Here now and quick Fantasmic question

[TexasErin]

I can’t seem to find the Fantasmic thread searching on my iPhone. What time should I line up for the second showing of Fantasmic with the hungry bear package? What time and where for the best seats for the second show? We ordered off the regular menu at Hungry Bear and still didn’t really care for the food, LOL. HB is just not for us, but hoping to at least get good seats.Thanks!

 

[HydroGuy]

I can’t seem to find the Fantasmic thread searching on my iPhone. What time should I line up for the second showing of Fantasmic with the hungry bear package? What time and where for the best seats for the second show? We ordered off the regular menu at Hungry Bear and still didn’t really care for the food, LOL. HB is just not for us, but hoping to at least get good seats.Thanks!

You should come back to the queueing area 45-60 minutes before show #2. They will seat you in the HB area and my only observation/recommendation is that if you sit too close to the rail up front it can kind of block your view. I like to be at least 10 feet back. Going all the way to the back is also fine. There is only about 25-30 feet there and there are no bad views. Oh, unless you sit with a post in front. So do not do that.

 

[TexasErin]

You should come back to the queueing area 45-60 minutes before show #2. They will seat you in the HB area and my only observation/recommendation is that if you sit too close to the rail up front it can kind of block your view. I like to be at least 10 feet back. Going all the way to the back is also fine. There is only about 25-30 feet there and there are no bad views. Oh, unless you sit with a post in front. So do not do that.

You’re awesome! Thank you!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... my only observation/recommendation is that if you sit too close to the rail up front it can kind of block your view. I like to be at least 10 feet back. Going all the way to the back is also fine. There is only about 25-30 feet there and there are no bad views. Oh, unless you sit with a post in front. So do not do that.

Chiming in with an alternate view (literally): for the seriously height challenged (me!), sitting right up at the railing doesn't obstruct the view at all. In the darkness, the show itself is so bright that the railing really doesn't get in the way. And being right up front makes sure that no one else will obstruct my view (much bigger problem than a railing!). Going all the way back is fine if you're not short or if there isn't anyone blocking your view. Totally agree about not sitting behind a post!

 

[SeiterClan]

Chiming in with an alternate view (literally): for the seriously height challenged (me!), sitting right up at the railing doesn't obstruct the view at all. In the darkness, the show itself is so bright that the railing really doesn't get in the way. And being right up front makes sure that no one else will obstruct my view (much bigger problem than a railing!). Going all the way back is fine if you're not short or if there isn't anyone blocking your view. Totally agree about not sitting behind a post!

So you're saying that for kids up front at the rail is probably better so they can see in the reserved dining areas like hungry bear? That's what we are thinking of doing with my family this summer because I have 6 kids ages 4-16 & pretty sure my younger ones won't be able to see the show otherwise...

 

[theluckyrabbit]

So you're saying that for kids up front at the rail is probably better so they can see in the reserved dining areas like hungry bear? That's what we are thinking of doing with my family this summer because I have 6 kids ages 4-16 & pretty sure my younger ones won't be able to see the show otherwise...

I'm saying that for anyone short, kids or adults, if there is a risk that having someone bigger in front could cut off the view, then, in my opinion, it would be better to sit right up front with only the railing between the viewer and the show. I can move my head to see around the rails, but I can't move my head enough to see around a bigger person's back, shoulders, and head. Sitting further back in the reserved section is too risky for me -- and I don't think it's worth the pricey view to end up seeing someone's back for half an hour. As expensive as it is, the reserved section (HB, BB, and RBT) really does have the best view of the show, so I think it's worth it, especially for first time viewing. Being up at the rail will give your littlest ones a good view and also allow everyone behind them to have a view, too. (This is why we discourage shoulder kids around here -- it may allow the kids to have a good view, but it pretty effectively cuts off any view for anyone behind you.)

ETA: Go investigate the viewing area earlier in the day. Sit up by the railing and look at the cabin on the island. Go further back and look at the cabin. Remember, that much like being at the movies, you'll be in the dark looking at a brightly lit show. You'll get a much better idea of what I'm describing and you'll know where you'll want to be when you return for the show.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm saying that for anyone short, kids or adults, if there is a risk that having someone bigger in front could cut off the view, then, in my opinion, it would be better to sit right up front with only the railing between the viewer and the show. I can move my head to see around the rails, but I can't move my head enough to see around a bigger person's back, shoulders, and head. Sitting further back in the reserved section is too risky for me -- and I don't think it's worth the pricey view to end up seeing someone's back for half an hour. As expensive as it is, the reserved section (HB, BB, and RBT) really does have the best view of the show, so I think it's worth it, especially for first time viewing. Being up at the rail will give your littlest ones a good view and also allow everyone behind them to have a view, too. (This is why we discourage shoulder kids around here -- it may allow the kids to have a good view, but it pretty effectively cuts off any view for anyone behind you.)

I have no desire to disagree with @theluckyrabbit, but I have seen Fantasmic many times with my kids when they were young and we sat on the concrete. I do not recall any of them ever having trouble seeing around anyone. I am not sure if this is a big deal or not, but certainly if you sit at the rail it will not be an issue for you.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I have no desire to disagree with @theluckyrabbit, but I have seen Fantasmic many times with my kids when they were young and we sat on the concrete. I do not recall any of them ever having trouble seeing around anyone. I am not sure if this is a big deal or not, but certainly if you sit at the rail it will not be an issue for you.

I think it depends on how crowded the viewing sections are on any given night. When there is room to move around, it isn't hard to stagger rows so that everyone can see around the people in front of them. And the viewing area is slightly sloped, so that the rows further back are slightly higher than the rows closer to the railing. (And most people we've met have been kind enough to let children move forward to get a better view -- but not everyone is as kind about shorter adults!) But when the viewing area is packed and there isn't much room to move around, you can get stuck with an obstructed view and no way to really get around it. I'd rather not take the chance, since I don't always know how crowded the area will get on a given night, especially if we're viewing during the holidays or another peak time. If it's the second show during a non-peak time and we don't get the railing, we've been fine in the second or third row, staggered. But, for me, up at the rail is safest (just like with WOC). If someone is short or has short people in their party, and they only have one time to see the show, then they really need to think hard about which view would work best for their group.