Everyone packs onto Main Street 45 minutes early and ends up craning over phones. There are better spots — some inside the parks, some you don't even need a ticket for. Here's where the people who've been many times actually stand.
The show now projects down the length of Main Street, U.S.A., so the front-of-castle hub gives you the full experience — fireworks plus projections. The catch is that the prime hub spots fill up well over an hour before showtime, and on busy nights there isn't enough room for everyone who wants in.
If it's your first time and you want the complete projection effect, claim a spot on the hub grass near Casey's Corner around an hour out. If you've seen it once already, the smarter move is behind the castle in Fantasyland, near the Prince Charming Regal Carousel — a calmer, genuinely lovely angle on the show that most people never think to use, and steps from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for a near-walk-on straight after.
EPCOT's show is staged low around the World Showcase Lagoon, so unlike Magic Kingdom it's hard to catch from neighbouring resorts. The upside: with the entire lagoon to spread out around, crowds are far more forgiving than the Magic Kingdom hub. Anywhere on the promenade with a clear water view works.
The bridge connecting EPCOT's International Gateway entrance to Disney's BoardWalk gives a solid free view of the fireworks portion — grab a spot 20-30 minutes ahead. Inside the park, the stretch between the United Kingdom and Canada pavilions is a reliable, less-mobbed choice.
Hollywood Studios runs Fantasmic! — a stadium show rather than a fireworks spectacular, so arrive 45 minutes early for a seat, or look for the dining packages that include reserved seating. Animal Kingdom doesn't do a nighttime fireworks show; the park is built around early closes, so plan your evenings elsewhere.
The shows run nightly but can be delayed or cancelled in storms — common on summer evenings. Don't panic if it's drizzling at 8pm; Florida storms usually pass fast, and a delayed show often means a thinner crowd. On party nights (the Halloween and Christmas events) the regular show is replaced by a special one and the park closes early to non-party guests, so check the calendar if a particular show matters to you.