Fantasmic! Superthread - Or Everything You Need To Know About Fantasmic at Disneyland

[lsulindy]

How much is the show downgraded when the Mark Twain is closed? My daughter's scared of fireworks and we've never gone to the WDW show, but I was hoping to try to see the DL version now that she'll be 6. My dad has Parkinson's, so I'm thinking the dessert party would be our best option. But on the other hand, I hate to pay that much money for it if I'm not sure if DD is going to wind up scared and it won't even be a full show due to the closed Mark Twain.

 

[HydroGuy]

How much is the show downgraded when the Mark Twain is closed? My daughter's scared of fireworks and we've never gone to the WDW show, but I was hoping to try to see the DL version now that she'll be 6. My dad has Parkinson's, so I'm thinking the dessert party would be our best option. But on the other hand, I hate to pay that much money for it if I'm not sure if DD is going to wind up scared and it won't even be a full show due to the closed Mark Twain.

Hmmm. Just the MT? If the Columbia SS is working but not the MT then I would downgrade the show by 5%. If both CSS and MT are not participating I would downgrade the show by at least 25%.

Yes, overall the two contribute only 2-3 minutes worth of the total 23 minute show. So from a pure time point of view it is only 10%. But they are exclamation points to the show - sort of like a grand finale. So I would say a 25% loss if both are down.

 

[HydroGuy]

Now, this might have just happened because this family really wanted front-row seats, but my row of five seats held the four paying members of my party (with my non-paying toddler held on my lap) AND one 7yo boy from a family with the rest of the members sitting across the aisle from him. Luckily, this nice boy was seated next to my own 7yo, and they lightly and pleasantly interacted with each other a bit. Just wanted to note that some parties can be slightly separated.
I personally was frustrated at times standing waiting in a line to get seat assignments and then return to wait in another line to actually be permitted to take those seats, when the the entire time said seats were visible and empty and there were staff members present. I don't know if they just want to avoid having to serve drinks and such for a longer period or be responsible for monitoring us in the seats that long, but it felt insane to not be able to check in or take your seat when there was literally a CM standing there waiting, just as we were, for the appointed time to start checking people in. I'm fully willing to listen to explanations you guys have.

I am not sure what to explain as I do not understand what your issue was. You are saying you got your seat assignments but they would not let you go there and sit??? Which show were your assignments for? First or second?

 

[Disney Dreams]

Now, this might have just happened because this family really wanted front-row seats, but my row of five seats held the four paying members of my party (with my non-paying toddler held on my lap) AND one 7yo boy from a family with the rest of the members sitting across the aisle from him. Luckily, this nice boy was seated next to my own 7yo, and they lightly and pleasantly interacted with each other a bit. Just wanted to note that some parties can be slightly separated.
I personally was frustrated at times standing waiting in a line to get seat assignments and then return to wait in another line to actually be permitted to take those seats, when the the entire time said seats were visible and empty and there were staff members present. I don't know if they just want to avoid having to serve drinks and such for a longer period or be responsible for monitoring us in the seats that long, but it felt insane to not be able to check in or take your seat when there was literally a CM standing there waiting, just as we were, for the appointed time to start checking people in. I'm fully willing to listen to explanations you guys have.

I think you have to view it as arriving at a restaurant before they are truly open. Are there people inside? Yes. Are they there AT THAT TIME to serve you, attend to your needs, and make sure you have a stellar experience? No, not yet. The restaurant is not open yet. When you first arrived, to continue the analogy, the hostess was available to confirm your reservation and check you in, but the restaurant staff was not yet ready for your arrival because they were not open yet. Yes, there was a CM standing there, but there may be times when s/he may need to step away, or perhaps not everything is set up yet. Bottom line is that they are not ready for you to be there yet. It's just not time. They are not open for business yet.

That's about the best way to explain it.

HTH,
Dreams

 

[sunny45]

DH is a smoker so we will most likely want to be in section 12 for viewing especially if any length of time is necessary for waiting around

Are reservations needed for this area? Are there seats?

We are going Sept 1 thru Sept 6th so I don't know what times the show will be running while we are there yet. We may have to go Sunday, Monday or Friday.

 

[HydroGuy]

DH is a smoker so we will most likely want to be in section 12 for viewing especially if any length of time is necessary for waiting around

Are reservations needed for this area? Are there seats?

We are going Sept 1 thru Sept 6th so I don't know what times the show will be running while we are there yet. We may have to go Sunday, Monday or Friday.

F! will probably show nightly until the day after Labor Day.

There are no seats for F! except the ground or the dessert seating you pay for.

 

[sunny45]

F! will probably show nightly until the day after Labor Day.

There are no seats for F! except the ground or the dessert seating you pay for.

Thank you! Labor Day is Monday the 2nd which is why I assumed we would be going Sunday or Monday (Labor day) or maybe the following Friday if they have late hours that night.

How early should we arrive for that section? I know there are less and less smokers these days (and I wish DH would quit) but do people just deal with it to be able to see the show?

 

[HydroGuy]

Thank you! Labor Day is Monday the 2nd which is why I assumed we would be going Sunday or Monday (Labor day) or maybe the following Friday if they have late hours that night.

How early should we arrive for that section? I know there are less and less smokers these days (and I wish DH would quit) but do people just deal with it to be able to see the show?

It is not a very good spot to see the show. How early to arrive in the smoking section? I really don't know. Maybe someone else can help.

 

[sunny45]

It is not a very good spot to see the show. How early to arrive in the smoking section? I really don't know. Maybe someone else can help.

Thanks again. Unfortunately that is where we will be or he will be walking back and forth from where I am and that section which is ridiculous. It's just better we remain together.

Have a lot of time to figure it all out.

 

[Chereya]

If I wanted to check in for Fantasmic Dessert, then have dinner at Blue Bayou and come back to watch the show after dinner, what time should I make my PS for?

 

[HydroGuy]

If I wanted to check in for Fantasmic Dessert, then have dinner at Blue Bayou and come back to watch the show after dinner, what time should I make my PS for?

You will have to be more specific. Since you can't check in until 8PM, and the first show is at 9PM, there is not enough time for BB before the first show. If you are planning to get dessert seating for the last show at 10:30, then I suppose you could get your BB res at 8:15.

 

[Chereya]

You will have to be more specific. Since you can't check in until 8PM, and the first show is at 9PM, there is not enough time for BB before the first show. If you are planning to get dessert seating for the last show at 10:30, then I suppose you could get your BB res at 8:15.

I must be confused. So you line up at 6pm in order to check in at 8pm?

 

[ParkHopper1]

If I wanted to check in for Fantasmic Dessert, then have dinner at Blue Bayou and come back to watch the show after dinner, what time should I make my PS for?

Trust me...that would be ab absolutely BAD idea! The dessert box is quite a bit of food, and although it is dessert, the last thing you will want is to be full from a table service meal! I never schedule dinner within three to four hours of the show. You will want an appetite to enjoy the dessert box!

I try and do a big lunch and light dinner on Fantastic Dessert Seating nights.

But to answer your question...the check in process does not start till 8p... and it goes pretty quick once it opens at 8, then you have free up until showtime.

If you wanna be guaranteed the seat of your choice...say front row center...people seem to line up starting at 7p. On a busy day, if I want specific seats, I line up at 7-7:15...if I just want front row...then 7:15-7:30, but have lined up at 7:45 and still gotten front row...just depends on crowd and night. No bad seats, but if you have your heart set on something, then earlier the better!

 

[tiggerjay]

Just to update since I haven't seen this on the superthread yet, Cast Members are currently using section 3 for parking strollers to prevent people from camping out hours before the showing of F!

 

[HydroGuy]

I must be confused. So you line up at 6pm in order to check in at 8pm?

Have you read the first post in this thread? It explains all of this.

Some people line up at 6PM for an 8PM check in. Others just come at 8PM. But check-in is at 8PM. Please read post #1.

 

[Jaina]

Just to update since I haven't seen this on the superthread yet, Cast Members are currently using section 3 for parking strollers to prevent people from camping out hours before the showing of F!

Has anyone done F! recently that noticed this? When can/should we show up to wait for the sitting area?

 

[tchrrx]

I need to make our Fantasmic Dessert reservations tomorrow morning. However, I'll be in church when the time first becomes available. Should I have the GC book this for me, or is it ok to wait and call a few hours after it's first available?

If the GC needs to book it for me, how do I go about doing that?

Can it be booked online? If that's the case, then I could probably do it on DH's iPad before services begin.

Thanks!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I need to make our Fantasmic Dessert reservations tomorrow morning. However, I'll be in church when the time first becomes available. Should I have the GC book this for me, or is it ok to wait and call a few hours after it's first available?

If the GC needs to book it for me, how do I go about doing that?

Can it be booked online? If that's the case, then I could probably do it on DH's iPad before services begin.

Thanks!

If staying on site send a email to Vacation Planning with time and date, # of people, they will do it for you.

Jack

 

[HydroGuy]

If staying on site send a email to Vacation Planning with time and date, # of people, they will do it for you.

Jack

I believe they need your credit card number to book this so I am not sure just sending an email is enough. I would call.

Have you done it by email before, Jack?

 

[blackjackdelta]

I believe they need your credit card number to book this so I am not sure just sending an email is enough. I would call.

Have you done it by email before, Jack?

I guess I should have said more, you do have to have a CC and the funds are non-refundable, but they will make the reservation and send a confirmation number. I did include my phone # and they called me.

Jack