Fantasmic Dessert Viewing

[disneylandgeeksx4]

Is it really worth paying the extra money to see Fanasmic in the reserved seating with dessert? We will be going from the 2nd of Sept thru the 6th. We are aware of the crowds for the 2nd and 3rd and DL informed me it will be showing on the 6th as well. We went this time 2 years ago and could barley see the show. I have a 2y/o and 6 y/o with my DW as well. We're considering seeing it just for the experience, but it's hard pill to swallow (paying extra for something I already paid for). So can all you DIS vets give me your feed-back
Thanks...

 

[Master Mason]

Personally I would never pay that much for it, that would be about $180 bucks for your family, and that would buy at least 2 nice dinners, not worth it to me. If you want to see the show, then you should just post up for it a couple of hours ahead, take a blanket and mark your space, and then you and your DW could switch off and take the kids somewhere while you wait.

But thats just my opinion, many here will tell you it is compleately worth it, I guess it is just in how you value your time and money

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

With two adults in the party, one can stake out a spot and the other can occupy the kids. In this situation, no, I don't think it's worth it to spend all that money for the reserved seating. I did the Fantasmic dessert balcony seating last year with my DS because he is autistic and would not have been able to tolerate sitting in one place as long as we would have had to to get a decent viewing spot, not to mention how close people crowd in, he wouldn't have been able to handle that either. It was expensive but it was really our only way to enjoy the show since it was just the two of us. On my next trip to DL in November, I will have DH with me and one of us will stake out a spot and the other will stay with the kids. With 4 of us around him to kind of buffer him from the crowds, we can make sure nobody gets too close to DS 10 that can't handle that much close contact.

 

[farmfresh]

We always do it, because although its expensive, its nothing compared with the whole trip costs. Although,my kids were a little bit older (4 and 6) when we started (if your two year old is anything like mine were, s/he will flake out in either place!) Your six year old will really beneift.

But as an earlier post says, it depends on what you value. I think my holiday time is rare, and therefore especially valuable (defiintely worth a lot more than my hourly work rate!!!) That means sitting on a blanket instead of doing what I want is a cost too. That's why I don;t think too much about it being something I have already paid for. In my mind, I'm paying more to get a better holiday, ( and , as you mentioned) a better view and therefore I don't think too much either about how good the dessert box and drinks are.
So if cost is not an issue, and you'd really rather do this than something else, go for it nad enjoy it.

 

[XTinabell]

We didn't think it was worth it. True you don't have to sit and wait, but you still need to show up really early to be the first to check in to make sure you can see, otherwise you'll be sitting behind either a pillar, someone's head or a partial view of someone's head, pillar and fence.

It was nice to try it once, but it was way over priced for a chair and box of cookies. And a couple sitting behind us were very disappointed and left in the middle of the show because they couldn't see. But like I said, I am glad I tried it once (will never do it again) but then again we were only paying for two.

 

[disneylandgeeksx4]

Thanks for your opinions, we're still unsure. XTinabell, has given me some food for thought. I would really hate to pay the price and still have a bad viewing of the show. Is it possible to pay the price and still have a bad viewing? Keep in mind last time I went I had my DD on my shoulders for an hour b/c she would've been mowed over and not seen the show and my wife was stuck in the back with our sleeping DD in the stroller section.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

I did it once, and like XTinabell said, I'm glad I tried it once (although there's only one of me to pay for!), but I wouldn't do it again. My view was ok, but the dessert was very average. I wanted to get the balcony seating, but wasn't able to. I think those desserts were much better. I wanted to try for balcony for my trip this week, but then they stopped it, so I did the Segway tour instead. That was AWESOME!

For Fantasmic, I did find a seat for the 10:30 show on Monday night, with only about 15 minutes left. It turned out I was in a standing section, and my feet were killing me, so I asked a little boy in the next section if I could sit behind him where there was a little spot, and he said ok, so I did get a pretty good seat.

 

[XTinabell]

Thanks for your opinions, we're still unsure. XTinabell, has given me some food for thought. I would really hate to pay the price and still have a bad viewing of the show. Is it possible to pay the price and still have a bad viewing? Keep in mind last time I went I had my DD on my shoulders for an hour b/c she would've been mowed over and not seen the show and my wife was stuck in the back with our sleeping DD in the stroller section.

hm well, too be honest with you, people that had small kids had their children on their laps and they seemed very happy. It is possible to pay and not get a great view, dh and I were the second people to check in and we had one their best views and still part of my view was blocked by a pillar but I think as long as you're the first to check in, you'll get decent seating. It may be worth it for small children though as people aren't pushing you to get your spot or running over your kids...and the treats are very kid friendly...

 

[MKKplus2]

That's why we pay for it. We don't have to worry about saving seats or the crush after the show. We usually do balcony and this will be our first trip trying out riverside. I like that we'll get a box that the desserts come in and can take the box with the uneaten desserts. In the past we've never paid for my DD as she was under 3 and so long as she stayed in our lap was free, which meant that we would spend time holding/occupying her rather than enjoying as many desserts as possible. This year we're paying for her though, she just made 3 so we'll be there.
Edit: We've always lucked out and got front row seats at balcony though so our view was never obstructed. Hopefully I'll check us in in time to grab good seats. Actually so long as my DD gets a good one I dont mind one thats somewhat obstructed.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Who wouldn't pay $60 for a box of cookies? You'd be crazy not to.

What a deal!!!!

 

[jemilah]

We did the balcony in Feb. and it was wonderful. We were treated like royalty and it was so nice to relax during the show. I think every one should try it once. To tell the truth I may never do it again , too much ride time lost and thats important to my sons , but it was a wonderful experience. worht every penny.

 

[keishashadow]

Is this the only option to get a "real" seat for Fantasmic @ DL?

(i've got back issues & can't plop down on a blanket for any period of time)...if so i've got to work it into the budget

 

[DisQueen]

We did the blanket thing on Thursday night. I brought a thin picnic blanket and Grammie brought a thin thermal blanket. We put one on top of the other to mark our spot. The thermal blanket reflected the warmth of the cobblestones - quite nice. I staked out our spot at 7:00 for the 9:00 show. We had great seats - only one family (2adults and 2 very young kids) in front of us. Having the blanket was nice because we didn't get as crowded as some groups. We took turns having a couple people at the blanket and the others went on rides. About 30 minutes before the show, we got snacks and enjoyed the band that played. Plus, we found the people around us very friendly. We had great conversations with all the families around us - laughing and people watching. When F! was over, we stayed put and watched the fireworks. For the 5 of us, I prefer the blanket to spending more money just for a chair. It looked like the preferred seating area folks were gathering to their seats as early as we were. If I paid money for a show that's free, I would expect to walk up no more than 30 minutes before and have a great view.

 

[Master Mason]

Is this the only option to get a "real" seat for Fantasmic @ DL?

(i've got back issues & can't plop down on a blanket for any period of time)...if so i've got to work it into the budget

It is possible to get seats in the Riverbelle terrace where you can see, also if your going to get an ECV they have handicap areas. I don't know the extent of your back problems, but I know my sister uses an ECV she has a couple of titanium rods in her back.

 

[keishashadow]

It is possible to get seats in the Riverbelle terrace where you can see, also if your going to get an ECV they have handicap areas. I don't know the extent of your back problems, but I know my sister uses an ECV she has a couple of titanium rods in her back.

thanks for posting!

I don't use a ECV; very mobile. Just cannot sit w/o back support for any period of time. I do have a HC parking placard; but would hate to take the space from those who truly need it.

Wonder how early you need to arrive @ Riverbelle terrace (as in lingering over dinner would feel funny hogging up a table for hours; or is this standard practice?).

 

[jemilah]

I just cant sit still for that long to get seats on the ground. We try to do so much that losing so much time to waiting would drive my guys crazy. My back would kill me on the ground that long too.

 

[tink too]

I too am unsure about this - do you guys who are DL regulars think we'd need to book balcony seats during late May?

 

[Master Mason]

I too am unsure about this - do you guys who are DL regulars think we'd need to book balcony seats during late May?

The balcony seats are gone, they are revamping the gallary, so they don't have them any longer you only have the choice of the riverside seating. And If you want it, I think you need to book it.

Wonder how early you need to arrive @ Riverbelle terrace (as in lingering over dinner would feel funny hogging up a table for hours; or is this standard practice?).

I have never done it, but see people there all the time, so I would guess it is pretty standard.

 

[pumpkin5156]

thanks for posting!

I don't use a ECV; very mobile. Just cannot sit w/o back support for any period of time. I do have a HC parking placard; but would hate to take the space from those who truly need it.

Wonder how early you need to arrive @ Riverbelle terrace (as in lingering over dinner would feel funny hogging up a table for hours; or is this standard practice?).

This is what we do. It has always been just my DH and I, so it is easy to do this. We love the turkey sand. and the soups at the Riverbelle, so we plan a later dinner (7ish) and just hang out until Fantasmic. Now we live near DL, so it is no big deal for us to sit for 2 hours and not do anything. But when we took my little sisters, one of us stayed at the table, and the other adult took the kids for rides for about an hour, then we all came back and had a great view.

You cannot see the fireworks from this terrace though.

The CMs at the Riverbelle were making sure that people actually purchased good and were eating there. People were not allowed to just walk up and plop down with no food.

Bottom line: If you want to see Fantasmic, but don't want the reserved seats, you need to get there at least 2 hours in advance(This was the off season time). When we go in the summer, people stake out spots up to 4 hours in advance....crazy!

If you don't want to eat at Riverbelle, do the blanket idea 2 hours in advance, have one adult go get dinner from a CS, and all eat picnic style on your blanket. This is a better idea IMO, because you can stay right where you are and see the fireworks.

Have fun!

 

[keishashadow]

This is what we do. It has always been just my DH and I, so it is easy to do this. We love the turkey sand. and the soups at the Riverbelle, so we plan a later dinner (7ish) and just hang out until Fantasmic. Now we live near DL, so it is no big deal for us to sit for 2 hours and not do anything. But when we took my little sisters, one of us stayed at the table, and the other adult took the kids for rides for about an hour, then we all came back and had a great view.

You cannot see the fireworks from this terrace though.

The CMs at the Riverbelle were making sure that people actually purchased good and were eating there. People were not allowed to just walk up and plop down with no food.

Bottom line: If you want to see Fantasmic, but don't want the reserved seats, you need to get there at least 2 hours in advance(This was the off season time). When we go in the summer, people stake out spots up to 4 hours in advance....crazy!

If you don't want to eat at Riverbelle, do the blanket idea 2 hours in advance, have one adult go get dinner from a CS, and all eat picnic style on your blanket. This is a better idea IMO, because you can stay right where you are and see the fireworks.

Have fun!

i can't believe they let people sit @ a table for 4 hours , even if they bought food...however, when in Rome - thanks for the time-frame suggestions.