Night Time in July

[pixhappymom]

Is it at all reasonable to assume that we can watch a 6 pm parade, Fireworks at 9:30 pm and Fantasmic at 10:30 pm? Or is this just too overzealous?!?!? There are 4 of us-2 adults, a 13 year old and an 11 year old if that makes any difference Obviously all the advice out there says "stake a spot 2 hours before" pretty much for all three so can't do the 2 hours ahead but then didn't know if at all possible!

 

[shooting4life]

You could do all three if you got reservations for fantasmic since you have a large gap between parade and fireworks.

 

[pixhappymom]

You could do all three if you got reservations for fantasmic since you have a large gap between parade and fireworks.

That's what I was wondering?!?! That would allow a chance to get a decent seat for Fantasmic with us going straight from fireworks (prepared to be on Main Street for these) and then to Fantasmic viewing area.

 

[DLgal]

Just get Fastpasses for Fantasmic. The dining packages all require you to sit down for a LONG TIME on the hard ground. It is painful. And boring. If you get a FP early in the day, you can enter the viewing area like 15 min before showtime, stand, and see the show just fine. FWIW, I don't think there are really any "bad" views of Fantasmic. The show travels from one side of the river to the other, so you will see everything eventually, and there are three main water screens so no matter where you are, you will be able to see. I think the dining package viewing areas are overrated. We did the River Belle Terrace package and I was in SO much pain at the end from sitting on the hard ground for over an hour. I hated that we had to sit.

And yes, you can do all three, very easily.

 

[figment_jii]

Yes, I think you can do all three, with the caveat that you might not get a "prime" viewing spot for Fantasmic. Assuming you're going to watch fireworks from Main Street, you'll have to get over to the Rivers of America area after the show ends. Sometimes they hold guests entering the area until they've cleared out everyone from the reserved viewing areas. Then a line to enter the viewing areas forms and eventually they'll let everyone in. If you come from Main Street (or IaSW), you'll probably be behind the folks that either skipped fireworks or were already in the area. I think you can still see the show, but the prime locations will probably be taken.

I opted to do the dining package for the second show and did enjoy the view. They do have everyone sit on the ground within the viewing area, except those in the very back, which I liked because then I didn't have to worry about tall people in front of me. They didn't open the viewing area until about 30 minutes before second show time (had to clear out the area from guests that remained to watch the fireworks), so we didn't have to sit for that long (ground sitting doesn't bother me and it gave my feet a nice break). While I don't think the dining package is necessary, I thought it was worth it.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...I opted to do the dining package for the second show and did enjoy the view. They do have everyone sit on the ground within the viewing area, except those in the very back, which I liked because then I didn't have to worry about tall people in front of me. They didn't open the viewing area until about 30 minutes before second show time (had to clear out the area from guests that remained to watch the fireworks), so we didn't have to sit for that long (ground sitting doesn't bother me and it gave my feet a nice break). While I don't think the dining package is necessary, I thought it was worth it.

We, too, have done the Dining Package viewing for the F! second show and enjoyed the view. The ground seating was not a problem for us. Either we had seat cushions from BB or sat on bunched up jackets. (We have jackets that fold up into a pocket, so they make a kind of cushion -- very convenient when needed.) I'm short, so getting a good view takes planning. We find the F! reserved viewing areas to be a good value in this regard and not a problem as long as we bring something padded to sit on.