According to an update at the top of a blog post : Should You Use FastPass+ for Shows at Disney World?
“Starting Feb. 27, 2015, the viewing location for Magic Kingdom fireworks will relocate from the Rose Garden Fireworks Viewing area to the Main Street Plaza Gardens, adjacent to Casey’s Corner and the Plaza Restaurant. Guests with FastPass+ reservations can choose either side, based on availability.”
Any one able to confirm? Anyone have picture from this location…it seems to be more straight on than what the Rose Garden was? Is there room to move around or is it crowded?
TIA
Without having seem the new areas in person I can only speculate, however, the rose garden was on the right hand side of the castle. Assuming there is nothing blocking the view I would go that direction. Viewing from the rose garden was amazing because it was so up close. The fireworks are all typically above the castle and to the right. However there isn’t really a bad view and I don’t know yet if there may be tree’s or other obstructions that might make you favor one side or the other. I’m sure it will be nice either way.
I have a Wishes FPP booked soon to see how things work in the new area, so hopefully I’ll have a firsthand report within a couple weeks. In the meantime, I’ll be interested in what others experience.
I just visited the new Wishes FPP viewing area and liked some things, while others were not ideal. Here are a few observations:
If you arrive early (and schedules work), then you can see the Electrical Parade. You don’t have a front row seat, so it isn’t ideal for kids, but you can see parts of the floats and have some elbow room. That might appeal to some.
Most of the views are partially blocked by lamp posts, speakers, or something else. This doesn’t make much of a difference with Wishes, but isn’t ideal for Celebrate the Magic.
The biggest advantages were not having to reserve a spot well in advance (though if you want to find an unobstructed view of the castle or me near the fence at the front of the viewing area, then you need to arrive early) and having some space. Many families chose to sit during the show, which you definitely can’t do on Main Street (I’m not sure if this will be normal going forward, since if people in the front choose to stand, then people in the back will have to follow suit).
Getting out isn’t ideal, since the exits are not on the Main Street side of the viewing area. You can exit on the side (facing Adventureland) or the front (facing the castle), but you’ll have to fight foot traffic to get out of the park (though this isn’t really different from any other viewing area). Best best would be to do out the side, into Casey’s Corner, and through Emporium.
Since you asked for pictures, I’ll share a couple of the viewing area in the morning, some fireworks photos, and one grainy look at the crowd during the show. Note that I arrived at 9:25 PM for 9:45 and 10:00 showings of Celebrate the Magic and Wishes, so I was able to select a viewing area with almost nothing blocking my sight of the Castle (and I setup in front of a random tree in the viewing area, so my tripod did not block anyone’s view behind me).
Normally, I’d hate to be in the MK and not being able to use more than my original three FPP the whole day, but it worked out this day, since I scheduled a tour in the morning, then had a break for dinner outside the park, so I wasn’t giving up much for shorter waits on other attractions (I used my other FPP for Space Mountain and 7DMT + rode the PeopleMover, Carousel of Progress, HM, Pirates, Splash Mountain all with short waits). It made for a really good MK day!
My plan is to do another park at RD, then have a long break at the hotel before dinner at Citricos. I was hoping to see Wishes that night, but was a little concerned about finding a spot. I love it when my anxiety is relieved before it even gets bad!
In 8 days we never once got a 4th fast pass and even let some of our original 3 go because we didn’t need them. Would probably be a little different going at a busier time.
[quote=“Outer1, post:17, topic:10571”]
In 8 days we never once got a 4th fast pass[/quote]
I can see that in the other parks, but in MK with so many attractions there are usually some useful FPP available in the early/mid-afternoon I’ve made use of more than 3. At the other parks, by the time I’ve used the first three, there often seems to be less useful FPP available.
In any case, I can see several scenarios where even those who use many FPP would be able to get use out of the Wishes viewing location. Arrival day is the most obvious, since you’ll likely spend less time in the parks. At the end of a resort or water park day would also make sense, as would hopping the MK after spending the morning at AK or the Studios. Even a day at Universal or some other off-site attraction, followed by an evening in the Magic Kingdom. @theredhead’s plan sounds like a great way to cap off a day in the parks.
Thanks for the preview @FlyerFan1973! I see what you mean about the lampposts and speakers. You had a great spot though.
Question: Can you walk around this area during the day? Is the viewing area on both sides of the hub? I had heard there would be a “back exit” behind main street soon. (iWe exited once that way ourselves on a very busy night.
