There are many iconic images hardcore fans and novice guests alike associate with Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: Meeting Mickey Mouse, riding Space Mountain, and walking down Main Street for the first time.
However, there’s arguably no more famous Magic Kingdom visual than watching fireworks explode over Cinderella Castle. However, finding the best spot to do so can be overwhelming. Fear not, however, we’ve put the work in and assembled a guide to the best places to watch the current Magic Kingdom fireworks spectacular Happily Ever After.
Happily Ever After first debuted at the Magic Kingdom on May 12, 2017 to rave reviews. The show featured the typical pyrotechnics, as well as the most advanced projection-mapping effects seen at a Disney park up to the time.
The show begins with this narration:
“…And they all lived happily ever after.
Each of us has a dream, a heart’s desire. It calls to us. And when we’re brave enough to listen, and bold enough to pursue, that dream will lead us on a journey to discover who we’re meant to be.
All we have to do is look inside our hearts and unlock the magic within…”
Happily Ever After then goes through several segments featuring fireworks, projections on the castle facade, and songs from well known Disney films before culminating in a massive finale triggered by Tinkerbell.
The show was massively popular with guests and ran until September 29, 2021. Happily Ever After was replaced with Disney Enchantment for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration, but returned on April 3, 2023, to much acclaim. The new version of the show is essentially the same as the original, with additional projections on the facades of Main Street U.S.A. as well as lasers added to the finale.
Suffice to say, there’s a lot to take in when watching Happily Ever After, and finding the best spot to watch the show really depends on which events of it mean the most to you. So, let’s go element by element:
If Your Priority is Fireworks
If your main draw is fireworks and only fireworks, we can recommend a few locations. If you want to remain on the Main Street because of Cinderella Castle, we’d advise moving down the street toward the Main Street Train Station. This will allow you to fully take in the full breadth of the massive fireworks over the castle without needing to cram your neck skyward. The only downside is the projections on the castle will be a bit far away.
Also, if you don’t care about projections at all or you’ve seen the show before and simply want to experience the fireworks and music from a different angle, the areas in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland that aren’t closed to guests for the duration of the show — for example near Gaston’s Tavern — provide a unique perspective that’s usually not crowded.
If Your Priority is Projections:
If the show’s projections are your main draw, we would advise staking out a spot at the top of Main Street U.S.A. in the area of Casey’s Corner. That should give you a good view of the projections on the Castle (as well as the fireworks above you) as well as the ability to turn around and view the projections up and down Main Street’s building facades. We’d advise staying a bit to the left if on the Casey’s side or right if on the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor side — that way the Partner’s Statue won’t be blocking your view.
If Your Priority is Comfort
It is possible to watch Happily Ever After in uncrowded comfort… for a price. There are two main up-charge dessert experiences currently offered:
For the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party, guests check in at the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant 60 minutes before the show is scheduled to begin. Prior to showtime, they’ll be escorted to a private viewing area located in the Hub’s Plaza Gardens area. Following the show, these guests are escorted back to the restaurant for “Delicious desserts prepared by our pastry chef, such as chocolate-dipped strawberries and chocolate silk tarts. A variety of cheeses. Refreshing beverages, including an assortment of beer and wine.” This party currently (as of May 2023) costs $99 per adult and $59 per child.
There’s also a Happily Ever After viewing event outside the park gates. For $129 plus tax guests can attend the Celebration at the Top – Sip, Savor, Sparkle cocktail party event at the California Grill restaurant, which sits atop the Contemporary Resort. According to Disney, guests can “indulge in an array of culinary offerings, including sushi, small bites, favorite dishes from the California Grill menu and delectable desserts” before heading out to the observation deck to view “an incredible view of the Happily Ever After fireworks spectacular—lighting up the night sky over Magic Kingdom park. The lights will dim as music plays on the deck, so you’ll be immersed in the magic of the night.”
Further Tips to Enjoy Happily Ever After
- If you have a specific spot in mind on the Main Street side of Cinderella Castle, we’d advise staking it out 45 minutes to an hour prior to showtime as Happily Ever After’s return is garnering a great deal of interest.
- That large amount of interest means that Main Street is going to be packed by showtime. If personal space is important to you, we’d advise grabbing a spot near a garbage can, railing, or other permanent installation that will allow you some breathing room from other guests.
- Grab a snack, which should be pretty self explanatory.
- Most importantly, be polite and considerate to other guests. Be careful not to obstruct the view of others with cameras, etc.
In addition to the aforementioned California Grill dessert party, the fireworks portion of Happily Ever After can also be seen in (nearly) all its glory at various points outside the park, including from the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts, as well as from the Transportation and Ticket Center.
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Where’s your favorite spot to watch Happily Ever After? Inside the park? From one of the area’s resort hotels? At one of the dessert parties? Let us know in the comments below, and keep following AllEars for the latest Disney info!
In a recent Magic Kingdom video, with Breedlove, he showed that watching the fireworks from Cosmic Ray’s while inside, having a snack, with no crowds. But he did not say if the music is piped into Cosmic Ray’s. I have a family member who doesn’t do well in crowds. This sounds like a way he could enjoy “Happily ever after. we will be at Magic Kingdom on September 13, 2023.
Hi Linda! While you can watch the fireworks from inside Cosmic Ray’s, music is not piped in so you would just get the visuals.