle and Matterhorn with an unobstructed view because of the trees. Fireworks are every night that weather permits. (We just saw it again on Wednesday night) Fantasmic right now is weekend only. (Anyone feel free to correct me) (JMHO) You have got to experience the 50th Fireworks from the ground in the park near the castle to get the full effect of the sights and soundtrack.
Originally Posted By hlbtimes2 It would be very tight to do it all. I would recomend the 2nd (10:30). You dont have to hold a spot so far in advance for the late showing. You could get over and get a spot when the fireworks are done. I dont know about getting from DCA to DL, after the electric parade, in time for fireworks though- that would be tight, especially for a group that size. One or two people would be easier! If you really wanted to do it, you could watch ELP from as close to the DCA enterance as possible. Then, right as it ends, run for the exit, and across to DL. You could watch the fireworks from the train station- You'll miss some of the projections and what not. Then hop on the train and ride to NOS to catch the late F!. The other option would be to skip the ELP, go to the early F!. Get good spots. You'll be able to see the fireworks from there. I've heard they do some of the projections that go along with the show on Tom Sawyers island. You would miss a bit of the show doing it that way, but it would be the easiest.
Originally Posted By Donald75 (JMHO) You have got to experience the 50th Fireworks from the ground in the park near the castle to get the full effect of the sights and soundtrack. I agree 100% I have seen them twice, once from the hub in front of partners and one on Main Street near the back. There was a world of difference.
Originally Posted By wendebird I'm really surprised the fireworks & Fantasmic aren't running on weekdays. (I just checked the schedule) If it were me, I'd skip the Electric Parade. You won't get a good viewing spot for the fireworks if you don't. See the fireworks in the center of Main Street somewhere between Coke Corner & the castle. (They will tell you, you can see them at the Rivers of America & by Small World, but you will miss some very important/cool effects that way) Then scoot over the see the 10:30 viewing of Fantasmic. Have a great vacation!
Originally Posted By roberts1398 My recommendation if ELP is running: Watch ELP close to the Plaza, so you can get out of DCA quickly after the last vehicle passes. Go across to Disneyland. Inside, go up the stairs to the Main St. Train Station. Watch the fireworks from the balcony-like area at the station facing the Castle (before you go into the turnstiles, if I'm not mistaken) As soon as the grand finale of the fireworks hits, get in line for the next train. Board the train and get off at the next stop, New Orleans Square Station If F! is still going on from the early show, hang tight there, with the newcomers being carefull not to watch the ending ahead of time. As F! ends, there will be a mass exodus thru Adventureland and Frontierland. You come in right behind them and stake out a great spot for the 10:30 F! show. It's a bit of work (and should definitely make you think about taking a nap that day), but it is VERY do-able and worthwhile when it's the only night F! and ELP are available.
Originally Posted By Donald75 These other members seem to know how things flow at DLR better then I do. I just advise you to not miss the fireworks show it is amazing!! Fantasmic and most likely the electric parade will be there next time if you miss them.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Let me make a few comments. The Fireworks are Daily thru April 23rd, then back to the typical off-season weekend only schedule for May. They return to seven days a week in early June. The Electrical Parade returns for Daily showings April 17th thru the 23rd, then goes to weekends only for May. It goes back to daily showings for the summer on June 16th. On Saturday night, go south of the DLH to the Paradise Pier Hotel, and take the elevators to the third floor and the Pool Deck. Here you can watch all the high level fireworks, and the soundtrack is piped in from the park. As for Sunday, note that Disney has changes the way the Electrical Parade runs. It now starts at the Paradise Pier area, and end near the main entrance. (Disney did this to try and cut down the amount of folks going from DCA to Disneyland and seeing the Fireworks. In fact, the 8:45 Parade usually starts closer to 9 PM now. So if you want to try, you need to watch the Parade near the current location for Golden Dreams, and then head out of the park using the path thru the Grizzly Creek area. Alas, it is packed, as CM's will direct all traffic that way, and blocks off folks from using the parade route. Therefore, you will more than likely want to not try this with the kids. I would get a good seat for the Fireworks near the castle in the Hub area, at least an hour early (8:30), when the Fireworks are over, then head to Frontierland and follow the one-way traffic to the Rivers of America and try and find a good seat for Fantasmic! at 10:30. If that is too late for you, or you are worried about the crowds and having to take the kids from the Hub to the ROA area, then as a second choice, just get to Fantasmic! around 8 PM, and try and find a good seat somewhere between the Pirates and the Haunted Mansion side. Watch Fantasmic! at 9 PM, and then just stay for the 9:25 Fireworks, which is about a 2 minute wait, let anyone around to leave, and move up a bit. You will get to see most of the fireworks, and even Tinkerbelle (though much smaller), and they do provide a few of the effects, like the laser at ROA. The Hub area is a much better viewing location, but if all you have is one night, this might be the only real choice you have with a large group.
Originally Posted By officerminnie >>>The Electrical Parade returns for Daily showings April 17th thru the 23rd, then goes to weekends only for May. It goes back to daily showings for the summer on June 16th.<<< Darkbeer, do you know what the Electrical Parade schedule is for the time period between the end of May and June 16?
Originally Posted By Darkbeer ^It is posted at Disneyland.com, in the Calendar secion... But basically Friday thru Sundays, at 8:45 PM, with an additional showing on Monday, May 29th (Memorial Day).
Originally Posted By cindyland Time change coming up weekend of 4/2, that changes the times for some of the shows (fireworks scheduled for 8:25 that week).
Originally Posted By wendebird >>Inside, go up the stairs to the Main St. Train Station. Watch the fireworks from the balcony-like area at the station facing the Castle (before you go into the turnstiles, if I'm not mistaken)<< Normally I'd go this route, but with the 50th show, you really want to be closer & with a view of the Matterhorn. It's simply a must do, especially if it's only running one night while you're there. You have to just trust me on this one. I don't want to give away the surprises, but you will miss some show effects at the train station.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer I caught a typo... The DEP is daily from Friday April 7th thru Sunday April 23rd, just over 2 weeks of Peak Easter Break. Sorry for saying the 17th, as that was wrong!
Originally Posted By seanyoda cindyland, the DL calendar has Remember scheduled for 9:25 the week of 4/2-4/8. With the time change ("Spring forward"), sunset will be an hour later, so it wouldn't make sense to schedule the fireworks earlier.
Originally Posted By roberts1398 Thanks, Wendy. I didn't know this, so good advice for me, too (assuming we make it there, LOL!)
Originally Posted By 2much2do Thanks for the great ideas everyone! I will run it by the rest of the group. I think we'll probably have to skip the Electrical Parade this time. But I'm glad I know the best places to watch everything else.
Originally Posted By wendebird >>Thanks, Wendy. I didn't know this, so good advice for me, too (assuming we make it there, LOL!)<< Yes, it's really important with this show to be close & have the Matterhorn in view. At least for your first time. You don't want to miss the special effects! Are you guys still going in April?
Originally Posted By Donald75 I agree with wendebird, You have to see this show from a location where you can see both the castle and the matterhorn. I hope that this show stays around until the end of the year so I can see it at least once more in Decemeber.
Originally Posted By cindyland OOPS! I was thinking actually of the Electrical Parade...which is actually 8:45...ugh... On another note, how early should we plan on finding a spot? We have a group of 13, plan to spread out some blankets and camp out for a while.
Originally Posted By dlkozy Something that is fun to do when you are driving down to DL-even more fun when driving in a caravan, is to use window chalk (it's a wet paint made just for windows) on your windows! My kids write "Disneyland Here We Come", they draw Mickey heads, "Disneyland or Bust!", you get the idea. Lots of people will honk and wave to you and amazingly if you are in a caravan and all of you have your windows painted, LA drivers seem to be very nice to you, and they don't try and split you up on the freeway!
