Ranking Disney World Hotels with the Best Fireworks Views

There’s no denying it: Disney does fireworks in a way that nobody else does. Disney World’s nighttime spectaculars never cease to bring out all my emotions. Imagineers do a wonderful job at blending beautiful visuals with music that takes you on an emotional roller-coaster, making you want to stay at the theme parks all day just to watch the fireworks.

However, did you know that you can watch the Disney World fireworks from outside the theme parks? Each of the resorts on this list offers a unique perspective on the Disney World fireworks that – in its own way – rivals the view you could get while inside the theme parks. That means you shouldn’t count out these spots even though you’re not in the parks! Read on for our ranking of the Disney World hotels according to their views of the fireworks.

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How We Ranked Disney World Hotels with the Best Fireworks Views

Not all fireworks viewing areas are created equal.

Some viewing areas give great angles of the fireworks but also have muffled sounds of the background music. Some viewing areas pipe in the background music but have awkward viewing angles. Here’s how we rated the following Disney World hotels on this list:

• Viewing Angle: Do you have a head-on viewing angle or do you have to crane your neck into an awkward position to view the fireworks?
• Visual Clarity: Do you have a clear view or is it obstructed by trees or buildings? Is your view from ground level or from the top of the hotel?
• Sound Quality: Is the background music piped into the viewing area or is your only background music the sound coming directly from the theme park’s fireworks?

Read on for how we ranked these Disney World hotels according to their fireworks views, ranked from worst to best.

9. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Coronado Springs is one instant where a hotel offers a rooftop lounge with fantastic views of Disney World, but at a cost.

Stepping out onto the balcony of the Dahlia Lounge on the top floor of Destino Tower, you’re treated to wonderful views of Hollywood Studios and Orlando. And while looking out, as you pan left, you’ll notice Spaceship Earth almost being cut off by Destino Tower itself. This means your views of the EPCOT fireworks are limited. And when the balcony gets busy (as it always does during the EPCOT fireworks), your chance of getting the best view possible are diminished even more.

This is why Coronado Springs starts off at the bottom of our list.

8. Disney’s Beach Club Resort

The bridge connecting the Beach Club and the BoardWalk resorts is another popular spot to watch the EPCOT fireworks since it’s so close to EPCOT’s entrance at International Gateway.

In fact, from this spot, you’ll get the closest views to the EPCOT fireworks without being inside the theme park. However, the downside to viewing the fireworks from here (and from any area around Crescent Lake) is that you don’t get the fireworks music piped in.

This viewing spot’s proximity paired with the low music quality leaves you a muffled-sounding show.

7. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Wilderness Lodge is a popular Disney World hotel to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

One of the best perks of this viewing spot is that the fireworks background music gets piped into the viewing area at Geyser Point Bar & Grill. And while Wilderness Lodge is closer to Magic Kingdom than Fort Wilderness, its location puts it at a really odd angle for viewing the fireworks. And unless your room directly faces the fireworks, you’ll likely be straining your neck to look up at the fireworks, trying to look over the tree line or the main building of the hotel.

This is why Wilderness Lodge takes spot number 5 on this list.

6. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground

The beach area at Fort Wilderness offers wonderful views of Bay Lake and, of course, the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

And like the viewing areas at Wilderness Lodge, the background music gets piped into the viewing area at the beach. However, compared to the rest of the hotels along the monorail line, your view is a little more obstructed by Discovery Island and its viewing angle.

Because of where Fort Wilderness is situated, your view is from the far right side of Magic Kingdom, meaning you don’t get the full effect of some of the fireworks.

5. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Initially, I didn’t think Caribbean Beach was such an ideal spot to watch the EPCOT fireworks.

However, I was running around Barefoot Bay one evening and to my surprise, I caught the fireworks as I was passing by Sebastian’s Bistro. As it turns out, Caribbean Beach offers several great spots to view the EPCOT fireworks, including the front of Sebastian’s Bistro, in front of Centertown Market, and by the lighthouse. However, one downside of viewing the fireworks here is that you don’t get the fireworks music piped in.

In the end, the location of this viewing spot that gives you a head-on view of the EPCOT fireworks still puts Caribbean Beach comfortably at spot number 5.

4. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

In the fourth spot is the Grand Floridian.

While there are a number of areas at the Grand Floridian to view the Magic Kingdom fireworks, the ones with the most unobstructed views include the beach along Seven Seas Lagoon and the dock next to Narcoossee’s. And as I’ve mentioned before on my list of the best Disney World Resort Lounges, Narcoossee’s gives you one of the best views of the fireworks, and you get the music piped in as you watch!

The Grand Floridian is one of the more underrated areas to view the fireworks.

3. Disney’s Riviera Resort

The Riviera Resort takes the third spot on this list because of one location: Topolino’s Terrace.

With this signature restaurant situated at the top floor of the Riviera Resort, you get wonderful views of Orlando. However, if you time your dinner around the EPCOT fireworks, you’ll get an amazing view from the outdoor terrace.

And the best part: the fireworks music is piped in to enhance your viewing experience.

2. Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Coming in second is the Contemporary Resort, and with it come two great areas that give you the closest view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

The first is the fourth-floor observation deck, which situates you just below the Disney World monorail and what feels like a stone’s throw from Space Mountain. The second is California Grill – one of our favorite restaurant picks in all of Disney World. However, you don’t have to have a dining reservation to stand on the outdoor observation deck. You can grab a drink at the California Grill bar and still have the perk of the magnificent view of the fireworks.

1. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Finally, the top spot to view fireworks at any Disney World resort goes to the Polynesian Resort.

The Polynesian Resort offers the most direct view of the fireworks, giving you great photo and video opportunities. And with several areas to watch the fireworks, including the terrace gardens at the Island Tower, Tambu Lounge, and the beach along Seven Seas Lagoon, you simply cannot go wrong. Many of these areas also pipe in the fireworks music so you don’t miss a beat! However, our current favorite spot is at Wailulu Bar & Grill because it’s not as busy as the beach in front of the main pool area.

Which Disney World hotel do you plan on watching the fireworks next?

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