Review: Wishes at the Magic Kingdom
WALT DISNEY WORLD’S WISHES
Wishes is a 12 minute or so fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom.
It combines fireworks, music, narration, colors and images projected onto Cinderella Castle, and, weather permitting, live performers, into a spectacle and a spectacular show.
Narrated by the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Crickit, the show has the theme of believing in the power of wishes, and of good triumphing over evil.
I have never met anyone who does not love the show, and it is listed as a favorite on this site’s Comprehensive Guide to Rides.
HOW OFTEN WISHES HAPPENS
Depending on the time of the year, Wishes can be shown from nightly to twice a week. Sunday night is the most certain night for it to be shown.
Check the Magic Kingdom Calendar (find your month, then click on the days of your visit) to see when it is being shown during the time you will be at Walt Disney World.
(Disney’s calendars are harder to use than they should be–see this if you need help.)
WHERE TO PLACE YOURSELF TO SEE WISHES
Returning visitors have any number of favorite spots to see Wishes:
- Near the Tomorrowland Terrace
- From the waiting area of the Main Street railroad station
- From the top of the Swiss Family Treehouse
- While riding Splash Mountain
- From out of the park, including the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort, the beaches at both the Polynesian and Fort Wilderness, and other spots.
First time visitors should avoid all these.
Wishes was designed to be seen facing the Castle, with the Main Street railroad station at your back, and that is where you should position yourself.
Where in this axis you should stand depends on whether Wishes is closing the park or not.
- If it is closing the park, stand closer to the railroad station–for example, halfway down Main Street. This will limit the crowds you have to deal with on exit.
- If it is not closing the park, stand closer to the Castle–even as close as the hub in front.
See this for positioning yourself for both the evening parade and Wishes.
Seeing Wishes is in all this site’s itineraries. Many returning visitors have made a tradition of seeing Wishes on their last night at Walt Disney World, as a fitting coda to their experience.
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12 comments
Dave,
We are staying at Bay Lake Tower, theme park view. I also have the Fireworks Dessert Party booked at Tomorrowland Terrace. Wondering if that’s a waste of my money?? Kids love the fireworks, but wondering if the view will be that much better than our room?? Any insight?
Nancy, the fireworks in the park itself are a completely different–and much better-experience than what you can see from BLT. You don’t need the Dessert Party to experience them in the park, but it simplifies the issue of finding a good viewing spot.
Dave,
Great, I’ll keep the party booked. You are so helpful! Love your site. Thanks for the info!!!!
Nancy, you’re welcome, and have a great trip!
Hi Dave, just read about the Dessert Party and wonder if we should give it a try to avoid finding good firework viewing spots with 2 kids & strollers…. What’s your view based on your expeience? Do you think it’s worth the price based on the quality of dessert and the reserved table for viewing firework? Is the reservation open 180 days prior to arrival date too? Thank you!
Hi Jessica, I don’t think it’s worth it. The main reason is that the view is off center, and the Magic Kingdom fireworks are best seen looking dead at the Castle from the main street side…I’m not sure what the booking window is–you can call and ask…see this for the number: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/tomorrowland-terrace-fireworks-dessert-party/
Hi Dave, we will be at Magic Kingdom for New Year’s. Do you know of any places that provide discount being as though we are on a budget?? Also, do you think we should stay at a Disney resort to get the extended hours or should we stay at a more economical hotel because the extended hours are not worth it??
Hi Kherie, if you mean literally New Years, there won’t be any discounts as it is such a wildly popular and crowded time. I’d stay on site as the parks close to off-site visitors at times then because of this massive crowding–see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/11/30/park-closings-at-walt-disney-world/
If you mean “just a little after New Years” then there’s already deals out for arrivals beginning Jan 2–see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/10/11/new-disney-world-package-deal-early-2013-not-free-dining-but-not-nothin-neither/
Ok, I am absolutely crazy for forgetting to make dinner reservations in the magic kingdom, but I totally forget and we will be there for New Year’s Eve…should we not even bother going? Or can we grab a bite down town disney and go back later? I also heard, once we leve we cannot re enter the park s that true?
Thanks so much….
Hiya Megan. Yes, you are a crazy woman. But Downtown Disney will be just as mobbed. If you go to MK–and NYE is the worst day of the year there–you’ll need to grab something at a quick service restaurant–and lines for them may be an hour long…
In general you can leave and then come back. But the park often closes on NYE, so you may in fact not be able to get back in that day. See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/11/30/park-closings-at-walt-disney-world/
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Hi Dave,
Is their calendar not complete for October this far out? Checked a few days and saw nothing at all until 3pm, and no Wishes or Fantasmic.
Thanks!
Hi Keith–I just looked, and yup, it’s weird. I’m sure they’ll get aournd to updating it one of these days. IN them meanitme, you can use this for the basics: http://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_oct.pdf
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