Fantasmic Seating

[friendoffigment]

Gathering info for my first DL visit. Does Fantasmic have actual seats or bleacher type seats to watch the show, like WDW. I heard it's standing or sitting on ground.

 

[BrianL]

Gathering info for my first DL visit. Does Fantasmic have actual seats or bleacher type seats to watch the show, like WDW. I heard it's standing or sitting on ground.

There are no seats like at Hollywood Studios. It is a terraced viewing area right on the water and generally standing. People closer to the front do often sit on the ground.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Gathering info for my first DL visit. Does Fantasmic have actual seats or bleacher type seats to watch the show, like WDW. I heard it's standing or sitting on ground.

No, everyone sits on the ground. Its a sloped concrete area in front of the railings which is divided into 3 sections by tape on the ground and rope barriers.

The only people in the front section viewing areas who can stand are the people at the back of the viewing areas who are with people in wheelchairs or ECV.

There is a seated chair area behind the viewing areas which is reserved for VIP tours.

Then behind the VIP seating area is the standby section where people stand.

 

[scrappinginontario]

How long before each showing (early and late) do you recommend guests arrive to find a spot? I'm helping friends prepare for their first DL trip and they will be there in mid-July so there are 2 showings of Fantasmic.

TIA!

 

[LKing]

There is a large Fantasmic Thread. Updates about the current show and dining packages start around page 24. https://www.disboards.com/threads/fantasmic-thread.3936261/page-24

I'll add that River Belle Terrace Restaurant offers a premium dining package ($89). It includes dinner (at 7:15 pm) and viewing of Fantasmic (at 9 pm) from your dining table on their patio. The patio has a good view of Fantasmic, but does not have a good view of the fireworks that immediately follow Fantasmic. It you are interested in the RBT premium package, there is very limited seating and it sells out within a minute or two.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

How long before each showing (early and late) do you recommend guests arrive to find a spot? I'm helping friends prepare for their first DL trip and they will be there in mid-July so there are 2 showings of Fantasmic.

TIA!

For one of the standard dining package viewing areas, my preference is by the water, at the railings. They open the viewing areas around 8.pm for the first show. People will start gathering, and forming a pre line up from about 7.pm. I go to Disneyland the last week in June every year and I have done Fantasmic dining packages almost every year for over 10 years.

 

[LKing]

How long before each showing (early and late) do you recommend guests arrive to find a spot? I'm helping friends prepare for their first DL trip and they will be there in mid-July so there are 2 showings of Fantasmic.

TIA!

Did you say that there are four people? Seniors who are visiting for the first (and last) time? Do they care if they sit in the front or are they happy sitting in the back (maybe 7-8 rows back)?

There is a queue to be seated (by Harbour Galley). They walk the people in line down to the seating area around 7:45 pm. My recommendation would be to be in line before then. Once you have your seats, people can leave to use the restroom, pick up snacks, etc. and re-enter the reserved seating area. I'll warn you, however, the entire Fantasmic viewing area becomes extremely crowded. If you aren't familiar with the layout of Disneyland (ie. to find the restrooms), with all of the roped off areas, it is easy to get lost.

Edit to add: It is less crowded for the late show. However, Harbour Galley is at the far end of the seating area and it is a little difficult to get to the line up area while other people are watching the first show or fireworks. It is, however, MUCH easier to get there while everyone is in place and watching the show compared to trying to swim upstream as all of the Fantasmic/fireworks viewers are trying to leave.

 

[twodogs]

How long before each showing (early and late) do you recommend guests arrive to find a spot? I'm helping friends prepare for their first DL trip and they will be there in mid-July so there are 2 showings of Fantasmic.

TIA!

The person who answered above was referring to the reserved areas for the dining packages, so if your friends are doing stand by, hopefully someone comes here with that information on the timing.

If it is the BB package, we walked up last weekend at 8:45pm because my parents were having trouble walking quickly through the crowds, and we all got to sit together (party of 6), second “row” from the back of the seating area. The other dining area sections RZ and RB standard were much more full by 8:45pm. I do not want to pay that much for a dining package and then have to line up 2 hours before the show! But we didn’t want to be on the railing at all, and our view was excellent from where we were, arriving at 8:45pm for the 9pm show.

 

[nalababybear]

Gathering info for my first DL visit. Does Fantasmic have actual seats or bleacher type seats to watch the show, like WDW. I heard it's standing or sitting on ground.

Unclear if you're buying a dining package or not.

No package....then standing only.
If package, the last row is allowed to stand. Otherwise sitting on concrete. We bring air cushions and they help tremendously.

The only sitting chairs is river belle premium dining package for 89$ pp.

 

[disneyfan150]

There is a queue to be seated (by Harbour Galley). They walk the people in line down to the seating area around 7:45 pm. My recommendation would be to be in line before then. Once you have your seats, people can leave to use the restroom, pick up snacks, etc. and re-enter the reserved seating area. I'll warn you, however, the entire Fantasmic viewing area becomes extremely crowded. If you aren't familiar with the layout of Disneyland (ie. to find the restrooms), with all of the roped off areas, it is easy to get lost.

I can't thank you enough for this information! We are DL newbies arriving in about a week. I have a standard dining package reservation at River Belle for 6:20. I wish the reservation was earlier, but too late now.

I feel like I am cramming for a test. My job got in the way of DLR planning!!!

ETA: Just read the F! thread. I feel like I should cancel my dining package, but my daughter really wants to try it. I guess we will just have to bail in line at River Belle if it is too long.

 

[LKing]

I can't thank you enough for this information! We are DL newbies arriving in about a week. I have a standard dining package reservation at River Belle for 6:20. I wish the reservation was earlier, but too late now.

I feel like I am cramming for a test. My job got in the way of DLR planning!!!

ETA: Just read the F! thread. I feel like I should cancel my dining package, but my daughter really wants to try it. I guess we will just have to bail in line at River Belle if it is too long.

You'll be fine. I was there on the first day that it opened so crowds were larger and the majority of people watching the show were Magic Key holders or people who went to the park specifically to see Fantasmic.

If you are free, you might check in with the hostess 20-30 min early and see if they can seat you (they did for us). If not, you can always do the Treehouse or walk through some of the Frontierland/Adventureland/NOS stores while you wait.

 

[disneyfan150]

You'll be fine. I was there on the first day that it opened so crowds were larger and the majority of people watching the show were Magic Key holders or people who went to the park specifically to see Fantasmic.

If you are free, you might check in with the hostess 20-30 min early and see if they can seat you (they did for us). If not, you can always do the Treehouse or walk through some of the Frontierland/Adventureland/NOS stores while you wait.

Thank you for the reassurance! Good to know that early seating may be possible at DL.

 

[torchlight]

The only sitting chairs is river belle premium dining package for 89$ pp.

Is this correct? Isn't there a reserved area with sitting chairs for people on the VIP Tour?