NaviMap
07-20-2006, 06:04 PM
Here's a little help in choosing your spot for Disneyland's Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks & Snowfall.
***Photo SPOILERS at the bottom of the post***
But...Before staking out a spot, make sure you do your bathroom, snack, night time souvenir shopping stuff beforehand, because if you leave your spot, expect great difficutly in coming back to it. Areas are usually blocked off and pedestrain pathways are marked as one way traffic starting around 9:05pm (earlier if the park is very busy). On days when Disneyland is on an extended schedule, fireworks happen at 9:25pm. On a few days in June and during limited hours early in the Christmas season (the performance time may be earlier)
A description of each of the spots is below the map.
http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/500/medium/rdct_map.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=977&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=2356)
The "Straight On the Castle" Viewing Spots
For all viewing areas within the Central hub or on Main Street, guests will be told to stand to view the fireworks about 5-10 min prior to the fireworks showing
1. Right Behind the Partners StatueNote: It's unclear if this spot is open nowadays since they are using this spot as reserved space and as a thru-traffic walkway. This area is the small stretch of path from the Partners statue to the curb of the Central hub toward the Castle direction. One of the perfect spots to view the fireworks and to video tape. Higher ground than the guests on the street and in front of the castle. Full unobstructed view of all castle effect and fireworks but make sure the statue of Walt & Mickey is directly behind you when you are looking straight at the castle
Time this Area Fills up: 8:15pm, Walt and Mickey are already piggybacking some guests as early as 6:30pm
Advantages: Possibly the best spot in the park.
Disadvantages:on very busy days, this area fills up early and fast. Anywhere else around the Partners statue and your view will be obstructed by either the statue itself or the trees.
2. North End Main StreetThis area fills up at varying times depending on how crowded the park is and how fast the central hub fills up
Time this Area Fills up:8:45-9pm
Advantages:Almost the perfect view without waiting for too long
Disadvantages:A few castle effects partially obstructed by some trees. Standing room, so hope there's no tall person in front of you.
3. Street Area in Front of the CastleAs close as you can get to the castle, best spot for still photography.
Time this Area Fills up: 8pm, people start camping at 7pm
Advantages: Fully experience the castle effects close up.
Disadvantages: The castle may obstruct the view of some ground level fireworks launched from backstage.
6. Halfway down Main Street
Time this Area Fills up: 9-9:20pm. This area will fill up as overflow from when the Central hub starts filling up Main Street so that's why the times will vary
Advantages:still a straight on view which you see the fireworks form a pattern around the castle.
Disadvantages: Castle effects may not be too visible, Matterhorn blocked
7. Main Street Railroad Station
Time this Area Fills up:
Advantages: Few obstructions from other guest, on higher ground
Disadvantages:Won't have full experience of Castle & Central hub effects, Tinkerbell looks like a little light, most of straight-on viewing is blocked off for tour group, no surround sound.
Other Viewing Spots in the Central Hub
4. Central Plaza East Side
Time this Area Fills up: 8:50-9pm
Advantages: Will see all fireworks, will experience nearly all the special effects, high level fireworks will have the appearance of exploding on top of the castle.
Disadvantages: Won't have straight-on view where fireworks create patterns with the castle, ground level fireworks & Tinkerbell off-centered
5. Central Plaza West Side
Time this Area Fills up: 8:50-9pm
Advantages: will see all castle effects, most fireworks
Disadvantages: Do not get too close to the outer curb or else the trees will obstruct the view of most backstage fireworks, View of Matterhorn may be obstructed
8. Carnation Plaza Gardens
Time this Area Fills up: n/a
Advantages: very close to the castle
Disadvantages:plenty of Trees to obstruct the view, may not see ground level fireworks
9. Plaza InnThis is the area outside Plaza Inn
Time this Area Fills up: Usually 9-9:10pm
Advantages: A little higher ground over the street level, will experience most of the effects
Disadvantages: off centered, and depending where you are the trees may block some of your view. In the restaurant eating area, the hedges block the castle view.
10. Plaza Pavilion
Unavailable at this time due to the Refurbishment of Plaza Pavilion and closure of the outdoor seating areas around it
Time this Area Fills up: Usually around 9:15pm, seats are usually taken much earlier
Advantages: pull up a chair, will see most high level fireworks and experience Central hub effects
Disadvantages: a tree will obstruct the castle view, off-centered view of ground level fireworks, Tinkerbell. Chairs are usually taken early
Other Viewing Spots Around the Park
11. Its a Small WorldThe best view outside of the Central hub & Main Street. A spacious area and impressive view of all the backstage fireworks but be warned, the fireworks will be incredibly loud!
Limited viewing due to the major refurbishment of Small World so the projector animations will not be conducted during the fireworks.
Time this Area Fills up: Almost no one is here
Advantages: No crowds, good sound, best place to experience the backstage fireworks. Excellent Projection system uses the Small World showfront building as a screen for animated graphics, lighting effects, and video
Disadvantages: Fireworks are super loud!!! Won't see any castle effects clearly. Smoke, depending on the wind, may cross your area. Won't see Tinkerbell.
12. Fantasmic Viewing AreaIf you came for the 9pm Fantasmic performance, then stay in your spot after it ends, the fireworks will start in 1.5-2 minutes.
Time this Area Fills up: As Fantasmic viewing fills up, best Fantasmic spots gone by 7:45pm
Advantages: Saving a spot for 2 shows
Disadvantages: Won't see Castle & Central hub effects, firework patterns off-centered.
13. Innoventions 2nd FloorA few guests sit up here to see the fireworks but a reminder that Innoventions most of the time closes at 9pm.
Time this Area Fills up: doesn't fill up but Innoventions sometimes closes at 9pm
Advantages:on higher ground, no one to obstruct your view
Disadvantages: not many speakers around, limited viewing of Tinkerbell & Castle effects. expect to turn you head often since you see the distance between the backstage and the castle.
14. Fantasyland Backside
Time this Area Fills up: 9-9:10pm, most people are just waiting to get back on the rides when they reopen.
Advantages: The closest view of Tinkerbell.
Disadvantages: Little or no soundtrack, no speakers playing music in the immediate vicinity, smoke from fireworks shot from castle
15. The EsplanadeThis is the freebie area outside the gates, but don't look for anything too impressive from this view
Time this Area Fills up:
Advantages: you see some of the fireworks, don't need park admission
Disadvantages: no soundtrack, no ground level fireworks can be seen, no castle effect can be seen, Tinkerbell can't be seen, no snowfall. What do you expect for not paying for admission ;)
***Photo SPOILERS*** (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holiday_castle02.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3776&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve06.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3775&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve03.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3770&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve02.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3769&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve01.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3777&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve05.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3774&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve04.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3773&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=2356)
***Photo SPOILERS at the bottom of the post***
But...Before staking out a spot, make sure you do your bathroom, snack, night time souvenir shopping stuff beforehand, because if you leave your spot, expect great difficutly in coming back to it. Areas are usually blocked off and pedestrain pathways are marked as one way traffic starting around 9:05pm (earlier if the park is very busy). On days when Disneyland is on an extended schedule, fireworks happen at 9:25pm. On a few days in June and during limited hours early in the Christmas season (the performance time may be earlier)
A description of each of the spots is below the map.
http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/500/medium/rdct_map.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=977&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=2356)
The "Straight On the Castle" Viewing Spots
For all viewing areas within the Central hub or on Main Street, guests will be told to stand to view the fireworks about 5-10 min prior to the fireworks showing
1. Right Behind the Partners StatueNote: It's unclear if this spot is open nowadays since they are using this spot as reserved space and as a thru-traffic walkway. This area is the small stretch of path from the Partners statue to the curb of the Central hub toward the Castle direction. One of the perfect spots to view the fireworks and to video tape. Higher ground than the guests on the street and in front of the castle. Full unobstructed view of all castle effect and fireworks but make sure the statue of Walt & Mickey is directly behind you when you are looking straight at the castle
Time this Area Fills up: 8:15pm, Walt and Mickey are already piggybacking some guests as early as 6:30pm
Advantages: Possibly the best spot in the park.
Disadvantages:on very busy days, this area fills up early and fast. Anywhere else around the Partners statue and your view will be obstructed by either the statue itself or the trees.
2. North End Main StreetThis area fills up at varying times depending on how crowded the park is and how fast the central hub fills up
Time this Area Fills up:8:45-9pm
Advantages:Almost the perfect view without waiting for too long
Disadvantages:A few castle effects partially obstructed by some trees. Standing room, so hope there's no tall person in front of you.
3. Street Area in Front of the CastleAs close as you can get to the castle, best spot for still photography.
Time this Area Fills up: 8pm, people start camping at 7pm
Advantages: Fully experience the castle effects close up.
Disadvantages: The castle may obstruct the view of some ground level fireworks launched from backstage.
6. Halfway down Main Street
Time this Area Fills up: 9-9:20pm. This area will fill up as overflow from when the Central hub starts filling up Main Street so that's why the times will vary
Advantages:still a straight on view which you see the fireworks form a pattern around the castle.
Disadvantages: Castle effects may not be too visible, Matterhorn blocked
7. Main Street Railroad Station
Time this Area Fills up:
Advantages: Few obstructions from other guest, on higher ground
Disadvantages:Won't have full experience of Castle & Central hub effects, Tinkerbell looks like a little light, most of straight-on viewing is blocked off for tour group, no surround sound.
Other Viewing Spots in the Central Hub
4. Central Plaza East Side
Time this Area Fills up: 8:50-9pm
Advantages: Will see all fireworks, will experience nearly all the special effects, high level fireworks will have the appearance of exploding on top of the castle.
Disadvantages: Won't have straight-on view where fireworks create patterns with the castle, ground level fireworks & Tinkerbell off-centered
5. Central Plaza West Side
Time this Area Fills up: 8:50-9pm
Advantages: will see all castle effects, most fireworks
Disadvantages: Do not get too close to the outer curb or else the trees will obstruct the view of most backstage fireworks, View of Matterhorn may be obstructed
8. Carnation Plaza Gardens
Time this Area Fills up: n/a
Advantages: very close to the castle
Disadvantages:plenty of Trees to obstruct the view, may not see ground level fireworks
9. Plaza InnThis is the area outside Plaza Inn
Time this Area Fills up: Usually 9-9:10pm
Advantages: A little higher ground over the street level, will experience most of the effects
Disadvantages: off centered, and depending where you are the trees may block some of your view. In the restaurant eating area, the hedges block the castle view.
10. Plaza Pavilion
Unavailable at this time due to the Refurbishment of Plaza Pavilion and closure of the outdoor seating areas around it
Time this Area Fills up: Usually around 9:15pm, seats are usually taken much earlier
Advantages: pull up a chair, will see most high level fireworks and experience Central hub effects
Disadvantages: a tree will obstruct the castle view, off-centered view of ground level fireworks, Tinkerbell. Chairs are usually taken early
Other Viewing Spots Around the Park
11. Its a Small WorldThe best view outside of the Central hub & Main Street. A spacious area and impressive view of all the backstage fireworks but be warned, the fireworks will be incredibly loud!
Limited viewing due to the major refurbishment of Small World so the projector animations will not be conducted during the fireworks.
Time this Area Fills up: Almost no one is here
Advantages: No crowds, good sound, best place to experience the backstage fireworks. Excellent Projection system uses the Small World showfront building as a screen for animated graphics, lighting effects, and video
Disadvantages: Fireworks are super loud!!! Won't see any castle effects clearly. Smoke, depending on the wind, may cross your area. Won't see Tinkerbell.
12. Fantasmic Viewing AreaIf you came for the 9pm Fantasmic performance, then stay in your spot after it ends, the fireworks will start in 1.5-2 minutes.
Time this Area Fills up: As Fantasmic viewing fills up, best Fantasmic spots gone by 7:45pm
Advantages: Saving a spot for 2 shows
Disadvantages: Won't see Castle & Central hub effects, firework patterns off-centered.
13. Innoventions 2nd FloorA few guests sit up here to see the fireworks but a reminder that Innoventions most of the time closes at 9pm.
Time this Area Fills up: doesn't fill up but Innoventions sometimes closes at 9pm
Advantages:on higher ground, no one to obstruct your view
Disadvantages: not many speakers around, limited viewing of Tinkerbell & Castle effects. expect to turn you head often since you see the distance between the backstage and the castle.
14. Fantasyland Backside
Time this Area Fills up: 9-9:10pm, most people are just waiting to get back on the rides when they reopen.
Advantages: The closest view of Tinkerbell.
Disadvantages: Little or no soundtrack, no speakers playing music in the immediate vicinity, smoke from fireworks shot from castle
15. The EsplanadeThis is the freebie area outside the gates, but don't look for anything too impressive from this view
Time this Area Fills up:
Advantages: you see some of the fireworks, don't need park admission
Disadvantages: no soundtrack, no ground level fireworks can be seen, no castle effect can be seen, Tinkerbell can't be seen, no snowfall. What do you expect for not paying for admission ;)
***Photo SPOILERS*** (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holiday_castle02.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3776&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve06.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3775&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve03.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3770&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve02.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3769&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve01.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3777&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve05.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3774&cat=500&ppuser=2356) http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/06holidaybelieve04.jpg (http://www.vmkforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3773&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=2356)