Paint the Night Dining Package

[lindyv321]

Has anyone had any experience with the dining package offered from Aladdin's Oasis? We have never been in the parks for a nighttime parade or the fireworks and want to have a good view. In fact I don't even know where or when to stand to wait for it. I also don't want to waste my money if we would be in an area we could have been in for free! So any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Agent 86]

I've been researching these options. To my understanding, the reserved viewing area for the Aladdin's Oasis package is near It's a Small World. A number of reviews I read indicated that the view from this reserved viewing area was no better than someone would receive if they watched the Paint the Night parade from the surrounding area near IASW. But, I imagine that people's perceptions would change depending upon the crowd levels, etc.

Also, I didn't quite understand the issue, but apparently the location near IASW is unfavourable if you wanted to watch the fireworks after PTN because the traffic / people congestion makes it extremely difficult to freely and quickly move to suitable location for the fireworks. I haven't started researching PTN and firework times (as the opening hours for my trip haven't been posted yet), so I'm not sure how much of an issue this is (especially if there are multiple parades).

 

[lindyv321]

I read one thing that said you can see the fireworks from this location but you don't see the animations that are put on the castle. My other thought was to try to get a spot at the end of Main Street to be able to leave easily right after the show

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you want to leave quickly after the fireworks, then being on Main Street by Town Square would be best. If you view from the IASW mall, it will take a while before you will be at the exits. For PTN viewing from that area, as long as you don't have to be sitting curbside, you should be able to slip into the second or third row without lots of waiting time.

 

[lindyv321]

Thanks!! I have six months to devise a plan!

 

[CherylGonz]

I recently found the podcasts on here and found out that they still show he projections on the facade of IASM. They don't recommend the reservation either. If you watch PTN from Main Street you can move into the street at watch he fireworks. Be on the right side. I think it snows during the frozen section but only on Main Street. Others can correct me as we have not been. I've just been researching and listening to podcasts.

 

[sbtw13]

We watched ptn tonight, across the street from the alladins oasis reserved dining area. This is spring break and the crowds are extremely high. We sat down in the front row slightly after 7pm. The front row quickly filled, but the area behind us never really filled. The reserved viewing area across from us appeared to be vastly more crowded.
We actually enjoyed sitting. We were pretty tired of standing in line. I wnet and got everyone dinner and we had plenty of space to sit and eat. My son was completely entertained by watching the balloon sellers in front of us before the parade.
Ptn was fantastic.
I was glad I hadn't done the package in part BC it was crowded enough that even moving around the park was difficult and we would have had to negotiate our way to alladins and back to iasw area.

 

[lindyv321]

Thanks for the info I think I am leaning towards not doing the package since I am most likely also going to be purchasing tickets to the Halloween party and don't want to have to spend even more money!

Were you sitting near Its a small World to watch the parade? Did you stay there for fireworks too?

 

[lindyv321]

We watched ptn tonight, across the street from the alladins oasis reserved dining area. This is spring break and the crowds are extremely high. We sat down in the front row slightly after 7pm. The front row quickly filled, but the area behind us never really filled. The reserved viewing area across from us appeared to be vastly more crowded.
We actually enjoyed sitting. We were pretty tired of standing in line. I wnet and got everyone dinner and we had plenty of space to sit and eat. My son was completely entertained by watching the balloon sellers in front of us before the parade.
Ptn was fantastic.
I was glad I hadn't done the package in part BC it was crowded enough that even moving around the park was difficult and we would have had to negotiate our way to alladins and back to iasw area.

Were you sitting near Its a small World to watch the parade? Did you stay there for fireworks too?

 

[Viviene Anthony]

I read one thing that said you can see the fireworks from this location but you don't see the animations that are put on the castle. My other thought was to try to get a spot at the end of Main Street to be able to leave easily right after the show

I enjoy the Fireworks from the IASM area. You can view so much going on around you towards IASM and behind you where the castle is. And while it's still crowded, it's less crowded than on Main Street. Animations are still projected onto IASM. Another one of my favorite places to view is from Fantasyland, between the Carousel, Dumbo and Casey Jr. Train. You feel like you are surrounded and much closer to the fireworks, and can see Nemo well from there. I find you can't hear the narration or music as well, though. If you're not all that interested in seeing all the special effects and just want to see fireworks, head to the Rivers of America and Frontierland. Main Street is the best viewing area, IMO, as you get more "special effects" from the surrounding buildings and you can see what's going on and around the castle. Personally, we like to stand mid Main Street and off the the right, so you can duck out into a store right at the end and avoid the crowds trying to come and go. The CMs do a good job of crowd control though.

I recently found the podcasts on here and found out that they still show he projections on the facade of IASM. They don't recommend the reservation either. If you watch PTN from Main Street you can move into the street at watch he fireworks. Be on the right side. I think it snows during the frozen section but only on Main Street. Others can correct me as we have not been. I've just been researching and listening to podcasts.

It snows on Main Street and IASM and if I'm not mistaken, along the Rivers of America viewing area after the last segment of the Disneyland Forever! Fireworks, which happens to be Frozen, and not during PTN.

 

[lindyv321]

Yeah I'm not sure we care much about the animations as much as the fireworks so maybe we'll watch the parade from IASW then head towards FL for the fireworks or maybe try to hop on BTM!

 

[Viviene Anthony]

Yeah I'm not sure we care much about the animations as much as the fireworks so maybe we'll watch the parade from IASW then head towards FL for the fireworks or maybe try to hop on BTM!

I do recommend fireworks from Main Street. It really is an amazing show. Also, with the crowds it will take a while to get to Frontierland and BTM because the only way you can access it now is via the hub. The alternative route (from Fantasyland to Frontierland) is now closed due to the construction of Star Wars Land. You would have to go around the castle completely after fireworks because Fantasyland and the castle are closed briefly while the area is inspected for any potential dangers from the fireworks. I would just stay in the IASW area for both PTN and DF!F.

 

[lindyv321]

Oh thanks for the info!!!

 

[texasgingerbread]

We did the same thing as sbtw13. One hour before parade and plenty of seating on front row. We knew we were in the right place since we were surrounded by cast members. Sit all the way in that you can next to trash can (just to the right of clock if looking at IASW) and then as soon as PTN is done and goes by, move all the way further (if looking at IASW all the way to right) and you can have rail viewing of fireworks and animations. My kids sat right at rail and never needed to stand because no one was in front of them. The cast members told us to do this too (the ones sitting beside us). It does snow at IASW. And I loved the view here better than Main Street. First timer here just went first week in March. We did the BB PTN package earlier in the week and thought this IASW was FAR superior.

I think as a WDW Vet you just think you "have" to have that view of the castle, but the castle at DL is just not the same (obviously) and the further down Main Street you are the more you cannot see because it's not that tall. I thought IASW was the real charm for Fireworks and it is the "castle view" of DL even though it's not a castle. Hope that makes sense. Hope I didn't confuse you.

 

[lindyv321]

Thank you!! Is there anywhere to sit while waiting for the parade to start or do we have to be standing waiting for an hour?

 

[Viviene Anthony]

I think as a WDW Vet you just think you "have" to have that view of the castle, but the castle at DL is just not the same (obviously) and the further down Main Street you are the more you cannot see because it's not that tall. I thought IASW was the real charm for Fireworks and it is the "castle view" of DL even though it's not a castle. Hope that makes sense. Hope I didn't confuse you.

Being a DLR AP holder and having viewed the fireworks from all around the park as well as outside, I agree with you in that a close up castle view is not necessary, but further back mid Main Street with a long distance view of the castle is great because you can experience the animation, inflatables, bubbles and snow and still see the castle effects and from a distance with Tinkerbell flying & Nemo swimming over it. Anything further or closer to the train station is not the place to be. IASW is my 2nd favorite viewing area for DF!F.

Thank you!! Is there anywhere to sit while waiting for the parade to start or do we have to be standing waiting for an hour?

There are lots of places to sit, along railings. You just have to beat everyone else to those spots!

 

[lindyv321]

Being a DLR AP holder and having viewed the fireworks from all around the park as well as outside, I agree with you in that a close up castle view is not necessary, but further back mid Main Street with a long distance view of the castle is great because you can experience the animation, inflatables, bubbles and snow and still see the castle effects and from a distance with Tinkerbell flying & Nemo swimming over it. Anything further or closer to the train station is not the place to be. IASW is my 2nd favorite viewing area for DF!F.



There are lots of places to sit, along railings. You just have to beat everyone else to those spots!

Thank you! I am for sure going to pass on the dining packages and we'll find our own spot!