F!...Is it really worth the wait?

[PrincessYessenia]

Ok, so I'm a WDW vet but have honestly never done F! once! I would like to see it but don't think ANYTHING is worth a wait of an hour or more!...unless they're giving away a million bucks, then I'd wait all day! Anywho...I'll be at DLR for the first time this June. I know that the new version of F! will be "premiering" the night of the 12th, if I'm not mistaken, and please correct me if I'm wrong. I will arrive the 13th. But from what I hear there are no seats at DL's version of it and the time you have to get a decent spot is staggering.

I'm just wondering how the rest of you feel about it and if it really is a "MUST DO"! It will be just my mother and I, and she has a very short attention span so she would not be happy standing around to see something that may not be worth the wait.

On the other hand, I would be extremely upset if I left and never got to see the show and later hear how amazing it is with all the upgrades and what not! I'm just torn I actually talked to my mom about it and told her about the wait and everything, and that's actually the reason we never see it when we go to WDW. Call us impatient, if you will lol When I mentioned it to her she wasn't too keen about the lack of seats and the amount of time we might have to wait to get a good view.

I also saw there was something you could pay for and get reserved seats or something like that, but I found out how much it was and we don't think it's worth it. So that is out of the question...

Any thoughts, opinions, comments, corrections...?

I'm ALL ears!

 

[Disney Dreams]

First of all.... Fantasmic is amazing.

Next, is it worth the wait? Only you know that. (And just FYI, some people camp out for 2-3 hours prior to the show.) If it is just you and your mom, you can probably come into the area about 30 minutes before show time (craziness) and find a spot amongst the standing area crowd to enjoy the show.

When I took my mom and her friends to DL, the entire day's schedule was based around seeing Fantasmic, if that helps put it in perspective for you.

- Dreams

P.S. Just fyi, it's very hard to read light pink text.

 

[PrincessYessenia]

Sorry about that. How long does the show last?

 

[pixiewings71]

F! is amazing!!!!! But I don't wait an hour for it! That's crazy talk, if it's just you and your Mom come about 30 min. early and you should find spots. We find places to sit with our group of 4 when we walk up late. And NO, we aren't pushing our way in at all, we simply ask if we can sit and if people make a fuss we look elsewhere. But yes, F! is my fave and it's a must see for me!

 

[avalon451]

F! is about 20-25 minutes long. If you'd like to see what it looks like, there are plenty of youtube videos that will give you the general idea, although with the upgrades it should be even better when you see it. And of course, a video doesn't really do it justice, the effects and all.

I have heard it called "unbelievable" and "you won't believe what you're seeing"... I don't know, I have a pretty good imagination. I thought it was a great show. I guess I wouldn't call it, like, the best thing I've ever seen. That would have to be something like Cirque de Soleil or something. But it was very neat and I'd definitely make the time to see it again.

As far as the reserved seating... if it's just your mom and yourself, I wouldn't write that off until you read more about it. It's quite spendy, yes (I think it's still $59 for adults?) but for us, that was so worth it-- not to have to wait in the sardine crush of people. We just walked up (ok, shuffled our way through the huge crowds) and were seated in our own chairs in a roped-off, private area, twenty minutes before the show, and a CM brought us unlimited coffee, hot chocolate or soft drinks up until the start of the show at 9 p.m. Also a very yummy and generous box of snacks-- little mini-desserts, cheese and crackers, grapes and a chocolate dipped strawberry. Then, after that early show, you can keep your seats and get a very good view of the fireworks (and a refill on your hot chocolate from the nice CM!).

Here's a thread from last year, which debates the reserved seating for F! and whether or not it's worth it. It also has lots of other info, like other strategies for seeing F! without doing reserved seating, etc. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1815941 There are also pictures of the snack box you get, plus pics of the reserved seating areas.

Hope that helps!

 

[bumbershoot]

If the thread Avalon linked to his info about the secret spot behind the lights, do THAT one. We didn't do that, we lucked into a spot when DS had passed out in the stroller and we wandered into the Fantasmic area, but I got to see what exactly they were talking about, and yes, it would be a great place to stand. Everyone would think it's blocked, but then up goes the light thing and you're unimpeded.

So if that thread talks about it, do it, and if anyone can describe it more than I can, please do so.

So...we saw it, and yes it was incredible. But we, um, kinda hated it. There's no chance we could have stayed to see if it DS weren't asleep, because he would have been crying. It's loud, it's all villians and fighting (which normally DS likes, but this was frightening and frighteningly LOUD), and it was only at the end with the Peter Pan/Captain Hook fight that DS would have perked up. But overall, we have really no interest in seeing it again, at least not until DS is a few years older and not so sensitive to scary things and noise.

 

[CoolPool]

Look for those guys dressed like bees in yellow. They frequently can find you somewhere to sit particularly if you are only 2 people. And...no its not that WOW really.

 

[PetitePixy]

YES
and that's all I have to say on the matter...

 

[Eeee-va]

There should be two showings, right? I believe in general one can arrive at the second one a lot later than the first, and get a better spot. I do think it's going to be awfully busy when you go, since the new show will have likely just started, but I would still try to make the second showing if I were you, or use the "light" trick alluded to above.

Disneyland's show is so intimate and it's amazing seeing the island you could have walked on during the day, used for a show. The show doesn't rely on film footage as much as WDW's show...it's really just amazingly done. They are adding a huge improvement and a couple nice bonuses to the show (IMO)...it should be even more spectacular.

That said, if you really don't like shows, you probably won't like it. I agree that it can be really problematic for children as well. And yes, once you see it in Disneyland, you'll probably be spoiled and won't like WDW's too much if you ever do go see it there.

Good luck!

Hey, experts, how early would one have to arrive at the second showing to get an adequate spot around June 20th?

 

[MAH4546]

There does not have to be a wait.

You can show up 20-25 minutes before the 10.30PM showing and get a good view. Will it be the most amazing view? No, but you will see everything.

Once I watched the whole thing from a pretty good angle showing up literally 2-3 minutes before it started, standing near PotC.

 

[Leofoenget]

Do this: Hang out in Critter Country during first show through fireworks. as soon as fireworks are over start making your way to the rivers of America and stake your place right along the river. The trick is to quickly sneak in as most of the people are leaving. Try to be right by the smoking area right along the river to swoop in as people are leaving. It works, I have gotten right up front row for the second showing. Wait time about 40 mins. I think it's worth it.

 

[Ken2Blitzkrieg]

Fantasmic is excellent .. we will miss it this time around unfortunately

for me ...well worth the wait and viewing

 

[PrincessYessenia]

Do this: Hang out in Critter Country during first show through fireworks. as soon as fireworks are over start making your way to the rivers of America and stake your place right along the river. The trick is to quickly sneak in as most of the people are leaving. Try to be right by the smoking area right along the river to swoop in as people are leaving. It works, I have gotten right up front row for the second showing. Wait time about 40 mins. I think it's worth it.

Sounds good, I will have to try this. Thank you!

I've learned so many tips and secrets from so many people here on the DIS! I gotta make sure I read all my threads and posts before I go so I can remember everything!

Thanks everyone.

 

[PrincessYessenia]

Do this: Hang out in Critter Country during first show through fireworks. as soon as fireworks are over start making your way to the rivers of America and stake your place right along the river. The trick is to quickly sneak in as most of the people are leaving. Try to be right by the smoking area right along the river to swoop in as people are leaving. It works, I have gotten right up front row for the second showing. Wait time about 40 mins. I think it's worth it.

Sounds good, I will have to try this. Thank you!

I've learned so many tips and secrets from so many people here on the DIS! I gotta make sure I read all my threads and posts before I go so I can remember everything!

Thanks everyone.

 

[Disney Dreams]

If the thread Avalon linked to his info about the secret spot behind the lights, do THAT one. We didn't do that, we lucked into a spot when DS had passed out in the stroller and we wandered into the Fantasmic area, but I got to see what exactly they were talking about, and yes, it would be a great place to stand. Everyone would think it's blocked, but then up goes the light thing and you're unimpeded.

So if that thread talks about it, do it, and if anyone can describe it more than I can, please do so.

There are 3 ginormous light stands used for Fantasmic. Prior to the show, 2 of the will be WAAAY up in the sky. One, more or less dead center of the seating area, directly in front of the center of the island, will NOT be up in the sky pre-show. It will be above ground, but NOT up high in the sky. Stand behind there.

Most people will not gather / save a spot there because it appears to be a blocked view, as bumbershoot said above. However, about 15 minutes before showtime, it will lift WAAAAAY up into the sky like the other 2, leaving just a thick pole in the sight line of the show. Simply step left or right of the light pole and - BINGO - perfect view of the show. It's a good plan if you don't want to wait, hunt, and don't mind standing for the 15-20 minute show.

- Dreams

 

[bumbershoot]

Yay for D Dreams!

That description is the best...though it helps that I saw the lighting rig in question.

 

[PrincessYessenia]

These are all such awesome tips! IDK which methods to try because I have so many options, gahhh! Lol I definitely want to see it now...I'm suddenly pumped

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Do you think the lighting structure trick would work for the the 2nd show? Or does it remain up after the 1st show has ended?

We saw it 3 nights in a row early March ~ it's great (I like it more than my kids) we used the light structure trick for the 1st night and that was definately our best view.

*PS in early March there was only 1 show per night.

 

[PrincessYessenia]

Do you think the lighting structure trick would work for the the 2nd show? Or does it remain up after the 1st show has ended?

I'd like to know the answer to this as well, as I will most likely be doing the later show. Also, is the second show less crowded than the first?

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

I paid for the seats and would do it again in a heartbeat.

If you pay do the first show because you can stay in the seats and watch the fireworks.