How early should we "secure" a seat for...

[Lights_Out]

(We're going Dec. 22~24)

How early should we "secure" a seat for...

1) ..the fireworks if we want to watch it in that area with the partner's statue?

2) ..the parade if we want to sit in the front (on the sidewalk of Main Street)

3) ..Fantasmic if we want to watch it right behind the fences?

and lastly,

4) How early should we get in line for Aladdin if we want first pick for seats?


I hope there's someone out there that can answer my questions..
I've only been to Disneyland in the off-seasons.. so I really want to be prepared...
Oh, and estimates would be fine (such as: "45 min to 1 hour")

Thank you so much to anyone that replies!

 

[gatorfreud]

We went to the fireworks Friday Oct. 24... I think it was rated as pretty busy (but not as busy as your time I would guess). We got a good spot about an hour before the fireworks right in the hub. Soon after that it was super crowded and the people trying to walk around the outside of the hub were like packed sardines.

Kim

 

[Lights_Out]

Huh. Interesting.. so then I'm guessing I'll have to save seats 1+ hour in advance for the fireworks....

Thanks for replying!

 

[sh00tfire]

for both the parade and the fireworks, we usually start staking out our seats 1 hour before. That early, you can pretty much get the best seats.

 

[Lights_Out]

Thank you!


Anyone have tips for Fantasmic and/or Aladdin?
Any input is appreciated really

 

[Lights_Out]

Thank you!


Anyone have tips for Fantasmic and/or Aladdin?
Any input is appreciated really

Bump

 

[ArielMelody]

Those are really busy days so it's hard to say....I know I went to DLR once for 4th of July and my friend's mom waited 2-3 hours to get us spots by the partner's statue. I would say something close to this long of a wait.

On a normal day people wait roughly an hour for main street seats for the parade, so I would guess a little more than that. 1.5 hours or so before.

There are a lot of good spots for Fantasmic...but again its the holiday season. Last time I waited about 45 minutes and had a GREAT spot. It was the day after thanksgiving, and it seemed busy but not TOO busy like Christmas would be so I would say about an hour-hour and 15 minutes before time.

For aladdin, the orchestra section usually fills up about an hour before show time on a busy day. But there are a lot of good seats outside of the orchestra section, so it really depends on your preference.

Just remember you're going at peak season so all the waits are more than likely, longer than you would expect them to be.

 

[Lights_Out]

Thank you very much ArielMelody!

I was thinking an hour before would be plenty, but I guess I'll stake out the seats way before that! Especially for the fireworks!

 

[pixiewings71]

I would say an hour before for all of them. If they are doing 2 showings of F! then I usually chose to do the 2nd show, we walk in when everyone else is leaving, less wait time and you can sit pretty close. Just remember that with F! you will get wet if you are sitting really close.

 

[disneychrista]

Town Square generally fills up later than Main Street proper. So you can get a good seat with less wait there. Also remember the first parade goes from Small World to Town Sq. The Second Parade from Town Sq. to Small World.

 

[davidsprincess]

Okay, when we saw the fireworks on November 11, we sat right in front of the castle on the benches. We had to get there by 5:30. Dave and I went for food runs while my parents sat and saved the bench. We were not the only ones that were starting to sit for the fireworks that early. It was a long, and cold wait, but soooooooooooo worth it!!

 

[fairykin]

We just got back from there and people were staking out places for the parade 2 hours before the parade..and this was the Norm. We made the choice not to do this. And just happened upon a spot where we could see the parade standing behind the parade line.

Good Luck with the crowds and i'm sending you lots of pixie dust for good weather! We had good weather, just a little cool near the end.

 

[Leofoenget]

This is what we did for Fantasmic #2 last Friday night. We came back into the park from out hotel about 8:30ish. We hopped on the train on Main Street and got off at NOS and went directly to Critter Country which was EMPTY. EVERYONE was either on Main Street or watching Fantasmic #1. When I say empty we could walk on Splash and go around a few times. Once Fantasmic #1 and Fireworks were over and everyone decided to ride HMH we swooped in and got seats for Fantasmic #2 right at the fence with ease. My tip: Hang out in CC and totally avoid MS and Rivers.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

That close to Christmas, I would plan on at least 2 hours to view the fireworks from the hub near the Partners statue. You should get decent enough seats for the late showing of Fantasmic, but be prepared to be patient as you have to slog through the crowds heading to the same place for the same reason. It is very packed inside the hub and can take 15-20 minutes to make it over to Frontierland depending on where you are in the hub.

 

[trodrigue]

When you sit on the benches in front of the castle, do you get to remain seated for the entire show?

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

That close to Christmas, I would plan on at least 2 hours to view the fireworks from the hub near the Partners statue. You should get decent enough seats for the late showing of Fantasmic, but be prepared to be patient as you have to slog through the crowds heading to the same place for the same reason. It is very packed inside the hub and can take 15-20 minutes to make it over to Frontierland depending on where you are in the hub.

Not only that, but they will have the CMs directing traffic so it's only one way in or out (I can't recall which is which) of Frontierland and Adventureland. One year it was one way, and another year it was the opposite way.
The worst is when you fight the crowds, get halfway in and they turn you around and direct you to go back the other way! Arrg! Speaking of which, does anyone know which way is in to ROA this year during the busy days? I'd hate to have to relive that experience again. (Yes it happened to me last January.)

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I just watched the fireworks on tuesday. And people were lining up EARLY! We had already done both parks in only eight hours because they were empty but I tell you what...people flocked to mainstreet to get a good spot! They have the partners area roped off for people who get dreamed with priority seating for the fireworks but there are 2 benches in front of that area just outside the ropes for whomever. We snagged the one on the right side of the castle and it was the most amazing view! We ended up waiting for 100 mins but we just talked and played games on our phones and snacked. About an hour before the show you couldn't walk through the street in front of the castle anymore and a half hour before the show mainstreet was a mess. So keep an eye out and maybe get there early if a good spot is important. If I didnt visit often or get a lot done I certainly wouldn't have waited as long as I did...but I haven't seen them from a better spot than we did that night. Truly a magical moment