How to see all the shows/parades etc?

[proud mom]

Hi all! I will have two full days at Disneyland Park. This is my adult daughter's first trip. I know we want to see Fantasmic, The Tapestry of Happiness, Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks. Is it possible to do all that with two nights? What about Shadows of Memories and Fire of the Rising Moons -- are they worth seeing? Better than other options?

Thanks for the information!

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

We are wondering the same thing!! Also would love to know ways to see these things without dining packages…. Any secret spots that you don’t need to camp out at for 2 hours…

 

[Tinkaboo]

NO....there's not. For Fantasmic, You will be stuck crammed in an area with tons of others and still not have a good view of what's going on...unless someone is willing to commit to staking out space at least an hour or two before the event or if you wait for second show. Parades are somewhat easier, especially if you go to the later showing. Dining packages are your best bet for Fantasmic. Can't speak to WOC as I don't ever watch it unless I do dessert party.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Hi all! I will have two full days at Disneyland Park. This is my adult daughter's first trip. I know we want to see Fantasmic, The Tapestry of Happiness, Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks. Is it possible to do all that with two nights? What about Shadows of Memories and Fire of the Rising Moons -- are they worth seeing? Better than other options?

Do the first show of Fantasmic, stay and watch Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks. They use the Fantasmic fountains for the projections, and you will see the higher level fireworks. Then if you walk with purpose straight to Galaxys Edge you might make Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga at 10.15pm.

Watch Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks at Its A Small World at then stay for Tapestry of Happiness and Paint The Night

 

[Louis63]

Watch early fantasmic from the side closest to the exit from Frontierland then beat a path to Main St. you will bypass Main St. behind the buildings as the gates will be open, catch the fireworks at the beginning of Main St. by city hall, after fireworks beat it again to DCA and catch WOC, beat it again and you can catch PTN on one night then catch the rest on the other night. Not easy, but it can be done. There is a youtuber Koda bear the explorer did the first three in one night. Good luck.

 

[LKing]

It depends on how much you want to do in one night and how familiar you are with getting around the parks in the dark.

For leisurely viewing, my recommendation is to to the first PTN at Small World, followed by Wondrous Journeys & Tapestry of Color on Small World. If you want to watch PTN for a second time, you can walk to Main Street after Tapestry of Color and watch it there. On your second night, you could do the first Fantasmic show with fireworks then make your way to SWGE for Shadows of Memory.

Trying to pack it all into one night, you could do Fantasmic with dining package & Wondrous Journeys on ROA. Leave Fantasmic via Bayou Country and make it to Shadows of Memory in SWGE by 10:15 pm. Leave SWGE via Fantasyland exit and watch second PTN from Small World. I doubt that you would be able to make it to Small World for the 10:30 Tapestry of Happiness. The second PTN starts at 10:50 pm at Main Street so won't get to Small World until after 11 pm.

Fire of the Rising Moon is the same fireworks as Wondrous Journeys, just viewed from a different location. As such, you can't do both in the same night.

 

[LKing]

We are wondering the same thing!! Also would love to know ways to see these things without dining packages…. Any secret spots that you don’t need to camp out at for 2 hours…

People camp out early to get the view that they want or to have a curb/bench to sit on. If you don't have a large party and don't mind standing behind others, you can find a viewing location within an hour of the parade. There is more viewing available for the second parade than there is for the first.

Fantasmic is tough as the dining packages sit in front. The VIPs sit in the terraced area above that. There isn't nearly as much room for standby as there is for something like the parade. The cheapest dining package for Fantasmic is $35 which is pretty reasonable for a meal and reserved seating. If you don't want to wait, I think the Rancho del Zocalo dining package is your best bet.

Fireworks can be viewed with projections from Rivers of America, Small World, Main Street, and on the castle. They can also be viewed with a Star Wars theme in SWGE. The only place where you would need to camp out for fireworks is if you want to watch them from in front of the castle.

 

[OlliePop27]

For WOC, it can be done with a good view if you commit to getting there an hour early for the first show. This means 8:00 pm for the 9:00 pm show. Get the front railing of the second or third tier, which is terraced each level back. I prefer the back right when facing the water. You will need to get a VQ at Noon.

For the second show, it's much easier. Show up when the area clears just after 9:30. You have at most 45 minutes to wait.

In general, the second showing of everything is much easier to see with less waiting.

For Fantasmic, I agree with others. There isn't really a way to get a great view without the dining package or waiting a long time. The second show would be easier, but the view won't be as good as a dining package spot.

 

[czmom]

Do the first show of Fantasmic, stay and watch Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks. They use the Fantasmic fountains for the projections, and you will see the higher level fireworks. Then if you walk with purpose straight to Galaxys Edge you might make Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga at 10.15pm.

Watch Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks at Its A Small World at then stay for Tapestry of Happiness and Paint The Night

Does PTN start or end by Small World?

 

[czmom]

It depends on how much you want to do in one night and how familiar you are with getting around the parks in the dark.

For leisurely viewing, my recommendation is to to the first PTN at Small World, followed by Wondrous Journeys & Tapestry of Color on Small World. If you want to watch PTN for a second time, you can walk to Main Street after Tapestry of Color and watch it there. On your second night, you could do the first Fantasmic show with fireworks then make your way to SWGE for Shadows of Memory.

Trying to pack it all into one night, you could do Fantasmic with dining package & Wondrous Journeys on ROA. Leave Fantasmic via Bayou Country and make it to Shadows of Memory in SWGE by 10:15 pm. Leave SWGE via Fantasyland exit and watch second PTN from Small World. I doubt that you would be able to make it to Small World for the 10:30 Tapestry of Happiness. The second PTN starts at 10:50 pm at Main Street so won't get to Small World until after 11 pm.

Fire of the Rising Moon is the same fireworks as Wondrous Journeys, just viewed from a different location. As such, you can't do both in the same night.

Does it get very crowded by Small World for the first PTN? Not sure if that area requires a long wait like Main Street.

 

[LKing]

Does PTN start or end by Small World?

The 8:45 pm show starts at Small World and ends at Main Street. The 10:50 pm show starts at Main Street and ends at Small World.

The parade route is approximately 20 minutes and the parade is approximately 17 min long.

 

[LKing]

Does it get very crowded by Small World for the first PTN? Not sure if that area requires a long wait like Main Street.

Small World has more viewing areas than Main Street. On Main Street, the front row sits on the curb and there is room for 2-3 people behind them.

In the map below the purple line is the 8:45 pm parade route (10:50 goes in the opposite direction). The teal stripe is similar to Main Street in that the front row sits on the ground and there are 3-4 rows behind them. There are areas where the teal is a little thicker. That is a roped off region that can accommodate maybe 10 rows of viewers. I wouldn't want to be 10 rows back as the view isn't very good. The red area is a raised terrace. There is quite a bit of viewing from up there. The yellow area is generally reserved for VIPs.



After PTN, many people leave. There is plenty of time for the remaining guests to move closer to Small World to watch the fireworks. After fireworks many more leave so that a much smaller group remains for Tapestry of Happiness.

Below is a picture of the terraced area that I colored in red. The brick area on the street is where the first row has to sit and the people behind them stand. Most stand on the upper level. Some sit on the benches or steps (although the steps aren't the best view).



The terraced section on the right in this photo is used for VIPs. There is seating along the white fence on the opposite side of the street. They don't open that area for seating until approximately 1 hr before the parade.



In the picture below, the yellow indicates the edges of the viewing areas. People can sit/stand on the brick in the foreground before the yellow line. They can stand on the other side of the street (where the people are walking). That's the area that can hold quite a few people. However, it is flat so if you have a tall person in front of you (or a child on shoulders), it might be obstruct your view. Front row for that area lines up pretty early.

 

[maleficent55]

Small World has more viewing areas than Main Street. On Main Street, the front row sits on the curb and there is room for 2-3 people behind them.

In the map below the purple line is the 8:45 pm parade route (10:50 goes in the opposite direction). The teal stripe is similar to Main Street in that the front row sits on the ground and there are 3-4 rows behind them. There are areas where the teal is a little thicker. That is a roped off region that can accommodate maybe 10 rows of viewers. I wouldn't want to be 10 rows back as the view isn't very good. The red area is a raised terrace. There is quite a bit of viewing from up there. The yellow area is generally reserved for VIPs.

View attachment 973239

After PTN, many people leave. There is plenty of time for the remaining guests to move closer to Small World to watch the fireworks. After fireworks many more leave so that a much smaller group remains for Tapestry of Happiness.

Below is a picture of the terraced area that I colored in red. The brick area on the street is where the first row has to sit and the people behind them stand. Most stand on the upper level. Some sit on the benches or steps (although the steps aren't the best view).

View attachment 973241

The terraced section on the right in this photo is used for VIPs. There is seating along the white fence on the opposite side of the street. They don't open that area for seating until approximately 1 hr before the parade.

View attachment 973244

In the picture below, the yellow indicates the edges of the viewing areas. People can sit/stand on the brick in the foreground before the yellow line. They can stand on the other side of the street (where the people are walking). That's the area that can hold quite a few people. However, it is flat so if you have a tall person in front of you (or a child on shoulders), it might be obstruct your view. Front row for that area lines up pretty early.

View attachment 973243

This is helpful and noted since we may try this area whereas we usually do the castle view from Main Street or near the Partners Statue

Question though, with my husband being on prosthetics it’s most beneficial for him to have something to lean on. A curb, a trash can, a pole…anything. This goes for sitting or standing. With this in mind, is there an area near IASW that you could recommend most for this?

 

[AprilsZoo]

Do the first show of Fantasmic, stay and watch Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks. They use the Fantasmic fountains for the projections, and you will see the higher level fireworks. Then if you walk with purpose straight to Galaxys Edge you might make Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga at 10.15pm.

Watch Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks at Its A Small World at then stay for Tapestry of Happiness and Paint The Night

Small world is my favorite spot to watch any projection show.

 

[LKing]

This is helpful and noted since we may try this area whereas we usually do the castle view from Main Street or near the Partners Statue

Question though, with my husband being on prosthetics it’s most beneficial for him to have something to lean on. A curb, a trash can, a pole…anything. This goes for sitting or standing. With this in mind, is there an area near IASW that you could recommend most for this?

When are you going? There are a few areas that are difficult to describe. I can take pictures the next time I am in the parks.

Using the pictures I posted above, if you are the on the street level, there is a ledge that people sit on while they wait for the parade. CM come by 10 min or so before the parade and ask those people to stand. He could stand and still lean on the railing behind him. He won't be front row, but the people in front are seated so I think the view will still be good.



If he is on the terraced area, he could stand in front and lean on the railing or stand/lean on one of the planters that has a railing on top of it.



Unless he works his way up to the queue railing in front of Small World, there isn't much to lean on for the fireworks or Tapestry of Happiness. The VIP area is only for the parade so anyone can stand there for the projections. There are railings in that area.

 

[maleficent55]

When are you going? There are a few areas that are difficult to describe. I can take pictures the next time I am in the parks.

Using the pictures I posted above, if you are the on the street level, there is a ledge that people sit on while they wait for the parade. CM come by 10 min or so before the parade and ask those people to stand. He could stand and still lean on the railing behind him. He won't be front row, but the people in front are seated so I think the view will still be good.

View attachment 973339

If he is on the terraced area, he could stand in front and lean on the railing or stand/lean on one of the planters that has a railing on top of it.

View attachment 973341

Unless he works his way up to the queue railing in front of Small World, there isn't much to lean on for the fireworks or Tapestry of Happiness. My friend likes standing in the VIP area (see pic above) for the projections.

Thank you! Makes sense
He can stand for fireworks, always helpful to learn but if he can’t he’ll be ok
And tapestry is so short
But for the parade these spots you’ve shown look great!

 

[LKing]

Thank you! Makes sense
He can stand for fireworks, always helpful to learn but if he can’t he’ll be ok
And tapestry is so short
But for the parade these spots you’ve shown look great!

I'll be honest. While they ask everyone that isn't seated in the front to stand, I've never seen them come by during the parade and enforce it. If he is standing in the back by the ledge and needs to sit, I'm pretty sure it will be okay.

 

[LKing]

Adding a duck photo to show how deep the terraced area is. This picture is taken from the bench on the terrace showing the area behind it, along with a second terrace. There is room for quite a few people up there.



Here is an old photo that shows people sitting in the queue area by Small World.