This Magic Kingdom fireworks viewing information includes a map of the very best & worst areas to look at Happily Ever After, pattern photographs from every spot, and different ideas for watching Walt Disney World’s hottest nighttime spectacular! (Updated April 5, 2023.)
Let’s begin with an replace. Following the conclusion of Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary, Happily Ever After has made its triumphant return to Magic Kingdom! This is the primary time the beloved fireworks have been proven in 18 months, however even earlier than that, many Walt Disney World followers missed Happily Ever After throughout its restricted 3-month run previous to that.
Expect extraordinarily excessive crowds for fireworks for the foreseeable future. Happily Ever After is immensely common with each vacationers and locals, and plenty of followers haven’t seen the Happily Ever After fireworks in over 3 years. As a outcome, there shall be colossal crowds and congestion round Cinderella Castle and on Main Street earlier than and after fireworks for just about the rest of 2023…
Even previous to Happily Ever After’s return, Magic Kingdom has skilled elevated crowds for the fireworks. In giant half, that was a byproduct of fewer nighttime spectaculars throughout Walt Disney World as a complete, leading to many visitors Park Hopping to Magic Kingdom (and to a lesser extent, EPCOT) to finish their evenings.
As a outcome, Magic Kingdom has created overflow viewing areas for the fireworks, a few of that are objectively terrible areas. People have been tenting out hours upfront for the very best areas, and the one final minute choices are on the Tomorrowland bridge and different sub-optimal spots just like the Main Street bypass hall.
With Happily Ever After now again, that is even worse because the “normal” demand for Magic Kingdom fireworks is colliding with the fan demand for Happily Ever After. Trying to look at from Main Street or the Central Plaza requires displaying up far upfront, and being packed in like sardines. Tensions could be excessive at occasions, however so can also the collective pleasure and vitality of the group–it actually is determined by the folks round you. We’ve had each good and dangerous experiences.
One constant destructive is after the fireworks are over. There’s a sea of individuals heading in the direction of the exit, and it’s simple to get separated from your loved ones, be overwhelmed should you’re attempting to navigate a stroller or ECV, and so on. The congestion could be actually dangerous, and also you’re principally inching alongside, shoulder-to-shoulder, with different visitors. We lined this final 12 months in Avoiding Magic Kingdom’s Evening Exodus. It’s even worse now that Happily Ever After is again.
In gentle of all this, we have now some non permanent recommendation should you’re visiting in the course of the peak season at any time within the first few months after Happily Ever After returns (see our 2023 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar should you’re uncertain whether or not you’re visiting throughout a busy time) and have an aversion to crowds or congestion.
If you need to watch Happily Ever After from Main Street, we’d advocate doing so from the Town Square finish (entrance of the park, farther away from Cinderella Castle). When the fireworks finish, both exit the park instantly to beat the group, duck into the Town Square Theater to Meet Mickey Mouse, or wait out the group off the primary walkways earlier than swimming upstream and heading to Tomorrowland or Fantasyland to do points of interest with decrease wait occasions.
Alternatively, begin in Tomorrowland or Fantasyland and watch Happily Ever After from there. As you possibly can see in our really useful areas under, we love the center of Fantasyland between the citadel partitions as a low-stress, congestion-free method of seeing Happily Ever After and being immersed within the present, with pyro exploding in entrance of and behind you.
Now there’s one other model new location so as to add to that listing as an immersive fireworks location: the plaza round TRON Lightcycle Run. This is not so good as the center of Fantasyland, but it surely’s new and distinctive, with TRON’s lightcycles whizz by overhead and the dancing lights of the Upload Conduit cover. As an added bonus to each of those areas, it’s simple to leap in line for Space Mountain or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train instantly because the fireworks finish to expertise both with lower-than-normal wait occasions.
Turning to the fireworks viewing map, not a lot adjustments for the return of Happily Ever After. Although Walt Disney World touted the Main Street projections, they don’t actually change the equation. These are a pleasant addition, however mustn’t change the place you watch Happily Ever After. You’ll nonetheless need to watch from the inexperienced areas if in any respect doable.
While inexperienced areas will supply the target greatest view, that’s a theoretical greatest view. If you’re shorter or have youngsters, it’ll be tougher for them to see. Even should you’re Conan O’Brien or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, it is perhaps uncomfortably congested within the inexperienced areas, particularly as folks attempt to begin transferring after the fireworks finish and it’s primarily gridlock.
With that mentioned, Magic Kingdom fireworks could be the spotlight of a visit to Walt Disney World, however discovering good spots could be troublesome. I’ve watched and photographed the fireworks within the Magic Kingdom over 100 occasions, and have gotten a good suggestion of the very best and worst spots from which to view the fireworks.
The map under works type of like a stoplight (with orange added). Consider yellow on the map the “stoplight” model of go, with inexperienced on the map being the cream of the crop for views (okay, that half isn’t actually like a stoplight). Orange on the map is a step down from yellow, however nonetheless isn’t dangerous.
Red is dangerous–it’s best to keep away from these spots. There are quite a few different “quiet” spots across the Magic Kingdom the place you possibly can see components of the fireworks, but it surely’s extremely necessary to know that the entire Magic Kingdom fireworks reveals have been designed to be considered straight-on from Main Street, USA.
Watching from elsewhere within the park might allow you to keep away from the crowds or allow you to have a enjoyable expertise whereas watching (using Big Thunder Mountain or the TTA PeopleMover in the course of the fireworks is superior), however you completely will miss components of the present.
Happily Ever After options projections on Cinderella Castle and Main Street, and also you’ll miss a number of the present by not having the ability to see the projections. It’s nonetheless lovely to look at and could be considered from anyplace, however we’d advocate viewing it for the primary time in entrance of Cinderella Castle, the place the projections could be seen the very best.
Due to that, we haven’t included different spots in the remainder of the park on this map–with one exception. If avoiding crowds is basically necessary to you, take into account one among these different areas across the park, as Main Street, USA is crowded earlier than, throughout, and after the fireworks.
Note that this map is a tough thought of the very best spots. Fireworks map-making shouldn’t be an actual science (I actually drew this with a brush in Photoshop!) and clearly consulting the map to the diploma that you simply blindly stand instantly behind a tree as a result of the map lists that spot as a yellow could be silly. Don’t pull a “Michael Scott” and drive your proverbial “fireworks car” right into a lake since you’re following this put up verbatim, as if it have been GPS. ????
Avoid stray bushes and different obstructions, as this map doesn’t account for these besides in closely obstructed areas. If you can not see the entrance of Cinderella Castle from the place you’re standing with none obstructions–even when it’s a inexperienced zone–transfer to a spot the place it’s seen.
Okay, let’s have a look at some particular spots…
1. Front and Center – This is a surprisingly nice space that often fills up over an hour upfront, with little site visitors having the ability to get in or out after that. Beyond needing to stake out this fireworks spot extremely early, it does include a draw back, which is that you simply’re so near Cinderella Castle that it blocks a number of the pyro.
To get a visible thought of how perspective distortion works for these fireworks, discover the peak of the bursts above Cinderella Castle as we transfer farther away from the Castle. In this shot, they’re instantly behind it, however they transfer progressively increased as we transfer again. If you sit this shut, you’ll miss a superb share of the pyro.
2. Partners Statue – I’m a giant fan of this location, as you’re far sufficient again to see the pyro completely, however not too far-off for the projections and different results.
It affords an ideal view, however visitors typically stake this location out hours upfront. Additionally, the gridlock earlier than and instantly after the fireworks could make getting into and leaving this space downright uncomfortable on busy nights.
3. Hub Grass – Availability of the Plaza Gardens–or Hub Grass because it’s identified amongst Millennials–is hit and miss. One facet is all the time reserved for Happily Ever After dessert events, however the different is usually out there. (In the long run, it may be an choice with Genie+ or Lightning Lanes, however that’s to be decided.) The Plaza Gardens supply a superb view, however don’t anticipate to have the ability to watch from right here.
With that mentioned, the walkway instantly in entrance of the Plaza Gardens–and behind the fountains pictured above–is one other nice, publicly out there viewpoint. Stake out a spot behind the railing and also you received’t have anybody block your view, both!
4. “The Hump” – Located between the 2 FastPass+ viewing areas (and a bit to the south), this spot isn’t very giant. Since it’s a straight-on view, it’s extremely common. This location is nice not simply because it’s the good distance from Cinderella Castle, but additionally as a result of Main Street, USA slopes downward between right here and Cinderella Castle, making this a little bit of a “high point.”
You can see this within the picture, because the heads in entrance of me are clearly decrease than me (and I’m not tall in any respect). Cast Members typically forestall visitors from lingering on this space earlier than Happily Ever After (they’re often directing site visitors), so it may be fairly simple to snag this location ~half-hour earlier than the fireworks, relying upon once you go to.
5. Happily Ever After Dessert Party (Tomorrowland Terrace) – Since Disney annexed this space for the Fireworks Dessert Parties a number of years in the past, I’ve heard a number of folks consult with this as the very best place to view the fireworks. This is completely not true. I believe folks may simply assume it’s an ideal spot as a result of it’s now non-public, and it stands to cause that Disney would have chosen the very best spot for his or her non-public viewing space.
In actuality, there weren’t every other possible alternate options…not like you possibly can rope off the center of Main Street for a dessert celebration. Most of the views from the Dessert Party space hinder the decrease a part of Cinderella Castle, and all of them are fairly far off-center. To make issues worse, the roof on the Terrace can hinder your view should you aren’t capable of seize a “front row” desk by the water. This space borders on being a yellow location should you sit as near the Main Street facet (reasonably than the Tomorrowland facet) of the Terrace as doable.
6. End of Main Street – This location affords the entire similar benefits as “The Hump,” besides there is no such thing as a hump right here to provide you an elevated view. All it takes is one shoulder-kid in entrance of you and also you’ve received an obstructed view. If you’re tall otherwise you don’t find yourself with anybody tall in entrance of you, this location remains to be excellent.
The upside to this view is that you would be able to get a number of the Main Street projections in your view with out shedding any of the pyro, and nonetheless seeing the projections on Cinderella Castle fairly clearly. If you’re watching one of many laborious ticket occasions’ fireworks (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party) these buildings can truly block out the 180-degree perimeter fireworks bursts that happen throughout these reveals, so that you don’t need to go this far again. Perimeter bursts are additionally part of the Fourth of July and New Year’s reveals, so keep away from being within the a part of Main Street with buildings then, too.
7. Middle of Main Street – Projections lining the facades of buildings make the center of Main Street USA extra enticing, however there’s are comparatively fundamental when it comes to their visuals and are extra about colours and patterns. Additionally, standing farther again on Main Street means the buildings themselves block out a number of the fireworks.
On the plus facet, the world of Main Street between the clock (above left) and Emporium doesn’t replenish almost as quick as views nearer to Cinderella Castle, and transferring again a bit can enable a number of the facet bursts to become visible. Definitely not a nasty spot!
8. Main Street, USA Train Station – This location is yellow, however just like the Partners location, it’s a blended bag. On the plus facet, you possibly can seize a seat right here and have a spot to view Happily Ever After. If you rating a great spot right here, you received’t have anybody popping up on the final minute and blocking your view.
On the destructive facet, there may be usually a flagpole obstructing your view of the fireworks and it may be troublesome to see the projections. Also, folks stake out these seats hours upfront, and the ambiance isn’t the very best (the Train Station lights stay on and the soundtrack isn’t as loud right here as elsewhere). On prime of that, the Train Station is usually unavailable today because it’s reserved for VIP viewing or just closed at random.
Personally, I solely go up right here when the flagpole is out, and even then, it’s just for photographs. However, if you wish to calm down and take in the ambiance of Main Street for a pair hours, staking out a spot right here is usually a good approach to do it…and it retains you away from crowds.
9. Ticket & Transportation Center Dock – This location is denoted by the inexperienced arrow on the underside of the map. It’s inexperienced for a cause, and that’s as a result of this is likely one of the two greatest spots for viewing the Magic Kingdom fireworks reveals. Comparing the picture from this location to the primary location must be a superb indication of perspective distortion in motion. Those bursts within the first picture which are behind Cinderella Castle are the identical bursts that on this picture seem like method above the Castle!
The professionals for watching the fireworks from listed here are that you simply don’t want park admission and the view is straight-on and spectacular. The cons are that the lighting isn’t dimmed and there are sometimes bugs. On nights after we don’t have tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, we often watch the fireworks from this location.
10. Fantasyland Castle Walls – Cinderella Castle the centerpiece of Happily Ever After, and the fireworks lose their emotional impression with out the Castle. However, there’s one location within the park, however outdoors of Main Street the place you don’t lose that emotional impression. Directly behind Cinderella Castle!
It’s a very totally different perspective of the present, and far much less crowded again there. This is our favourite “secret spot” (to the extent that Magic Kingdom’s hottest land is usually a secret) as a result of it feels such as you’re within the midst of the fireworks, with bursts each in entrance of and behind you. You’ll additionally get pleasure from pyro over Beast’s Castle above Be Our Guest Restaurant, which is cool. I nonetheless want viewing from the entrance of Cinderella Castle as you do lose a bit again right here, however when you’ve seen it as soon as from the entrance, going again between the New Fantasyland partitions is a superb place to look at for a second-viewing.
11. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover – There are a number of points of interest from which you’ll be able to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks. The most memorable ones are in all probability Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. However, timing is troublesome on account of wait occasions and glimpses of pyro shall be temporary.
The best, greatest, and most extended view shall be aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, which incorporates a number of out of doors segments with direct views of Cinderella Castle. This is one other one in your second or third viewing of Happily Ever After. In phrases of “secret spots,” it’s very underneath the radar–there’ll possible be no line for the PeopleMover in the course of the fireworks and you’ll doubtlessly re-ride with out getting off the attraction!
12. Resort Views – Once you get outdoors Magic Kingdom, the scope and scale of the pyro is wonderful. Sure, you miss the projections and it’s not as immersive, however that’s made up for in different methods.
The seashore of Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower, and numerous eating places across the monorail resorts are all different common “free” fireworks viewing areas. See Best Restaurants for Magic Kingdom Fireworks Views for added suggestions.
So there you’ve got my “review” of some fireworks viewing spots across the Magic Kingdom (and out of doors it!), together with some photographs to again me up. While it must be clear that there are some spots which are higher than others, you actually can’t screw up too badly should you can see the face of Cinderella Castle.
If you are attempting to seek out the very best fireworks spots for different parks, try our Best Epcot Fireworks Viewing Spots and Viewing Guide for Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios posts.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about inns on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every thing it is advisable know!
Your Thoughts
Where is your favourite spot to look at the Magic Kingdom fireworks? Do you prefer to go for a conventional Main Street location, or do you decide to keep away from the crowds and watch from elsewhere? Any points of interest that you simply assume are enhanced in the course of the fireworks? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we might help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!