The dessert thing for Fantasmic is optional and IMO not worth $59 or whatever it costs. But then again, I've never done it, so it is worth it to pay the money and know you have guaranteed seats for the show plus some goodies? That is up to each individual person.
There is plenty of FREE seating all around to see the show. People start staking out their seats a couple hours before the show though. We had decent seats but only found them about an hour before. We sent runners to go get food while we held our spots.
I've only seen it once and it was a couple years ago. I'm sure some of the more seasoned DIS'ers can give you better info!!
Thousands of people view this show without paying for the special dessert reserved seating. You can view the show from areas all around the Rivers of America. You can see where people will start laying out blankets in the lower walkway a couple hours prior to the first show. I prefer to catch the 10:30 show if they are showing two, because it is much easier to grab a spot right before show time.
and from what I understand the reserved seats are over by the haunted mansion, so don't have the best view, I don't think they do the balcony seating above POTC anymore, right?
Thanks everyone. My bday is in March and I noted that they have two shows that night and so we will go and just find ourselves a spot and view it for free from there!!!!!!!!!!!!!