Fantasmic Seating - any bad seats?

[94bruin]

Debating whether or not to do the preferred seating. It is very spendy for our part of 4 adults + 1 child. When I told dh that we still have to check in early he (and I) didn't get why we would have to check in early. What if we were the last people to check in-are there bad seats in the preferred seating area?

Do you have to wait the entire time after you check in?

 

[LuLusApple]

There are not any terrible seats but there are "better" seats. There are 4 rows of seating, you could get stuck in the back or behind a tall seated person. There are rails and some posts that could obstruct your view.
Seats are assigned upon check in,so yes you do have to wait .We had PSs for 8/13 and at 5:50 I was the first in line! Woohoo and the line started to form. The podium arrives around 7 and they don't check in until 8 so I stood in line for 2 hours.

But only one of your group has to be there to choose seats, with everyones tickets. The rest of your group can go off and ride rides, but everyone has to be there to be seated.
So we checked in at 8 and had to be back around 830. Just enough time to park the stroller and manuever through the crowds.

But we had perfect front row seats. So I think it was completely worth it to stand in line to check in.
We will be doing this again

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

What would happen if you just staked out a good front and center spot around 5:50 instead? You could still have that one person wait on a blanket while the rest of your party went on rides. Or is it getting so crowded for F! that staking out a spot with a blanket at 5:50 wouldn't garner you a superior location?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Could my DH & I trade off waiting at the podium? Due to health problems neither of us can stand for 2 hours at a time. If we must, we could have our son & his GF wait, but I'd rather they be able to get in a few more rides.

 

[jkh1978]

seriously 2 hour wait? Or were you being on the safe side?

if there was no podium until 7, how'd the line start?

 

[blackjackdelta]

seriously 2 hour wait? Or were you being on the safe side?

if there was no podium until 7, how'd the line start?

We were there is past Thursday and there was a lady sitting on the ground by the post next to the churro cart. It was 1730. I asked her if she was waiting for the podium, she was the first person in the start of the line, I was next. The CM acknowledged our place but we still waited until 2000 for check in. The even moved the podium to furthur towards the middle since it was interferring with the churro cart line.

There was a long line for the 1st showing and many grumbling people, but we had front row center, the best seats yet. While I stood the others played.

Jack

 

[PinkBudgie]

Ok, now you are scaring me. The whole reason I would do the dessert is to not have to wait for hours for F! but it sounds like you still have to. Does it ever work out where groups have to split up because of where other people sit? Like DH on one side and DW on the other?

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Oh man, that is a long time to wait! I just booked the dessert seating for September, but sure wasn't planning on waiting in line for over 2 hours to check in....

 

[LuLusApple]

When I got in line or started the line at 5:50, it was purely because we were over at that side of the park at that time. I was going to come back at 6:30 or 7. But DGD1 was asleep so I figured I would stand
at about 6:10 a man showed up and asked if I was in line for F! He said he has never been beat to the podium in the 15 years he's been watching F! All the CMs knew him too lol and confirmed he is always first. But not that night lol! He comes 2 weeks every summer with family and they have PSs for F! Every other night! Can you imagine? 7 nights of F! Lol
anyway that night he was running late he usually gets there about quarter to 6! we joked that we will be fighting each other every August for first in line
the man behind him told us he always gets ther. Around 6:15. So I think it must be getting around to people that the best seats go first
the CM told me they used to check in at 7, but some "unknowers" showed up late so now everyone has to wait till 8
but to me it was so worth it, the CMs are so nice and they were chatting with us the whole time. We are doing it again in October if F! Is still showing!

 

[jkh1978]

I don't need to be first. Is it that 2 groups show up too early, and everyone else waits about an hour, or is this something I should be concerned about? I'll wait an hour, but the whole reason I bought these tickets is so that I wouldn't have to wait as long as staking out a spot on the river. If I wanted to wait 2 hours, I'd just do that myself. And some are saying to get in line 2.5 hours early?!

 

[ballarinamom]

Yes you can trade off in line. Dh grabs fastpasses and rides Pirates with DD while I wait. Then I will ride HM with DD while he waits. We do the same for Santa at Christmas time or Pixie Hallow.
You could stake out a spot on a blanket but folks do not always respect your staked out space. Plus, it is hard for your group to get to you 10 minutes before F! starts. There will be lots of people to step over
Also, when you get your seat assignment you can leave and ride Splash or Pooh or BTMR before you want to get to your seats 5-10 minutes before the show starts.

 

[labattblue]

My 2 cents...the price is ridiculous enough, but when you tack on a two hour wait(it doesn't matter to me that it is just one person in your party) on the day of the show so you get front row seating, forget about it.

Why not just hand out seat assignments when making reservations over the phone?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Yes you can trade off in line. Dh grabs fastpasses and rides Pirates with DD while I wait. Then I will ride HM with DD while he waits. We do the same for Santa at Christmas time or Pixie Hallow.
You could stake out a spot on a blanket but folks do not always respect your staked out space. Plus, it is hard for your group to get to you 10 minutes before F! starts. There will be lots of people to step over
Also, when you get your seat assignment you can leave and ride Splash or Pooh or BTMR before you want to get to your seats 5-10 minutes before the show starts.

Thanks for the info. Hopefully, we can find a place for one of us to sit, while the other waits in line.

 

[GrandBob]

Why not just hand out seat assignments when making reservations over the phone?

Totally agree! I just don't get why they don't do this, eliminating the long waits.

Also, how difficult would it be for them to add some risers? That way the last 3 rows would have a good view over the seats in front of them.

Come on, Disney, give us some value for the $59! As it is now, I just don't see the value, and probably would never pay it. But given the two changes above...

 

[blackjackdelta]

Totally agree! I just don't get why they don't do this, eliminating the long waits.

Also, how difficult would it be for them to add some risers? That way the last 3 rows would have a good view over the seats in front of them.

Come on, Disney, give us some value for the $59! As it is now, I just don't see the value, and probably would never pay it. But given the two changes above...

I asked the lead CM very similar questions and appears they are going to stick to the format they have. Good luck with the other seating, there were a lot of unhappy people when they closed the lower seating areas.

Jack

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I asked the lead CM very similar questions and appears they are going to stick to the format they have. Good luck with the other seating, there were a lot of unhappy people when they closed the lower seating areas.

Jack

Happy belated birthday, Jack! Can you explain a bit more what you meant about closing the lower seating area?

 

[Disney Dreams]

Happy belated birthday, Jack! Can you explain a bit more what you meant about closing the lower seating area?

Because Jack is on vacation, I thought I would offer some help on this question. Of course, jack can add his own reply when he signs on next.

Once the lower seating area fills up and there are no more availlable spots for anyone to sit, they close off the entry points to the lower area by placing a rope across the entry point (along with a CM to answer questions and let guests in the seating come and go) as there is no point in any additional guests going down there because it is full.

...Also, how difficult would it be for them to add some risers? That way the last 3 rows would have a good view over the seats in front of them.

Having worked in Special Event Planning for 10 years, I just don't see risers making sense in this location. Once you see the set up, you will see that it would be quite involved to add risers. First, the chairs get set up and taken down EVERY day. If you have to add risers to that, you are adding to the labor intensity of the set-up process. Also, from a safety perspective, for them to set up risers that are large enough for guests to sit on them, would be quite involved.

Come on, Disney, give us some value for the $59! As it is now, I just don't see the value, and probably would never pay it. But given the two changes above...

For those who want a chair, or want to sit in a reserved area, or do not want to camp out for a seat (which is NOT necessary although some do chose to do so), the reserved area is perfect. The treats, the beverages, and let's face it, the VIP treatment that some people love are all value-added elements that can be received for $59. Is it worth it? As with everything, only each individual person knows the answer to that question.

 

[LuLusApple]

Dreams, I so agree with you!
I think if anyone watched how much labor goes into that whole set up, from setting up the chairs to bringing out all the catering. Adding another element would surely raise the price. Plus adding risers would probably equal taking out a row of seating just to accomadate risers. Those seats are crammed in there with very little wiggle room.
Which of course would mean less seating and equal more demand. So there goes the price
I love the VIP treatment, those CMs are the best. You don't have to ask for anything, it's the best service I have ever recieved. And I have eaten at some hoity toity places! Lol
Huge value!!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Once the lower seating area fills up and there are no more availlable spots for anyone to sit, they close off the entry points to the lower area by placing a rope across the entry point (along with a CM to answer questions and let guests in the seating come and go) as there is no point in any additional guests going down there because it is full.

So, if people bought these tickets, but the area is closed, where do they go? Do they get to sit in chairs in another area? Where is that?

I've just nevered paid any attention to this before.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

So, if people bought these tickets, but the area is closed, where do they go? Do they get to sit in chairs in another area? Where is that?

I've just nevered paid any attention to this before.

I am pretty sure they are talking about when general areas fills up with people that are staking out spots (not the dessert seating that you pay for).