Help: Fireworks and Fantasmic! on same night.

[disneyfan1955]

What would be the best strategy to watch the fireworks and Fantasmic! on the same night with GREAT seats? We usually watch the two shows on different nights of different trips, but we are staying in a hotel this trip (November: first week) so we want to watch both shows on the same nights. Last time we went we had to wait THREE hours sitting in front of the ROA for the 9:00 show and we really don't want to do that again. Thanks to anyone who can help! (We are willing to wait a little while for the fireworks though)

 

[Disneylvrforever]

Do the fireworks first @ 9:25. My fave spot, as well as many others, is MS. I love to watch the fireworks around the castle. Depending on how close you want to be to the castle will determine how long you want to stake out a spot. I heard that seeing it from IASW is good too, and you will be closer to where they launch the fireworks.
After do the 10:30 Fantasmic showing. It will get REALLY crowded bc EVERYONE will be heading into Frontierland. You can either go w/ the crowd or wait a while for the crowd to die down to enter Frontierland & find a spot for Fan. Even though there will already be ppl there, don't get discouraged bc there are plenty of good spots in NOS from Cafe Orleans & over.

 

[DLR29]

First, let me say that it will be extremely hard to get "GREAT" seats at both. It is much much much easier to get "GREAT" seats at one and "GOOD" seats at the other. If you'd rather wait for the fireworks, then grab a seat in the hub on a bench or somewhere around there at about 8:30-8:45. You should be able to find a very good seat right in front of the castle around that time (depending on crowd levels).

Then watch the fireworks at 9:25 and get over to Fantasmic as fast as possible. You won't be able to get the best seats for the 10:30 Fantasmic, but good views are easy to get. If you can find a spot on the ground, great. If you don't mind standing, you can try the Light Tower Trick, which has worked for a lot of people, but I personally haven't tried it. Here's a link with more information about this trick (written by the amazing S. S. Columbia): http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2225094

 

[disneyfan1955]

I was thinking about doing that and I will be willing to wait for the fireworks. I have another question: if I want a close up seat for the 10:30, should I just take the back tunnel from the Plaza Gardens to Rancho del Zocalo to get to Frontierland? I read HydroGuy's post from a year ago that had something to do like that. Please correct me if anything I just said is not accurate or the best strategy. Thanks!

 

[DangerMouse]

I was thinking about doing that and I will be willing to wait for the fireworks. I have another question: if I want a close up seat for the 10:30, should I just take the back tunnel from the Plaza Gardens to Rancho del Zocalo to get to Frontierland? I read HydroGuy's post from a year ago that had something to do like that. Please correct me if anything I just said is not accurate or the best strategy. Thanks!

That's exactly what our family does. If you position yourself for fireworks close to the exit to the Plaza Gardens Stage area, then right as the fireworks end, you can take the tunnel through Rancho and inch your way up to where the CM's will be holding you off for the ROA to empty from the first showing of F! Once they let you though, you'll have no problem finding a good spot for the 10:30 F!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[disneyfan1955]

Where exactly do the CMs stop you at? We usually sit up front about two rows behind the walkway in front of the castle so the tunnel I guess would be no problem for us. Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

The light tower trick is not unknown anymore...we opted to sit down nearby the tower, and watched, and it got just as crowded in there as everywhere else, well before Fantasmic. Now, I think that the people standing there ended up surprised that it wasn't blocked, but people DO stand there well ahead of time.

 

[disneyfan1955]

The light tower trick is not unknown anymore...we opted to sit down nearby the tower, and watched, and it got just as crowded in there as everywhere else, well before Fantasmic. Now, I think that the people standing there ended up surprised that it wasn't blocked, but people DO stand there well ahead of time.

Really? That is so funny! I guess that is what a lot of new tourists would do if they got to the RoA five minutes before showtime and had to quickly find a place to stand!

 

[DangerMouse]

Where exactly do the CMs stop you at? We usually sit up front about two rows behind the walkway in front of the castle so the tunnel I guess would be no problem for us. Thanks!

They'll stop you right where the path widens in front of the Golden Horseshoe, kind of inbetween the Turkey Leg Cart and the other ODV cart there. At least that's where we've been stopped.

Oh, and I agree with Molly that the Light Tower Trick is no longer a secret. I haven't had much luck with it the last few times I've been. Once I saw a solid row of people standing there over an hour before the 9 pm show.

 

[disneyfan1955]

They'll stop you right where the path widens in front of the Golden Horseshoe, kind of inbetween the Turkey Leg Cart and the other ODV cart there. At least that's where we've been stopped.

Oh, and I agree with Molly that the Light Tower Trick is no longer a secret. I haven't had much luck with it the last few times I've been. Once I saw a solid row of people standing there over an hour before the 9 pm show.

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

It's fairly easy ~ we did this last month (wish I'd thought to take the Plaza Gardens/Rancho route) we were able to get a great spot using the light tower trick for F! (2nd show - after the fireworks) but I do agree it isn't much of a secret anymore.

 

[HydroGuy]

Also in my experience if you get too far forward in the hub you will have trees on the left blocking some of the fireworks. If the hub is a clock and the castle is at 12:00 I personally would choose something between 7:00 and 9:00. As you get past 9:00 the view gets obscured. If you really want to see Fantasmic I would do the 9:00 spot and that would allow you to get over to Frontierland or Rancho Del Zocala shortcut.

 

[disneyfan1955]

Thanks! Getting to the tunnel shouldn't be too much of a probem though if you are right in front of the castle because the walkway there takes you with the one way traffic over to the plaza gardens anyway, right? I ALWAYS get this position for the fireworks and I know that it isn't really far away to the tunnel.

 

[GrandBob]

If you position yourself for fireworks close to the exit to the Plaza Gardens Stage area, then right as the fireworks end, you can take the tunnel through Rancho

OK, I thought I knew a lot about DL. But where's this tunnel? Gotta know, sounds like a great shortcut.

-Bob

 

[DLR29]

OK, I thought I knew a lot about DL. But where's this tunnel? Gotta know, sounds like a great shortcut.

-Bob

Between the castle and Frontierland, there is a "tunnel" with some bathrooms that leads to Rancho del Zocalo. It's by the Plaza Gardens Stage thing.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

First, let me say that it will be extremely hard to get "GREAT" seats at both. It is much much much easier to get "GREAT" seats at one and "GOOD" seats at the other. If you'd rather wait for the fireworks, then grab a seat in the hub on a bench or somewhere around there at about 8:30-8:45. You should be able to find a very good seat right in front of the castle around that time (depending on crowd levels).

AMEN!!!...I want great seats at both and there is absolutely no way I can do that on the same night....I will go watch Fantasmic from afar at the 10:30 showing on the night I do fireworks but not go for the purpose of getting good seats because where I go for the fireworks, I cant get out for nothing till they stop blocking people in....if you dont care about great seats and just want to go to watch then no problems go along with what everyone else is saying but if you want great seats on both, then do on separate nights

 

[HydroGuy]

OK, I thought I knew a lot about DL. But where's this tunnel? Gotta know, sounds like a great shortcut.

-Bob

Between the castle and Frontierland, there is a "tunnel" with some bathrooms that leads to Rancho del Zocalo. It's by the Plaza Gardens Stage thing.

"Tunnel" is a bit of an overstatement IMO. It is more of a "passageway" than a "tunnel". Even so, DLR29 is right on.

 

[disneyfan1955]

OK, I thought I knew a lot about DL. But where's this tunnel? Gotta know, sounds like a great shortcut.

-Bob

I was surprised myself when I found out about this tunnel too! I guess it is because it is in a secluded place that no one knows about it. Anyway, knowing that fact sure helps when you are in a situation like mine!

 

[Ladyslug]

Originally Posted by DLR29
Between the castle and Frontierland, there is a "tunnel" with some bathrooms that leads to Rancho del Zocalo. It's by the Plaza Gardens Stage thing.

From Frontierland, just pass under the sign that reads "Rancho Del Zocalo Restaurante" and go all the way through. I thought I knew a fair amount about Disneyland, too, but yesterday's trip was the first time I've ever come across this passageway -- very convenient travel between Frontierland and Fantasyland.

 

[disneyfan1955]

From Frontierland, just pass under the sign that reads "Rancho Del Zocalo Restaurante" and go all the way through. I thought I knew a fair amount about Disneyland, too, but yesterday's trip was the first time I've ever come across this passageway -- very convenient travel between Frontierland and Fantasyland.

From Main Street, the "tunnel" is like right next to what people call the "secret" family bathroom, right? I am just laughing right now because both the "secret" tunnel and bathroom are right next to each other, and it's all because not many people like myself go that far into the Plaza Gardens!