Fantasmic! and World of Color Days

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I know they don't run every night but what days should I plan our trip to make sure we get to see them. We will probably be 4 or 5 nights but I had wanted to try to avoid the weekends. Also, plan to do "off season" but not sure when, I'm in very early pre-planning phase.

 

[DahliaRW]

Depending on when you go, F! may not be running on non-weekends.

 

[figment_jii]

When are you going? I ask because normally WoC runs nightly, but it is currently down for an extended refurbishment, so F! is running nightly instead.

Normally, F! and fireworks are only presented on Fri, Sat, and Sun nights during the non-Spring Break, non-summer, non-holiday season. WoC has, historically, been presented nightly. F! and fireworks are not presented on Friday nights when there is a MHP scheduled (late Sep to Oct) (there are fireworks, but they occur during MHP).

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

When are you going? I ask because normally WoC runs nightly, but it is currently down for an extended refurbishment, so F! is running nightly instead. Normally, F! and fireworks are only presented on Fri, Sat, and Sun nights during the non-Spring Break, non-summer, non-holiday season. WoC has, historically, been presented nightly. F! and fireworks are not presented on Friday nights when there is a MHP scheduled (late Sep to Oct) (there are fireworks, but they occur during MHP).

Idk when we are going yet. What is MHP?

 

[figment_jii]

Idk when we are going yet. What is MHP?

Mickey's Halloween Party. They typically happen in late-September and October.

 

[Mcky36]

When are you going? We are going in February and I just booked a Fantasmic Dining Package for a Monday night.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Error

 

[sharonabe]

If you're going in "off season," you'll need either a Fri, Sat or a Sun to see F!
WoC usually runs every night, so that's not a problem.

We went in Sep this year, and chose the Fri for F! The park wasn't too awfully crowded during the day, but F! was very crowded. I expect it is no matter which night you choose, so I would choose the day that fits better with your plans, research the best way to get good views, and not sweat it.

Hint: read up on the "light trick." We used it and had a great view, but we did get there an hour before F! began. People were walking by with disappointed looks and sighs about 15 min into our wait.

 

[Mcky36]

Error

I'm not sure if this is in reference to my post that we booked a dining package for February? It's not an error- Fantasmic is running nightly in the off season while World of Color is under refurbishment.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Error

I meant double post

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I'm not sure if this is in reference to my post that we booked a dining package for February? It's not an error- Fantasmic is running nightly in the off season while World of Color is under refurbishment.

should have said duplicate post, not a reference to you, sorry

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

If you're going in "off season," you'll need either a Fri, Sat or a Sun to see F! WoC usually runs every night, so that's not a problem. We went in Sep this year, and chose the Fri for F! The park wasn't too awfully crowded during the day, but F! was very crowded. I expect it is no matter which night you choose, so I would choose the day that fits better with your plans, research the best way to get good views, and not sweat it. Hint: read up on the "light trick." We used it and had a great view, but we did get there an hour before F! began. People were walking by with disappointed looks and sighs about 15 min into our wait.

what's the light trick

 

[SMD]

what's the light trick

It won't work with the new FP system.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

It won't work with the new FP system.

What is it?

 

[figment_jii]

What is it?

What is the Light Tower Trick or what is the new FP system?

The light tower trick is basically the advice to stand behind the central light tower. It remains on ground level until closer to show time, so folks used to avoid the area because it looked like the light tower would get in your way. However, when they raised it up, you had a pretty good view. See HydroGuy's thread for more information.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2225094

The new Fast Pass (FP) system is now how they control the viewing area for Fantasmic. You collect a FP for ths how earlier in the day and it indicates which show and viewing area you get to watch from. There are also dining packages that come with access to the reserved viewing areas (different dining packages have different viewing areas). This thread has a fairly detailed discussion about the viewing areas and the latest news.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3358991

 

[SMD]

What is it?

They raise the light towers before the first show. The secret has been out for years. People crowd in behind them, knowing the view won't be as blocked once the show gets closer. However, you can't pick a spot now with the FP system. Plus the tower is in one of the premium sections. Why pay all that money to be in the back of the section with a view partially obstructed by a poll?

 

[figment_jii]

They raise the light towers before the first show. The secret has been out for years. People crowd in behind them, knowing the view won't be as blocked once the show gets closer. However, you can't pick a spot now with the FP system. Plus the tower is in one of the premium sections. Why pay all that money to be in the back of the section with a view partially obstructed by a poll?

Not to side track the thread...but are you sure the area behind the central light tower is now part of the premium sections? From the discussions on the two F! FP threads (one I just linked), it sounds like the area in front of the Light Tower, on the lower level, is part of the premium area (Blue Bayou). The area behind the Light Tower, one level up from the river level, looks like it's part of the Gold/Yellow (whatever color they're using now) FP viewing area.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Not to side track the thread...but are you sure the area behind the central light tower is now part of the premium sections? From the discussions on the two F! FP threads (one I just linked), it sounds like the area in front of the Light Tower, on the lower level, is part of the premium area (Blue Bayou). The area behind the Light Tower, one level up from the river level, looks like it's part of the Gold/Yellow (whatever color they're using now) FP viewing area.

I gotta start looking at some maps before I go! I hate not knowing where things are. I could get around WDW blindfolded.

 

[figment_jii]

I gotta start looking at some maps before I go! I hate not knowing where things are. I could get around WDW blindfolded.

I like maps too! There are lots of maps of DL and DCA readily avilable on line. HydroGuy has a good map of the WoC viewing area in his WoC SuperThread.

F!, that's a bit more problematic. The map in HydroGuy's SuperThread will give you a good idea about the views form the different locations around the RoA. The issue is, now they have dining packages and FPs for the viewing area, and were each area is seems to still be evolving. The thread I linked has a few maps, but both (mine and the one from another site) are both from mid-December and seems like things have changed since then. So, I take both maps with a grain of salt and expect that things will be different(ish) when you go.

 

[DahliaRW]

The light tower is in the FP area, or was when we were there the first weekend. It was gold then. I do not think any of the premium viewing is back in that area, they all seem to be down in front in the sitting areas.