If you're impressed by the regular nightly fireworks at Disney, then you'll be blown away by the Fourth of July fireworks show at Magic Kingdom.
In addition to fireworks, the Magic Kingdom enhances the experience with patriotic narration and perfectly timed music. Magic Kingdom typically displays the Fourth of July fireworks on both July 3 and July 4. We like to visit on the 3rd because it tends to be less busy.
We started our July 4 celebration by visiting Disney's Polynesian resort for a quick bite to eat at Captain Cooks. We decided to split a Hawaiian Flatbread Pizza and a side of fries:
The flatbread was a whole wheat crust which my husband didn't care for at all. I guess it was OK for the Hawaiian pizza, but I think I'd like it a lot less on the pepperoni variety. The sauce was very light - just about non-existent. The ham and pineapple topping was OK too, but very tiny (chopped) pieces. I wasn't pleased that it also included red onion. One of my pet peeves is not disclosing all ingredients in a menu description. There was no mention of the onion in either the paper menu we were handed at the door nor the self-serve on-screen ordering system.
The side order of fries was miserly. At at cost of $2.50, each individual fry cost us about 10 cents each. Captain Cooks didn't used to offer fries. We joked that maybe they put a Fry Baby back there and could only cook two dozen fries at a time.
After pizza, we enjoyed the Magic Kingdom "Celebrate America - A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky" fireworks show. My favorite part is always the grand finale:
When we received our most recent SeaWorld Pass Member Newsletter, we thought SeaWorld was actually being smart about the Fourth of July by offering their special July 4 fireworks on several nights. Instead, SeaWorld tricked us.
Read from the Pass Member e-mail snippet at left to see if you agree that the wording indicates that the special "Fourth of July" fireworks would be held on three nights: July 2, 3 and 4.
It seemed clear as day to us, and it made sense. Since most people flock to Disney for Fourth of July Fireworks, why not celebrate early in the weekend to collect on parking fees and in-park purchases. SeaWorld even offered Pass Members a special 20% dining discount that included free dessert. (See what we thought about our meal from SeaWorld's Smokehouse.)
Just a few nights earlier, we went to the Reflections Fireworks Show. We had a great time and looked forward to an even better show for the Fourth of July celebration. The July 2 date fit perfectly with our plans to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks on July 3 and Epcot on July 4.
Imagine our disappointment, as the pre-show host announced to guests (just minutes before the fireworks were about to start) "be sure to come back on July 4 for our special Fourth of July Celebration". What?... we couldn't believe our ears. Did we mess up on the date?
Being the techno-geeks that we are, we started up our iPhone and re-checked the Pass Member E-Mail. Nope, we didn't mess up. SeaWorld tricked us. They tricked us into coming to the park on a holiday weekend to spend more money and to see a show we already saw. Not cool, SeaWorld. Not cool...
Coincidentally, our SeaWorld annual passes are set to expire next month in August. We are very unlikely to renew and instead will probably give our money to Universal Studios. Between our experiences of hit and miss food at SeaWorld, the change in the Shamu show, the discontinuation of the beer samples, and this recent "miscommunication", it seems best that we parts ways with SeaWorld... at least for a while.
For a period of time last year, SeaWorld had improved its food so much that we began to forgive some of its other shortcomings. Hopefully, they'll come around again - and soon.
If nothing else, we'll go back just to watch the mime from the Clyde and Seamore show. That performance alone can be worth the price of admission. Seriously... get to the SeaLion & Otter Stadium early to watch the mime pre-show. Even better - see the mime in SeaLions Tonite show. My favorite for a good laugh.
