Allocated seating trial at Fantasmic***Now with another new twist, see page 15, #288***

[SaintsManiac]

I like the idea, but as Robo has pointed out, assigning a "seat" on a bench . . . maybe not the best idea. How exactly do you decide ahead of time how many people are going to fit on that bench.

The $4000 we pay for LSU season tickets disagrees with you.

 

[andyman8]

So instead of sitting for 30 minutes while munching on some snacks and laughing at the pre-show bantery, we get to stand for 30 minutes waiting our turn at a FP+ kiosk instead?

No thanks.

(I realize I exaggerate, but the last time I used a FP+ kiosk, there was only one group ahead of me, and it took them 10 minutes to decide what FP+s to book.)

Unfortunately, they've done away with the live pre-show. It's now just Disney songs sung by pop artists (mostly from the Disney Channel) supposedly selected by the "DJ" in the "Control Room" (lol not true). While I know many thought the two dudes were kinda annoying, it feels like it really has lost something.

Anyways, you bring up a good point about those dang kiosks. Look, I'm a very patient person, but to stand here pondering what works best for your family for 15 minutes is simply not courteous to the long line of guests waiting for that kiosk. It drives me bananas! It's the worst at DAK where you might actually be able to count the number of FP+ "kiosks" (there, they're actually just CMs with iPads) in the whole park on one hand. I understand the kiosk thing acting as a road bump and all to deter fourth FP+s but I think it's time they start letting people use the app to make those fourth FP+s.

With regard to this new Fantasmic! system, I'm curious if they're testing this out for Rivers of Light next year. No doubt, that show'll be popular, and my understanding is that much of the viewing for the show is via seating areas. I'd imagine this might work better there because they'll also supposedly be plenty of standing areas with great views around Discovery River to see the show as well. In that case, I'd like this better.

I'll also remind everyone that a few days after Fourth of July (so still a pretty crowded time of the year), I went to a FP+ kiosk less than an hour before the 9pm F! and got a FP+ for it, and this was not just luck. I've been able to get one any time I've tried. In fact it's usually one of the last FP+s left for DHS for the day.

 

[schoen]

Michigan Stadium manages to do it with 108,000+ people for home football games. MLB stadiums do it in their bleacher sections. There are lines painted and a number written on them. You get that space as your seat, just as if you get a certain amount of space in a real seat. People are acting as if it can't be done, and it is done ALL THE TIME.

Yes, but these are well lit stadiums that have long games and significantly staggered arrival times, naturally. Can you imagine if all of those people had to show up at the Big House at exactly 11:30 for a noon game? Nightmare. It would take until halftime to get everyone seated. they turn the lights off for for Fantasmic, and people who arrive late would be hard pressed to get to their seats safely. The people watching would have to constantly get up and down for folks to get to their seats, making the viewing experience no fun at all. For a sports event there is a long run time, so while it's annoying, you live with it.

Although, I suppose they do it for plays and whatnot all the time. At Broadway shows if you don't show up in time to get your seat, you miss the first act, or you wait until the show is lit properly to sit down. I suppose they would have to stop letting people in to the theater for fantasmic about five min before show starts? If they don't allow seating until 30 min prior? I think it would be a tight fit to get folks seated, and I would imagine it would destroy the sales of food and beverage/merchandise.

 

[MataHari22]

Who knows what will end up happening by the time my trip is here in November, hopefully, they will scrap this nonsense. This is the first time ever I've not booked the F! dinner package. My friend wanted to try Hollywood Brown Derby and I really don't think I'd be able to eat $56 worth of food to justify the cost. I think all I'll be able to eat is an appetizer and maybe dessert. So, IDK if I should just go ahead and wing it this year, like I was going to. I thought maybe I would try and go for a fourth FP+ for it. Or, if I should try and book the package. Maybe this year, I will just see how it goes, and if we cannot get a seat last minute, skip it and go see Osborne Lights earlier, since we've never seen those.

 

[larryz]

The $4000 we pay for LSU season tickets disagrees with you.

All that money and Coach still can't figure out the quarterback situation...

 

[SaintsManiac]

All that money and Coach still can't figure out the quarterback situation...

Direct snap to #7 every down hahahaha

 

[Stefecatzz]

I just read an article from another source about this test. I always wait for the 2nd show, whether it's just me or I'm with a small group. I never have an issue walking right up a few minutes before the show & getting a good seat. But to me, a good seat is one of the 1st rows. I don't mind the mist & like the view so it works well for me. The issue that I can see myself running into if this is implemented (and it sounds like some version of it will most likely be after the test) is getting assigned a seat or a row that is closer to the exit & too far away for me. I do understand the concern that the street gets crowded & it becomes kind of messy 1-2 hours before a show. So maybe it would work out better if they only used this system for the 1st show when they have 2?

I also saw someone mentioned here that it would be a disadvantage for those of us who park hop & get to DHS only a couple hours before the show just to see it to end the night. I agree that it would be a raw deal for us & I would probably not even bother doing that anymore & stay at Epcot or end the night at MK instead.

I actually feel a little disappointed about this idea b/c I've been a fan of most of the other changes they've made in the past couple of years. I suppose only time will tell what kind of outcome it will end up having.

 

[Planogirl]

How do you assign specific seats to a bench if they aren't painted on in some way? And will Disney have ushers readily available to handle when people inevitably decide to move to seats they prefer more?

This idea just seems unnecessarily complicated.

 

[Tomh]

Michigan Stadium manages to do it with 108,000+ people for home football games. MLB stadiums do it in their bleacher sections. There are lines painted and a number written on them. You get that space as your seat, just as if you get a certain amount of space in a real seat. People are acting as if it can't be done, and it is done ALL THE TIME.

The $4000 we pay for LSU season tickets disagrees with you.

Well then, I guess it can be done, and apparently at a larger scale than Disney needs to. Sign me up for a split chicken breast roasted, some mashed potatoes, and a large unsweetened iced tea. I'll be in seat 725

 

[ArwenMarie]

How do you assign specific seats to a bench if they aren't painted on in some way? And will Disney have ushers readily available to handle when people inevitably decide to move to seats they prefer more?

This idea just seems unnecessarily complicated.

I agree, I think the assigned seating is a terrible idea. All those hot and cranky people trying to figure out where they are supposed to sit and finding people in their seats and confronting each other

 

[salpoohfan]

I like the idea of assigned sections but not seats or rows. Fantasmic at DLR has gone to this system as well as for World of Color. Very convenient for both. A little different because you are around the lagoon rather than in the theater. At Disneyland people would "reserve" their spot with blankets for hours ahead of time. As early as 3 pm for the first show. Now that's lunacy IMHO

 

[Dan Murphy]

Unfortunately, they've done away with the live pre-show. It's now just Disney songs sung by pop artists (mostly from the Disney Channel) supposedly selected by the "DJ" in the "Control Room" (lol not true). While I know many thought the two dudes were kinda annoying, it feels like it really has lost something.....

Those guys are gone now too?

 

[Daisy62]

How will this work those with a family member that uses an ECV? We usually go in 30 min prior and we get seats at the top so my mom can pull her ECV in the handicap section and the other two of us sit on the bench right in front of her. Hope this doesn't change that.

 

[Missyrose]

Here's why I cannot for the life of me figure out how this will work: FP+ capacity. The system of using same-day FPs can clearly work, they do it for World of Color, it would be fairly similar. But how do you wrest away all those advanced-booking FP+ reservations from the DHS pool? That park cannot take that kind of FP+ capacity hit.

 

[JZCubed]

And how will the cluster-fudge be managed for people who arrive 'late' and start looking of their seats?

More ushers with flashlights disturbing the people who are already seated?

That's the point of filling in the sections one at a time - to limit the, "Pardon me. Excuse me. Pardon me. Excuse me," that comes from people climbing over others to get to their seats.

As to the Poster who suggested this is to give more times to shop and eat. What? The stores have very little that's new and HS has limited Quick Service near Fantasmic!

Lastly - lines at Kiosks may be long enough already - why add a few thousand more customers to those lines?

I'm glad we can afford the dining package.

And take notice - my family benefits from FP+.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They lost me at wanting to seat 7000 people in 30 minutes.

 

[Chimaera]

So this will put an end to hopping over to DHS for Fantasmic, unless you can book a seat at ANY kiosk as long as it's the day-of. I like the idea of avoiding using my 3rd FP for F! but if it takes away the option of hopping it'll be terrible especially given the current state of attractions at DHS.

 

[SmithSmith]

They lost me at wanting to seat 7000 people in 30 minutes.

I interpreted the article differently. It said:

Disney is keen to reduce the pre-arrival time to around 30 minutes maximum...​

I could be wrong, but I think "pre-arrival" is different from "arrival". I don't think the plan is to have all the guests show up at 7:30 for an 8:00 show. I think the plan is to not have guests show up at/or before 6:00 for an 8:00 show.

Not aimed towards you, but I also think the worries of only accessing this untethered Fantasmic! FP+ via kiosk are a bit premature. This is only a test. Who's to say, if implemented, it wouldn't be accessible via MDE?

 

[Robo]

So this will put an end to hopping over to DHS for Fantasmic, unless you can book a seat at ANY kiosk as long as it's the day-of. I like the idea of avoiding using my 3rd FP for F! but if it takes away the option of hopping it'll be terrible especially given the current state of attractions at DHS.

The way FP+ has been working currently for Fantasmic! on most days (nearly every day) is that guests don't need to book it in advance as one their 3 pre-chosen FP choices.
They offer so MANY FP+ for F! (I figure about 2700, or more, per performance) that guests can wait and pick up a FP+ late in the day, day-of at DHS (4th, 5th, maybe, 6th FP+ of the day.) I've been able to pick up a F! FP+ as I'm walking to the F! theater.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

The kiosk lines for FP+ are already insane as it is, this sounds to me like even longer lines. I really don't see how this is going to work. You'd have to be at the kiosk in the morning and then back later that night. Unless you're a commando park goer.