Fantasmic Dessert Buffet

[mimichan]

I was able to get the last available seats for this in March. This will be our first time doing this and from what I've heard it's a "must do at least once!" Can anyone tell me what to expect? I couldn't get the first show so I got the 10:30pm show. What kinds of drinks are available? I know the desserts changes from time to time.

 

[got2travel]

I remember there was Coffee, Tea, Hot Cocoa, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Water.

Did you get balcony or riverside?

 

[mimichan]

I got the balcony so I guess we'll have the second row. At any rate, I'm sure we'll have a great view! Thanks for the info!

 

[MsYumiBr]

We were just there last week. When you pick up your tickets from Guest Services, the receipt for the tickets actually say on them that the seating is by order of ticket sale. So that issue was cleared up. It is not by first come first serve basis. I will add though that we were tickets 10 through 14. I asked when I bought the tickets and they told me what number I was. There were two rows, not squished together like last time we did this. There were eight chairs in the very front in sets four on each side. There were three seats in a triangle formation on the left. Next to the triangle is where we sat, 4 in a single row with a small table in front of us to put our goodies and drinks on. Then there was a party huddled in the right second row corner of 4 or 5. That would make 19 or 20. There are 21 tickets available, We were #10. 8 people were in the front row. 3 were on the left side corner. So this means left corner was either a) seated incorrectly before us or b) the two people in the left corner didn't buy a ticket for their daughter and just showed up with her.
Anyway, we had the second show. We had to wait until after the fireworks to be allowed up the stairs. Make sure you check in with the person doing the seating when you get up the stairs. They will want you to wander before checking in. The veterans make a line and stay there and never wander or sit. When the show started the servers disappeared. Watch where they dispense the drink you order because you may have to help yourself after the show starts. Remember if you are in the back row you can stand up without worrying about people getting upset, like a movie theatre. Oh, and most importantly, have a great time!

 

[dizneygirl]

Hello, I've never done this before. How do you get tickets to do this and how much are they? Is this something you'd want to do only with adults?
We are going to Disneyland in 2 1/2 weeks and I'm sure they are already sold out but I'm going to keep it in mind for the next visit.
Thanks!
Dizneygirl

 

[hlbtimes2]

YOu call the same number you do for dinning reservations. It is $56 per person for the balcony. $56 for adult and $46 for children for riverside seating. It is reserved seating with dessert.

 

[mimichan]

I think the price recently went up. I just called today for the March 24 show and the price was $59 per person. I called right at 8am when they open and was put hold for about 10 minutes. By the time I got a live person to help me, they only had the 2nd show available for the balcony.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The number is (714) 781-4400 & you will need your credit card to make a reservation.

 

[GhostlyHitchhiker]

Does anyone have any recent pictures of this? Also, I've seen information saying that the dessert is served in a "keepsake box" instead of buffet, but I don't know how recent the info was. Was that something they tried out and didn't like, or has it permanently changed? I'm just trying to decide whether the $200+ for a family of 4 is worth it or not.

 

[colbybug]

Especially if you have small children? It seems like this is the best way to guarantee that you'd get a decent view if you wanted to watch the fireworks first and then amble over there to the second showing of Fantasmic, correct? Otherwise, I am assuming you'd have to take whatever the crowd left you post-fireworks....

Kathy

 

[albianne]

We went in November and when we booked I was told that we got the last 3 tickets for the late show. When we arrived and checked in we just sat in the courtyard until they called us in and we were pleasantly surprised to be in the first row on the far right left hand side. The view was great but I think it was probably good from all the seats. There was one family waiting that the mom kept bugging the hostess asking her where they were going to be seated etc, which I noticed they placed them in the middle of the back row so maybe it does not pay to be pushy.
Afterwards my husband thought the balcony seating was overpriced and said he would be just as happy to find a place near the river to watch which we could have easily done the night we were there as it was not very crowded at all for the late show, also we really did not take advantage of the desert buffet as it was so late at night.
I would say it would be worth it if you plan on going at a fairly busy time and don't want to wait around for the late show and you make sure you bring your appetite with you, but as you can imagine it would take quite a lot of eating to eat $50.00 worth of desert and pop LOL

It was fun and I am glad we did it once but we would never splurge on it twice. If money is tight I would skip it with a clear conscience and spend the money elsewhere. We watched the end of the first show just standing near the Riverbelle Terrace and found the view very good.

 

[boscoj]

Hey Mimi, what a coincidence...We'll be going to the Fantasmic Buffet on the same night! The only difference is that we will be in the riverside seating this time. Last May we did do the balcony seating and thought it was great but we just wanted to see how the different view would be.

What part of Hawaii are you from? We are from the Moanalua/Salt Lake area.

 

[mimichan]

I'm from Mililani. We're taking our adult son, adult daughter and son-in-law and granddaughter (14 mos). I know our granddaughter is kind of young but everyone in my family are all Disney crazy and really wanted to see Disneyland's 50th celebration. My son-in-law has never seen Fantasmic and the rest of us only saw bits and pieces of it so we're really excited to see it from the balcony!

 

[sierranevada]

I have done both Fantasmic! seatings - Balcony & Riverfront. To answer ghostlyhitchhiker's questions, both seatings are a dessert buffet - they no longer do the "boxed" desserts at the Riverfront - it is buffet now just like the Balcony. Riverfront is very close to the water (you can feel the heat when the river catches on fire!) and serves a dessert buffet with the following: chocolate dipped strawberries, a large shortbread cookie filled with raspberry and dipped in white chocolate that had been tinted lavender with small gold stars on it, a coconut macaroon, chocolate coated biscotti and a Mickey Mouse shaped rice krispy treat dipped in chocolate with Mickey's face drawn on it in White Chocolate! You are offered your choice of assorted drinks – coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sodas, bottled water, or lemonade - they even got milk for my son. The Balcony is next to the Disney Gallery above Pirates of the Carribbean. The balcony is more centered and higher up and you also feel more "special! The desserts were more upscale at the balcony - cheesecake, carrot cake, black forest cake, fritters with warm apple sauce, fruit plates & cheese plates. The price for both the balcony and riverfront is $59 per person but the Riverfront does offer a discount for kids ($10 less). The desserts are better on the balcony and you are dead center but it feels a little more crowded – they seat up to 22 people up there. The Riverfront offers more room which can be good with kids. I personally prefer the Balcony but if they are sold out, will “settle” for Riverfront. They also seat you differently. Fantasmic Balcony seating is done in order of original ticket purchase, and seating is 30 min before showtime. Riverfront seating check-in is 1 hour before showtime, seating is 30 min before and is done by check-in order.
Call 714-781-4400 to make reservations exactly one month prior to when you want to go - If you want 4/30 show, call on 3/30 and start dialing a few minutes before 8 am.

 

[MsYumiBr]

I asked about the first come first serve seating versus in order of ticket purchased thing and was told that "six months ago" they changed back to being in order of ticket purchased. Believe me, we were not being pushy *at all*. We never asked anyone in the gallery where or how we were to be seated. My husband, on the other hand, did complain that we sat in the back row the last time to me and I told him next time he could call to get the tickets. If it were up to him, we wouldn't be doing balcony again so he shouldn't complain. I just wanted to watch Fantasmic without sitting on the wet ground if it rained at all. Luckily that didn't happen, but it was very cold. I really think the only reason the couple got the left corner was because they had a small child and wasn't expecting her to be there. The dad even took the little table and was going to let the girl sit on it! It's a matter of logistics. There is not enough room in the corner for a larger table for a group of 4. I don't know what happened to the glass top tables but they now use these rattan tables. If you want the front row, pick a not so busy weekend and keep hitting that redial button!

 

[albianne]

MsYumiBr, I hope you didn't think I was calling you pushy. That's the trouble with talking over a computer sometimes things don't come across as you intend them to. I meant the lady who was there when we were there, she was incredibly pushy and I wondered afterward whether that was why they put her family in the back row. I think you can see pretty good from anywhere in the balcony though.
I never thought about how awful it would be to stand in the crowd if it was raining.
I think I still like the idea of taking my chances and just waiting in the crowd though because I hate it when I am comitted to having to be somewhere at a specific time. I have difficulty with my leg and because we knew we were going to be up and still walking around way later than usual I really had to pace myself all day and it kind of put a damper on the whole day - man it sucks when your health starts to go. I really envy those of you who can go strong from morning to night and see the whole park in 2 days. We were there 10 days and still missed lots of it

 

[bellelinus]

My daughters and I are going to DL in June and I was thinking about doing this. My question is what happens if it rains and Fantasmic is cancelled? Do you get your money back? I suppose it is too late at that point to get rebooked for another night. Has anyone had this happen?

 

[sierranevada]

My daughters and I are going to DL in June and I was thinking about doing this. My question is what happens if it rains and Fantasmic is cancelled? Do you get your money back? I suppose it is too late at that point to get rebooked for another night. Has anyone had this happen?

I went once where about 8 minutes into the show, they had to cancel due to a problem with the Columbia. We were offered the choice of rescheduling or a refund. It was our last night so we took the refund so don't know what the availability would have been to reschedule.

 

[bellelinus]

I went once where about 8 minutes into the show, they had to cancel due to a problem with the Columbia. We were offered the choice of rescheduling or a refund. It was our last night so we took the refund so don't know what the availability would have been to reschedule.

Thanks for that info -- I will probably do it and just hope I get some dry California weather (knowing that I can get a refund if it gets cancelled).

 

[mtalbot2@comcast.net]

We just returned from DL and did the buffet with twin 2 1/2 yeard olds. The girls loved the show, but the servers were not prepared for the extra 2 people so we had to sit with girls on our laps for the whole show. When I called they said we did not have to pay for them but neglected to tell us that also meanT they do not have a seat.

For the view, it was well worth the money and effort!