Fantasmic premium viewing ( dessert box) ?

[pearl12970]

I called few hours back to check if they still had seats available for both shows of Fantasmic on Sept26 ( Sunday) . We arrive on that day and it will be the only day we will be able to catch the show , since it's scheduled on weekends only.We leave on Friday.
So when I calked, I was told that they have just 6 more seats fir the earlier show and ALL seats for later show are available.
We plan to catch the later show and wondering how the crowd situation for the later show of F! will be ? Do I still need to buy the premium viewing if I want to avoid crowds and staking out for hours just to get a good spot ? Or will the crowds for the later show be that less that we could probably get a good spot anyways ? Has anyone gone for the F! on Sundays in late September ? The fact that not a single seat is yet sold for the later show, got me thinking .....
We are traveling with a toddler so staking out for hours to get a good spot is NOT an option . I wouldn't mind buying the premium view seats but would be really upset if I find out that it's really not that crowded and I didn't really need to!! Sitting on a fence ...Just so confused

 

[GrandBob]

Here's the trick for the later show. Get to the Rivers of America area just before the first show lets out -- 9:20 should do it. Hang out around there -- anywhere between Riverbelle Terrace and Haunted Mansion, perhaps around POTC. When the first show finishes, most of the folks will stay in their places to see the fireworks. When the fireworks end at about 9:45, there will be a mass exodus. You should be able to get a good standing or sitting spot then. When we went last year at that time, we managed to put down our blanket at a river-front seat, right at 9:45. You then have prime spots, with about a half hour wait for the show to start.

HTH,
Bob

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

what bob says...

You can't stake out a spot "for hours" for the second show... the 1st show has to end, all those people have to leave (and many won't until the fireworks are done), and then you can get a place to sit for the second show--which starts (what, a half hour?) after the fireworks. I honestly don't think the dessert seating is very well advertised, and that really the benefit to it is for the 1st show anyway. I love it BTW, and think it is very worth it to have a chair and a good view for my dd... Keep in mind that going to the second show will make you feel like a salmon swimming upstream!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I would think alot depends on how the toddler tolerates being up so late. The 1st show will sell out just because of a time factor and it is a weekend showing only for your dates.

Jack

 

[Raindown]

The second show usually doesn't sell out. I think people just prefer seeing the earlier show so they can get to bed. I prefer the second show myself.

 

[grumpyskirtgirl]

We went that exact same weekend last year and had tickets for the later showing. There was not an empty seat.
This year we are buying tickets again for the same Sunday you are talking about, but the earlier show.

I am just praying that Murphy is up and running!!!

 

[farmfresh]

Just a note that the Sunday of that weekend is open to all pass holders (but Saturday isn't) so it might be a little bit busier as a result. (I only know because we'll be there too, but we're passing on Fantasmic this time round!)

With a small child, I would definitely go for the earlier, seated show.

 

[Eeee-va]

If I were paying to see the show, I'd want to go to the earlier show, just because you're saving a lot of waiting time that way. The first show is always crowded.

But if your toddler is OK with staying up late (some are), then you should be able to get a spot for the later show as others described. My only concern is that the crush of the crowds can get a little intimidating when the first show gets out. Worst case, if your party is big enough, you could wait somewhere with the toddler while another member/s of your party puts out a blanket (then you just show up a few minutes later, when the crowds have cleared).

Despite blockouts, I don't think the second showing Sunday night will be terribly busy. A lot of locals have work on Monday and can't stay at the parks until 11 PM.

So anyway, if you actively want to do the second show and are on the fence about spending the money, I'd have to lean toward just going to the second show without a package.

Have a great trip!

 

[pearl12970]

I was considering the earlier show ( 9pm) but realized I won't be able to make it to the hub in time to watch the fireworks which start at 9:30 pm. We have just that one day during our entire stay to catch both - Fantasmic & Fireworks.

 

[pearl12970]

He's ok staying up that late provided he gets a nap in the afternoon.

I would think alot depends on how the toddler tolerates being up so late. The 1st show will sell out just because of a time factor and it is a weekend showing only for your dates.

Jack

 

[pearl12970]

Previously I was planning to get seats for the earlier F! Show and wait there to watch Fireworks.However I was told that the fireworks show is not that good from that spot and I should watch it from the Hub . So I opted for second F! Show.

Here's the trick for the later show. Get to the Rivers of America area just before the first show lets out -- 9:20 should do it. Hang out around there -- anywhere between Riverbelle Terrace and Haunted Mansion, perhaps around POTC. When the first show finishes, most of the folks will stay in their places to see the fireworks. When the fireworks end at about 9:45, there will be a mass exodus. You should be able to get a good standing or sitting spot then. When we went last year at that time, we managed to put down our blanket at a river-front seat, right at 9:45. You then have prime spots, with about a half hour wait for the show to start.

HTH,
Bob

 

[pearl12970]

We want to watch the fireworks from the hub ( 9:30 ) and walk to RoA for F! which starts at 10:30 so I have just 30 minutes to get to RoA and settle down for Fantasmic. (This is our first visit to DL and want to watch fireworks from the best spot). That's not going to leave us any time at all to get a good spot for F! , is it ( even with less crowds)?

Please advice...

 

[blackjackdelta]

We went that exact same weekend last year and had tickets for the later showing. There was not an empty seat.
This year we are buying tickets again for the same Sunday you are talking about, but the earlier show.

I am just praying that Murphy is up and running!!!

I guess you mean this guy

Jack

 

[CaseyK]

We are in the EXACT same position as you. We arrive on Sept 25 so our first day in the park is Sept 26- only day for both fireworks and F! We are going to try and catch the later show of F! after the fireworks and hope that we can get a decent spot on RoA. I can't stomach the price of reserved seating for 3 adults and one child (plus my little guy who is 22 months). We may get DH to run ahead and find a spot for us after the fireworks so that my mom and I can take our time fighting the crowds with the stroller and kids. I also did not want to buy the dessert in case my kids were done and cranky for the show. They should be okay if we nap at the hotel in the afternoon.

It sounds like we are going to have very similar trips- same time, kids who don't like to sit and eat (I remember from an earlier post), and one night to get to see both fireworks and F!

 

[Eeee-va]

I was considering the earlier show ( 9pm) but realized I won't be able to make it to the hub in time to watch the fireworks which start at 9:30 pm. We have just that one day during our entire stay to catch both - Fantasmic & Fireworks.

If that's the case and it's in your budget, and if Fantasmic! is a high priority, then I'd strongly consider the dessert/reserved seats after all. You may be able to get adequate spots for Fantasmic! after fireworks (that might even be likely)--but you'd have to be pretty lucky to get GOOD spots.

(That said, the fireworks can be canceled due to wind which would mean that you did all that waiting, and reserving, without need. )

 

[pearl12970]

Oh no how often does that happen ?

(That said, the fireworks can be canceled due to wind which would mean that you did all that waiting, and reserving, without need. )

 

[Eeee-va]

Oh no how often does that happen ?

I don't know any numbers and I searched the board but couldn't find any posts that really said. Maybe someone should start a thread!

But long story short, they can be canceled due to high elevation winds. You'll know it's a significant risk if they start announcing that due to high elevation winds, the fireworks may not occur. That said, they often run the show after that announcement (though, often, they don't). Sometimes they wait a few minutes after the scheduled start time, hoping the winds die down enough to pull it off.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851 does state "In the summer of 2006 the fireworks were cancelled on consecutive nights on several occasions. Although this does not usually happen, during one stretch they were cancelled five times over a one-week period." The idea in that thread is to see the fireworks as early as possible in your trip, but that doesn't help you one bit.

For my own experience, in November 2005, I think it was, we were at DLR 3 nights, and the RDCT fireworks actually only ran one night, after a delay. They ran the "high elevation winds" announcement I believe all nights.

In June 2009, I think they attempted to run the "Believe" fireworks all 4 nights we were there, but they cut off in the middle the first night--again after a "high elevation winds" announcement and also a delay. Not relevant for RDCT, but the second night, Dumbo didn't fly. We weren't right in the hub to hear the announcement on that or other days, but I think it went off the other 2 nights (the third night, Dumbo DID fly).

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We've seen the fireworks and the 2nd F! on the same night a few times and our only time with the dessert seating was this past 4th of July *2nd show* you should research the "light tower trick" ~ it's a great way to get a great view of the 2nd F! show.

 

[Heymy]

We just did the dessert seating this past Sunday with a 5 & 3 year old. I can't imagine keeping them up for the later show and that was with naps. We stayed in our seats to watch the fireworks and I thought the view was pretty good. Sure it's not smack dab in the middle of the hub...but we definitely got the experience and didn't have to wait for it. We could see Tink & Dumbo through the trees. If I could afford it, we'd do this every trip...it was awesome...even without Murphy

 

[gethane]

Bummer, I waited too long to call and couldn't get tix for the early show for either the 25th or 26th. Hopefully, I'll do a better job in December.