Fantasmic Premium Viewing Question

[my2mickeykids]

I have been reading past threads and see that people suggesting lining up at 7:30pm or earlier for the 9pm show. If we were to arrive around 8:30pm what would be the problem? Everyone gets a chair right? If you get there later do you risk not being able to see? DH won't want to pay for premium viewing if we have to line up that early or if last minute seats can't see the show very well.

Thank you!

 

[ConnieB]

Did you pay for the Fantasmic Dessert? I believe that is the only way that you have seats (except for curbs and makeshift seating). And yes, they are guaranteed because you paid, but getting there early means that you get the pick of the seats. In which case you really don't HAVE to get there 90 minutes ahead of time. I doubt there is a must arrive by time even, you paid, they're going to hold your seat and dessert even if you don't show. Seems that what a lot of people do is send one in their party to check in and save seats while the rest go on a few more rides and meet up close to show time.

Personally, I have never felt it worth $59 per person to have a chair and some goodies, lol. When I wanted goodies, I'd stop somewhere on Main Street and spend $10 instead of $60, and have enough sugar to keep me warm, lol. Or when we've been on a budget trip we either go without goodies or bring something from home, lol.

Now...if you did NOT pay for the special seating, and you don't want to find a spot and stand around waiting for 90 minutes....read this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2225094&highlight=fantasmic

Of course, realize that the more people who learn this trick the less effective it's going to be....but I believe it still works from the talk on this board recently.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I have and we pay for the comfort of the seat and do not care for the treats but take them back to the room where the get consummed over time. We will do it again this year.

Jack

 

[Boo Bear]

I love the premium seating with the desserts and drinks. The trays are well done and it's worth the price just to have a chair available for you if you arrive 15 min before the show. Families camp out 4 hours before hand so my view is that if you invest money in taking a trip to Disneyland, it's worth the price for Fantasmic dessert seating. Be sure to check in ahead of time to reserve which seats you want if they still allow you to do that. Don't forget your sweatshirts!

 

[DahliaRW]

There are two things. First, you line up to choose seats which happens at 8. You don't have to stay after that, you can go and come back anytime before the show and go sit. So, if nothign else, do rides in the NO area and go pick your seats at 8 (even if you don't wait, it'll take just a few minutes to run over and do so). Then go ride a couple more things and come back to sit when you want before the show.

If you wait until right before the show, you get a seat, but you might not get seats together, etc.

 

[nunzia]

Yep..as others have said, you only line up early to check in if you care where you sit..you have a seat regardless. One time we ended up in a back row and since I'm short I just sat there eating my snacks until the show began then stood at the back of the premium section to see better. Since the seating area is tiered from the crowd right behind it, my standing didn't block anyone's view. There was no problem doing this. The only time I really care where we sit is if little kids are with us. This past trip I lined up about an hour preshow..the rest of the group went and did stuff. As soon as I checked in I wandered off also..total time in line was no more than 15 minutes or so and we had front row seats center river..but this was January and the show didn't sell out..there were empty seats behind us.
As said..it is worth it for the CHAIR..when I was young I didn't mind camping out and sitting on the ground or whatever..it's amazing what a few years can do to your tolerance for that...

 

[my2mickeykids]

Thank you everyone for the responses! They were super helpful.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We are doing the F! seating for the first time in April.

Is the stand/booth easy to identify/find. I know people have posted that it is by the churro cart in front of the Haunted Mansion. I would hate to stand in a line that ends up being for popcorn.

TIA

 

[blackjackdelta]

We are doing the F! seating for the first time in April.

Is the stand/booth easy to identify/find. I know people have posted that it is by the churro cart in front of the Haunted Mansion. I would hate to stand in a line that ends up being for popcorn.

TIA

You can not miss it by the churro cart wikll be a podium with two CM in white shirts and black pants next to it. It is usually above where the chairs have been set up. Directly across from the HM.

Jack

 

[jacs1234]

When we had my mother and four kids with us, dh stood in line for hours to get front row and all us together. But when it was just the two of us, we rocked up at sign in time because we really didn't mind where we sat.

 

[Dobie]

I have done this once--last August. I lined up a little after 7:30 and had the Dobie's assignments by 8:05. We had great seats, three together, in the front row. Honestly, for just three of us it wan't that huge a deal. ..but we don't do Blue Bayou or Napa Rose, so this is our splurge.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I have done this once--last August. I lined up a little after 7:30 and had the Dobie's assignments by 8:05. We had great seats, three together, in the front row. Honestly, for just three of us it wan't that huge a deal. ..but we don't do Blue Bayou or Napa Rose, so this is our splurge.

I am amazed. When we were there, the first folks had been there since 1730(2 familys) by 1900 there were at least 30 people in line for both shows. I must have picked a bad day..I did not mind the wait, the rest of the family was out having fun.

Jack

 

[Dobie]

I am amazed. When we were there, the first folks had been there since 1730(2 familys) by 1900 there were at least 30 people in line for both shows. I must have picked a bad day..I did not mind the wait, the rest of the family was out having fun.

Jack

Or maybe we just had a good day! At any rate, it was fun and well worth the $$$. Of course, the Dobies are not very good waiters. . .

 

[blackjackdelta]

Or maybe we just had a good day! At any rate, it was fun and well worth the $$$. Of course, the Dobies are not very good waiters. . .

This coming August we are not going to wait. No one cares about the front row anymore and since there will be 7 of us, as long as we have a seat, we are good.

Jack

 

[Halloweenqueen]

You can not miss it by the churro cart wikll be a podium with two CM in white shirts and black pants next to it. It is usually above where the chairs have been set up. Directly across from the HM.

Jack

Thanks!

 

[Queenbillabong]

You can not miss it by the churro cart wikll be a podium with two CM in white shirts and black pants next to it. It is usually above where the chairs have been set up. Directly across from the HM.

Jack

If you get there before sign in time, the podium is not there. They bring it out at I believe 8:00 p.m. People line up before that, but it's still pretty hard to miss. There is only the one churro cart there, across from the popcorn stand - good snacking opportunities while waiting

 

[Raindown]

If you get there before sign in time, the podium is not there. They bring it out at I believe 8:00 p.m. People line up before that, but it's still pretty hard to miss. There is only the one churro cart there, across from the popcorn stand - good snacking opportunities while waiting

It is brought out before sign in time.

 

[Queenbillabong]

It is brought out before sign in time.

It's brought out when the CMs come to start the sign in/seat selection. It is not left there all the time.

 

[blackjackdelta]

They brought it out about 1900 last year. The year before so many people had arrived early they had to move the podiumn because it was interferring with the churro cart sales.

Jack

 

[Queenbillabong]

They brought it out about 1900 last year. The year before so many people had arrived early they had to move the podiumn because it was interferring with the churro cart sales.

Jack

That's funny! The first time we did it, there was no sign, no podium and I wasn't quite clear I was in the right place. I asked the CM at the churro cart and they didn't seem to know either. I figured it out after other people started lining up too

I'm not sure of the "time" the podium is brought (which is why I said "I believe"), just that it is brought by the CMs when they start to do seat selection - it's not there all the time, so if you go very early (6:00-6:30 like some people do), there will not be a podium to find yet.