No one does fireworks quite like Disney. Once you’ve seen the Disney fireworks show, you’ll find every other one is lackluster and not the same! Disney Parks are renowned for their attractions, shows, entertainment, and attention to detail, and the same goes for their nighttime spectaculars and fireworks shows.
If you want to catch some fireworks for yourself at Disney World, then you’ll need to know what time they start, where you can watch them, and what to expect. We can answer all of these questions and more in this guide.
If you are planning a vacation to Disney World with children, make sure to follow our Tips and Tricks for Disney World and read this article to find out Which Disney World Park Is Best. And if you need something to entertain your children while you travel to Disney World or while waiting in line at the Disney Parks, get our Printable Disney Games which they will love!
If you would like a little help with planning your Disney trip, check out our Disney World Planning Guide with Printable Worksheets. It will help your family plan a fun, easy, stress-free, magical vacation to Walt Disney World.
To learn more about the Disney Fireworks shows, keep reading!
What Time Are Disney Fireworks?
The most popular and extensive fireworks show at Disney World is at the Magic Kingdom in front of Cinderella Castle. Until April 2nd, 2023, Disney Enchantment is the nighttime show on Cinderella Castle, which runs for 15 minutes.
These nightly fireworks will typically begin around 9 pm, but you must check the schedule during your visit to ensure this is correct.
This is because nightly firework shows at Disney are subject to change. They can also be canceled altogether if the weather makes it unsafe to put on the fireworks display.
In most cases, firework shows at Disney World happen every single night during peak seasons such as summer and holidays, except on dates when the park will close early, such as for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and on special Cast Member or PassHolder events.
You can check the daily schedule to see what is running on that day in the park. Most of the time, the fireworks display will start at 9 pm on most days. In some cases, during the winter, when it gets darker sooner, fireworks at Magic Kingdom may start at 8 pm, so be sure to check.
If you’re heading over to EPCOT to watch their firework show- currently called Harmonious, then these shows run from 9:00 pm nightly.
However, during some periods, they may start as late as 9:45 pm. Harmonious is a 20-minute show, so if you miss the start, you still have time to catch some fireworks!
What Fireworks Shows Are There At Disney World?
There will be fireworks shows all throughout the year at Disney World.
There is the usual, most popular fireworks show around Cinderella Castle (currently Disney Enchantment), along with Harmonious at EPCOT, which runs until April 2nd, 2023.
Beginning April 3, 2023, the Happily Ever After nighttime spectacular will return to Magic Kingdom park. In the skies over World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT, the nighttime show, EPCOT Forever, will return for a limited time.
However, there will also be events throughout the year, such as Fourth Of July Fireworks and New Year’s Eve Fireworks, and shows during events, such as Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Which Disney World Parks Have Fireworks Shows?
Disney World has multiple parks, all of which have their own nighttime shows. As mentioned, The Magic Kingdom has its own firework display, Disney Enchantment (check the schedule here), which everyone goes to see, but the other parks also put on nighttime spectaculars, which are often slightly quieter than the Magic Kingdom.
For instance, in Hollywood Studios, you can watch Fantasmic, a must-see spectacular. In this show, you can see Mickey battling all of the villains in his dreams in an open-air theater.
During this 29-minute show, there will be special effects, pyrotechnics, water effects, and fireworks. These shows are subject to change so check the Fantasmic page to see if there is one on a particular day of your visit.
Most of the time, there are two showings – one around 7:30 pm and one at 9:00 pm.
Animal Kingdom does not have its own fireworks display so as not to scare the animals who live there. But you can see Pandora lit up with bioluminescent colors during the evening, which is a sight in itself.
There is also a light show, Tree Of Life Awakenings, where the tree is brought to life with projections and lasers. However, this is not often running every day, so you must check before visiting.
Epcot has its own firework show called Harmonious, which starts at 9:00 pm, but you can check daily schedules here.
What Is The Best Place To Watch Fireworks At Disney World?
Undoubtedly the best place to watch fireworks at Disney World will be on Main Street, USA, or in front of Cinderella Castle. You can see the fireworks explode over the most beautiful backdrop to a musical track, and there will be projections on the buildings of Main Street, USA, to enjoy, too.
Spaces in front of the castle quickly disappear, so it is worth arriving around 45 minutes to an hour before or earlier if you want to be right in front of the castle.
However, if you are staying in a Disney hotel, you can watch from there too.
You can also purchase a Fireworks Dessert Party, reserve your spot at Tomorrowland Terrace and enjoy a sweet treat while the magic happens.
A great tip is to plan your trip beforehand and which days you want to see nighttime shows. You can then think ahead and book reservations for something like the Fireworks Dessert Party.
Another tip is to watch from either Fantasyland or Frontierland, as you will still see the fireworks in the sky, and you can grab the last rides of the night from these popular locations.
Just be warned, most of the time, if you are not already in these locations, cast members will not let you in or around the castle during fireworks displays for safety reasons.
For Harmonious in Epcot, spaces to watch the fireworks will quickly fill up. This fireworks show takes place over the lake that the World Showcase surrounds, so this area is the busiest as it has the best views.
We recommend finding a spot at the railings at least 45 minutes to an hour before the fireworks start if you want to have a good spot. However, if there is not a large group of you, you could be lucky to get a spot around half hour before the show begins.
Summary
To summarize, there are many fireworks and nighttime spectaculars at Disney World. Most fireworks displays throughout the year begin at 9:00 pm, but these times are subject to change due to bad weather or special events. Times may be earlier during winter months when it gets dark earlier.
Shows like Fantasmic in Hollywood Studios are often on twice a day, around 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm, whereas EPCOT fireworks tend to begin between 9:00 pm and 9:45 pm.
If you are hoping to catch some Disney magic and watch the fireworks, then it is worth checking the daily schedule for fireworks and nightly entertainment to confirm the show times available during your visit.
For more about family travel, check out these posts:
Which Disney World Park Is Best?
Disney World Itinerary Planning: What You Need to Know
Tips and Tricks for Disney World
Walt Disney World Vacation Planner
Games To Play In Line At Disney
How Many Days For Disney World?
Disney Genie Plus Review
