A lucky first timer

[Kevin Stringer]

Hi all.

Our first visit to California (and so Disneyland, obviously) is starting on August 4th and we are in the hands of our good friend Susan from Tulsa who is going to join us for part of our vacation and show us the sights of LA.

Being the wonderful person she is, she also moved heaven and earth to get us 10.30pm seats for the Fantasmic Dessert Buffet on Thursday 18th of August. This looks like so much fun. The only problem could be if they have to send out for more desserts after my wife and children have helped themselves to all that is on offer!

Having been to WDW 10 times I am very much looking forward to seeing the differences in the 2 places, but also to visiting Walt's original park. At 50 years old, it's practically an antique. (In a good way, of course).

Anyway, if you are watching Fantasmic at 10.30pm on 18th August, look up to the balcony and try to spot a very smug and happy Englishman, along with a very smug and happy wife and children. Give us a wave.
I may even deign to give a regal wave back.

Kev

 

[boosmom96]

Congratulations Kevin!!!
We'll be down there next week and I was also lucky enough to score balcony seats for Fantasmic! We'll be there a week from tonight for the 10:30 show as well. My daughters and grandsons are also planning on eating everything in sight! My grandsons are betting who can eat the most!!
It sounds like you have the right attitude for a trip out here. I'm sure you'll fall in love with Walt's original!! We never get tired of it.
Have a great trip!

 

[phyllis1966]

Hi Kevin -

We recently returned from our first trip to California and DL, after having been to WDW 5 times in the past. We loved it and I'm sure you and your family will, too.

P.S. I've enjoyed reading your WDW trip reports in the past!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Enjoy yourselves! We have done the Fantasmic Buffet twice and it is truly a special treat. Don't worry about eating all the desserts, they have so much even my family of sweet tooths couldn't clean them out. Have fun!

 

[Michelle2]

We are hoping to get the Fantasmic Dessert buffet balcony seating in September...have a great time, and please post a report when you get back! Disneyland will always be my favorite park.

 

[Tooneric]

Hi Kevin,

We're going Aug 3-5th to DL. We've taken the kids to WDW 10 times but never to DL. I was there a long, long time ago! What is the Fantasmic Dessert Buffet? I guess it's rather late to be booking it.

 

[SusanEllen]

Tooneric,
I'm Susan, the Happy Booker, who secured the Dessert Balcony tickets for Kevin and family--and me! There are only 21 seats on the balcony and the cost is $56 per person (looks like a day's admission, doesn't it?). Tickets can be bought 30 days from the viewing date and apparently are snapped up pretty fast when they become available. But you never know, it would only cost you a call to find out. Here's the number that handles special events tickets at Disneyland. (714)781-4400. Good luck.

 

[SusanEllen]

Tooneric,
Here's a link with information about Fantasmic special viewing and includes the dessert balcony. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland-california/disneyland-fantasmic.htm
Disneyland's Fantasmic is not staged in a separate area as it at WDW. It's performed on the Rivers of America right in the middle of the park. Fascinating to watch the area being converted from the place where boats and barges moved guests all day to the Fantasmic show place. It's like a techie's idea of a pre-show. There is no seating for Disneyland's Fantasmic and you'll need to be prepared for staking out a good viewing spot an hour or more before the show. I've watched it that way a dozen times or more and enjoyed it more than any other Disney presentation anywhere. I am, however, looking forward with delight to the balcony seating--an elevated view, a chair, surrounded by friends, and all the desserts I care to eat. Oh, my.

 

[boosmom96]

Tooneric,
I'm Susan, the Happy Booker, who secured the Dessert Balcony tickets for Kevin and family--and me! There are only 51 seats on the balcony and the cost is $56 per person (looks like a day's admission, doesn't it?). Tickets can be bought 30 days from the viewing date and apparently are snapped up pretty fast when they become available. But you never know, it would only cost you a call to find out. Here's the number that handles special events tickets at Disneyland. (714)781-4400. Good luck.

The balcony seats are snapped up within 5 minutes of the phone lines opening. (There are only 21 seats on the balcony.) I have heard that it is sometimes possible to get the river side reserved seating with a call of less than 30 days. The tickets must be paid for when you call and they are non-refundable unless the show is cancelled. I agree with SusanEllen, it's certainly worth a call.
Good luck!!

 

[BrerMama]

Oh, I just started browsing this board tentatively planning a trip for June 2006, and saw this post. Love your trip reports, Kevin! Can't wait to hear about your Disneyland experience!

 

[SusanEllen]

Boosmom,
Thanks for the clarification. 50-something sounded like too many chairs for that little balcony to me, too. Bet the figure I read was a total of both viewings of the night.

Tooneric,
About the riverside viewing in front of the Haunted Mansion, I have sat there and want to tell you that the view isn't any better than a lot of places along the river--and I don't think as good as the view from the bridge over the Pirates ride entrance and those viewing places are FREE. If you do decide to get these tickets (I think they're called Fantasmic Premium Seating)you would get some perks: You get to show up at the last minute, so you could continue park exploring and not have to give up 60-90 minutes staking out a prime viewing spot; You get to sit down with a little elbow room; You have a guarantee that there wouldn't be some one taller than you standing in front of you and blocking your view; and You get a boxed dessert. We have always enjoyed our FREE view and it's never been much of a problem standing still, holding our spots at the end of a busy Disney day--but then we were two tired adults with no kids. Wanted to share some "facts" so you could decide if it the cost is worth it to you.

 

[caimakale]

Kevin,

We will be up there two days after you on the 20th. We will be in the park on the 18th however, so maybe if my kids aren't dead tired at 10:30 we will stop by and say hi.

I tried to get the seats for the 19th, but they only had 3 and I needed 4. So we got them for the 20th, which will work fine for us.

Have a blast!

 

[ibouncetoo]

KEVIN! Welcom to our side of the country. I look forward to reading about your California adventures I'll be about a week behind you....getting a last Hurrah out of my annual pass.

How many days of your vacation will be at DL/DCA? What's on your must see list? Where do you plan to dine? Inquiring minds want to know.

My one 'don't miss' dinning suggestion: Breakfast at Storytellers Cafe

 

[underdesea]

Kevin, my DH and I also have balcony seating for the 10:30 showing on Aug. 18. Can't believe we'll be in company with a disboards celeb family ! Have always loved your Very British Trip Reports.

This will be our first trip to DL as well. We're really excited to see where it all began...

 

[DLovinFam]

Have a wonderful time!! We just found out this morning from Vacation Planning that we got balcony seating for the Fantasmic! Dessert Buffet for Aug. 26th at 9:00!!

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Kevin, my DH and I also have balcony seating for the 10:30 showing on Aug. 18. Can't believe we'll be in company with a disboards celeb family ! Have always loved your Very British Trip Reports.

This will be our first trip to DL as well. We're really excited to see where it all began...

Woohoo! I'm a celeb! The only thing I haven't yet worked out is what I've done to attain celebrity status. Does drinking beer count? Do I get automatic entry to Club 33?
Looking forward to meeting fellow Dis'ers in California.

Ibouncetoo - We are spending 6 nights in LA. The first 3 will be in West Hollwood where the girls want to do the glitzy Hollywoody things. We then have 3 nights at Paradise Pier.
I know we are eating in Napa Rose and Blue Bayou, but we are flexible apart from that.
I am really looking forward to rides that I have not done before, especially Indiana Jones and Soarin', but I'm also interested in seeing how things like the Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain compare to their WDW versions.

I can't believe it's nearly here!

Kev