Fantasmic or Dreams Come True Fireworks

[Rjf32]

We are going to be at Disneyland in May for 3 days 2 nights. We figured we would do WOC on the first night (Thursday) but are wondering what we should do on Friday night Fantasmic or Fireworks. What would you suggest?

 

[blackjackdelta]

We are going to be at Disneyland in May for 3 days 2 nights. We figured we would do WOC on the first night (Thursday) but are wondering what we should do on Friday night Fantasmic or Fireworks. What would you suggest?

You can do F and then sit and watch the fireworks from the ROA area. Not as good as the hub but I would do F any day of the week over the fireworks.

Jack

 

[kikiq]

You can do F and then sit and watch the fireworks from the ROA area. Not as good as the hub but I would do F any day of the week over the fireworks.

What he said...the music is piped into the Rivers of America. People do not move after the first showing of F!, so that they can watch the fireworks. I'm the opposite, I love RDCT, BUT if you haven't seen F!, then it is a must. Last year, I finally got my brother's family out of the hotel and into the park to see the fireworks and found out that they hadn't ever seen F!. Since we were late anyway to get good castle viewing, I took them over to the F! hoping to get good seats for the second F!. Everyone from the first F! was waiting for the fireworks. So they were able to see both.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I agree with blackjackdelta that you can do the first show of F! and watch the fireworks from that same spot. I like to do F! first if I want to see the show before fireworks. But you won't be able to enjoy the special effects in front of SB castle and you can barely see Tink or Dumbo flying in the sky.

Also, if you want to see the fireworks from the Hub and see F! the same night, you can do the fireworks first and than see the 2nd show of F!. This is a plan that a lot of people would do if they want to see both shows at a good spot on the same night. The only bad part of doing this is that you might not get a sitting spot at the ROA. If you are really fast or it is not a busy day, you can get a spot at the sitting area. That's why you do the Light Tower Trick which is a good way to save some time for a spot for the show or show up late.

 

[HydroGuy]

If you have to choose, and the fireworks are RDCT, I personally would go with RDCT. But you can't go wrong either way. Both shows rock. But WOC rocks more!

 

[Disney Dreams]

If you have to pick, no question, Fantasmic! is the choice. (But as you can see, you will get others with the opposite opinion. )

Disneyland fireworks are incredible and I believe that Remember... Dreams Come True is the best of the DL fireworks shows, but there truly is nothing like Fantasmic! anywhere else. It's a unique, wonderful show!

That said, I agree with the sentiment that you don't need to pick. See the fireworks from the left side of Main Street just back and to the left of the hub (as looking at the castle) and when the last <boom> goes off, head towards the Rivers of America for the second Fantasmic! showing.

I disagree with watching RDCT from the River because that particular show is SOOOO much better when watched from Main Street - especially if you have never seen it.

...you can barely see Tink or Dumbo flying in the sky.

No Dumbo in RDCT, only Tink.

- Dreams

P.S. Welcome to the DISBoards.

 

[mvf-m11c]

No Dumbo in RDCT, only Tink.

- Dreams

I know that Dreams, I know that Dumbo is not part of RDCT. I am a huge fan of RDCT. I'm just saying for the opening post if they are going to be there during the end of May which Magical is running, Dumbo will be part of the fireworks show. Rjf32 might be there for RDCT or Magical, I'm just giving out who is up in the skies for the fireworks. Tink and Dumbo will be flying in sky for Magical and Tink is there for RDCT.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I know that Dreams...

Hey Bret. I know that you know. Since the OP was asking specifically about RDCT, I was just clarifying for their benefit that Dumbo is not part of RDCT in case they were unaware.

- Dreams

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hey Bret. I know that you know. Since the OP was asking specifically about RDCT, I was just clarifying for their benefit that Dumbo is not part of RDCT in case they were unaware.

- Dreams

No problem. Thx for clarifying Dreams.

 

[KCmike]

Wow this is a tough one. Personally I like 1) RDCT, 2) Fantasmic!, and 3) WOC in that order but I wouldn't want to miss any of them.

RDCT needs to be seen from the hub. Which actual dates are you going? I've heard that Fantasmic! might be down for some days again.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

Also, if you want to see the fireworks from the Hub and see F! the same night, you can do the fireworks first and than see the 2nd show of F!. This is a plan that a lot of people would do if they want to see both shows at a good spot on the same night. The only bad part of doing this is that you might not get a sitting spot at the ROA. If you are really fast or it is not a busy day, you can get a spot at the sitting area. That's why you do the Light Tower Trick which is a good way to save some time for a spot for the show or show up late.

As someone who always does just that (fireworks followed by F!), it is 100% doable, but you have to be willing to stay late AND be willing to stand.

A couple of tips:
-While the light tower trick does work, another good vantage point that's usually empty is on the bridge above the POTC entrance (essentially, head for railings where you will stand, not places where people sit since those are usually taken and that is where a number of people head first).
-Make sure to get a "seat" for fireworks near the sidewalk (preferably close to either the castle or the entrance to Frontierland). It allows you to make a quick getaway at the end of fireworks without having to step over a lot of people.
-Be patient (as in don't push and shove...you never know who you're going to end up standing next to while waiting for F! to begin) and don't try to cheat the system by walking down the "wrong side" of Frontierland to the ROA area (unless you want to annoy CMs and get sent back to the entrance of Frontierland, in which case, have fun with that ).

 

[OrthoDad]

I vote Fantasmic....there is nothing like it!

 

[jessredrabbit]

First off I would think about when would be the next time you get to return to Disneyland.. if it is not for a while I would see RDCT, the reason being because it was created for the 50th anniversary and we have been lucky to have it back for the last few years as it was not supposed to be a recurring show. However, Fantasmic we all can assume will be around for a while.

But honestly why choose? See RDCT first then rush over to get a spot for Fantasmic. You don't want to see Fantasmic first as you will miss all the cool special effects that RDCT encompasses. I won't give it away but you can't see 90% of the show from The Rivers of America. Also, if you do decide to see Fantasmic first you have to camp out longer to get a good spot whereas the second show is less crowded and everyone has to wait for the first show to clear out before you can get a good spot. Hope this helps!

 

[damaris13]

I'm looking for this lighttower you all are talking about, but I can't find it on the map. We're going over the summer and will see Magical. Will we be able to see Dumbo and Tink from the light tower?

Also, would we have time to go from Fantasmic to this location if we saw F! first?

 

[starshine514]

-Be patient (as in don't push and shove...you never know who you're going to end up standing next to while waiting for F! to begin) and don't try to cheat the system by walking down the "wrong side" of Frontierland to the ROA area (unless you want to annoy CMs and get sent back to the entrance of Frontierland, in which case, have fun with that ).

Oh goodness! There's a "wrong side"?

 

[GrandBob]

I'm looking for this lighttower you all are talking about, but I can't find it on the map.

Light Tower Trick

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm looking for this lighttower you all are talking about, but I can't find it on the map. We're going over the summer and will see Magical. Will we be able to see Dumbo and Tink from the light tower?

Also, would we have time to go from Fantasmic to this location if we saw F! first?

You will not see Dumbo or Tink in a fireworks show from anywhere in the Fantasmic area. You will see the fireworks but none of the show elements. I think watching fireworks from the Fantasmic area is waste of time myself.

For the light tower location see

"Fantasmic! Superthread" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2671983

 

[damaris13]

Thank you! It looks like that light tower is close to the Golden Horseshoe, which is right around the corner from the Hub. If we choose to do the first F! from this spot, what are the chances of getting a decent spot just at the entrance to Frontierland or on the backside of the Tiki Room? Do we have time? I'm just thinking we're not going to make it to the later showing of F! with DD2. That will be our 3rd night in CA, and we're from the East Coast. That's getting close to midnight for us. We'll have had a late night the previous night with WOC.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thank you! It looks like that light tower is close to the Golden Horseshoe, which is right around the corner from the Hub. If we choose to do the first F! from this spot, what are the chances of getting a decent spot just at the entrance to Frontierland or on the backside of the Tiki Room? Do we have time? I'm just thinking we're not going to make it to the later showing of F! with DD2. That will be our 3rd night in CA, and we're from the East Coast. That's getting close to midnight for us. We'll have had a late night the previous night with WOC.

Sorry, you are seeing the first or second Fantasmic show?

 

[HydroGuy]

Oh goodness! There's a "wrong side"?

Yes, you will know it when you see it. There are two flows of foot traffic setup by the CMs after Fantasmic. One going towards Frontierland and one leaving. If you are on the wrong side you will be walking into oncoming foot traffic. Sort of like driving on the wrong side of the road in order to "save time".