Just back today and a great time was had by all!
The parks were seriously slammed, like no room to move at all just a sea of people moving at the rate of maple syrup haha. It just made us all the more greatful that we decided to reserve the extras on this trip!
Fantasmic first:
We picked up our tickets at the tour booth right next to City Hall when we arrived on Fri afternoon for our 10:30 show. The castmember asked for photo Id, confirmation #, and my local phone number (?). She told us to check-in at 8pm next to the Churro cart near HMH. We got there about 7:30 because it was busy and we wanted good seats. That was a mistake it was already like 40 deep when we got there. Also it was super confusing, there was no kiosk or podium and the CMs were in a frenzy, it was hard to figure out where the end of the line was. A few mins after 8pm they started checking people in which was a slow process but the CMs here were great. Angela checked us in and was helping each group pick out the best seats left. We got 16 & 17 which were great seats in the 2nd row of the central seating area. She told us to just come back at 10, we stuck around in the New Orleans area beacause it was so crowded which sounds like it was a good idea because the gentlemen in line behind us went to see the fireworks and almost got trapped in that crowd. Angela greeted us again when we got back and sat us right away, she was AWESOME best CM we've ever encountered. We had the choice of a bunch of drinks soda, hot coco, coffee, bottled water ect. and the dessert boxes were huge and delicous. They included lots of sweets, chocolates, cookies, crackers, cheeses, grapes and strawberries. Yum! The show was indeed fantastic, view was awesome, chairs were even better after a long day. Couldn't recommend it more.
Happiest Haunts:
We checked in for this at guest services near the entrance to DCA on Sat around 4pm for our 4:45 tour (we were early). They asked for photo Id, confirmation #, and the credit card used for the reservation. Both groups waited around in the same area until they took the first tour in to a Cast Members only door ... and they were never seen again
After about 15 minutes a guest services person came and let our tour through the same door which led to a break room looking area and all the fun began. The guides on this tour were certainly a change from the Walk in Walts Footsteps tour we had previously done. The guides that we spent our 3+ hours with did a super job of keeping the whole thing really fun. Its full of lots of twists and turns and nice surprises. I think it would entertain kids 10 and up, may be a little long for younger kids, we had a group of teens in our group and they really enjoyed it (Shout out to Team Awesome!). Our rides included Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Ranch, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, and Haunted Mansion with lots of spots inbetween. They mostly just took us up to the exits where we were let right onto the rides at the next available time, no waiting in lines here!! We did have seating for the spooktacular fireworks, they will give you the info you need to get into that. We were super lucky to get roped off benches right behing the Partners statue, front and center to the castle. The PERFECT view!!! People were stopping to ask how we got to be so lucky haha. I think the location of the viewing area depends on if the "vip" area is being used that evening or not though.
I would highly... 5 stars and two thumbs up
.... recommend both of these activities. They really made this trip special which was such a bonus during such a mind numbingly crowded weekend.
Really specifically...lol where you stand is at the concrete post/pillar adjacent to the churro cart. The area inbetween the post/pillar and the churro cart will be roped off when they roll in the podium. 
DH (39)
