There’s a new nightly fireworks show at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom called Happily Ever After and you want the best viewing experience possible. What do you need to do? Start with throwing out all the “tried and true advice” from friends who had seen Wishes, the blog posts you’ve read about Wishes and any type of advice that dates back to the old fireworks show. Happily Ever After is a whole new type of show with a new set of rules.
This is a show that you’re going to want to see more than once if you can. There is so much fighting for your attention, in a good way, that there’s no way you can take it in one time. I found myself watching the projections so much that I would forget about the fireworks, then I would focus on that and miss the projections.
Here are 5 Suggestions for a having a Happy, Happily Ever After Viewing Experience….
1. It’s essential that choose a location in the hub area so you have a full view of the castle and all it’s turrets. What do I mean by the hub? The park is laid out in a hub and spoke design, with the Partner’s Statue of Mickey and Walt in the Center. You want to locate yourself in the yellow area below.
Why: With Wishes, the fireworks and Jiminiy Cricket told the store and any castle projections were icing on the cake. It’s the exact opposite with Happily Ever After. The castle projections are essential to the story, with the fireworks in more of a supporting role. We had a spot back by Main Street Ice Cream Parlor and there were times when the story was a little disjointed because we couldn’t see all the projections on the castle to know what was going on.
2. If you really want to see Happily Ever After, don’t try to watch it from Fantasyland. With Wishes, you used to be able to get a good view of the show, not missing a lot from the back side of the castle if you were in Fantasyland…not anymore. You would miss about 90% of the show this way, again, because the projections are now telling the story. You won’t see any of this from Fantasyland.
3. Be considerate of those around you, everyone wants to see the show. If you put your children up on your shoulders, you’re basically saying, “I don’t care about anyone behind me being able to see”. Admit it, you would be upset if your child’s view was blocked….remember, everyone is there for a good time, you all spent the money to come, instead, get there a little earlier and head to a viewing location where doing something like this isn’t necessary. It’s safer for your child anyway if they are not up on your shoulders, perched on a rail someplace etc. Consider instead holding them up in your arms…it’s a safer alternative if they can’t see from the ground.
4. If this is a vacation that your family will take only every other year or couple years, I understand…Disney can be expensive, but you want to give your family the best experience. So consider booking a Fireworks Dessert Party to guarantee your family a great viewing location and a special treat. There are currently 2 dessert party options for Happily Ever After. The Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party gives you access to a dessert buffet and viewing from the Tomorrowland Terrace locations. The Plaza Garden Fireworks viewing party gives you access to the same dessert buffet, but then you are guided to a viewing location out in the plaza garden area to see the fireworks show. This is a less expensive options because it will involve standing only. Now you have a great location, you can relax and you’re not fighting the crowds.
5. For the sanity and enjoyment of everyone around, TURN OFF YOUR FLASH on your camera or phone. The flash is good for about 4 feet..it’s not going to help, it’s just going to annoy everyone around you. Don’t hold your phone up over your head the whole time either to record the show. Again, you’re just annoying everyone else, and you’re going to be so focused on recording that you’re going to miss the whole show you waited to see. Don’t watch it through your phone, watch it “in the moment”.
Grab your family, grab your friends or grab that special someone and head over to Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom to experience the new show. In fact, I loved the song enough to download it from ITunes!
B
logger, Traveler, Wife, Runner….I’m known as many different things. But I’m here to be your Travel Professional. Ever since I was a little girl I had an interest in travel. I would collect the postcards books that my grandparents brought back to me from their travels and I kept them in a special box that I loved to pull out and flip through. As I traveled with my family I started collecting postcards on my own and pictures, maps, and other mementos of my travels.
Believe it or not, I still have those postcards and every once in awhile I’ll bring them out and flip through smiling at the memories they bring back. Although I might not collect postcards anymore I collect photos, stories and information on my travels. I love to soak up a destination, reveling in the local food life. I absolutely love sharing my travel stories, foodie moments and special encounters.
Carrie@MustLoveTravel.com
(321) 323 – 9835
