Subsonic Radio

Which fireworks display do you prefer? The modern classic Illuminations or Wishes, the largest fireworks show ever produced for the Magic Kingdom?

I have to go with Wishes. I prefer the fireworks over the whole show that is Illuminations.

Also, Illuminations is not very entertaining to me unless you get a very good spot. If you can't see the globe well, it is not fun to sit and listen for half the time.

This is like Sophie's Choice. I didn't vote because I love them both!

I do enjoy them both but Illuminations is the win for me. One of my favorite things to do at WDW.

I voted for Illumnations. I like it sightly better because of it's message. I rather like the message of Hope that Illumnations has as opposed to the message of just "Wishing" to fix it.

Not that wishes is bad, my wife loves it. And we always love watching it.

johno

Hands down Illuminations. There is no question. And as to the best viewing location? Italy is good, France if you get there early or the showcase plaza (which is really cool, because you have the American Pavillion directly across from you).

I picked Illuminations. I think the music put it's over the top of Wishes for me.

IllumiNations, IllumiNations, ILLUMINATIONS! I love it! The first time I saw it, I was hooked. As a musician/music educator, I have been exposed to A LOT of music and the score that IllumiNations is set to is my favorite piece of music of all time. Whenever I am in WDW, we always end up to see that show almost every night.

And sorry, agingerbugg, I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you in the viewing locations. Now, to be fair, I've only seen the show at World Showcase Plaza once, but I found it to be the worst spot out of all I have tried. Where the Showcase Plaza does have a good view of America, the smoke typically blows in that direction, making it hard to see anything clearly past the first minute or two of the show. Also, when we watched it there, there was an ongoing battle between the people who wanted to stand and watch it and the people who wanted to sit, which definately took away from the show.
I've seen IllumiNations from pretty much every country and I have found that around Mexico is the best spot because you get a close, vitually unobstructed view and you don't have to deal with the smoke of the fireworks blowing in your face (the smoke usually blows over towards Canada/UK/WS Plaza).

However, this is just my 2 cents.

I had to go with Wishes. I'm a sucker for all things at MK. And I don't know what it is, but the soundtrack for Wishes always gives me the chills and occasionally, a tear. Sappy, I know, but what can you do?

both are great. illuminations are a bit better

spodie wrote: And sorry, agingerbugg, I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you in the viewing locations. Now, to be fair, I've only seen the show at World Showcase Plaza once, but I found it to be the worst spot out of all I have tried. Where the Showcase Plaza does have a good view of America, the smoke typically blows in that direction, making it hard to see anything clearly past the first minute or two of the show.

The direction the smoke blows is all dependent on the wind. You get a night with no wind and there is no good view, because the smoke just sits there. I have seen it blow towards Mexico too.

agingerbugg wrote:

spodie wrote: And sorry, agingerbugg, I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you in the viewing locations. Now, to be fair, I've only seen the show at World Showcase Plaza once, but I found it to be the worst spot out of all I have tried. Where the Showcase Plaza does have a good view of America, the smoke typically blows in that direction, making it hard to see anything clearly past the first minute or two of the show.

The direction the smoke blows is all dependent on the wind. You get a night with no wind and there is no good view, because the smoke just sits there. I have seen it blow towards Mexico too.

Interesting. I guess I've just been lucky because every time I've seen it, the wind has always blown towards the Canada direction and I've caught a good spot somewhere else. I'll have to make sure that I check the wind direction before picking a spot from now on!

I love Illuminations and the music cant be beat. I have an Epcot CD I listen to often in my car and it's almost like being there!!!!!!! We usually watch Illuminations from the bridge at UK area. We're in WDW about 6 nights and go to see it 3 or 4 of those days. It helps that we like to stay at the Boardwalk and can just walk back there and don't have to deal with the buses. We've never had too much trouble with the smoke there.

I agree that Mexico is the best overall viewing location.

Although, the best showing of Illuminations I ever watched was on my Honeymoon in the VIP or whatever section in Italy. It was awesome, and it was the first time I truly appreciated Illuminations.

But, like I said before, I don't enjoy Illuminations if I don't get there early and get a good spot. If you can't see, then meh. And I don't particularly like having to wait long periods of time for shows.

I'm with HSolo29. I'll take the classic fantasyness of MK fireworks any day.

spodie wrote:

agingerbugg wrote:

spodie wrote: And sorry, agingerbugg, I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you in the viewing locations. Now, to be fair, I've only seen the show at World Showcase Plaza once, but I found it to be the worst spot out of all I have tried. Where the Showcase Plaza does have a good view of America, the smoke typically blows in that direction, making it hard to see anything clearly past the first minute or two of the show.

The direction the smoke blows is all dependent on the wind. You get a night with no wind and there is no good view, because the smoke just sits there. I have seen it blow towards Mexico too.

Interesting. I guess I've just been lucky because every time I've seen it, the wind has always blown towards the Canada direction and I've caught a good spot somewhere else. I'll have to make sure that I check the wind direction before picking a spot from now on!

Every time I have been there China gets the smoke. (Jan/Feb)
I wonder if the wind changes with the seasons?
Anyway back on topic. I can't choose, just park hop from wishes to Illuminations and see them both