Can I watch shows with no wait?

[haydeecm]

For someone who is not willing to wait an hour + for a spot (life is too short, and so is our vacation), what would be the best strategy for watching the shows. I don't want to spend more than a half hour waiting for any show.

I am not concerned about the fireworks, I think even people outside the park can see those, and I have enjoyed them well enough in the area between the two parks, frankly I don't really see how adding hours of waiting would improve my experience that much.

I am most concerned about Fantasmic, mostly cause I've never been and don't understand the show seating very well. Where should I shoot for best view half hour before the show? How bad will my views be, will I even be able to see anything?

 

[obe]

+1 ^^^
Need to know same information since I will be there Dec 2nd with My lovely Family

 

[taaren]

Best strategy for watching Fantasmic or WOC with no wait is to buy the viewing spot that comes with dessert at Fantasmic, or the preferred dining package at WOC. Alternately if you just wait until the show starts you can usually get a mediocre view in the back (we usually ride Splash while its playing then catch the end bits from the very edges/back, but just be aware of the walkways that the CMs try to keep open and don't stand in them!). Also if you are staying at GCH they have a viewing deck for guests which pipes in music and its usually not too crowded so you get a great top view of WOC though you can't see the water screen projections very well. I liked the top view from our balcony the best but I'm also getting a touch of claustrophobia as I get older, at least for the shows where you're packed in like sardines.
For Fantasmic, all the boats, etc go around the entire Rivers of America so you should be able to see everything from the edges (sides by Mark Twain's launchpad or the smoking area by Splash Mtn) if you wait til just before the show starts but you miss some of whats going on with Mickey and the dragon.
I completely understand not wanting to watch the Fireworks from the center. We did that the first year, and in years since our favorite spots are a) on Big Thunder - a magical experience, and b) Sunshine Plaza framed by the mini-Golden Gate bridge.

 

[disneychic2]

How many are in your party? DH and I sat for 1 1/2 hours to get a good spot only to have people with only 2 in their party come at the last minute and get a prime spot. They have everyone move in to make more room right up until show time. So, at 1/2 hour you still should be able to get a seat...though it may be off to the sides. The show is good no matter where you sit IMHO. Good luck!

 

[specialks]

There is a 'trick' that can be used that might help you. Look at SS Columbia's great explanation here:

Fantasmic Light Tower Trick

 

[skiingfast]

It's really easy, just keep walking around the area, is that the best way to watch a show? No of course not.

You will absolutely need to wait in the viewing area to get a decent view of WoC. For F! see the second show to cut down the wait time. For fireworks it depends on how good a view you want. Try watching from the Small World area if you don't want the classic view where you see the castle.

 

[Ariel224]

For Fantasmic, definitely plan to see the second show. I literally walked up 5 minutes before showtime with my older daughter and her friend's family and used the light tower trick described in the link above.....and that was on Veteran's Day weekend when the park had reached capacity. I disagree about the Dessert Seating being a wait time eliminator. Though they START checking people in at 8pm to pick their seats, the line for this starts forming at about 6:30, so there will be wait time, unless you don't care if you get whatever is left for seating (which WILL be good seats, but won't be the BEST seats, and for what that package costs, it's good to have the BEST seats, lol) and don't mind if your party is split up. I also did the Dessert Seating on our trip a couple of weeks ago. The smaller kids can't stay awake for the second show, so it was the only way I could minimize the wait time and allow them to see it.

For WoC, unless you line up early in your FP group and get a place at a rail, you'll likely be trying to see over the people in front of you. With WoC, it's more of a gamble if you try to arrive at the last minute.

 

[KRIS10420]

The second show seems to be less crowded for Fantasmic. I waited for almost 2 hours for the first show (behind light tower) only to have families come up at the last moment thinking they were going to push into my spot because their "kids" couldn't see, NOT!! I didn't waste my time waiting around to save a spot for your kids, so if getting a prime spot is important to you then arrive early.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I agree with all the other posts that the 2nd show for F! is an easier way to see the show without waiting more than half an hour. The light tower trick is a good way to see the show if you can't get a ground sitting viewing area by the ROA.

 

[Dizneydaz]

2nd show. Last time I watched F! (my DNephew was in it-subbing) We waite dfor quite awhile to see the 1st show. His mom had managed to save a few spots in the center area, a fwe rows back from the water) After F! was over the fireworks went off-it's a great spot for FW viewing. Once the FW were done and everyone started leaving, guests grabbed the now open spots for the 2nd show. I believe it was in less than 45 min, or so. (Maybe even 1/2 hour).

Next time I want to watch F! that's what I plan on doing (If not watching by the light tower which is a spot I have used before)

Unfortunately during the winter the fireworks go off before F! (at least the days I checked, 12/11, 12/12) so you'll want to be in the F! area as the first show is ending. Then grab a seat for #2. You'll still wait about 45 mins. but it's not so bad. Dress warmly. It's been really cold here-colder than normal.

 

[Armadillo4]

2nd show.

Unfortunately during the winter the fireworks go off before F! (at least the days I checked, 12/11, 12/12) so you'll want to be in the F! area as the first show is ending. Then grab a seat for #2. You'll still wait about 45 mins. but it's not so bad. Dress warmly. It's been really cold here-colder than normal.

Ditto what Dizneydaz (and others) wrote. 2nd show = shorter wait. They recently changed the show times so that Fantasmic usually runs at 9pm and then 10:15pm (always check the calendar first). Over the summer, it ran at 9:05pm and 10:30pm with the fireworks in between. Either way, you'll have a much shorter wait for the second performance and you'll most likely grab a decent spot too.

 

[PinkBudgie]

During the summer, we did the light tower trick and arrived about 15 min before the first showing. There was one row of people in front of us at the railing. Everywhere else was about 5 rows deep, but people didn't want to be behind the post. My family doubted me, but I told them to wait and they were impressed. And we didn't push our way into anywhere. We just stood there. Once the tower went up, it quickly filled in behind us.

For fireworks, we go to IASW. They show things on the building, and you can walk up about 15 min before the show and find a place to sit down on the ground and wait. No, you don't get to see the castle and whatever is flying around it, but we also don't have the huge crowd and the long wait.

For WOC we bought the preferred dinning package. But that still involves a wait. I just wasn't willing to wait in the FP line during morning prime time.

For Aladdin, we walked up not long before the show started and sat in the balcony. Not the best seats (we prefer the orchestra which does require a longer wait.) but that time we decided on the spur of the moment to see it.

 

[haydeecm]

Thanks a lot for the "light tower trick" tip! That sounds like the way to go, since I don't think my little guy will make it to the second show. Since the night we plan to watch the 9pm has the 8.40pm fireworks, we will be needing to watch the fireworks from this area. I am guessing the light tower will cover the fireworks, right?

 

[Elrasiel]

There is a 'trick' that can be used that might help you. Look at SS Columbia's great explanation here:

Fantasmic Light Tower Trick

I used that trick when I literally arrive minutes before it started. I actually discovered it myself and it worked! Just quickly sneak behind the roped off section.