If you don't make Fantasmic reservations, when do you stake out a spot?

[lattemomof3]

Also, where is a good spot to sit? Do I need a blanket large enough for my family of 5 to sit on, so we won't be crowded out? We'll be seeing it the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend at the 9:00 showing.

 

[nutshell]

Also, where is a good spot to sit? Do I need a blanket large enough for my family of 5 to sit on, so we won't be crowded out? We'll be seeing it the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend at the 9:00 showing.

Anywhere along the waterfront should be fine and, yes, I would get a blanket for your family. Even with the blanket, it will get pretty crowded. Some people start staking out spots as much as two hours early, but I'm not sure how busy it will be the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. My choice is always to see the second showing - much smaller crowd.

 

[HydroGuy]

If there are two shows which is likely TG week then if you can go the second show the wait for a spot is shorter for a couple reasons:

1. It is later (10:30) and people do not want to stay as late

2. The first show is at 9PM and lasts about 20 minutes. The second is at 10:30. So the time in between is 70 minutes. That is the maximum wait you would experience. The first show at 9PM people can start getting a spot whenever they want.

If you really want to go to the 9PM show you have a few options:

1. Get a dessert reservation for $60 a person

2. Show up early at the Riverbelle Terrace and get a spot at one of their tables - will need to order food of course

3. Stake out a spot with towels or blanket before 9PM. How early? Depends on the size of your group and age of kids. With smaller kids you really want a spot down in front near the water. I would show up for that spot by 7PM at the latest. Throw down a blanket to save space for everyone in your group. Leave one person there at all times to protect the space. And send the rest of the group to do stuff around NOS. POTC, HM, Indy, etc. Get some hot dogs and eat in your spot. Bring some cards to pass the time.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We saw F! this past Sunday! We went to the 2nd show, after watching Magical we slowly made our way (with everyone else in the park it seemed) through Frontier Land (I would've preferred to go through Adventure Land but that wasn't gonna happen) towards Pirates ~ we used the Light Tower Trick - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2225094&highlight=trick

We had a great view! But this doesn't seem to be much of a secret anymore ~ luckily we got there in good time, several people showed up after us hopin' for the same spot.

 

[HydroGuy]

We saw F! this past Sunday! We went to the 2nd show, after watching Magical we slowly made our way (with everyone else in the park it seemed) through Frontier Land (I would've preferred to go through Adventure Land but that wasn't gonna happen) towards Pirates ~ we used the Light Tower Trick - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2225094&highlight=trick

We had a great view! But this doesn't seem to be much of a secret anymore ~ luckily we got there in good time, several people showed up after us hopin' for the same spot.

A few questions for interest.

What time did you get there?

How many people were there when you arrived?

How many came after?

 

[marcemc]

2. Show up early at the Riverbelle Terrace and get a spot at one of their tables - will need to order food of course

HydroGuy:

I love this idea. How early do you think we should be at this restaurant if we are planning on the 9 o'clock show.

Also, do they allow you to stay even if you are done with dinner. We have 2 men & 2 boys in our party and usually food is gone within the first 15 minutes!

Thanks much!

 

[HydroGuy]

HydroGuy:

I love this idea. How early do you think we should be at this restaurant if we are planning on the 9 o'clock show.

Also, do they allow you to stay even if you are done with dinner. We have 2 men & 2 boys in our party and usually food is gone within the first 15 minutes!

Thanks much!

Ahhh, I have never done this. Never enough time plus we usually got to showing #2. Someone else who has should chip in.

I have only ever done showing #1 once and we did the two hour wait thing.

Never done dessert reservations. Was going to while they had the balcony reservations over POTC and then they stopped offering those.

 

[marcemc]

Ahhh, I have never done this. Never enough time plus we usually got to showing #2. Someone else who has should chip in.

I have only ever done showing #1 once and we did the two hour wait thing.

Never done dessert reservations. Was going to while they had the balcony reservations over POTC and then they stopped offering those.

Something you have NEVER done at Disney!!!!!!!

We have done only show #1 too (small kids) but I really don't care for the wait. I'm the one that usually gets stuck with saving the spots

Anyway thanks for replying.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

A few questions for interest.

A- What time did you get there?

B- How many people were there when you arrived?

C- How many came after?

A- As soon as we could after the Fireworks ~ we did not dawdle but there was a lot of people.

B- 2

C- 2 arrived right after us and geesh 15 or so after them (they stood behind us) plently more people walked by seeming like they wanted our spot.

 

[HydroGuy]

Something you have NEVER done at Disney!!!!!!!

We have done only show #1 too (small kids) but I really don't care for the wait. I'm the one that usually gets stuck with saving the spots

Anyway thanks for replying.

I tell people frequently that I am not as much of a DLR expert as some people make out. Seriously.

o Only stayed onsite once. Most Disney hotels are designed for 4-5, not 6.
o Never done a character meal
o Never eaten at the GCH (Napa, Stroytellers, WWS)
o Never eaten at Riverbelle Terrace before Fantasmic or any other time for that matter
o Finally ate at Bengal BBQ in May for first time
o Never done Muppets 3D
o Never had an AP

By day I do lots of analysis work and am at my best when analyzing and spotting trends.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

For Riverbelle Terrace, usually all of the front row tables are taken by 5pm. My daughter & I went last Saturday & got there @ 4:45, and someone was waiting for the people to finish eating at the last table, so got it before we could. We ended up at a second row table, and had an umbrella stand in our way (they don't take them down).

Some friends of hers joined us to watch the show, and we had an extra chair, which I offered to a little six year old. Her parents stood at the back of the patio while she was able to enjoy the show with us -- her first time to Disneyland.

They only allow a limited number of people on the patio, and CMs will monitor the ins and outs after a certain time (maybe 7pm?)

Still, we enjoyed the show.

 

[GrandBob]

For Riverbelle Terrace, usually all of the front row tables are taken by 5pm.

So I assume that all those folks are planted there until the 9PM show lets out. Can I assume, then, that a bunch of tables will open up around 9:30? What would be the strategy to try to get a front row table at RT in time for the 10:30 show?

-Bob

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

That is what some people do. They go through the Adventureland entrance to the restaurant and then wait to go out to the tables. Usually, people will stay there until after the fireworks, and then it will clear up.

 

[HydroGuy]

For Riverbelle Terrace, usually all of the front row tables are taken by 5pm. My daughter & I went last Saturday & got there @ 4:45, and someone was waiting for the people to finish eating at the last table, so got it before we could. We ended up at a second row table, and had an umbrella stand in our way (they don't take them down).

Some friends of hers joined us to watch the show, and we had an extra chair, which I offered to a little six year old. Her parents stood at the back of the patio while she was able to enjoy the show with us -- her first time to Disneyland.

They only allow a limited number of people on the patio, and CMs will monitor the ins and outs after a certain time (maybe 7pm?)

Still, we enjoyed the show.

Thanks MJ. I always wondered about this. I doubt I personally would ever wait four hours to see Fantasmic. If I was a SoCal local AP holder then I might. But I have always wondered about this.

I am guessing then that they let you sit there at the same table from 4:45PM through 9:20 (end of Fantasmic show) as long as you order some food?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Yes, that's what we've always done, even back in the 90's. Only thing is that more people know about it, etc. Since my daughter & I specifically went down there to see F! we didn't mind the wait. We just chatted & I read my kindle a little bit & we posted pics on Facebook. lol