The end of the night at Disneyland usually means finding a spot for the fireworks along Main Street USA or around the lagoon at Disney California Adventure. Fireworks have been a Disney park tradition for decades and while there have been some changes to the shows over the years there really is nothing like the combination of music and bursts of colors to bring people together.
If you’re traveling to Disneyland this year you’re going to want to keep reading to learn about both nighttime shows at the resort and where the best spots to watch are.
Disneyland Park
Starting July 4 fireworks will return to Disneyland Park with Mickey’s Mix Magic. The show will blast off above Sleeping Beauty Castle nightly through the summer. Mickey’s Mix Magic uses a combination of projections, lights, lasers, music and fireworks to bring a party atmosphere around the park. Some of the songs you might recognize from the show include “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin, “Grim Grinning Ghosts” from the Haunted Mansion Attraction, and “Let It Go” from Frozen.
Best locations to watch
The most sought after location to watch Mickey’s Mix Magic is along Main Street U.S.A. with a direct view of Sleeping Beauty Castle, but there are other great spots around the park to enjoy the show. Over at “it’s a small world” you can watch the projections on the facade of the attraction and see some of the fireworks.
If you’re willing to miss some of the fireworks, another good spot is along the Rivers of America where projections are put up on water screens much like the screens during Fantasmic! If you do plan on watching from the hub or Main Street U.S.A. try to get a spot near the entry points to Adventureland or Tomorrowland so you can rush over to a last minute ride before the park closes and you won’t be stuck in the mobs of people trying to leave the park.
When to find your spot
If you want that prized spot at the front of the park you’re going to want to start staking your area out about 45 minutes to an hour before the show is set to start. For those watching near “it’s a small world” you can get to the attraction about 30 to 45 minutes before and still get a decent location. And around the Rivers of America you’re going to want to line up anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes before the show to get near the water.
Disney California Adventure
Even though World of Color doesn’t have a set return date yet, we think it’s still important to share some of our best tips for the show. We love that this show hasn’t changed much since it debuted and we often find ourselves singing the iconic soundtrack for a few days after viewing the water pageant. World of Color does offer FastPass accessibility, though there’s no word on when or if that’s coming back to Disneyland in the same fashion as it was before the pandemic.
Best locations to watch
Anywhere around Pixar Pier and Paradise Gardens Park is a good spot to watch World of Color. If you’re really lucky you can book a dining reservation for outside at Lamplight Lounge at just the right time when World of Color is showing and be able to see the lagoon from the restaurant and not be in a crowd of people on the pier either.
When to find your spot
If you don’t have a dining reservation at Lamplight Lounge then you’re going to want to find your spot around the lagoon no later than 45 minutes before showtime. The front row gets packed in quickly and the second and third rows are not too far behind. Do not expect to get a good spot just a few minutes before the show is set to start like you can over at Disneyland Park.
Final note
Always remember that fireworks are subject to weather, and they can get canceled at the last minute. If you are certain you want to see the fireworks while at the Disneyland Resort be sure to plan accordingly and look ahead at the weather to know what nights you’ll be best suited to get your spot and wait for them to start.
Disneyland Planning
There’s so much more planning you can do to make your next Disneyland vacation the best! First, start with our Disneyland Planning Guide that walks you through what’s happening at the resort this year. Second, you’re going to want to book the best vacation for less without compromising fun or peace of mind. We have a money-saving tickets guide that can help you save on your park tickets. Last, read up on Disneyland’s newest land Avengers Campus and learn all about its attractions, dining, character experiences and more!
