Electrical Parade/ Fantasmic

sandiedvc

Mouseketeer
Joined
Aug 18, 1999
Messages
400
Unfortunately, they are only offering Electrical Parade and Fantasmic on the same night when we are going to be there.

We would really like to see the Electrical Parade which is at 8:45 at CA.

DL will have Fantasmic at 9 and 10:30p.

Is there any point in trying to make it to the 10:30 show of Fantasmic after seeing the Electrical Parade?

Do you have suggestions on where to stand for either event? or how early you have to stake out a spot?

We are only going to be at DL for Memorial Day weekend, and probably not going back that direction for the forseeable future, so we want to make the best of it!

Thanks,
-- Kathy
 
Sounds like we'll be doing the same thing at the same time. Well, we're planning on Sunday (b/c that's when we're getting in), maybe you're going on Sat. :)

I like watching the EP back around Jumpin Jellyfish. It's where the parade starts, so you see it "first". Once it has finished, you can leave the park while it continues on to the front of the park. Just go along the side, turn left at Golden Dreams and go around Grizzly, then past Soarin' and out of the park.

That will give you some extra time to find your way towards Fantasmic, but I can't help you with that, and I look forward to the responses of other people! :)
 
I've heard of people watching it near the start of the parade, walking to disney, and then hopping over to Disney for the 10:30 show. the EP is only about 20-30 minutes, so you shouldn't have a problem seeing fantasmic!
 
Thanks for the help! Really would like to see both.

We are on the DCL Panama Canal cruise that gets in on Sunday, so we really will have to hustle to see it all on a very busy weekend!

I know that at WDW you really have to stake out a spot at least an hour in advance to see the parade. Is it the same at DL?

Also, where is a good spot to stand for Fantasmic? Or I guess a better question is where we would have a shot of seeing the best at the last minute!

Thanks again,

--Kathy
 

So we will be doing the same thing on the same night! Cool! I know that, if we decide to pay the blockout passes (we have deluxe APs and that Sunday is blocked, so we get to pay $40 each if we want to go in that day, zoiks!), it will be specifically to do what you are doing.

And I know that if we are there, we will be around Jumpin Jellyfish. So look at my avatar, check out my pictures to see what my hubby looks like, b/c if you see us at the electrical parade, we will make room for your family. :goodvibes

As for crowds for the DEP, I don't know; I've never, um, SEEN a huge crowd at DCA...:scared:
 
Thanks for the help! Really would like to see both.

We are on the DCL Panama Canal cruise that gets in on Sunday, so we really will have to hustle to see it all on a very busy weekend!


:wave: We'll be on the Repo, too! :goodvibes I'm planning on doing just as bumbershoot says. :thumbsup2

Sorry, I can't give any help at all with regards to good viewing spots, because this will be our first (any maybe only) visit to DL. :sad1:

It does seem like the first Fantasmic! showing will still be running after the Electrical Parade is finished, so if we all hustle over, we might be able to grab the good spots as the first round of folks are leaving! :confused3
 
It does seem like the first Fantasmic! showing will still be running after the Electrical Parade is finished, so if we all hustle over, we might be able to grab the good spots as the first round of folks are leaving! :confused3

That is a good point, and reminds me of the tips I've read for the second showing. Since they are fairly back to back, one canNOT save a spot for hours and hours for that second showing. Therefore, everyone coming into the area for the second showing is more or less on the same footing as each other. Yes, it's late, and therefore most with little ones (*cough* except us *cough*) will have taken said little ones to their hotels, so it will possibly be less crowded.

Perhaps we should arrange a Sunday evening Dis meet. :goodvibes
 
As for crowds for the DEP, I don't know; I've never, um, SEEN a huge crowd at DCA...:scared:

I still can't believe that the good folks at Disney haven't added Fantasmic! for actual Memorial Day! :confused:

FWIW - a while back, there was a thread about Memorial Day weekend. A lot of folks said DL was usually quite quiet considering it is a US holiday and all. A few of the Cali. locals posted saying that they all went to the beach over Memorial Day weekend. Let's hope it's sunny and they all head for the surf so we can all manage to see all the big shows on the same night! ;) :rotfl:
 
Since they are fairly back to back, one canNOT save a spot for hours and hours for that second showing. Therefore, everyone coming into the area for the second showing is more or less on the same footing as each other. Yes, it's late, and therefore most with little ones (*cough* except us *cough*) will have taken said little ones to their hotels, so it will possibly be less crowded.

We've always found that kids want to stay up late at Disney parks anyway (too scared in case the miss something :cutie: ). DD6 has often closed the parks at WDW! :rolleyes1

Perhaps we should arrange a Sunday evening Dis meet. :goodvibes

What a fab idea! :idea: I bet some of the other folks visiting DL after the Repo cruise would be interested too! We've already made dinner plans with Ariel that evening (around 6pm, I think) but I'll go post the suggestion over on our Cruise Meet Thread. :goodvibes
 
Thanks for this great advice, I miss ELP since it left MK at WDW and really wanted to see it again, but knew that Fantasmic at DL was not to be missed. Being there the same weekend, off the Magic, I didn't have a plan to make it work.

Pj
 
Our plan is to catch Fantasmic in WDW before the cruise and then catch EP in CA on Sunday night.

We had heard that it might be hectic to try and get back into DL after the EP so we had planned on not worrying about it, perhaps go an wander through DTD.

Being from the west coast I've seen Fantasmic at DL a few times but have never seen it at WDW. But if the park is fairly empty (relatively speaking of course) we might try and pop over to DL after the EP.
 
Well, it may be hectic to do both and you will have kids with you which makes a difference; but I think that we are going for it. We will just have to make sure that we go to bed early the last night of the cruise so that we will have enough energy for this. :rolleyes1

We may never pass this way again, and I think we will regret it if we don't try! and you are right about no one being able to queue for Fantasmic, which makes it that much doable. J

I love the Electric Parade. I have very fond memories of seeing it at WDW with my folks when our kids were still kids. :cloud9: When I found out it was there, it became a must do.

See you guys there then! Getting excited now!

--Kathy
 
Is no one going to see the Dreams Fireworks at DL and Fantasmic too? Thats what we hope to do. We won't have park hoppers and only have that one day! 9:25 Fireworks and 10:30 Fantasmic!
 
Unfortunately, they are only offering Electrical Parade and Fantasmic on the same night when we are going to be there.

We would really like to see the Electrical Parade which is at 8:45 at DCA.

DL will have Fantasmic at 9 and 10:30p.

Is there any point in trying to make it to the 10:30 show of Fantasmic after seeing the Electrical Parade?

Yes, and you should also try to see the 9:25 DL fireworks! :wizard:

Watching the 8:45 DEP (Disney’s Electrical Parade) and the 10:30 Fantasmic is the first and third part of the “ultimate Disneyland entertainment trifecta.” (The second part is the 9:25 DL fireworks.)

Depending on the crowds you might be able to also see the DL fireworks!

Here is DangerMouse’s recent post about the trifecta:

"Well, since you asked … :angel: You may want to grab some popcorn:: and a cup o' :surfweb: because this won't be short.

What we're talking about here is the ultimate Disneyland entertainment trifecta. It's not for the weak at heart, and definitely takes some strategic planning, agility in maneuvering through crowds and most importantly the will to make it happen!

To start with, you want to catch the DEP in DCA down by the pier area. You can stake out a spot very easily down there 20 minutes prior to show time. You want to be on the same side as the Mulholland Madness and Golden Dreams Theater. I like to sit somewhere in between the two. Once I see the last float coming toward me (Salute to America), I stand up and walk with purpose (long legs and agility help here) toward Golden Dreams, hang a left past the restrooms and then turn right to take the GRR back trail towards Condor Flats area. [If you look at a DCA map, you will see that this is very straightforward. You turn left at Golden Dreams, and walk past GRR and Soarin’, then exit DCA.] If you have moved swiftly enough, you will beat the front of the DEP to Sunshine Plaza and be able to head out of DCA while the rest of the crowds are still watching the DEP.

Walk (work your way) across the esplanade and find the shortest line into DL with the swiftest looking CM ticket scanner. Once inside you will have a decision to make. How are the crowds? Is Main Street completely jam packed? You probably have about 5 minutes (if that) to find yourself a spot to sit for the DL fireworks.

OPTION 1: If Main Street is ultra crowded, you can choose to watch the DL fireworks from the Train Station. I like to just stand up on the first platform. If you choose to watch the DL fireworks from this location, you need to understand that you will miss out on some of the special effects that can be seen from the Hub area, but to me, it's a fair exchange for accomplishing the great trifecta! Once the 9:25 DL fireworks show is over, you can jump on the train to New Orleans Square (1st stop). You should be able to pretty easily find a good spot for the 10:30 Fantasmic show.

OPTION 2: If you find that you have a few more than 5 minutes prior to the DL fireworks and Main Street looks manageable, you can try to make your way toward the Hub, with the goal of getting yourself somewhere close to the left side of the Hub (facing the castle) near the Frontierland entrance. Crowd control will have you moving around the hub in a counter-clockwise motion, so if crowds are bad, you may be watching the fireworks while you are walking -- not fun. However, you may at this point choose to just plant yourselves somewhere on Main Street to watch the rest of the show. You will have at least 40 minutes to get yourselves to New Orleans Square to watch Fantasmic after, so this can be done.

Many people think this plan is risky and unadvisable, especially for those who have not experienced these shows before, and I agree. If you have the option to do these shows on different nights, then by all means, you should. I prefer to think of "the ultimate entertainment trifecta" as a challenge and fun to do if you have seen all three shows before.

Have fun and please post (and gloat) if you are able to accomplish the trifecta! :thumbsup2"

If you can get to the hub (in front of the Frontierland entrance), here is some more advice from one of HydroGuy’s previous posts:

"... it is not very hard to see the 10:30 Fantasmic showing. We saw the DL fireworks in the hub from over in front of the Frontierland entrance (on the left side of the hub as you face the castle). After the fireworks end you just head through Frontierland. One thing of which to be aware is that DL usually sets up a traffic management system in the hub before the fireworks start. This system in my experience directs everyone counter-clockwise around the hub in a one-way traffic lane. After the fireworks they try to keep this going for awhile and hence if you are too far away from the Frontierland entrance you might have to go against one-way traffic to get there which might be difficult. My advice is before the fireworks start ask one of the CMs who directs traffic in the hub where you should be in order to make it to Frontierland and Fantasmic and go with that."









.
 
What a fab idea! :idea: I bet some of the other folks visiting DL after the Repo cruise would be interested too! We've already made dinner plans with Ariel that evening (around 6pm, I think) but I'll go post the suggestion over on our Cruise Meet Thread. :goodvibes

Keep me in the loop. We'll be coming from the dry land of Tacoma by way of San Diego, rather than from the fun and beauty of a ship, so let me know if I'm invited to your Mem Day Sunday parade-show spectacular! :goodvibes
 
I put the fireworks in my Sunday plan, we will see if it happens. Luckily for me and my group of 13 we are staying for one to two more days and will have one more chance at the fireworks. But as of right now just one chance to see both ELP and Fantasmic.

Pj
 
I think a Dismeet at Disneyland is a great idea!! Let me know when and where and I will do my best to make it.
 
I put the fireworks in my Sunday plan, we will see if it happens. Luckily for me and my group of 13 we are staying for one to two more days and will have one more chance at the fireworks. But as of right now just one chance to see both ELP and Fantasmic.

Pj

Unlike WDW, where Wishes is hardly ever canceled, canceling the RDCT fireworks because of winds aloft happens more often.

Check out HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851) in the HTC (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483).

HTH :wizard:
 
I read those tips, so if they go the first night I am hoping to see them, since the next day they might not show due to winds.

Pj
 
That is a good point, and reminds me of the tips I've read for the second showing. Since they are fairly back to back, one canNOT save a spot for hours and hours for that second showing. Therefore, everyone coming into the area for the second showing is more or less on the same footing as each other. Yes, it's late, and therefore most with little ones (*cough* except us *cough*) will have taken said little ones to their hotels, so it will possibly be less crowded.

Perhaps we should arrange a Sunday evening Dis meet. :goodvibes

Hey. I was just reading to get ideas for our day at DL and wanted to say that we are on the Repo too, and planning to do the same thing for the Parade and Fantasmic! Deanna:cool1:
 


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