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

[bcrook]

I know, I agree.

But I believe it's actually 8,200, not 7,000. The amphitheater expanded their seating 2 or 3 years ago.

Well 1200 isn't that many more....

 

[Robo]

One of the "rules" of WDW is that it is better to arrive far too early than to arrive one minute too late.

Whomever is conjuring up these bizarre ideas has no idea what it takes
to compensate for the over-crowding that their own presentations create.

Parades.
Fireworks.
Shows.
Evening spectaculars.

Now (if we are to believe the information provided at the link,) someone (or someones) in charge want to attempt to stop those who have discovered ways to effectively compensate for these shortcomings.

Showing up EARLY is about the only option guests have at their disposal.

 

[Nancyg56]

One of the "rules" of WDW is that it is better to arrive far too early than to arrive one minute too late.

Whomever is conjuring up these bizarre ideas has no idea what it takes
to compensate for the over-crowding that their own presentations create.

Parades.
Fireworks.
Shows.
Evening spectaculars.

Now (if we are to believe the information provided at the link,) someone (or someones) in charge want to attempt to stop those who have discovered ways to effectively compensate for these shortcomings.

Showing up EARLY is about the only option guests have at their disposal.

The advice I give more than any other information is that people give themselves enough time. Time to get to ADR's, time to get to your FP attractions, and time to stake out your spot at Parades and shows. I don't care what "new and improved" systems Disney tries to implement, people who have spent one trip stretching and bobbing and weaving as they tried to view a show or parade willl never let that happen again. They will get to the prearranged waiting area early. And ten minutes before start time, sitting in the best spot possible, there will be no amount of prodding from any late bloomer that will make then move down and get parked behind someone who blocks the view. Nope.

I think that when Disney hires people to rework their crowd problems they really need to decide ahead of time if they are going to stick to the programs they are selling to guests. AS I said before, I am not a FP+ Debbie Downer, and i was able to make it work for me, but FP+ means a LOT of pre planning. Disney said this is good. People make lodging decisions based on those precious extra 30 days head start on FP. Now Disney wants to make a change, but just in one park and just for one show, so toss your plans out the window all you preplanners!

No. This will create a logistical nightmare for guests and CM's alike. If Disney wants to solve the crowding issues, they need to find a way to open those doors early and give folks something to do while they wait. If you ask me, that solves the problem, and if they are creative, people will spend money while they wait.

 

[Angel Ariel]

At Disneyland getting a section FP early in the day seemed to work well... But of course that is based on the old legacy touring strategy. And that worked well all around for me. So is this a sign that WDW is ready to go back to arrive early first come first serve? Lol

Fantasmic is also a disconnected FP in DLR, so getting one when you get to the park doesn't affect your ability to choose ride FP (as is WOC in DCA).

IMO, they need to find a way to "disconnect" the evening shows from MM+...make it so that you can book a FP+ for them (maybe not as far in advance as everything else?), but that it doesn't count against your FP+ allotment for the morning/afternoon.

 

[jas80]

There are no "seats" at the Fantasmic! theater.
There are only long, backless aluminum benches.
Attempting to assign "seat numbers" (or the like) to those benches is (again) lunacy!

You've never sat in the bleachers at a baseball park?

 

[Robo]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...-allocated-seating-at-fantasmic-next-week.htm

The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater has seating for over 7000 guests, and the show's popularity frequently sees guests arriving a couple of hours before show time.
Disney is keen to reduce the pre-arrival time to around 30 minutes maximum, and it appears that the tests are designed to look at different methods of eliminating seating anxiety and reassuring guests that their position in the show will be available without arriving hours before the show.

OK.

Our Party of 4 arrives at F! theater gates at 8:30 for a 9PM show.
(pre-arrival time to around 30 minutes maximum)

Our Party of 4 encounters appox. 2,500 other guests arriving at the same time.
It is now 30 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.

Our Party of 4 does not know where to find seats Poca J-24, Poca J-25, Poca J-26, Poca J-27.
So, they wait behind appox. 2,000 other guests who also do not know where to find their specific seats for a CM to take them there, or at least explain where to go.
By now, there are about 4,200 guests waiting to get to their seats.
It is now 20 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.

Our Party of 4 does now has been told where the Poca(hontas) SECTION is in the theater, but they can't quite get there due to 3,587 guests in front of them.

Also, they don't know exactly where seats Poca J-24, Poca J-25, Poca J-26, Poca J-27 are, in the Poca(hontas) section.
It is now 15 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
5,900 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.


Our Party of 4 now reaches the Poca(hontas) SECTION is in the theater, and they walk down the aisle/steps to locate row J.
When they do find row J, there are already about 30 guests sitting in that row.
They try to side-slip by 20, or so other guests to find seats 24, 25, 26, 27.
No room.
Somebody is in the wrong seats.
They must side-slip by the 20, or so other guests back out to the aisle/steps.

It is now 10 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
6,900 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.

Three members of Our Party of 4 stay put, clogging the aisle/steps while
Member One goes to find a CM.
Member One spies a harried CM (who is helping about 15 other guests at the time.)
Member One finally gets to ask CM.
CM says Our Group of Four is not in the Poca(hontas) section.

The Poca(hontas) section is one section over.
It is now 5 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
7,100 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.

Member One makes his way back down the aisle/steps.
Can't find the rest of the group.
7,100 guests are attempting to do The Wave with the requisite "WOOOOs."
Member One spies the rest of the group "WOOOing" at the bottom of the aisle/steps. (They were in the way, so they moved.
It is now 2 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
8,000 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.

Our Party of 4 trudges back up to row J, turns to the next section which IS the correct Poca(hontas) section.
Row J is full. Someone is in the wrong seats.

SHOW-TIME!
Lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud.

Lunacy.

 

[mom2rtk]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...-allocated-seating-at-fantasmic-next-week.htm



OK.

Our Party of 4 arrives at F! theater gates at 8:30 for a 9PM show.
(pre-arrival time to around 30 minutes maximum)

Our Party of 4 encounters appox. 2,500 other guests arriving at the same time.
It is now 30 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.

Our Party of 4 does not know where to find seats Poca J-24, Poca J-25, Poca J-26, Poca J-27.
So, they wait behind appox. 2,000 other guests who also do not know where to find their specific seats for a CM to take them there, or at least explain where to go.
By now, there are about 4,200 guests waiting to get to their seats.
It is now 20 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.

Our Party of 4 does now has been told where the Poca(hontas) SECTION is in the theater, but they can't quite get there due to 3,587 guests in front of them.

Also, they don't know exactly where seats Poca J-24, Poca J-25, Poca J-26, Poca J-27 are, in the Poca(hontas) section.
It is now 15 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
5,900 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.


Our Party of 4 now reaches the Poca(hontas) SECTION is in the theater, and they walk down the aisle/steps to locate row J.
When they do find row J, there are already about 30 guests sitting in that row.
They try to side-slip by 20, or so other guests to find seats 24, 25, 26, 27.
No room.
Somebody is in the wrong seats.
They must side-slip by the 20, or so other guests back out to the aisle/steps.

It is now 10 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
6,900 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.

Three members of Our Party of 4 stay put, clogging the aisle/steps while
Member One goes to find a CM.
Member One spies a harried CM (who is helping about 15 other guests at the time.)
Member One finally gets to ask CM.
CM says Our Group of Four is not in the Poca(hontas) section.

The Poca(hontas) section is one section over.
It is now 5 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
7,100 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.

Member One makes his way back down the aisle/steps.
Can't find the rest of the group.
7,100 guests are attempting to do The Wave with the requisite "WOOOOs."
Member One spies the rest of the group "WOOOing" at the bottom of the aisle/steps. (They were in the way, so they moved.
It is now 2 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
8,000 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.

Our Party of 4 trudges back up to row J, turns to the next section which IS the correct Poca(hontas) section.
Row J is full. Someone is in the wrong seats.

SHOW-TIME!
Lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud.

Lunacy.

So don't keep us guessing, Robo. Are you saying you don't think it will work?

And for the record, I don't think it will either. I'm not exactly sure why anyone thought it would.

I wonder how many CM's it's taking to apply seat number decals to 9K spots today. Cha ching.

 

[39CINDERELLA]

NO WAY! I do not want to end up in front or middle. I always sit in back.

 

[Redcon1]

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

I agree with this: sections, not specific seats. That way, the OP could have her spot in the back if she needs to leave and not taking up a seat near the front that someone else might prefer.

I've been to DL for the WOC show and the section assignment seems to work out well. You don't have to get a FP for it first thing, there's still enough available later in the day. You just have a view further back, but still can attend the show.

Actually, with all the crazy decisions Disney has made in the past few years, this one doesn't bother me too much.

 

[larryz]

I think people would just move. If there was no ticket, CMs would then have to walk around with mobile readers and scan ticket media over and over again.

Unless.....they installed a sensor in every seat that read your magicbands/card and if they didn't match up red lights started flashing or the CMs would get a message on their iPads. Or maybe a Mickey head to sit on. If you are in the right place it turns green. Blue? Keep moving.

I like that. Clean and simple.

"Ka-ching!" says WDW's RFID contractor...

 

[ParrotBill]

Robo's got this figured out .. that's exactly what's going to happen! This is an awful idea and will create a line at the Kiosks and a new specific timed thing you have to do in the day to go get seats.

 

[larryz]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...-allocated-seating-at-fantasmic-next-week.htm



OK.

Our Party of 4 arrives at F! theater gates at 8:30 for a 9PM show.
(pre-arrival time to around 30 minutes maximum)

Our Party of 4 encounters appox. 2,500 other guests arriving at the same time.
It is now 30 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.

Our Party of 4 does not know where to find seats Poca J-24, Poca J-25, Poca J-26, Poca J-27.
So, they wait behind appox. 2,000 other guests who also do not know where to find their specific seats for a CM to take them there, or at least explain where to go.
By now, there are about 4,200 guests waiting to get to their seats.
It is now 20 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.

Our Party of 4 does now has been told where the Poca(hontas) SECTION is in the theater, but they can't quite get there due to 3,587 guests in front of them.

Also, they don't know exactly where seats Poca J-24, Poca J-25, Poca J-26, Poca J-27 are, in the Poca(hontas) section.
It is now 15 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
5,900 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.


Our Party of 4 now reaches the Poca(hontas) SECTION is in the theater, and they walk down the aisle/steps to locate row J.
When they do find row J, there are already about 30 guests sitting in that row.
They try to side-slip by 20, or so other guests to find seats 24, 25, 26, 27.
No room.
Somebody is in the wrong seats.
They must side-slip by the 20, or so other guests back out to the aisle/steps.

It is now 10 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
6,900 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.

Three members of Our Party of 4 stay put, clogging the aisle/steps while
Member One goes to find a CM.
Member One spies a harried CM (who is helping about 15 other guests at the time.)
Member One finally gets to ask CM.
CM says Our Group of Four is not in the Poca(hontas) section.

The Poca(hontas) section is one section over.
It is now 5 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
7,100 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.

Member One makes his way back down the aisle/steps.
Can't find the rest of the group.
7,100 guests are attempting to do The Wave with the requisite "WOOOOs."
Member One spies the rest of the group "WOOOing" at the bottom of the aisle/steps. (They were in the way, so they moved.
It is now 2 minutes to lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud, show-time.
8,000 guests are "somewhere" in the F! theater.

Our Party of 4 trudges back up to row J, turns to the next section which IS the correct Poca(hontas) section.
Row J is full. Someone is in the wrong seats.

SHOW-TIME!
Lights-out, pitch-black, super-loud.

Lunacy.

Very prescient! Perhaps you could map that out for us so we can visualize the fun...

 

[Robo]

Disney should be absolutely thrilled that there are guests willing to show up an hour or more early for F! That way they can seat the massive theater over a longer time and avoid the "ground-rush" of trying to do so within the last 30 min. before the show starts.

 

[Princess Mulan]

As always, Robo is the voice of reason.

 

[cgattis]

So don't keep us guessing, Robo. Are you saying you don't think it will work?

And for the record, I don't think it will either. I'm not exactly sure why anyone thought it would.

I wonder how many CM's it's taking to apply seat number decals to 9K spots today. Cha ching.

Just think how much easier the next expansion will be...they just go apply new numbers to the seats!! If you think that doesn't happen, you've never been to Neyland Stadium.

And for the PP who mentioned those whose seats require more seat .... I say, at least I didn't pay $100 for that show only to find that my seat has been covered. I've seen this happen MANY times at sporting events and, yes, it does provoke tons of confrontation. And if you've ever seen a post regarding saving pool chairs, you'll know that the seatless guest will find themselves on their own to handle it.

 

[mhconley]

I can see this will not be a popular opinion but here it is...

The only way I've seen Fantasmic was at Disneyland using the Fantasmic dessert package. No way am I going to to grab a spot and hour or more before a performance. I think these tests are a great idea.

We're doing Fantasmic this trip using a Brown Derby dinner package. I think even waiting 30-45 minutes to get into a show is nuts. I think it's fantastic that Disney is looking at ways to get people out of these insane lines...

Wish they'd just do assigned seating via FP+ and be done with it.

Martin

 

[GillianP1301]

I don't hate this idea, as long as the FP is no linked to the others. I always get the Fantasmic Dining Package because I want to bybass the having to line up crazy early and that works for me just fine. I think the assigned seating may help, but I don't think they need to go down to the seat level. First off, your average person really isn't that swift, so lots of people will struggle with finding their seat, as Robo so nicely illustrated lol. And I don't really see the benefit to being that specific. I think rows would be okay or even sections, if they took the existing sections and split them upper/lower so that there would be some advantage to pulling the FP sooner than somebody else, which kinda replaces the standing in line for an hour.

I can't wait to hear how the testing goes. I'm not so sure I'd want to be trying it during the specific seat night though.

 

[ELSA711]

So would this be in addition to those who have dining package. We always do the dining package now after my first experience at Fantasmic with small children. This year, I couldn't find dinner times I liked so I was thinking of using FP+ for Fantasmic.
Can one person in the party use FP+ for Fantasmic but not the rest of the party? Is there an assigned section for FP+ like with dining package?

 

[Robo]

So would this be in addition to those who have dining package. We always do the dining package now after my first experience at Fantasmic with small children. This year, I couldn't find dinner times I liked so I was thinking of using FP+ for Fantasmic.


1. Can one person in the party use FP+ for Fantasmic but not the rest of the party?

2. Is there an assigned section for FP+ like with dining package?

1. If you mean can one person get a FP+ and "bring along" the rest of a group, then, no.

2. Well...
What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

If you DO get a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater)
or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)
So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.

Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.
There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.)
On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.

As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.
Even with a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.
On busy nights, the CMs can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.

There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Map Below-

Arrows indicate the center of the seating.
Shaded areas:

(First or Only F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red= Dining Package Reserved
Blue= FP+ Reserved
Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.

(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved
(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

 

[ELSA711]

1. If you mean can one person get a FP+ and "bring along" the rest of a group, then, no.
2. Well...
What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

If you DO get a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater)

or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)

So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.



Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.



There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they

issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.)

On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.



As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.

Even with a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.

On busy nights, the CMs can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time,

and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.

There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

-------------------------------------------------------------------



Map Below-

Arrows indicate the center of the seating.

Shaded areas:

(First or Only F! performance of the evening)

Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating

Red= Dining Package Reserved

Blue= FP+ Reserved

Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.



(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)

Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating

Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved

(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

Thank You!
That is what I wanted to know. My fam wants TSMM as their tier 1 FP+, I want Fantasmic, they are willing to wait in line so I'll go sit without them, get my beer and enjoy my break while DH wrestles in line with all the kids.
Wasn't going to try and take them with me. They had the choice