Fantasmic Thread!

[twodogs]

We did the BB Fantasmic package last night. We could not get to the reserved area until almost right at 8:45pm because my parents can’t walk quickly anymore, especially not in the dark and in the crowds. We were a group of 6 adult sized people, and we all got to sit in a row together, one row of people back from the back of the area. We didn’t want to sit on the rail and get splashed, so this was perfect! I was worried we would have to sit in smaller groups since we got there so late, but it worked fine.

One couple and a small child came in right before the show started, and they sat together (although a family with small kids who had a blanket set up on the back row of the area did get upset and ask them to squish over so that they would still have an entire empty “row” in front of them so their kids had a better view). I thought this was not very nice, as everyone in that area paid a lot to be there, and you know it is going to be full. You can’t expect every one to sit in rows except for the “row” that would be in front of you, keeping that empty so you have the better view. But alas, that is how some people operate these days. It was just jarring because I figure you have to expect someone is going to fill in that space if that is the only space left (and it was). The folks were pretty vocal about it, so the couple just squished together off to one side so as not to sit in front of that entire party of adults and kids.

 

[Artygal90]

Glad a later arrival worked out for you! How were the standby crowds last night? I saw footage of the crowds on opening night with people camping out starting 4-5 hours before showtime and standing shoulder to shoulder by 9 p.m. It looked crazyyyyy and super stressful to navigate even with a dining package. I'm hoping it won't be quite so packed once the show has been running for a few weeks.

Also, did you happen to notice where people in the dining package areas parked their strollers during the show? These were things I never had to think about before I had a baby....I can't imagine they allow valuable real estate to be taken up by strollers when it could go to more $89+ dining package seats(?) but I also don't know where else they could put them so they could stay accessible to families after the show.

We did the BB Fantasmic package last night. We could not get to the reserved area until almost right at 8:45pm because my parents can’t walk quickly anymore, especially not in the dark and in the crowds. We were a group of 6 adult sized people, and we all got to sit in a row together, one row of people back from the back of the area. We didn’t want to sit on the rail and get splashed, so this was perfect! I was worried we would have to sit in smaller groups since we got there so late, but it worked fine.

One couple and a small child came in right before the show started, and they sat together (although a family with small kids who had a blanket set up on the back row of the area did get upset and ask them to squish over so that they would still have an entire empty “row” in front of them so their kids had a better view). I thought this was not very nice, as everyone in that area paid a lot to be there, and you know it is going to be full. You can’t expect every one to sit in rows except for the “row” that would be in front of you, keeping that empty so you have the better view. But alas, that is how some people operate these days. It was just jarring because I figure you have to expect someone is going to fill in that space if that is the only space left (and it was). The folks were pretty vocal about it, so the couple just squished together off to one side so as not to sit in front of that entire party of adults and kids.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Also, did you happen to notice where people in the dining package areas parked their strollers during the show? These were things I never had to think about before I had a baby....I can't imagine they allow valuable real estate to be taken up by strollers when it could go to more $89+ dining package seats(?) but I also don't know where else they could put them so they could stay accessible to families after the show.

When we watched on Thursday there was a stroller in the very back of the section (last row) right behind us. I was really shocked as previously they definitely did not allow strollers in the section. You had to park your stroller outside the section. It was annoying as that stroller remained empty and took up a lot of space.

There were also some wheelchairs and scooters in the last row (with people seated in them). Seems like that row should be for wheelchairs and such and not for strollers.

 

[katyringo]

When we watched on Thursday there was a stroller in the very back of the section (last row) right behind us. I was really shocked as previously they definitely did not allow strollers in the section. You had to park your stroller outside the section. It was annoying as that stroller remained empty and took up a lot of space.

There were also some wheelchairs and scooters in the last row (with people seated in them). Seems like that row should be for wheelchairs and such and not for strollers.

Did it have a wheel chair tag by chance? The night I went there was a stroller in line and the CM noticed the wheel chair tag on it and said "since it has a wheel chair tag you can choose to take it with you or park it."

 

[twodogs]

Glad a later arrival worked out for you! How were the standby crowds last night? I saw footage of the crowds on opening night with people camping out starting 4-5 hours before showtime and standing shoulder to shoulder by 9 p.m. It looked crazyyyyy and super stressful to navigate even with a dining package. I'm hoping it won't be quite so packed once the show has been running for a few weeks.

Also, did you happen to notice where people in the dining package areas parked their strollers during the show? These were things I never had to think about before I had a baby....I can't imagine they allow valuable real estate to be taken up by strollers when it could go to more $89+ dining package seats(?) but I also don't know where else they could put them so they could stay accessible to families after the show.

There were no strollers or ECVs in the BB section for the first show last night. Now that we have late teens, I didn’t pay attention to the stroller parking!! Sorry!! But I don’t recall seeing any strollers at all in the dining package areas.

Late arrival might not work for the other two packages, as those areas were very, very full when we arrived at BB area at 8:45pm. BB definitely had less people than the other two package areas.

The crowds were thick and shoulder to shoulder for sure in the standby areas last night, but they did have wide walkways roped off all along that area, and we were able to walk to Harbor Galley (where you enter for the BB area) pretty easily. I was pleasantly surprised, as I recall in years past, the walk ways were just CM’s trying to herd people one way or another with flashlights or were very narrow. These were roped off from the stand by areas and were at least 4 people across wide for the walkways. I did think it was better to walk up on the bridge over Pirates to enter and exit the area for the packages, as that was also roped off with a wide walkway.

We stayed in the BB area for the fireworks, and they did require everyone to stand for fireworks. Some people left the reserved after Fantasmic, and then they removed the ropes around the reserved area before the fireworks started (only about a 3 minute gap for all of this), and some people from stand by came in to watch the fireworks. Most were respectful and didn’t try to get in front of the people who were already there from the dining package. They just stood behind the dining folks that chose to stay for fireworks.

We stood around for 5 minutes or so after the fireworks to let the crowds thin so my parents could try to get out without getting trampled. I think that was the right call, but there were still tons of people trying to get down the stairs into the area we were vacating. People were pushing strollers down the stairs right at us!! Finally CMs started to yell that the area was not going to be stand by for the second Fantasmic, that it would be a reserved area again. I don’t know if that stopped too many people pushing their way down there. But they for sure cleared them out when the ropes went back up for the second show. Getting out of the parks down Main Street was the usual crowds after fireworks, to me.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Did it have a wheel chair tag by chance? The night I went there was a stroller in line and the CM noticed the wheel chair tag on it and said "since it has a wheel chair tag you can choose to take it with you or park it."

I thought that might have been the case but I did not see a tag, although it’s possible I just could to see it. I also did not see anyone sitting in it or using it the entire time.

 

[ChipTheRescueRanger]

We ate last week at Rancho Del Zocalo at around 7pm

For a quick service was pretty impressed was the quality and flavours. The short rib was better than the riblets. Cake was pretty nice and light.

We watched the fireworks and then hustled over to fantastic and got a great spot. It did fill up but wasn't over crowded and we where pretty much central.

Make sure you ignore the big queue out the door waiting for the normal side of the restaurant walk in and go to the lefthand side.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

We ate last week at Rancho Del Zocalo at around 7pm

For a quick service was pretty impressed was the quality and flavours. The short rib was better than the riblets. Cake was pretty nice and light.

We watched the fireworks and then hustled over to fantastic and got a great spot. It did fill up but wasn't over crowded and we where pretty much central.

Make sure you ignore the big queue out the door waiting for the normal side of the restaurant walk in and go to the lefthand side.

Do you have any pictures of the food? I was interested in the riblets but haven't seen any pictures or posts besides yours mentioning them.

 

[ChipTheRescueRanger]

Do you have any pictures of the food? I was interested in the riblets but haven't seen any pictures or posts besides yours mentioning them.

I dont but there is some on

https://mickeyvisit.com/disneyland-rancho-del-zocalo-fantasmic-seating-dining-package-review/

The short rib was far superior, in taste and flavouring

 

[ShoeCello]

First showing of F! Cancelled tonight, for anyone in the parks right now. Anyone hear a reason why? The CMs I talked to were not aware of the reason.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

First showing of F! Cancelled tonight, for anyone in the parks right now. Anyone hear a reason why? The CMs I talked to were not aware of the reason.

Oh man, what a huge disappointment! We saw Fantasmic last Thursday but tonight was our backup night in case of illness. I’m so glad we got to watch the show on Thursday!

 

[ShoeCello]

10:30 F! was on for tonight! Still not sure what the issue was that caused 9 pm showing to be cancelled.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Man, this scares me

I get the show being cancelled for weather or something but...Random show times going down and no refused for food....it would honestly ruin my day if when I go next time I have another issue with the dining package

 

[LKing]

Man, this scares me

I get the show being cancelled for weather or something but...Random show times going down and no refused for food....it would honestly ruin my day if when I go next time I have another issue with the dining package

I saw a couple of people on social media share that they had tickets for the first show, and were allowed to use their tickets for the second show. I'm sure some didn't stay. What a bummer.

 

[ShoeCello]

The

I saw a couple of people on social media share that they had tickets for the first show, and were allowed to use their tickets for the second show. I'm sure some didn't stay. What a bummer.

I also heard CM telling people they could use their dining package passes for the 10:30 PM showing, but also that they weren't sure of the status of the 10:30 PM showing and that it could be cancelled. It wasn't really until ~30-40 minutes before showtime that CM started getting messages that the 10:30 PM showing was a go. The dining areas didn't seem particularly full for the 10:30 PM F! showing, though it I don't know how crowded the later showing normally is. But it definitely didn't seem too impacted from having (theoretically) people from both the 9 and 10:30 PM dining packages, so my suspicion is a lot of people left without waiting for the 10:30 PM showing, particularly given CMs being unsure if the later showing would be running or not.

Anyone know if they offered anything to people from the 9 PM showing with dining packages who did not want to stick around to 10:30 PM?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Anyone know if they offered anything to people from the 9 PM showing with dining packages who did not want to stick around to 10:30 PM?

I am sure nothing was offered. They are very strict about no refunds or other guest recovery on the dining packages even if the show is canceled.

It was nice they offered to let guests use their passes for the second show, for those who could stay.

 

[LuvPoohNCA]

Does anyone know if you can leave off all the Apple Pie add ons and just get plain pancakes for the Riverbelle Brunch Fantasmic dining? Are the apples baked in? We would like to get reserved seating and that’s about the only thing my son would eat. He is over 9 so would be adult ticket.

We did the Brunch dining package last Friday at River Belle. It was amazing. My daughter had the pancakes and I don't believe that the apples were in the pancakes just piled on top. I am sure you can ask for them on the side. She said they were amazing. I had the cuban sandwich and I thought it was very good as well.

 

[Porsche4]

We did the Brunch dining package last Friday at River Belle. It was amazing. My daughter had the pancakes and I don't believe that the apples were in the pancakes just piled on top. I am sure you can ask for them on the side. She said they were amazing. I had the cuban sandwich and I thought it was very good as well.

Thanks for your post, I am hoping to do this with my two adult autistic kids in December and really wanted some feedback. They are both very picky eaters and the menu at BB and Rancho just didn't fit the bill at all but I think they would be happy with the brunch offerings. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, hopefully we will too.

 

[ShoeCello]

9 pm showing of F! cancelled again for tonight; the in-app notification came around 8 pm and it’s off the schedule. 10:30 pm still listed; fingers crossed it runs.

 

[ShoeCello]

9 pm showing of F! cancelled again for tonight; the in-app notification came around 8 pm and it’s off the schedule. 10:30 pm still listed; fingers crossed it runs.

Also the rumor (based on some CMs, but unclear if they were just guessing) is that the issue today and earlier this week are all related to technical issues with Columbia. This would fit with what I saw earlier in the week when the 9 pm F! showing was cancelled - Columbia was still in the dock by Harbor Galley until after fireworks, and there seemed to be crews working on it. I saw a diver in the water as well behind Columbia. The ship moved into position for the 10:30 pm showing maybe 30 mins before showtime.

If anyone hears more or can update about the status of the 10:30 pm showing tonight, please do share!