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

[mom2rtk]

Thanks Robo. That's what I get for trying to do 3 things at once.

 

[Planogirl]

Bauer, thanks for the report. This sounds a bit pointless to say the least.

 

[socrateze]

Isn't this like a legacy FP for F!?

That's what I thought when I saw what this new Fantasmic plan. I wonder if the old Legacy FP Kiosks are going to re-appear. Of course if this happens they'll have to come up with a new name, so they can fool guests into thinking this new system isn't Legacy Fast Pass. Maybe they can rename it "quick tic"

WillAustin Willing to walk across broken glass for WDW I love this! I agree, but only at the Poly!

 

[socrateze]

An announcement was made that the 10:30 show was full to capacity which I found to be impossible.
We got there and the theatre was only half full for the show (even when it started). So why the announcement of it being full to capacity was made was beyond me and confusing.

IMO, it's another of Disney's feeble attempts to force guests into using some type of reservation system. so stupid. I wonder if they allowed SB guests to be seated or if they were turned away.

 

[mom2rtk]

Bauer1168, since the theater was only half full, I'm curious if you saw people get up and move to different spots?

This whole thing just sounds ridiculous...... putting people through the hoops making them line up to get paper FP. I thought one of the great benefits of FP+ was that it saved all those trees? Then the announcement that it was full? I'd be steaming mad if we left the park after hearing it was full only to find this thread today and see I could have gotten more for my admission price last night. I'd insist that they comp me a ticket to come back and see the show.

 

[Robo]

IMO, it's another of Disney's feeble attempts to force guests into using some type of reservation system. so stupid. I wonder if they allowed SB guests to be seated or if they were turned away.

Bauer reported that Disney made announcements that this F! performance was "full to capacity."

We watched the Frozen Fireworks then headed to the theatre (10pm). An announcement was made that the 10:30 show was full to capacity which I found to be impossible.
We got there and the theatre was only half full for the show (even when it started). So why the announcement of it being full to capacity was made was beyond me and confusing.

I'm going to assume that this is the method they chose to discourage any standby guests from trying to enter the theater
during this test.

 

[cleverclovers]

Ever wonder about the allotted seat space for benches? In my experience, if you have the bottom the size of a two year old you might fit within your allotted space.

 

[andyman8]

This is just ridiculous.

 

[ArwenMarie]

This whole thing just sounds ridiculous...... putting people through the hoops making them line up to get paper FP. I thought one of the great benefits of FP+ was that it saved all those trees?

This is what I don't get. Are we prebooking, or are we running around for pieces of paper? Pick a lane Disney!

 

[bluezy]

If they have labeled all those seats, I honestly can't see them changing it.

I thought I read that they were marked with stickers/labels (as opposed to being painted on) so I took it to be just a temporary thing for the testing this week. I could be wrong.

 

[Robo]

That's what I thought when I saw what this new Fantasmic plan. I wonder if the old Legacy FP Kiosks are going to re-appear. Of course if this happens they'll have to come up with a new name, so they can fool guests into thinking this new system isn't Legacy Fast Pass. Maybe they can rename it "quick tic"

FABpass!

'Cuz it IS, ya know, so FAB!

 

[julierocks]

Sorry if this was asked already, but are they doing both Fantasmic package and FP+ for the show seating on the same nights? Asking because we booked a dinner package for our September trip. Assuming they are still doing the reserved seating for the dinner package? Wondering if they'll be phasing out the dinner package.

 

[Robo]

Or FanA**
'cuz you know it is fantastic and you know where to put your ...butt.

No, THAT would be "FLABpass."

 

[tlmadden73]

Interesting concept ..

I definitely feel the current culture of "ensuring" getting the best spot is getting out of hand.

This happens everywhere .. whether it is going to a movie, going to a Black Friday sale or seeing your local 4th of July Fireworks.
The amount of time people consider "worth it" to wait for an event or attraction is incredible to me.

But the problem is a downward spiral.

Since people show up 30 minutes beforehand .. then other people show up 45 minutes before to be first .. then other people show up 60 minutes before next time to be first .. etc. etc. Until years later (as people get "wise") you get people who are willing to camp out 3 hours before a show ...

Disney wants to alleviate that traffic jam, so I don't see a problem coming to the park and ensuring you get a seat and knowing you don't have get there hours ahead of time to watch a show. Sure .. you can't pick it .. and I would argue that a majority of the people watching the show it is their first time and they won't care where they sit.

This is better than trying to use a FP+ for a night show that you may not go to (due to being tired, weather, hopping to another park, etc.)

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.

THIS ..

Grabbing a FP+ for a night show (with your initial 3) severely puts you at a FP disadvantage to someone else who schedules all three of theirs before lunch and goes to get a 4th, 5th or 6th Fast Pass for the afternoon/evening (and may still even be able to a FP to a night show!)

 

[DoingDisney]

Dunno if someone brought this up but ...

Isn't it possible that people will get FPs, but then not actually stick around for the show. So WDW will say the show is "at capacity" assuming people will be showing up with FPs, but then have them not actually show ?

 

[mom2rtk]

I thought I read that they were marked with stickers/labels (as opposed to being painted on) so I took it to be just a temporary thing for the testing this week. I could be wrong.

I hadn't seen that. I hope that's the case and that they are able to adjust if necessary.

But at some point if they go ahead with this crazy scheme, they'll have to make the markings permanent. And my guess is that they will attempt to get as many spots as possible in there in preparation for peak crowds.

 

[AquaDame]

I wouldn't mind this at all if they did it more like they do at DLR. Disconnect it from the system, get it the day you get there, etc. The one thing I DO have major issue with is the size of the seat. Almost every day I have to squash myself into half a seat on the train to make room for my more well endowed brethren, and even then usually after asking them to please move their bags/cup/legs from the seat they aren't sitting in. 20" is no longer adequate spacing for the majority of people...

 

[ktlm]

Sorry if this was asked already, but are they doing both Fantasmic package and FP+ for the show seating on the same nights? Asking because we booked a dinner package for our September trip. Assuming they are still doing the reserved seating for the dinner package? Wondering if they'll be phasing out the dinner package.

I doubt that very much. Fantasmic is FP only at Disneyland now. They reserve the best area to see the show for the dining package- and specifically out there for the dining package for the most expensive restaurant. I'm sure they will use it as an incentive to get in the best section and to have it booked in advance. not have worry about grabbing a FP the day of the show.

 

[tmoo]

If they are going to reserve the whole theater is has to be assigned seats, not rows or sections. The problem is there will always be scum that cheat. If they don't like their assigned row or section, they will just sit in yours. When you arrive, if all the seats in your row are taken, what are you going to do? It isn't likely that the CM will check every ticket in that row to make sure they belong there. It is completely impossible to check every person in the prime sections. Then you have a family of 4 standing there without a seat. If you have a specific assigned seat it is pretty easy to identify the people that need to move.

The other solution would be to block off each section and scan tickets as you enter your section. Of course, then people will line up an hour early to get the pick of seats in their section.

Maybe the best idea would be to give out paper admission tickets to the show and then you are firmly directed to a seat when you enter the theater, the loading of the theater need to be managed so there is no incentive to arrive early to get a better seat. I don't think Disney cares one bit about where you sit for the show, they just want you to control when you arrive. It is the same idea as Fastpass+. Distribute the crowd.

 

[ktlm]

That's what I thought when I saw what this new Fantasmic plan. I wonder if the old Legacy FP Kiosks are going to re-appear. Of course if this happens they'll have to come up with a new name, so they can fool guests into thinking this new system isn't Legacy Fast Pass. Maybe they can rename it "quick tic"

WillAustin Willing to walk across broken glass for WDW I love this! I agree, but only at the Poly!

We were at DL last week. Fantasmic has been FP only there for at least the last few months. They actually have a station of what I would call "movable" FP machines set up for Fantasmic FPs only. There are CMs there to assist. They are different from the old FP- machines, in that there is an area in the front where you just hold your ticket under and it scans it and pops out a FP for you. They are using the same type machine for Anna and Elsa FPs in DCA (which are also disconnected from the main system). We did the Blue Bayou dining package, so we did not utilize the Fantasmic machines, but we walked by and saw people using them. At least one of the days we were there we saw people getting FPs for the later showing pretty late in the afternoon. I would expect that if WDW goes to FP only for Fantasmic, that is what you will see. I think it will be separate from the FP+ kiosks, so for those posting above they were worried about those lines, I don't think it will effect them. They have designed this new type of FP machine, which they can move around and use at will, so I am guessing they have intents to use that some more places, and I would guess WDW Fantasmic will be one of those places. I would bet the WDW Fantasmic FPs are here to stay. I would bet the tables with the CMs, laptops and printers, turn into those movable machines once they have established it will work in this test.

It is a pretty big controversy at DL because they do not have a theatre like WDW. People used to camp out for hours, BUT they all sat during the show. Now, DL has made all the FP sections EXCEPT for the Blue Bayou dining section standing up only. The Blue Bayou dining people get to (well technically have to) sit on the ground (which is why we did that section). I don't think I will mind it at WDW where everyone is seated.