Fantasmic Thread!

[irlandaise]

I just tried it from my computer and had the same issue, but using the app I'm able to just use the back arrow at the top left to change date, etc.

Thanks for checking! I'll keep trying the website occasionally (I'm not looking at a trip until later in the year), but will also become familiar with how to do this on the app.

 

[joseph821]

Thanks for checking! I'll keep trying the website occasionally (I'm not looking at a trip until later in the year), but will also become familiar with how to do this on the app.

The app is much faster. I made all my reservations on the app.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Thanks for checking! I'll keep trying the website occasionally (I'm not looking at a trip until later in the year), but will also become familiar with how to do this on the app.

Yes, the app is great, even before you start your trip. Once I've started planning, I use it all the time just to check wait times out of curiosity, etc. And of course making ADRs.

 

[Philsfan77]

Did Fantasmic last week...chose Rancho Del Zocalo option and were very pleased with that decision as we had a blue bayou one as well. Overall glad we saved the money as the food we had at Rancho Del Zocalo was very good and very filling for the price point and the show in my opinion. We arrived to the 9pm show right around 8:30 and there was still a good bit of seating available to the left side of the seating area. We claimed our spot and honestly felt like we still had a very good view. As it got closer to show time the area did fill up, both with people checking in right around 9PM and with people just jumping under the ropes into the area (one family did get caught and asked to leave the area). Really enjoyed the whole experience and our boys loved the show.

 

[LKing]

the food we had at Rancho Del Zocalo was very good and very filling for the price point

Glad you had a good time. What did you order? Any recommendations?

We are doing RDZ tomorrow for the first time. We were trying to figure out the best strategy for viewing July 4 fireworks. We decided that, rather than dealing with the crowds on Main Street, we would watch the fireworks show from ROA and a Fantasmic package gave us a guaranteed view. Fortunately, there has been a lot of movement with last minute meal cancellations the past couple of days.

 

[Philsfan77]

Glad you had a good time. What did you order? Any recommendations?

We are doing RDZ tomorrow for the first time. We were trying to figure out the best strategy for viewing July 4 fireworks. We decided that, rather than dealing with the crowds on Main Street, we would watch the fireworks show from ROA and a Fantasmic package gave us a guaranteed view. Fortunately, there has been a lot of movement with last minute meal cancellations the past couple of days.

I had the carne asada and my wife had the potato tacos. Rice and beans were solid (we are from PA so my taste in Mexican food may not be as good as someone else’s but i thought it was a good meal), i actually really enjoyed the potato salad that came with it as well…it was cold and refreshing.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Heffalumps! My window for "Premium" tickets opens soon, so I have been testing the waters. I've been on right a 6am for the last few days and not so much as a sniff of the "Premium" seating. It never shows up.

 

[joseph821]

Heffalumps! My window for "Premium" tickets opens soon, so I have been testing the waters. I've been on right a 6am for the last few days and not so much as a sniff of the "Premium" seating. It never shows up.

It has been there. You need to start practicing at like 557AM. The premium vanishes in less than a minute.

 

[sophy1996]

Heffalumps! My window for "Premium" tickets opens soon, so I have been testing the waters. I've been on right a 6am for the last few days and not so much as a sniff of the "Premium" seating. It never shows up.

It’s in the middle of the list of packages, and it goes almost instantaneously.

 

[irlandaise]

It’s in the middle of the list of packages, and it goes almost instantaneously.

Is there a cancel-with-no-penalty date when reservations might pop up again?

If so, do those dining alert services track something as specific as a certain package at a certain restaurant?

 

[sophy1996]

Is there a cancel-with-no-penalty date when reservations might pop up again?

If so, do those dining alert services track something as specific as a certain package at a certain restaurant?

It’s a one-day cancellation policy for the RB Premium Package. I have never used a dining alert for that so I don’t know.

 

[disneychrista]

Is there a cancel-with-no-penalty date when reservations might pop up again?

If so, do those dining alert services track something as specific as a certain package at a certain restaurant?

I am sure the dining alerts track this as well as other dining packages. The problem is that even with an alert it will be gone as soon as the alert goes out. So be prepared to jump as soon as the alert comes.

 

[Shinji4u]

Can you get anything without Cilantro at Rancho Del Zocalo? We would love to do the Fantasmic Dining, but for us Cilantro tasts like soap

 

[OlliePop27]

Is it possible to have a stroller in the back of Fantasmic dining if a baby is sleeping? If not, where is the closest and best stroller parking? Going without strollers would be easiest, but not feasible unfortunately (at least walking to the area and leaving the park even if not during the show).

 

[Bruno33]

I have done BB package a few times. You also realize that you have to check in at the area at 8pm and you have to sit in the ground for 1 hour before the show starts.

I am doing the RB premium package in August. I usually eat at BB twice every trip for the food and atmosphere.

I like that the RB you don’t waste time. You check in at 715. Table are reassigned by the time stamp you booked your reservation.

You don’t *have* to check in an hour early. You can show up at 8:45 if you want. You’ll just be in the back and maybe kinda squashed.

 

[joseph821]

You don’t *have* to check in an hour early. You can show up at 8:45 if you want. You’ll just be in the back and maybe kinda squashed.

Well if you dont check in early, you get a horrible seat to sit, Premium package allows you the option of not wasting time. Yes it is a choice.

 

[LKing]

Is it possible to have a stroller in the back of Fantasmic dining if a baby is sleeping? If not, where is the closest and best stroller parking? Going without strollers would be easiest, but not feasible unfortunately (at least walking to the area and leaving the park even if not during the show).

Were you able to get your stroller in?

We sat in the RDZ area last night and a person in the front of our line had a stroller (with an orange tag). I believe they put the stroller in the back by the ECVs because they were able to quickly run and get it in the couple of minutes between Fantasmic and fireworks.

Can you get anything without Cilantro at Rancho Del Zocalo? We would love to do the Fantasmic Dining, but for us Cilantro tasts like soap

We had the carne asada yesterday. The best I could tell, the meat, beans and potato salad did not have cilantro. They sprinkled some on top of the potato salad, but you could easily ask for it without. That said, the first photo below is my food from yesterday. The second photo is one that I grabbed from a blogger's review. It looks like it is supposed to come with a cilantro/kimchi type slaw on top of the carne asada. Even though the slaw is listed on the menu, yesterday, we did not see it on any meals.



In the photo below, Fantasmic is on the stage with the misting water on the left. The white building in the far distance is River Belle. You can see that the view of the stage for Fantasmic is unobstructed. When facing the stage, fireworks are to your right. The trees under the blue arrow are what obstruct the RB Premium view of fireworks.



There are a couple of people on this thread who have had different opinions about whether you will be sitting on bricks or on concrete. In the photo above, you can see that the area has a faux brick type texture. Rancho del Zocalo and Blue Bayou sit on the faux brick.

For the River Belle area, a portion of the seating (towards the center) is textured and then it transitions into smooth walkway. (note: This was taken around 12:30 pm. The park was really calm until later in the day.)

You don’t *have* to check in an hour early. You can show up at 8:45 if you want. You’ll just be in the back and maybe kinda squashed.

Correct. The ticket asks you to return to Harbor Galley between 8:00 pm & 8:45 pm.



Yesterday, it sounded like the first person started lining up for Fantasmic around 6 pm. The second seemed like they got in line around 7:15 (not sure of exact timing). They already had tape on the ground to indicate where the line started. They did not have tape separating the lines for the three restaurants. Again, the RDZ line is closest to the water, Blue Bayou is in the middle and River Belle is on the far side of the walkway.

At 7:20, they walked each group down to a second taped off area. At 7:50 they started walking groups to their seating area. Around 8 pm, there were maybe three rows of people in our section. By 8:15, maybe 6 rows, but still not crowded. By 8:30, there were 7-8 rows of people. Many towards the front were sitting on blankets so had plenty of room. Those towards the back were more cramped. By 8:30, it was pretty full. If you had a larger party, you would have had a more difficult time finding space.

Between RB & BB, there is a roped off walkway. There is no walkway between BB & RDZ. A piece of tape is all that separates the two. This makes it more difficult to get in and out of the area if you want to use the restroom or get food.

Personally, I preferred the dining experience at River Belle, but the price point and view of the show from RDZ. We have not had the Blue Bayou Fantasmic package yet.

 

[Bruno33]

Well if you dont check in early, you get a horrible seat to sit, Premium package allows you the option of not wasting time. Yes it is a choice.

There are people in this thread talking about showing up to the last minute at the BB area and getting fine seats.

My cousins were just there last week and did RBT (not premium) and had a group of six and showed up about 8:45 because “we got a package so we didn’t have to wait,” and their spots were fine; she posted lots of pictures, but they did end up all sitting in a line, basically.

You need to be there early if you care a lot about your spot, but you absolutely don’t “have” to check in an hour early and sit for an hour if you don’t want to.

 

[joseph821]

There are people in this thread talking about showing up to the last minute at the BB area and getting fine seats.

My cousins were just there last week and did RBT (not premium) and had a group of six and showed up about 8:45 because “we got a package so we didn’t have to wait,” and their spots were fine; she posted lots of pictures, but they did end up all sitting in a line, basically.

You need to be there early if you care a lot about your spot, but you absolutely don’t “have” to check in an hour early and sit for an hour if you don’t want to.

Sounds great. Good for them.

 

[LKing]

Satisfaction with seating and view of the show is very subjective. The person who lined up first yesterday normally watches Fantasmic from VIP seats. They wanted to experience it from the waterfront railing which is why they purchased the dining package. For them, it was worth getting there early and waiting. For others, especially out of town visitors, going on rides or having dinner might be more important. To each is own.

Edit to add that it depends on the date as well. Yesterday was 4th of July so there were probably more people for the show than on other days.