Fantasmic priority seating

[magicsparkles]

I am very excited about Fantasmic as there are parts of the show/things I have not seen yet. I was wondering what the proper etiquette is for the seating? I mean if someone in my party is kind of tall but we are willing to wait in line early to pick seats, would it still be okay to pick the front row? I don't want someone to be in the way of someone else...please help! Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[katejc]

I think if you wait in the line you get to choose whichever seats look best to you. However, it's always nice to acknowledge that someone smaller might be behind you. Sometimes just scooting one way or the other will make a clear view for all. The preferred seating is good--I've splurged on it twice and sat in the front one of those times, but had good views both times.

Have fun!

 

[ParkHopper1]

First come first serve at check in! The seats are grouped in 4 or 5 wide at most by three rows deep. If you wanna be nice, just put the tall ones at the end of the row and scoot out a bit. I always go for the front row, then we usually spread out a bit to make it more comfortable and give those behind us a bit more room to see between us. I love the seating and make sure that you have dinner way early and have a huge appetite, there is a ton of food in the dessert box. There is a great Fantasmic Superthread if you search.

 

[MenchieMan87]

How tall? I'm 6'4" and I completely shamelessly sat in the front row. I got there early, I earned it! Seriously though, I don't think it matters, I really didn't feel like I was blocking anyone or I wouldn't have done it.

Also, I didn't know this but even if you have a reservation you have to go to town hall at some point during the day and pick up your tickets. I left my gf in the line while I ran like a manic to town hall and back. (like that but running)

 

[pixiewings71]

Do you have the F! dessert seating booked? If not it's basically first come first sit. There is a certain area you will be asked to stand but mostly it's sitting room only. I have no problem with tall people sitting wherever they want, but it's always nice when they make sure the kids around them can see. DBF is 6'3", he's always making sure kids behind him can see ok.

I need to edit this a little......I mean if you don't have it booked already and can't get it it's first come first sit. If you've got it booked then no worries, check in and get whatever awesome seating you can. If others have small children they should be able to move around so everyone can see.....

 

[magicsparkles]

Thank you everyone! I feel better knowing what to be aware of now. =)

 

[Mama Who]

Papa Who is very, very tall. He says if someone short is seated behind him when we go he will offer to switch. His take is that he cannot justify making it hard for someone else who has also paid lots of money for the experience to see when it will cost him nothing to just trade seats and see over their head.

We've been blessed with a number of nice people at shows who have offered to let my little midget self stand in front of them and he feels morally obliged to pay that forward.

 

[PrncesKMW]

I've been going back and forth between doing the dessert package and just winging it. If I go to the show by myself, what are the odds of me going to the regular viewing area about half an hour in advance and squeezing in somewhere with an ok view?

 

[HydroGuy]

I've been going back and forth between doing the dessert package and just winging it. If I go to the show by myself, what are the odds of me going to the regular viewing area about half an hour in advance and squeezing in somewhere with an ok view?

For the early show, your odds are fair. For the late show (on nights with 2 shows) your odds are very good.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thank you everyone! I feel better knowing what to be aware of now. =)

Since we stayed at the GCH the last few years, the tickets were waiting for us when we checked in.

Jack

 

[ParkHopper1]

FYI, tickets can be picked up at any ticket booth, guest services, city hall, or front desk or concierge of a resort hotel if you are staying there.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

It's first come, first served based on when you can check in. We were behind 2 families checking in and my DD11 did end up getting blocked by someone very tall. Anyone who sat behind this person would have been blocked.

The seat next to me on the end was open though so I moved her there and even moved the chair over so she could see better. Actually we moved all the chairs apart. They were so close together we were bumping each other.

We just got back yesterday. We were 2nd row. I would say the Fantasmic dessert package experience was the best part of our Disneyland trip. We all loved it.

I picked up my tickets at City Hall because I also wanted to pick up our first time visit buttons.

We watched Fantasmic another evening for the late show and had no problems getting a front row railing area to stand which surprised me considering how crowded the parks were.

 

[helenb]

Since we stayed at the GCH the last few years, the tickets were waiting for us when we checked in.

Jack, did you have the dessert package the first night? We're checking in on a Saturday, but don't have the Fantasmic Dessert Package until Sunday. Will the tickets still be at the front desk? (We're staying at GCH.)

 

[HydroGuy]

It's first come, first served based on when you can check in. We were behind 2 families checking in and my DD11 did end up getting blocked by someone very tall. Anyone who sat behind this person would have been blocked.

The seat next to me on the end was open though so I moved her there and even moved the chair over so she could see better. Actually we moved all the chairs apart. They were so close together we were bumping each other.

We just got back yesterday. We were 2nd row. I would say the Fantasmic dessert package experience was the best part of our Disneyland trip. We all loved it.

I picked up my tickets at City Hall because I also wanted to pick up our first time visit buttons.

We watched Fantasmic another evening for the late show and had no problems getting a front row railing area to stand which surprised me considering how crowded the parks were.

When we did the dessert package last summer we were in the third row and the CMs told us we could move the chairs around however we liked and even stand up if we wanted to. Which we did a couple times.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Jack, did you have the dessert package the first night? We're checking in on a Saturday, but don't have the Fantasmic Dessert Package until Sunday. Will the tickets still be at the front desk? (We're staying at GCH.)

Even on the last night the tickets will be there if you booked and are staying there.

Jack

 

[Dobie]

Even on the last night the tickets will be there if you booked and are staying there.

Jack

Unless, of course, they can't find them and send you to City Hall in the Park, where after standing in line for 20 minutes you then have to stand at the counter while the CM calls the hotel and insists that the hotel has them, then you have to go back to the hotel and wait at check in again until they find them.

But the Dobies did get 5 magic fastpasses as a consolation prize...

 

[helenb]

Thanks for the tip, Dobie and Jack! I'll ask at check in. Hopefully they'll have them ready!!!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Unless, of course, they can't find them and send you to City Hall in the Park, where after standing in line for 20 minutes you then have to stand at the counter while the CM calls the hotel and insists that the hotel has them, then you have to go back to the hotel and wait at check in again until they find them.

But the Dobies did get 5 magic fastpasses as a consolation prize...

Glad we have not had that problem. But if I did I would have asked them to go get them. Your trip is getting closer.

Jack

 

[HappyHaunt]

To me this is like the WOC dining. You pay a pretty price to MAYBE get a great view. Last night we waited for the second showing of F! and just walked up and got a front rail seat. Wasn't hard at all, to me that was the way to go! We could always go buy goodies for much cheaper then that!

 

[HydroGuy]

To me this is like the WOC dining. You pay a pretty price to MAYBE get a great view. Last night we waited for the second showing of F! and just walked up and got a front rail seat. Wasn't hard at all, to me that was the way to go! We could always go buy goodies for much cheaper then that!

I always agreed with this sentiment. Until last year. The problem with the late showing is...well...it is late. After a day at DLR folks and especially kids have a hard time being alert and enjoying the show is harder.

Last year we did the dessert seating for the first show and I can tell you the experience is much better. One, we were fresher at 9PM than the late show. Plus we were comfortable. My then 15 year-old, who had seen F! 4-5 times previously told me after that he had never understood the story before last year. I chalk that up to the late hour we had seen it before, and less comfortable seating.