[goofygal1975]

How do you know when the fireworks start on the 4th of July? Is it the same time as the FITS? I know last year, we were at the GF and watched the fireworks, and you had like a 360 degree view of fireworks! My friend was the "know it all" last year, and I just followed wherever she said to go. I have NO idea how she knew the times. This year, she's not coming, so it's up to me to show my son these beautiful fireworks. (He was out of town last year visiting grandma and grandpa, so he didnt get to see the fireworks!) I want to make sure we get a good viewing spot at one of the resorts, and get there in time to just relax and enjoy it. We are staying on property this time at AS Sports. Thanks in advanced for any help!

[jmouse]

The MK fireworks on the 4th of July are at 9pm, same as last year.

[tiggerlover1971]

thanks jmouse that will be a big help since I am going too

[ssn]

Hi! I was wondering are there rules against going to hotel beaches - other than the hotel you're staying at - to watch fireworks? I've heard you can't go to the beach during the day at those hotels if you aren't staying there and was wondering if the same rule applied to nightime.

[jmouse]

I can tell you that there is a sign by the Poly beach stating the beach area is for the hotel's guests only. And the Poly has had a sign out at the security gate the last 3 years around the 4th of July advising people that the parking is for hotel guests and those with PS reservations for the Poly restaurants only.

Many Poly guests choose that resort for a 4th of July stay because of the good view of the fireworks. There were many unhappy Poly guests last 4th of July as the beach was overridden with non-Poly guests. What the Poly management does this year to avoid such unhappy Poly guests is unknown.

[goofygal1975]

My friend and I stoped at the GF to watch the fireworks last year. There was no sign around that we saw. I am either going to go to the Poly or GF this year. We are staying on site at All Stars, and will take a bus to MK, and then take the monorail around to resort hop and shop hop, and end up at one of the resorts to watch the fireworks. So we won't be taking up any parking spaces. I can understand being upset for paying for such a great place to view, and have TONS of non paying people there in your way. However, I believe that is going to be hard to tell who is a guest there and not.:hmmm I really believe that my friend and I were the only two non guests at GF last year, but I could be wrong. Other people may have had the same idea. ;)
My question is, I wonder how the guests at the Poly knew all the other people on the beach weren't guests staying there??:dazed We sure as heck couldnt tell! hehe:laugh
Either way, I can't wait to see those beautiful fireworks again this year!!:D

[jmouse]

I know personally guests who watched people come from the WDW transportation and go directly to the beach. Others you can tell were carrying a lot of "baggage" that hotel guests would have dropped off in their room. Others were overheard talking. And then others took chairs right off people's patios so they could sit!

And if you didn't notice any of this before the fireworks, you sure could tell afterwards when the mass exodus to the parking lot/transportation began!

I'm sure the GF gets fewer of these people based on its location, unfriendly self-parking, and type of hotel it portrays.

[goofygal1975]

Wow, well I guess that makes my decision easy. We'll go to the GF again! We'll bring our towels again and get comfortable. (It's just the 2 of us, me and ds!) I can't believe people would go as far as taking chairs from other guest's balcony, but maybe some people just don't know any better. Our towels will do just fine for us!;)

Does anyone else know of any "secret" spots to watch the beautiful fireworks from?

Let's hope there is NO rain in the evening on 4th of July!!! We always get rain in Florida on the 4th, but it's usually in the afternoon. At home, though, almost every year our big fireworks get rained out:cry: Keep your fingers crossed!;)

[jmouse]

The only places to view the fireworks are the Poly and the GF. The Contemporary's viewing floor on the same floor as California Grill has been closed to non-restaurant guests. You could try the small viewing area on the 4th floor, but my guess is it would be super-crowded.