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

[HydroGuy]

Does the reserved/dessert seating still sell out far in advance? I'll be there for 2 shows - the Monday night of Labor Day, and the following Friday night Sept 7. If we try for a decent seat the first night and don't get it, would I still be able to buy the reserved seating for the next weekend a few days out? (I want the first show.)

I'm leaning toward doing the reserved just so my kids can see and we don't waste hours waiting. Just struggling with the cost if there's a chance we can get decent sitting area seats because its low season.

My other question: How early to line up for reserved seating to get the first row during low season?

My experience is that the F! reserved seats do not all sell out in advance like they used to. I got mine on the one month mark but we had the possibility of a late addition to our group and I called a couple weeks befoer the show to see if we could add one and they still had space. This was for the show on July 22.

As for how early during off season to line up for seats to get first row, I do not know. Hopefully someone else can respond.

 

[gmi3804]

Fantasmic! is not on the schedule at all for the entire month of February, 2013. Is there some kind of refurb going on?

 

[DLR29]

Fantasmic! is not on the schedule at all for the entire month of February, 2013. Is there some kind of refurb going on?

The park hours and entertainment schedule for DLR hasn't even been released for September 25th, 2012...so it will be a while before they release anything for February. But there's no official Fantasmic refurb planned as of right now.

 

[gmi3804]

Fantasmic! is not on the schedule at all for the entire month of February, 2013. Is there some kind of refurb going on?

The park hours and entertainment schedule for DLR hasn't even been released for September 25th, 2012...so it will be a while before they release anything for February. But there's no official Fantasmic refurb planned as of right now.

Well, inasmuch as February 2012 had almost no Fantasmic! on the schedule either according to DIS's historical hours/entertainment schedule, I wondered if it was a February thing. Any insights?

 

[HydroGuy]

Well, inasmuch as February 2012 had almost no Fantasmic! on the schedule either according to DIS's historical hours/entertainment schedule, I wondered if it was a February thing. Any insights?

Fantasmic! shows are sensitive to other refurbs such as Rivers of America, the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Columbia Sailing Ship and Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

I can't remember what happened last February. Either last winter or the one before there were some upgrades to the projectors used in F!. If your question is whether F! goes down every February like a hiatus, the answer is "no".

 

[engo]

FWIW, the 9 o'clock show was sold out tonight.

 

[yaya74]

Can someone please elaborate on the option of dining at Riverbelle Terrace to see Fantasmic?

Q1: Is there usually a long time around 5-6pm? How early do I need to go there to get a good table? From my understanding, RBT does not accept dining reservation.

Q2: How good or poor is the view?

FYI, we will be in the park on Friday, Nov 2.

Thank you all for helping!

 

[AndyR]

My experience is that the F! reserved seats do not all sell out in advance like they used to. I got mine on the one month mark but we had the possibility of a late addition to our group and I called a couple weeks befoer the show to see if we could add one and they still had space. This was for the show on July 22.

As for how early during off season to line up for seats to get first row, I do not know. Hopefully someone else can respond.

I've always seen ppl in line 30mins before the stated 'call back' time. In 3 attempts at getting front row, we've only been lucky once. Each time I've been in line 30 mins before seat assignment began (inc. off season).

 

[AndyR]

Just to keep things moving. Here's Murphy from 8/9/12:

Andy

 

[camilleg]

We saw the 10:30 showing of F! on Saturday night after watching the fireworks. We hurried right over to F! after the fireworks show which we watched from the top of the hub and found ourselves caught behind the rope drop. We couldn't get through from Zocala's as the rope drop extended the entire way over to the riverboat waiting area. We wished we'd been on the other side because it looked to us as if the only way in from Frontierland was along the walk way where the shops were. By the time we got thru the rope drop, people who'd gotten through, along with everyone who'd been waiting in the New Orleans area for the 2nd show, had already filled in most of the seating section and there wasn't space for our larger group, so we went up behind the light tower behind the control center. (We weren't there very long when one of the CM's started directing people to our area telling them that the light tower raised up during the show.) Most of our group had pretty good views but for those right in back of the middle post and just to the side of it the view of the stage was obstructed. I'd definitely recommend being at least 2 ft to either side.

 

[papamouse1]

The park hours and entertainment schedule for DLR hasn't even been released for September 25th, 2012...so it will be a while before they release anything for February. But there's no official Fantasmic refurb planned as of right now.

Just FYI... the official schedule is consistently released 6 weeks in advance, so check it out 6 weeks before you are going.

 

[AZwldcats]

Here are our Dessert trays from 10/6.

They were pretty good. Wife keeps joking she wants one shipped to her now... lol

 

[poohj80]

We didn't finish ours on 10/13 so we carried them on the plane ride home for a snack (thanks to the person who suggested bringing a bag to carry them out!). Boy, were we the envy of folks sitting around us!

I will admit we had some confusion on our night of Fantasmic. We used the Disneyland Vacation Planning Services to make our dining and Fantasmic reservations. On the itinerary we received when we checked into the Grand CA, it stated we should check-in for Fantasmic near the New Orleans Square train station which was incorrect. We finally found the correct reservation check-in line. After selecting our seats, we were told to come back at 8:30. They never told us that since we were seated near the center, we needed to enter down the stairs farther down from the reservation area. By the time they allowed folks to start being seated, the area was super crowded and walkways were one way only (unfortunately going the wrong way for where we needed to be). It took us almost 15 minutes to manuever through the people to go back to the Treehouse before we could make a U-turn down in front of Pirates to get where we needed to be. By the time we arrived, there were other people in our seats. We were told they oversold seats and would bring down extra chairs. They ended up moving the other people since we had checked in first.

It was a great show and DD agreed better than WDW!

 

[sky13]

I was planning to do the Fantasmic dessert package on Oct 27. When I called two days ago (less than 2 weeks before the show) I was told that there was still space for both the 9pm and 10.30pm shows.

Do you think this means that this is off-season (so probably not worth doing the dessert package for the preferred seating) - the impression I got from reading through this thread and others is that the dessert package works best when it is really crowded?

 

[papamouse1]

I was planning to do the Fantasmic dessert package on Oct 27. When I called two days ago (less than 2 weeks before the show) I was told that there was still space for both the 9pm and 10.30pm shows.

Do you think this means that this is off-season (so probably not worth doing the dessert package for the preferred seating) - the impression I got from reading through this thread and others is that the dessert package works best when it is really crowded?

This is correct. Even with the dessert package, yo have to show up an hour or so before the show just to get your seat assignment. You could spend that same amount of time, and get a pretty good seat... and you could use the advice given here to get a great seat at the 2nd show.

I think the only real value the package has during slower season is it "guarantees" a solid seating (even the back row in the area looks pretty good IMO...)

BTW, touringplans has Oct 27th as a 7.1 at Disneyland, so wouldn't really call that a slow night

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

I was planning to do the Fantasmic dessert package on Oct 27. When I called two days ago (less than 2 weeks before the show) I was told that there was still space for both the 9pm and 10.30pm shows.

Do you think this means that this is off-season (so probably not worth doing the dessert package for the preferred seating) - the impression I got from reading through this thread and others is that the dessert package works best when it is really crowded?

Don't confuse the very expensive dessert seating having openings with the general area not being that crowded. A couple recent trip reports have had the F! showings very crowded now that they are weekends only, specifically that first show. (I can't tell if you have the type of group that could stay up late.) So I know one DISer was more than happy to be up in the seats while people were packed like sardines below her (and some of them in less than happy moods because of it). At $50/60 a seat, F! will have openings because don't want to pay that much extra to see F!--but they still are going to the show. That doesn't mean you have to get the dessert package to see the show or get a decent seat, but I would expect a serious time commitment for good viewing--more time than for the check-in for the dessert seating. So, you need to spend money or time...or go for views that aren't the "best."

 

[sky13]

Thanks for the replies!

Am planning to go to the second showing (as I would like to see fireworks on the castle if possible) - so am hoping that it will be possible to get a semi-decent spot for the second showing without spending hours waiting or getting the dessert package!

Was originally thinking of the dessert package as wanted to get decent seats this is probably going to be my only chance to see Fantasmic for a long time as I live too far away (last time I went to Disneyland in Anaheim was over 15 years ago!)...

 

[papamouse1]

Just booked our party for Nov 20th first show. Luckily, we will be in DL park on Sunday, so we'll watch fireworks and parade then so we won't be rushed after Fantasmic. This was my final booking for our week.. Can't Wait!!

 

[tchrrx]

- The Mark Twain Riverboat will be down for refurb during our trip. Is this an important part of the show?

- I will call 1 month ahead of time at 8 a.m. to book our dessert package. On the day of the show, I need to get in the check in line around 5:30. I should be able to check in by 6, and then will be free to go ride rides or whatever until around 8. When I return at 8, I should find myself in the front row b/c I checked in early. Is this right at all?!?

- I would like to watch the fireworks (March, so it should be Remember), but I won't have a wonderful view. Which will be the easiest time to leave without being crushed in the crowds: Immediately after Fantasmic or after the fireworks? We are doing this on our first day, and will have been up for many, many hours. The easier leaving is, the better! What pathways are the easiest to exit from? Any shortcuts or less crowded routes?

 

[papamouse1]

-
.... I will call 1 month ahead of time at 8 a.m. to book our dessert package. On the day of the show, I need to get in the check in line around 5:30. I should be able to check in by 6, and then will be free to go ride rides or whatever until around 8. When I return at 8, I should find myself in the front row b/c I checked in early. Is this right at all?!?

Yes, the best chance is to book first available day you can (30 days out @8AM PST)

As far as the rest of your assessment, unless something has changed recently, this would not be accurate.

In the past, they really didn't let you even start lining up in check in until 6PM. Then at 8PM, they will open up reservations so you can check in and secure the seat you want. Then if you are booked for 1st showing, it's been reported they may even let you go at that time to your seat. Other wise, you come back at least 15 minutes prior to your showing time to get to your seat.