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8 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Magic Kingdom’s Fireworks At Walt Disney World

8. Take advantage of short wait times

The fireworks offer an excellent opportunity to ride some of your favorite attractions with little or no wait times. I still recommend that you “properly” see the fireworks at least once per trip, but during Happily Ever After the lines for rides will be extremely short, so you might find it worth it to get on Space Mountain while the fireworks are happening. As a side note, this plan of action does not really work if you wait to go on the rides until after the fireworks. Sometimes you can have luck rushing towards a ride immediately after Happily Ever After, however most guests either leave the park or run to a big attraction following the fireworks, so you may still find yourself in a long line that way.

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7. Don’t worry about the weather

It’s very rare that Happily Ever After is cancelled due to weather. Unless you hear otherwise from a cast member, plan on the fireworks taking place as they are scheduled to. As long as you’re okay standing out in the rain to see the fireworks, you’ll be able to enjoy them because they more than likely are still going to take place. Tinkerbell may or may not fly depending on weather conditions, but for the most part, the rest of Happily Ever After will go as it normally does regardless of the weather.

6. Avoid crowds by watching them from a resort

Did you know that some of the monorail resorts can actually be really great places to watch Happily Ever After? From the Contemporary, go to the balcony on the same floor as the shops and restaurants, or book an advanced dining reservation at California Grill, the restaurant located on the top floor which has excellent views of the fireworks. You can also see the fireworks from the Polynesian Village Resort, or from most tables at Ohana.

5. Don’t feel like you have to be on Main Street

There are plenty of places in the Magic Kingdom to see Happily Ever After that won’t have you fighting for a spot on Main Street. Try heading to Fantasyland near the carousel or over in Liberty Square. If you arrive last minute for the fireworks, I find that it’s better to go to a different area in the park than to fight for a spot on Main Street. And by being in a different part of the park, you’ll be able to get to your favorite attractions quicker once the fireworks are over.

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4. Don’t leave right after the fireworks

I highly recommend sticking around in the park after the fireworks simply to avoid the post-fireworks rush. If you’re not interested in being a part of the giant cattle herd that generally leaves the parks right after the fireworks, stay in the park just a little bit longer. I would much rather wait on a bench in the park, or wander slowly through some of the shops than wait in a long line for a bus or monorail and deal with the post-fireworks crowd.

3. Don’t focus on taking photos

Unless you have the ability to go to the parks often, or at least to see Happily Ever After more than once per trip, don’t make taking photos the focus of watching the fireworks. It’s really hard to enjoy the moment while it’s happening if you’re constantly bogged down with taking photos.

2. Arrive early if you want a certain spot

While I don’t think that camping out for a spot in front of the castle is really necessary for enjoying Happily Ever After, I would recommend arriving early if you are set on seeing the fireworks from a certain location. If you do want a spot right in front of the castle just make sure you arrive early enough to secure a spot for your entire group.

1. Look into the Fireworks Dessert Parties

Three Fireworks Dessert Parties are now available at Magic Kingdom on a nightly basis, with exceptions of special event ticketed parties like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. While it does get expensive, the Fireworks Dessert Party is a great way to experience desserts of a lifetime plus great viewing locations for fireworks. One Fireworks Dessert Party option is located in the Tomorrowland Terrace Party. This party is the most expensive per person because guests have a seat and table to enjoy desserts during the fireworks show. The other two parties is the Plaza Garden Party before the fireworks with the other being after the fireworks. This allows guests to have desserts in one area with an assigned location in the Plaza Garden to stand for fireworks viewing. This Plaza Garden Party has replaced the fireworks FastPass options Magic Kingdom previously had. These parties boast awesome desserts and amazing views!

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."