Fantasmic wheelchair seating

[visitingapril09]

I have been reading about unbelievable lines for Fantasmic right now. I was wondering if they have a wheelchair viewing area and, if so, how long ahead of show time would you recommend lining up for this area?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Yes, they have a viewing area. As you face the stage, it's off to the right, but you can see fine. We were there the 3rd week in January which was considerably less crowded than it is now with all the spring-breakers. We weren't sure we could get in, but drove our ecv's right up to the viewing area and were admitted, with ten mins to spare. Love going off-season!

For the current crowd conditions, just ask a cast member in the general vicinity of Fantasmic when you get to the park. Weeknights are always less crowded than weekends.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Sorry, but I think the original poster is asking about WDW and I think the above response has to do with DisneyLand.

At WDW the entire top row is seating for people in wheelchairs/ECVs with benches next to spaces so groups can stay together. The entire row immediately before this is also reserved for the "extra" people with a person in a wheelchair or ECV who cannot fit on the benches next to the spaces.

When you are going to the amphitheater entrance stay to your right, along with the people with strollers. The strollers will be parked and you will continue, on the right side, to where you will then be escorted to seating.

 

[zaksmom]

When they have two shows on the same night, the wheelchair line is around the side of the Beauty and the Beast theatre. We were let in before the general public after the first show cleared. We were there late April 2010 so not a really crowded time, but all the people in the line made it in before the general public, even the late comers. We waited about 1/2 hour. The seating is along the top of the stadium with the people in the front of the line being seated on the right (looking at the stage) - this made it so you were the first out after the show (using the exit that goes behind Beauty and Beast theatre). Not too bad. The CMs say they do this for the second show, but not for the first.
Have fun!

 

[visitingapril09]

Thanks everyone! We are very excited and I will print out your instructions so I know where to go!

 

[Mary976]

We went to the first show tonight (of two) and it was super crowded. We actually had the dinner package and we still arrived about an hour early. Our seats were great. DD had a nice square to park in (I'm serious...it was a blue box painted on the ground) and then I had the bench seat right next to her. The only thing is, if you have a big party and want to stay together then get there on the early side. Someone that came 45 minutes early was able to park their ECV and have one member of their party with them, but all the other extra seating had filled up. There is standing room in the WAY back, but they will not allow you to stand by the wheelchairs.

Mary

 

[KPeveler]

Thanks everyone! We are very excited and I will print out your instructions so I know where to go!

When in doubt, just ask a CM - they will always tell you where to go! The first time I did WDW in a wheelchair, I had NO idea where to go and what to do! CMs are always so helpful directing me where to go.

 

[Talking Hands]

For those who need to use reflective captioning and are in a wheelchair be aware that there is only 1 spot available for those with this double need. There used to be enough room for several wheelchairs but they added a bench that took that option away.

 

[SueM in MN]

When they have two shows on the same night, the wheelchair line is around the side of the Beauty and the Beast theatre. We were let in before the general public after the first show cleared. We were there late April 2010 so not a really crowded time, but all the people in the line made it in before the general public, even the late comers. We waited about 1/2 hour. The seating is along the top of the stadium with the people in the front of the line being seated on the right (looking at the stage) - this made it so you were the first out after the show (using the exit that goes behind Beauty and Beast theatre). Not too bad. The CMs say they do this for the second show, but not for the first.
Have fun!

This may be variable. We went to Fantasmic for the first show in October of 2010. When we came out, Sunset Blvd was divided in half with guests for the second show waiting in a pretty tight line all the way to the beginning of Sunset Blvd (near the Villain’s shop). There was no way to get to the side of the Beauty and the Beast theater and we saw guests with wheelchairs and ECVs in all parts of the line - from the area that was actually half way into the Fantasmic area (but blocked from going in with a rope line when we went by those guests waiting) all the way to the end of the line.

I know that they don’t do anything special for the first show because CMs have told me that. I am not sure that they always have a separate entrance for guests with wheelchairs for the second show. And, I am quite sure they did not for the show we went to in October since we saw so many wheelchairs and ECVs in line and could see that CMs knew they were there.

We went to the first show tonight (of two) and it was super crowded. We actually had the dinner package and we still arrived about an hour early. Our seats were great. DD had a nice square to park in (I'm serious...it was a blue box painted on the ground) and then I had the bench seat right next to her. The only thing is, if you have a big party and want to stay together then get there on the early side. Someone that came 45 minutes early was able to park their ECV and have one member of their party with them, but all the other extra seating had filled up. There is standing room in the WAY back, but they will not allow you to stand by the wheelchairs.

Mary

Yep, there are marked parking spots and here is a picture to prove it.

The CM is standing in one of the boxes and the 2 rows right ahead are handicapped seating, marked with blue paint.
The wheelchair/ECV seating is across the entire back row of the theater, with space for the rest of your party to sit in the benches directly in front of the wheelchair. how quickly the wheelchair spots fill up for the dinner package or for the general seating fill up depends on how many people with special needs are attending. When we went in October 2010, we arrived between 7:10 and 7:15 for the general seating (not dinner package). At that point, the CMs were announcing that it was standing room only. We managed to get the next to last space for someone who was not able to get out of their wheelchair. We stood for a while in front of the dinner package seating and ir appeared that the wheelchair seating for the dinner package area was already full. So, my advice if to get there early since you can’t know how many guests with wheelchairs will be there.