Ask the Disney Geek > 04/08/2008
Welcome to Ask the Disney Geek section. This section is a partnership with our friends at DisneyGeek.com. If you have a question about Walt Disney World Resort, let us know and we will pass the question onto to our Disney expert.
- Who are you and what is DisneyGeek.com?
- How far are the parks from each other?
- What are the best times of the year to go?
- Is it worth staying for the firework shows and what is the most impressive one?
- Where can I meet my favourite Disney characters?
- What’s new for 2008?
- What you definitely shouldn’t miss?
- What else can you find out on DisneyGeek?
- Top 10 Tips
Is it worth staying for the firework shows and what is the most impressive one?
Walt Disney ... said the fireworks were the parks "Goodbye Kiss" and I really think this is true
Fireworks and Disney go together and have been at Disney parks since the beginning. I believe Disneyland started back during the first(or maybe second, this was way before my time) summer of operation. I remember reading a quote from Walt Disney that said the fireworks were the parks "Goodbye Kiss" and I really think this is true. As you leave the park you cannot help but be a little uplifted, all be it very tired most days... Walt Disney World ups the ante and creates some truely spectacular shows and even more amazing many of them run every night of the year, weather permitting. I definitely recommend sticking around to catch the shows (I do on a nightly basis and have seen each of them several times)... Your current night time entertainment options are:
- Wishes @ the Magic Kingdom Park
- Wishes is the closest Disney comes to a traditional fireworks show. It is shown most nights at the MK year round. It combines high and low level fireworks, projections on the castle, a flying tinkerbell, and a musical soundtrack to really close your day at the park with a magical experience. For the best effect and viewing I would recommend finding a spot on Main Street where you have an unobstructed view of the castle and the area off to the right and directly behind the castle. Another great option is to watch the fireworks from one of the Disney resorts, I especially like the Polynesian resort. The music is piped in and you have a great view across the Seven Seas Lagoon (note though its hard to see some low level effects and projections.
Illuminations @ EPCOT- This is my favourite night time show and its held every night at closing time for EPCOT, usually 9:00pm. The show takes place on, around, and above World Showcase lagoon and there are good viewing spots almost everywhere around the lagoon. While finding a location two things you want to consider. First is which way the wind is blowing. Be sure its at your back. If you are downwind the smoke will blow right in your eyes and its not a good experience. The second is to make sure you have an unobstructed view to the center of the lagoon. You will see several barges being brought out in the afternoon to prepare for the show. I find this to be the most impressive show because of the size, proximity to you, and breadth of the experience.
- Fantasmic @ Disney Hollywood Studios
- Fantasmic is a theater show at Walt Disney World that takes place in the Hollywood Hills Ampatheater which is located at the end of Sunset Blvd near the Tower of Terror. It is part stage show, part fireworks, part movie, and more...
- Spectro Magic @ the Magic Kingdom Park
- This is not a fireworks show, but instead a night time parade that happens on select nights. It winds its way along the parade route that goes from Main Street USA, through Liberty Square and ends in Frontierland.
- Special Events
- There are also special event fireworks that occur throughout the year. The largest displays happen on the 4th of July. EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom each add a grand finale number and the Studios adds a special show too. Special shows are also added for New Years Eve at each park. Special parties such as the Very Merry Christmas Party and the Halloween events at the Magic Kingdom also have their own fireworks displays. Lastly at Christmas time (usually the month of December) a special ending for Illuminations and a Holiday version of Wishes are run.
I have pictures of these shows in my last WDW Update from April 2008. Click here and go to the last few pages of each day to see them.
Where can I meet my favourite Disney characters?
Disney Characters are around all the parks and they are character greeting guides in the park maps/time schedules available at each park. Here is a quick run down:
- Magic Kingdom
- As you enter the park at Town Square there are usually characters around. Also out in Toontown Faire you can usually find a few out and about and Mickey is always available at his Movie Barn in Toontown.
- EPCOT
- Characters are often seen roaming World Showcase at the various countries that their stories came from.. for example Brother Bear is at Canada, Winnie the Pooh and Mary Poppins at the UK, etc.. In Future World there is a spot called the Character Connection near Innoventions West that usually has a handful of characters throughout the day. The other two spots characters show up are right at the entrance to World Showcase and near the parks entrance.
- Disney Hollywood Studios
- You can often find characters at the end of Hollywood Blvd in front of the giant hat. There are also scheduled characters along Mickey Ave and in the backlot area the Toy Story characters can be found too.
- Animal Kingdom
- The two main spots to find characters are in Camp Minnie Mickey and in the photo area that is located to the right as you head toward Dinoland USA. Other than that there are some random sitings here and there, but those are the two main locations.
