Fantasmic seating - Cafe Orleans?

[aGrandma]

Can anyone tell me what it's like to buy the Cafe Orleans dessert to get good seating at Fantasmic? How much does it cost per person? Is it worth it? If you do that, do you have reservations and definite seats or do you still have to go very early and wait?

There is a menu online and it shows Cafe Orleans dessert, and there are only a few items to choose from (maybe 3?) but on the website for seating for Fantasmic it says something about a variety platter of dessert items?

In all the times we've been to Disneyland we've never seen Fantasmic. I'd like to see it this time but don't know whether we should book seats in advance or just sit and wait for the show?

Thanks!

 

[sonnyjane]

Cafe Orleans is a table service in New Orleans Square, and once upon a time there was a Fantasmic! dessert package on the upper balcony. They no longer do this and have not for several years. You are simply looking at the dessert menu for the restaurant

Now, the Fanstamic! dessert seating is completely separate from Cafe Orleans. Here is the link to the Fantasmic! superthread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2671983

In that link, you will find the information about the dessert seating there. The price is $59 per person and includes drinks (non-alcoholic of course), a dessert box, and a guaranteed seat to the show.

 

[aGrandma]

WHOA! That is way too rich for me! I'll take my chances sitting on the ground! Thanks for the great information though!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

You can find tables and seating at the River Belle Terrace if you dont like sitting on the ground, but they can be occupied quite ahead of show time. You can get food from anywhere else in the area and bring it here which is nice if you have to wait long for the show.

Sight lines may not be the greatest at all tables, especially for the short set.

 

[hootey]

Had the same idea several years ago myself. My family loved it. We had dinner & dessert, then warched the show. We were there in april this year and quite hoestly it was horrible, watching the Fantasmic show that is. The food and service were great. The view of the show was horrible. In years past, DL security has always controlled were people could sit or stand for the show, obviously not anymore. All they cared about in april was the reserved seating area for the show. People climbed upon the planters and retaining walls like a bunch of monkeys, this of course blocks the view from cafe ouside seating area. About ten minutes into the show, several people climbed up on the railing around the patio area of the cafe & stood there blocking our view almost entirely. I asked them to move because they were blocking our view. I was told they paid the same price I did to get in the park, I could go you know what myself. I walked over to the entrance to the cafe where a yellow jacketed security(?) guy was standing. I told him what happened & he looked at me with a bored look & told me they had the same right I did to watch the show. A couple years ago that would not have happened. The DL staff did not let people on the planters, let alone stand on the retaining walls . This year they did not. Were we there during a bad week? Were they training a new event staff? I don't know.
Cafe Orleans patio seating for the Fantasmic show? I would not bother. The food and service at the cafe is great. During the day and evening the view of "Pirate Island", the Columbia, and the paddlwheel are great. When the show starts you don't ant to be there.

 

[sonnyjane]

Had the same idea several years ago myself. My family loved it. We had dinner & dessert, then warched the show. We were there in april this year and quite hoestly it was horrible, watching the Fantasmic show that is. The food and service were great. The view of the show was horrible. In years past, DL security has always controlled were people could sit or stand for the show, obviously not anymore. All they cared about in april was the reserved seating area for the show. People climbed upon the planters and retaining walls like a bunch of monkeys, this of course blocks the view from cafe ouside seating area. About ten minutes into the show, several people climbed up on the railing around the patio area of the cafe & stood there blocking our view almost entirely. I asked them to move because they were blocking our view. I was told they paid the same price I did to get in the park, I could go you know what myself. I walked over to the entrance to the cafe where a yellow jacketed security(?) guy was standing. I told him what happened & he looked at me with a bored look & told me they had the same right I did to watch the show. A couple years ago that would not have happened. The DL staff did not let people on the planters, let alone stand on the retaining walls . This year they did not. Were we there during a bad week? Were they training a new event staff? I don't know.
Cafe Orleans patio seating for the Fantasmic show? I would not bother. The food and service at the cafe is great. During the day and evening the view of "Pirate Island", the Columbia, and the paddlwheel are great. When the show starts you don't ant to be there.

While I certainly don't agree with the way those guests confronted you, I don't think you (or anyone seated at CO) should have an expectation of a good view of Fantasmic!. As a restaurant guest, there is no promise of a view of Fantasmic!, and it certainly isn't advertised as being a place to get a good view of the show. The Fantasmic! viewing area is pretty clearly cordoned off, and if I was a guest at DL, I wouldn't feel entitled to a view good view of a show if I wasn't inside that area. For that reason, I don't think the CM's you complained to could have or should have done anything. Obviously if someone is climbing something that isn't safe, then security should step in, but otherwise I would recommend (and have previously on these boards) that guests not sit at Cafe Orleans and expect to have a good view of Fantasmic!, since there will be many, many, MANY guests standing in front of them.

 

[HydroGuy]

While I certainly don't agree with the way those guests confronted you, I don't think you (or anyone seated at CO) should have an expectation of a good view of Fantasmic!. As a restaurant guest, there is no promise of a view of Fantasmic!, and it certainly isn't advertised as being a place to get a good view of the show. The Fantasmic! viewing area is pretty clearly cordoned off, and if I was a guest at DL, I wouldn't feel entitled to a view good view of a show if I wasn't inside that area. For that reason, I don't think the CM's you complained to could have or should have done anything. Obviously if someone is climbing something that isn't safe, then security should step in, but otherwise I would recommend (and have previously on these boards) that guests not sit at Cafe Orleans and expect to have a good view of Fantasmic!, since there will be many, many, MANY guests standing in front of them.

SJ is quite right about CO and the view (or non-view) of Fantasmic.

Now, the Fanstamic! dessert seating is completely separate from Cafe Orleans. Here is the link to the Fantasmic! superthread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2671983

The F! Superthread discusses the CO option for F! and tells you it is not a good option. For anyone else out there wondering...