How early for Fantasmic?

[todzwife]

I don't think we are going to try to brave the Thanksgiving crowds for WOC this time around, with 3 little ones and a short mama who can't see unless we are against a railing, 2 hours of waiting for a possibility of not being able to enjoy is doesn't sound like fun.

But DD (4 1/2) is DESPERATE to see Fantasmic. I'm wondering how far in advance we should stake out a spot. We'll have 6 adults and 5 kids. I have an outdoor nylon backed blanket for everyone to sit on. Do we park the strollers in NOS or can the be with us?
Where's the best place for kids to see everything? I'm willing to wait for a good spot

 

[Raindown]

Well it really depends on how busy the park is that day. I'm guessing that your going to shoot for the sitting area down in front. While people sitting directly in front of you can still cause some view obstructions, it is probably one of the better spots for children and waiting a long time. If you can wait for the second show, you won't have to wait as long. However, you'll probably have to hang out in that area and you will hear the music.

I know a few people who like the face through the bars experience. Personally, I find the railing along the river is a bit high when sitting, unless you are actually face to the bars. I'd size it up for yourself earlier in the day. If I do view the show from this area, it usually is from the rear. This does have its own disadvantages. Later arrivals might try to squeeze in behind you. Also, you have to look over everyone in front of you but, you are a little more elevated.

I've seen people with strollers in this area. The mandate I have seen imposed is that the stroller must be completely folded before showtime. I've seen this lead to some bickering. I'm a little surprised people think it would be OK to keep it up in a sitting area. Perhaps, if is busier they might ask you to park it, but I have not seen that.

All that said, unless I'm taking pictures, I actually like to view the show from elsewhere as an adult. Also I have seen some younger children get a little scared when some of the villains are depicted.

 

[marcemc]

The bridge over POTC is a good option. It's not too close and you get a great view of everything, we have watched there with DS7 & DS4 and they were able to see just fine, even with the bars.

Still, a hot spot, so you may have to show up there up to an hour and a half earlier.

Otherwise, you might want to consider the dessert package.

 

[mvf-m11c]

The best spot is the railings right in front of the ROA. Waiting at the railing right by the ROA can be really long. We have seen guests wait as long as 4+ hours to wait at the railing. That is crazy, but those are guests who want a great spot to see the first show of F!. It is nice, but I don't like the railing view since I can't videotape F! the right way since there are other guests behind me and would be upset if I put up my video camera during the show.

I know a few people who like the face through the bars experience. Personally, I find the railing along the river is a bit high when sitting, unless you are actually face to the bars. I'd size it up for yourself earlier in the day. If I do view the show from this area, it usually is from the rear. This does have its own disadvantages. Later arrivals might try to squeeze in behind you. Also, you have to look over everyone in front of you but, you are a little more elevated.

I've seen people with strollers in this area. The mandate I have seen imposed is that the stroller must be completely folded before showtime. I've seen this lead to some bickering. I'm a little surprised people think it would be OK to keep it up in a sitting area. Perhaps, if is busier they might ask you to park it, but I have not seen that.

I don't like the front railings since you have to look in between the railings and when the barges or the boats come by guests move left to right to see them clearly through the railings. I agree with you Raindown, my favorite spot to see F! is right next to the ropes walkway. If you want to save your spot and hope that other guests won't take it is to have a blanket spread out for your area and make sure someone in your group is there to watch it.

When I watch F! in August, there was a family asked me to save them a spot and put their blanket right next to mine and left with no one watching it. They were gone until one hour prior to the show and they were so very gracious to me and offered me dinner or a drink. But I said "No thank you", I couldn't accept anything for saving them a spot. Than I just talked with them until F! started.

The good thing about is not only no one is behind you, you can also have your stroller up while F! is running. You are right that you can't have them up in the front or middle of the sitting area, but you can have the strollers up right at the rope. I have seen electric wheelchairs at the end by the ropes and it is alright to have them up during the show.

 

[todzwife]

I'm having a hard time picturing where this "railing where no one is behind you" is...can you give me a hint LOL! It's been a couple years since we've been there.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I'm having a hard time picturing where this "railing where no one is behind you" is...can you give me a hint LOL! It's been a couple years since we've been there.

Here is the railing right next to the ROA. I have taken these pictures back in August and this was around 6pm and that was 3 hours until the 9pm F! show started.

This picture is just 2 hours until the first F! show started. As you can see that more and more guests starting to save their spots for their groups.

 

[SplashMo]

Where is the ropes walkway in the picture?

 

[Ariel224]

Where is the ropes walkway in the picture?

In the last picture, on the right side, do you see the 2 people (CMs?) wearing yellow shirts? They are standing in the ropes walkway. This is the area behind that seating area where people not watching the show will be directed through on their walk through NOS. The thin rope is what separates the viewing area from the walkway that is kept open to traffic. Hope that makes sense.

 

[SplashMo]

Thanks!!!
So they will let you watch the show form there and not make you move

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thanks!!!
So they will let you watch the show form there and not make you move

You can't sit or stay in the walkway during the show. If you are in the walkway, the CMs will ask you to move along. You must be inside the ropes to see the show from those spots. As you have seen in my pics, you can have a stroller or wheelchair at the end of the white ropes. But the strollers in the front and middle of the viewing area must be folded before the show starts.

Here is another pic of the sitting area

 

[SplashMo]

WoW!!!

Great Pics and Thank You!!!

 

[Raindown]

And just for information's sake: In mvf-m11c's last picture, you can see the black chairs for the preferred viewing. Pricey, but a very nice experience IMO.

 

[SplashMo]

If you are against the rope in the seated section can you stand?

 

[mvf-m11c]

If you are against the rope in the seated section can you stand?

I'm sorry to say this, you can't stand up when you are right by the rope in the sitting section. As you can see from my last picture and see the black chairs right on the 2nd level of the railing. That is the F! Dessert seating area. It would be bad if you paid for the F! Dessert seating and than have someone in front of you stand during the show. And also the reserved viewing area for the VIP guests as you see the white sign says "Reserved". They make everyone sit on the ground in the sitting section, but you can sit up tall in the back row. And like I said on my pp, if you have a wheelchair or stroller you can have it up during the show.

 

[blackjackdelta]

The CM's are very active with patrolling the area and very insistant about the strollers,standing or trying to push the rope out into the walkway.

Jack

 

[disney4cam]

How much IS the dessert seating?

 

[blackjackdelta]

This from the post a few lines below.... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2586103

Jack