Nighttime Entertainment for Early June Trip

[ateam79828592]

We will be in Disneyland the first full week in June. It looks like WOC will not be an option, so we are looking at our nighttime possible choices being: Fantasmic!, Fireworks, and Paint The Night parade.

We have 4 children - ages 4, 8, 9, 13. Our first priority is PTN and from reading it looks like it won't be a problem to get a good viewing spot along the route somewhere.
We would also like to see Fantasmic!. We aren't really interested in any of the dining packages as far as the food/experience. But from reading my concern is our kids won't be able to see the show if we are doing just the FP option.

#1) Do you think we need to do Hungry Bear dining package (cheapest) in order to get reserved seating so the kids can see?

#2) ...our 13yo is very picky eater and would likely want to order off the kids menu. How does that work with a dining package? Usually at Quick Service, we just order whatever she wants (kids meal or adult meal)...is that find with the take-out dining package as well?

#3) Is the Fantasmic! viewing area a good place to see the new Pixar Fest fireworks? It would be great not to move and to make it only 2 late nights (PTN, Fantasmic!/Fireworks) for the kids.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Whistlebee]

Ive only seen Fantasmic once and we did the Hungry Bear package. So I can’t comment on just using regular Fastpasses. However, we were very happy with the HB package. The food didn’t sound good to us at all but it was really really good. The outside dining area is relaxing and peaceful too. You can easily order off of the regular menu if the package dinners aren’t appealing to you or your kids. For the 13 year old you’ll probably have to pay the adult price even if she orders off the kids menu.
Personally , we thought the Fantasmic viewing area (again, we were in the Hungry Bear section) was a really good spot to watch the Fireworks from. We were not crowded in like sardines on Main Street (we watched from Main Street too) and you can so easily see the Fireworks and projections all at once. On Main Street you have to turn and look at the buildings to see the projections. There are a couple of special things you miss, but I actually preferred the Fantasmic viewing area over Main Street. So, if you aren’t super picky I think you’ll be plenty happy with the Fireworks from here.

 

[figment_jii]

I haven't seen the Pixar Fireworks from the HB dining package area, but I did watch a different fireworks show from roughly that area. I think the view is okay and an good alternative if you don't want to deal with the crowds on Main Street. From the Hungry Bear viewing area, you should have a pretty straight on view of a mist screen and the fireworks. You won't get the same immersive feel and you won't have as good a view of Buzz and the Up House as they float across the sky, nor any of the effects on the castle. They do present the projections on the mist screens and I've found those to be adequate, but kind of fuzzy. I don't know if they do the special effects for Coco in the RoA area or not. So overall, if you want to avoid the crowds, then RoA is a good option, but it's not one I would recommend as a first choice.

Mist Screen projections:

 

[cruisehopeful]

#1) Do you think we need to do Hungry Bear dining package (cheapest) in order to get reserved seating so the kids can see?

I would do that. You can order off the regular menu if the specials don't appeal to any of you. I'd be willing to buy the meal and actually eat somewhere else and save that meal as leftovers or give away if it got me a reserved viewing area. It's just a lot easier to have the reserved area.

 

[ateam79828592]

I would do that. You can order off the regular menu if the specials don't appeal to any of you. I'd be willing to buy the meal and actually eat somewhere else and save that meal as leftovers or give away if it got me a reserved viewing area. It's just a lot easier to have the reserved area.

Not the answer I wanted, but the one I expected. Thanks for your input.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

1) The answer to this question depends on several things:
How good a view do you want? If you want a very good view without a very long wait and you want to sit, albeit on the ground, then the Dining Packages are the only answer.
If you are fine with a not as stellar view: there are areas that don't require a FP at all where you will be able to view the show, but that view won't be prime. For example, you can sit on the wall along the front of HM and still see and hear the show. Your view won't be super, but the kids should be able to see most of the show without being crowded in with lots of taller people around/in front of them. Yes, people will be walking in front of you throughout the show, but you'll be seated and won't have paid a dime.
Highly suggest that wherever you view that you don't put the smaller kids on your shoulders since that blocks the view of people behind you. If you have to lift up the smaller kids, put them on your hip -- if their heads are relatively level with yours, they should be able to see.
If you want a better view (but without a dining package), how much time are you willing to invest in waiting? With free FPs, if you are among the first into the viewing section, you'll be up front by the water, so the kids should be able to see. But if you are further back in the section, they won't be able to see much. If you can invest a lot of time waiting, get the front railing on the bridge by POTC -- that is a good view -- the kids will be able to see fine. But the wait for that front row is well over 3 hours.

2) As stated above, your daughter should be able to order off the kids' menu or off the regular menu, but she probably will be charged the adult price.

3) The ROA viewing area for fireworks is pretty nice. Not the same as the area in front of the castle, but not nearly as crowded, either. The fireworks designers have said that they planned different effects for each viewing section, so there may be a few things in the ROA projections that aren't shown anywhere else. I know that the castle effects and the Main Street effects are a bit different from each other. If you don't have to have the castle view for fireworks, the F! viewing area is quite enjoyable.