Problems waiting for Illuminations or Fantasmic?

[Ahrizel]

I'm hoping to take a young lady with us on our next trip to WDW. She's cp, wc bound, probably around a 3-4yr mental level. She's pretty much a goofballl, very social. My only major worries is the amount of time waiting for the big night shows. I know she'll love them, but sitting for an hour without doing anything will tiick her off. And if she's not happy, ain't nobody happy! Yet I know she'll need to get to wheelchair seating early to be able to see the shows. I'm not as worried about the lines, will fastpass and work around the longer lines to the best of my ability. She doesn't mind being around a lot of people-especially if she's the center of attention. Very much a princess! I'm pretty familiar with the GAC from reading these boards, but don't know how, or if, it would help with this. Any suggestions or ideas would be much appreciated.

 

[Nanajo1]

The wait for Fantasmic can be long but there is so much going on,with people arriving, vendors hawking their wares and people initiating the wave. There seems to be plenty of wheelchair seating at Fantasmic . Along the top row is where I sit. When we have little ones with us we bring bubbles, light up wands and snacks to entertain them.
I'm sure similar activities would help waiting for Illuminations.
Have a great trip.

 

[Mike Bartenhagen]

I am sorry but I am going to be very vauge here in the hopes that someone can follow up with more details. For one of the shows you mentioned I believe if you eat at a specific restraunt you can get special seating. That way you could spend the wait eating rather than doing nothing.

Like I said very vauge but I am hoping someone else could help.

Mike

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by Mike Bartenhagen
I am sorry but I am going to be very vauge here in the hopes that someone can follow up with more details. For one of the shows you mentioned I believe if you eat at a specific restraunt you can get special seating. That way you could spend the wait eating rather than doing nothing.

Like I said very vauge but I am hoping someone else could help.

Mike

It's called the Fantasmic Dinner Package and you do have to ask for it that way. You make a Priority Seating Reservation at specific restaurants that are included in the program (I think it's currently Mama Melrose, Hollywood and Vine and the Brown Derby). When you eat there, you get a voucher that allows you to sit in a specific part of the ampitheater for Fantasmic. You still need to get there about 1/2 hour early.
We have never used the package. As Nanaho mentioned, there is a lot going on, so the wait doesn't really seem that long. Generally, you are not waiting in line for a very long time. If there is only one show, or if you are going to the first show on a night with 2 shows, they do start seating an hour or even longer before the show starts. So, most of your wait is sitting down. Once you have your seats, you can move around a bit if you like, as long as you remember where your seats are. (Very important, there are 6,900 seats and room for 3,000 people standing).

The GAC would not really help with Illuminations or Fantasmic as long as the person with the GAC is using a wheelchair. There are only a certain number of wheelchair spaces, so once they are taken, that's it for the night. We have, though arrived at Fantasmic as close as 15 minutes to the show and still been able to get a wheelchair spot. I would not recommend that if you really want to see the show. You are betting on how many special needs people have also decided to go to the show and there is no guarantee that there will be any spots left if you arrive that late.
There are restrooms and snack bars inside the ampitheater area and you will also find CMs roaming around selling popcorn, cotton candy and light-up toys.
The wheelchair seating (whether or not you use the Fantasmic Dinner Package) is along the back row. The first time we went, I was worried about how my DD would endure the wait. She uses a wheelchair, is non-verbal and has mutliple disabilities, including ADD and some obessesive compulsive bahaviors. She had no problem any of the times we've gone (and we have gone with her 5 or 6 times now). On our last family trip, we also had my nephew who has ADD and another condition (I don't what his diagnosis is, but from his behavior, it is similar to Aspergers). I really was not looking forward to waiting an hour with him, but it was really not a problem. There is just so much going on that the time does not feel long.

For Illuminations there are wheelchair viewing areas. How busy they are and how fast they get busy varies a lot. If there is a lot of demand on the night that you go, you might have to be there quite a bit before the show begins. If it's really exceptionally busy in the wheelchair area, they may limit the party to only one person plus the person with a disability (this is because there is limited room in the wheelchair viewing area and they try to save it to use the maximum amount of space for people in wheelchairs/ecvs or who have GACs). If it's not that busy, you may be able to talk to the CM about letting part of your party stay in the wheelchair viewing area while someone walks around with your child.
We don't usually bother with the wheelchair viewing area, because for us, it's more bother than help. There are plenty of places around WS lagoon where you can see the show. Because there is a fence around the laggon, you can have part of your party mark off and save an area along the fence and then someone can walk around with your child and come back 10-15 minutes before the show begins. When you are looking for a spot, keep in mind that a lot of the show takes place low over the water. Look for the things that stick out in the middle of the water. That's where the water part of the show takes place. Also, watch which way the wind is blowing. If it's coming toward you, you will have lots of fireworks smoke. Also, keep in mind that the busiest areas will be from Canada toward Mexico and the area where you enter WS from FW. People who want to get out of the park quickly after the show tend to pack those places. WHen the show is over, stay put for about 10 minutes; the crowd will clear and you will have a much easier time getting out.

 

[deelovesdis]

I had a wheelchair and took the Fantasmic dinner package two weeks ago. With this package you can arrive 45 minutes early if you want, without waiting on any lines. However, a word of caution, it is a steep climb up to see fantasmic, and a long walk. My mother had a hard time pushing me, a grown woman. A CM noticed this, saw her distress and helped push the wheelchair the rest of the way. THere was designated seating in the back, the last row, which was disappointing. My little girl did not want to sit all the way in the last row, especially since we arrived early and had our pick of seats. Must all of the handicapped seating be in the last row at almost, not all, but almost every show???

 

[Ahrizel]

Thanks for all the replies. I probably should have mentioned that while I've never taken this young lady before, my husband and I have been to WDW 7 times in 5 years. So at least I am familiar with how it works. My best bet seems to be have the hubby save the seats while I walk around with her. I know how crazy the Fantasmic stadium is, but it still won't keep her amused enough. Her criteria is attention, preferably all for her, and really prefers to keep moving most of the time. During the show the activity, and especially the music will keep her very happy. She has no major issues with behavior, she simply likes to get all the attention and be amused. I can do that for 15-20 minutes, but after that she starts to crank. If she gets upset enough, she won't enjoy the shows she's waiting to see. I may try the Fantasmic dinner package, she'd like Mama Melrose's. I'm not worried about pushing her up the hill, got lots of practice taking her everyone on all sorts of terrain I'll be watching the torches at Illuminations, I've been smoked out, not fun. She's heard a lot of the music as we have the cd's. She will have a GAC, for waiting out of the sun as well as using her stroller(a convaid cruiser) as a wheelchair. She won't tolerate long lines, but we'll use fastpass and work around long lines. The big coasters aren't safe for her, unfortunately, so we'll actually be avoiding some of the biggest lines. Pity, she'd love the wildest rides if she could ride them safely. Hopefully we can keep her happy with the waiting.