Evening entertainment planning

[smallsy]

I'd love some help with planning out how we can make the most our short trip next week. This is our first time at DL, so we want to see as much as we can. We don't usually like to stake out spots more than 30-45 minutes before, so we don't have to have the best views, just good enough to enjoy it with kids.

Sun. - 8:30 PTN
9:30 Halloween Screams with fireworks
10:30 Fantasmic show (with or without dining package)
Mon. - WOC (only night we can go because of OBB)
Tue. - *8:30 or 10:30 PTN (if we don't get to it on Sunday)
9:25 Shadows of Memory

First night may be too much. We could always do the second Fantasmic show after WOC on Monday. Thoughts??? TIA

 

[mdmost]

If you want to see the projections and get a spot on Main Street, you can do the Paint The Night lunch at Plaza Inn and get the designated section on Main Street. You'll see all the projections when the fireworks start.

When that's over, head to Fantasmic through Frontierland. I doubt you'll have a hard time finding a good spot.

World of Color you can try to get a spot with the virtual queue on the app. We did that on our trip and it was easy.

I would recommend you do just Shadows of Memory and then hang around for the fireworks there. It's awesome. If you can't do PTN on the previous night then head to Small World after the fireworks and you can get a spot near the end of the parade route.

 

[LKing]

How old are your kids?

 

[smallsy]

How old are your kids?

10 and 12, so not super short, but short enough that it will be hard to see with adults in front. TBH it's hard for me to see with adults in front because I'm only 5ft tall

 

[smallsy]

If you want to see the projections and get a spot on Main Street, you can do the Paint The Night lunch at Plaza Inn and get the designated section on Main Street. You'll see all the projections when the fireworks start.

There aren't any spots right now but I'll keep checking the app closer to Sunday. So you think this would be a better deal than doing a Fantasmic lunch? That's what we currently have booked.

When that's over, head to Fantasmic through Frontierland. I doubt you'll have a hard time finding a good spot.

I've heard the second showing is easier to get a spot to, so this sounds good!

World of Color you can try to get a spot with the virtual queue on the app. We did that on our trip and it was easy.

I had booked a 7pm Lamplight Lounge in case we can watch from there, but I know that's not a guarantee so this would definitely be ideal! 12pm drop, right?

I would recommend you do just Shadows of Memory and then hang around for the fireworks there. It's awesome. If you can't do PTN on the previous night then head to Small World after the fireworks and you can get a spot near the end of the parade route.

We wanted to do this, but they're only offering fireworks on Sunday and Monday, and Monday is the only day we can see WOC. So, you think if we had to choose that Fire of the Rising Moons is better than Halloween Screams? We can always see the Halloween projections Tuesday night before or after Shadows.

 

[mdmost]

I'm just not sure the Fantasmic lunch is worth it if you're doing the 2nd show. Others can chime in on that as we've only ever done the 1st show and almost always with a dinner package. The only one I would steer clear of is River Belle Terrace as it's total crapshoot where they seat you to eat dinner and watch the show. The options where you enter a section is so much better.

I'm not sure on Lamplight Lounge but you enter the designated area for the virtual queue by 8:20 at the latest. Then it's finding spot you're happy with. We had no issues seeing everything. The only downside was having to stand the entire time we waited which was murder on my kids feet by then. The dessert party is great but expensive. You get a table to watch at, desserts, and drinks. But it's very costly and honestly I'd put World of Color towards the bottom of the entertainment options. Especially this current version.

I'm not sure on the Halloween Screams as I've never seen that. The Fire of the Rising Moons is great if you're a Star Wars fan. You're also so close to the fireworks outside of what's shooting off at the Castle since it's behind you. If you go, try to get a spot on the left of the area so you can see everything. They tape off the area you can sit in and everyone stands when the show starts.

Which one you choose is up to you. I think that's why we like the 1st Fantasmic show. You can watch it and then just hang out to watch the fireworks from the Rivers of America. If the Castle fireworks and PTN are your priorities, I would stick with that. The Star Wars fireworks are cool but I'm not someone who tends to sit on Main Street for fireworks now so it was easier choice for us.

 

[LKing]

Have you seen this thread? https://www.disboards.com/threads/how-to-see-all-the-shows-parades-etc.3968771/

Sun. - 8:30 PTN
9:30 Halloween Screams with fireworks
10:30 Fantasmic show (with or without dining package)

If you are trying to do this all in one night, I would not do the parade dining package. While it does guarantee you a viewing location for the parade, you are facing the train station which is the opposite direction of the fireworks. You will need to get up, turn around and walk towards Main Street to view the fireworks. If you watch the parade from Main Street, as soon as the last float finishes, everyone rushes to the middle of the street for fireworks. It isn't like you will get trampled, but be prepared for the mass movement. Main Street is very crowded for fireworks. Even if you got positioned behind someone who seems shorter, there is no guarantee they won't put a child on their shoulders or hold their phone above their head to film the show. After that, you will need to fight the masses of parade viewers to get to Frontierland to work your way to Fantasmic. Note that they use Adventureland as the exit route for people who watched the first show. Those who want to watch the 2nd show will be directed to enter via Frontierland.

Personally, I think your best bet for this night would be to watch the first Fantasmic show with a dining package. Immediately following Fantasmic, you can watch fireworks and projections from your dining package location. Fireworks end around 9:45 pm. After that, I would make my way towards Small World (or anywhere between the Partners Statue and Small World) for the second PTN viewing which starts 10:30 pm. I would tell you to work your way to Main Street, but even for the second viewing, it gets crowded.

Mon. - WOC (only night we can go because of OBB)

If you have not seen WOC, I would not have my first viewing be from Lamplight. If you don't want to do the dessert or dining package, I would do the VQ or watch from the Pixar Pier bridge. As it is with other entertainment, the second show is less crowded than the first. But less crowded doesn't mean empty. There will be others in the same situation as you, where Monday is their only night to watch WOC.

Tue. - *8:30 or 10:30 PTN (if we don't get to it on Sunday)

You might consider watching the first parade from Small World. Fireworks and projections can be seen on/over IASW approx 30 min after the parade ends. Most people rush to the center of IASW to view the fireworks and projections. I think the view is better if you are towards the right of center. After fireworks, you can watch Tapestry of Happiness and then head into Toontown when it reopens.

If you really want to get in Shadows of Memory on that night, let me know and I can talk you through what path to take to get there.

 

[smallsy]

Have you seen this thread? https://www.disboards.com/threads/how-to-see-all-the-shows-parades-etc.3968771/

Yes, thanks, very helpful for finding spots. I normally spend months planning and researching, but we switched our trip from Universal to Disneyland last week.

Personally, I think your best bet for this night would be to watch the first Fantasmic show with a dining package. Immediately following Fantasmic, you can watch fireworks and projections from your dining package location. Fireworks end around 9:45 pm. After that, I would make my way towards Small World (or anywhere between the Partners Statue and Small World) for the second PTN viewing which starts 10:30 pm. I would tell you to work your way to Main Street, but even for the second viewing, it gets crowded.

Ok, this is what we had planned to do, so we may just stick with that. We won't see the castle projections, but we can still enjoy it without having to worry about finding another spot. Honestly, we rarely watch the WDW fireworks from Main St. as we've seen them so often. We prefer to watch them from rides like BTM.

If you have not seen WOC, I would not have my first viewing be from Lamplight. If you don't want to do the dessert or dining package, I would do the VQ or watch from the Pixar Pier bridge. As it is with other entertainment, the second show is less crowded than the first. But less crowded doesn't mean empty. There will be others in the same situation as you, where Monday is their only night to watch WOC.

Yeah since it's a holiday I'm definitely planning for there to be larger than normal crowds, even at the second showing. We'll shoot for the VQ and if we miss it just plan to find a spot.

If you really want to get in Shadows of Memory on that night, let me know and I can talk you through what path to take to get there.

Thanks! I think we'll plan to do this on Tuesday.