Went to Disneyland Sunday... was disappointed :(

Post by **subsonic** » Nov Mon 21, 2005 1:32 pm

My Fiancee and I have been putting off seeing the fireworks for a while now. Everytime we think about going it's followed by the thought of having to wait an hour for a good spot.

Yesterday was the day. Myself, my fiancee, and a group of friends met up at the park.

Since I LOVE Space Mountain I wanted to go on it. The wait said 75 minutes at the entrance, in the 1 minute walk to where the fast passes were the wait changed to 90 minutes. We decided to wait. To our dismay, it took 2 hours to just enter the Mountain. Close to the entrance of the Mountain we noticed they would let 50 fast passers in compared to 10 people from the regular line. Sometimes I think Fast Pass is more or a problem than a solution. It definately was in this case. Once inside the mountain things went fast. We walked out of the attraction 2 hours and 15 minutes after we entered the line. Had I known the wait was going to be that long we would have skipped it.

We ate, that went fine.

We headed over to Haunted Mansion Holiday. The wait said 30 minutes, it only took 20 minutes. Great!

Now the main purpose of our visit, the fireworks. We arrived in front of the castle an hour before the show. Had great seats. 30 minutes before the show we hear the prerecorded announcement about a possible cancellation of the fireworks due to strong winds at higher elevations. Of course, there's no wind where we are sitting. One thing of interest is we saw ballons being let go from where they launch fireworks. What a simple, yet effective way to test winds. We didn't notice any variation of course while the balloons were rising, but it have not been a left/right wind from where we were sitting. 9:25 rolls along and we hear the cancellation announcement. How sad. We finally make the time to go out there and wait to have the show cancelled on us.

We'll try and make it again in Janurary.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Nov Mon 21, 2005 2:13 pm

Man, that really bites. I've been to Disneyland where they announced possible cancellation of the fireworks multiple times. In the end it was cancelled, and we were so disappointed. The possibility is always there, but you're like "what are the odds?" And chances are, the wind is calm where you're at.

Every night my friends and I had something planned. So we had to skip out on getting good seats for Fantasmic in order to get good seats for the fireworks the next day. Which we did, btw.

It's a good idea to plan on seeing the fireworks twice during your stay, so if one night they're cancelled, you have a back-up night. This would be for those who plan to go to the parks multiple days of course.

Next time, Sub!

Mickeymac · Post by **Mickeymac** » Nov Mon 21, 2005 3:54 pm

Oh wow. I'm so sorry. You're so busy, and made the time, and this happens.

Does it happen often at Disneyland? I've never had a nighttime cancellation at WDW, just have been lucky.

Post by **spaulo** » Nov Mon 21, 2005 7:59 pm

Well you have to realize, there aren't a bunch of homes and gas stations and such... non-Disney property, that is... right near where the fireworks go off at MK or Epcot or Studios... there are people who live in homes across the street from the back of DL property, and if high winds blew firework cinders onto those wood shingle roofs... yikes.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Nov Mon 21, 2005 11:23 pm

Ya know- I never thought about it like that. I just thought that if something goes amiss, the attractions and all the Disneyland buildings would catch fire. But yeah, the businesses and residential areas are in danger as well.

Mickeymac · Post by **Mickeymac** » Nov Tue 22, 2005 7:44 am

Spaulo - thanks. It makes perfect sense. It's amazing how similar the two Disneys' are, yet they are worlds apart.

I'm sure there's some kind of pun in there, but I can't think straight this morning.

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Nov Tue 22, 2005 8:42 am

That really stinks, sub. I totally understand that they have to be extra careful with all the houses around and such, but it's so sad that you had to miss the fireworks. I was just blown away by them - positively the most spectacular performance I had ever seen. The ads are right, they're an E-Ticket in the sky!

slotofkit · Post by **slotofkit** » Nov Tue 22, 2005 1:11 pm

I am sorry too, Sub. I know when I went last, 9:25 rolled around and they announced it was going to be delayed. I was hoping and praying it wouldn't be cancelled, and fortunately it wasn't (especially that I had wanted to tape it). Perhaps they are having some trouble with the way they are doing the "holiday version." So, hopefully I will get a video done to put online soon. But I don't know if that will tide people over or really be satisfying compared to seeing it in real person.

G2-4T · Post by **G2-4T** » Nov Wed 23, 2005 10:12 pm

Ouch, that is lousy luck! You will really like them when you see 'em though. Not sure where the best location - I almost liked closer to the train station better down on Main St vs. closer to the castle... Either way, this is the best pyro show they've ever put on in my mind.

soccermouse · Post by **soccermouse** » Nov Mon 28, 2005 12:13 pm

Just got back from Disneyland. The fireworks were cancelled 3 of the 5 days we were there, but finally got to see them after wasting about 2 hours each of two days waiting for them. Must have been there the samedays as subsonic.

disneydreamer58 · Post by **disneydreamer58** » Nov Mon 28, 2005 4:38 pm

Sub, that totally stinks, I am sorry you didn't get to see the fireworks! Hopefully you will have better luck in January when you go, and the wait times at Space won't be as long either

Good Luck!

borjoyzee · Post by **borjoyzee** » Dec Mon 12, 2005 3:13 am

that part made me laugh about letting a ballon go, to see how the wind will effect it. hmm. I saw fireworks would be heavier than a ballon, but I am not the one who controls those kind of things.

Post by **subsonic** » Dec Mon 12, 2005 12:22 pm

It's the embers that produce the glow. All of those are quite light.

CA Screamin Dude · Post by **CA Screamin Dude** » Dec Thu 15, 2005 4:57 am

I remember working during the summer once on Main St during fireworks, kept hearing the possible cancellation announcement, and obviously, guests thought I would know the answer if the show would go on or not. It was cancelled at around 950, ten minutes after I walked lol.

soccermouse · Post by **soccermouse** » Dec Thu 15, 2005 5:23 pm

subsonic wrote:It's the embers that produce the glow. All of those are quite light.

I spoke to a CM while we were there and he said that some of the buildings have large burn marks and holes in their roofs from embers when the wind was blowing the wrong way. He claims that they do everything to put them on every night. It seems to me that they would be tempted to not do them some nights just to save money.