Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Tip Tuesday: Watching Wishes

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

Last week, I talked about taking advantage of all that the Magic Kingdom has to offer at night, especially some things you might not have thought about.

In that post, I mentioned watching Wishes! from a perspective other than Main Street U.S.A. (as seen in the photo above). While I heartily agree the best way to watch Wishes! is from just in front of the Partners statue (so that you can get these great looking pictures), it is by no means the only vantage point from which to watch one of the best fireworks shows put on at Walt Disney World.

Let's look at a few other locations to watch Wishes!

Fantasyland
This may be my second favorite place to watch Wishes! because the entire show completely changes. When watching from Main Street, all the fireworks appear to come from behind the castle. When you watch from Fantasyland, the fireworks are happening all around you. It's like experiencing perimeter fireworks every time.

Some effects will shoot off from the top of Mickey's Philharmagic, while larger pieces will explode in the sky in the opposite direction. In the photo above, the larger shells are exploding over Pinocchio's Village Haus. I can only imagine what Wishes! will look like when the Fantasyland expansion is complete and the old area for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is accessible again.

Some quick notes about watching in Fantasyland. First, it's loud. Very loud. Shells are exploding over your head. Second, you need to be in place a bit early because a portion of Fantasyland (the area between the Prince Charming Regal Carrousell and Cinderella Castle) is closed off for a while before and during the show for safety reasons. Be prepared to be looking in all directions because something's happening all around you.

I have heard some people say it's pretty neat to watch Wishes! while riding Dumbo. Of course Dumbo's day in it's current location are severely numbered, so I'm not sure that will be an option much longer. The Carrousell doesn't run during the show.

Tomorrowland
Another favorite spot of mine is Tomorrowland. This is a very different perspective on Wishes! and depending on where you are, your view may be a bit limited. What I like about Tomorrowland is that the land itself remains lit up, so the scene is a bit different. This also is a great place to get a good look at Tinkerbell as she soars from Cinderella Castle to her landing location on top of the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station. If you want to get a good view of Tink flying, try to stand in the Rose Garden or along the edge of the Noodle Station (if it's not closed for a dessert party).

It's also a interesting site to be on the TTA PeopleMover while Wishes! is showing. While you can't see the entire show, it's a different perspective and is pretty cool.

Frontierland
While I personally haven't seen Wishes! from this viewpoint, I imagine it's a good vantage point, though those large shells will be exploding just about right over your head, so I bet it's really loud there. If you are going to watch Wishes! from Frontierland, try to stand along the wooden walkway between the Liberty Belle Riverboat and the docks for the Tom Sawyer Island rafts.

Adventureland
With all the high vegetation, Adventureland probably isn't the best viewpoint, though you might get some interesting views while high up in the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. I've never tried it, so if you have some experience with watching Wishes! from the treehouse, post a comment!

Toon Town Fair
Same story as Adventureland -- too many tall tents and trees to get much of a view.

The next time you're in the Magic Kingdom and planning to catch Wishes!, try some of these alternative viewing locations. You just might be surprised at how much the show changes!

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