?'s regardiing Fantasmic -- blankets and reserving spots

[veddermax]

I must admit I have never bothered to do Fantasmic in all my years of going to DLR. But am considering doing it this time for DD3. Is it possible to bring a blanket to lay on the ground. Also does the entire party need to be there the whole time (e.g. 2 hours plus before show time). Was planning on having one of us stay with the blanket and the rest tour Frontierland, etc. while waiting. Is this possible to do?

 

[azdizzymom]

I must admit I have never bothered to do Fantasmic in all my years of going to DLR. But am considering doing it this time for DD3. Is it possible to bring a blanket to lay on the ground. Also does the entire party need to be there the whole time (e.g. 2 hours plus before show time). Was planning on having one of us stay with the blanket and the rest tour Frontierland, etc. while waiting. Is this possible to do?

This is a 'hot' topic here. Understand that the 3 year old won't want to sit for 2 hours BUT it is not right to have one person sit and 'hold' spots while others ride on rides and return shortly before show starts. It is similar to 'holding' a spot in line, for a parade, etc. What about coloring book, video game, book, etc to keep daughter occupied? IF you are sitting with a big blanket and the only one there, does someone have the right to just sit or move blanket...yep. Will they do....probably depends on the person. Consider how you would feel...you have a family of 4 with kids maybe 3,5 years old. You arrive with your ENTIRE party well before Fantasmic starts and there are people with blankets, etc all spread out .... you have to go way behind all these people who are up in front while their parties ride on the rides. Your kids are being taught how to wait and this is not fair to them. That is my opinion. Would I do...NEVER. Would I sit down if my family arrived and someone said I am saving these seats....you bet I would. It is different if it is for a potty break for a small child, but for the rest of the party to tour Frontierland...nope. People might not move to let them in either once it gets crowded. Teach your daughter to wait patiently. It is hard BUT in the end the rewards are good. My boys always sat and waited for the parade or show...spent almost 1.5 hours in Disney World waiting for Fantasmic. Of course when they announce 15 minutes before show to please slide together to make room do you think any of us who had been there for a long time moved...nope! I am proud to say my boys will hold the door for people, let kids stand in front of them so they can see, etc. Start young and teach the right thing. That is my opinion, but you will have others say it is fine.

Whatever you do have a fun trip!

 

[Kittyskyfish]

I agree with azdizzymom. You have good intentions for wanting to set up camp so that the rest of your family can have fun, but it's really not fair for others that came early.

From my experiences sitting and waiting, the whole crew should be there but it's okay to take infrequent turns getting up and taking a potty break or going to get some food (to bring back!). I mean, don't do it every 5 minutes but when you're waiting 2 hours, getting up once or twice is reasonable.

I don't mind the wait. After a long day at the park, sitting that long revives me! This might be a good time for your DD to sit and have a late snack, then play a game or look at a picture book with you to calm down and relax.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I also agree with the pp about about setting up a blanket for the whole entire group. If a whole entire group wants to get a good sitting area right next to the ROA, you can have one person from your group in a blanket area and let them sit their while the other members of your party to go on rides or go get food. You also can do switch offs once in awhile and make it easy for the members of your group that are saving a spot.

For all the times I have been waiting and sitting for the 9pm F!, I am the guy who sets up a spot for the show and stay in the spot while the other members of my party are doing other activities in the park. A lot of my members of my party think I am stupid to wait for 2-3 hours in the same spot while they go on rides. I am that type of person to wait for the show and I always have my iPad or iTouch with me when I am waiting for a show, so I have np with it. On busy summer days, I always get there at least 3 hours before the first show and when the other members of my party are out and coming back, they can watch our spot until I go to the restrooms or get something to eat. We have seen groups save a spot by the ROA since 1pm - 2pm.

I am the scapegoat in my family or party to stake out a spot for any nighttime show (F!, fireworks, WoC, & parades) so all of members can enjoy the great experience of watching a great show in a good viewing area, not a so so view.

 

[phanomouse]

What you should be asking is, does Disney allow it? The answer is, Yes. If you ask people what they think is fair you will get split results.

 

[momtotwolittleones]

I don't have any problem with it, and I don't get the logic that it's "unfair." Anyone is welcome to do the same thing. I have no problem waiting in one line while my dh takes the kids on another and then meets me in line. The people behind me wait no longer than if my kids and dh were with me the whole time.

Same as waiting for Fantasmic - I don't see any difference between 1 person sitting on a blanket or 5 people sitting on a blanket.

Anyhow - I've never understood the "it's not fair" argument. No one here has any problem with one person waiting in line to get 5 fastpasses for WOC. What's the difference?

 

[momtotwolittleones]

Of course when they announce 15 minutes before show to please slide together to make room do you think any of us who had been there for a long time moved...nope!

Geez louise, it's an amusement park, not a military training exercise. Why create such negative energy? Let the kids have fun on rides while the adults wait. What's the big deal?

Peace and love people, let's all just have fun.

 

[momtotwolittleones]

If you ask people what they think is fair you will get split results.

Which is true for most things in life. So we all just have to make our own decisions, and hopefully practice compassion, tolerance and understanding that everyone else is doing the same.

 

[azdizzymom]

Geez louise, it's an amusement park, not a military training exercise. Why create such negative energy? Let the kids have fun on rides while the adults wait. What's the big deal?

Peace and love people, let's all just have fun.

No its not military training camp, but why the heck should we be forced to slide away from our seats in the middle of the row where we can see to a spot on the end so those who get there at the last minute can see. Sorry they can squeeze in where there is room. We don't sit spread out...comfortably spaced. Why is it fair for me and my family with kids to sit for a long time and have some other inconsiderate family expect me to move so they can have perfect seats. I am one who also said something to the inconsiderate man who stood in FRONT of us during fireworks while we were all sitting there for 45+ minutes waiting to start. He huffed off with wife and daughter...person behind me said something to him when he moved in front of them. Sorry kids need to learn to wait and not expect things handed to them. I am proud of the fact that from an early age my children learned to wait in line, learned to go potty before getting in a line, didn't ride in a stroller at Disney when they were 5 or above (NEVER took a stroller to Disney). We are all different on how we raise our children and can agree to disagree. My children are not raised like military training camp kids. They have learned respect and that patience does pay off. Why should we be punished by those who think they are special. BTW we did have a fantastic time waiting and those around us who had been sitting and waiting the same amount of time didn't move either so it is not just me!

 

[momtotwolittleones]

I guess I see it differently - I see it as an experience that I hope as many people as possible get to enjoy. I don't see it as "fair or unfair" or "me and mine." If 8 more families get to see the show because I scoot a bit over the right, then that makes me happier than having a more perfect spot. The goodwill and peaceful energy that is created by saying "Sure, come on over, we'll squish together, there's more than enough room" has a way of gaining momentum and creates a happier, more harmonious experience for everyone, me included.

That's what I want my kids to learn.

 

[StacyMarie]

I guess I see it differently - I see it as an experience that I hope as many people as possible get to enjoy. I don't see it as "fair or unfair" or "me and mine." If 8 more families get to see the show because I scoot a bit over the right, then that makes me happier than having a more perfect spot. The goodwill and peaceful energy that is created by saying "Sure, come on over, we'll squish together, there's more than enough room" has a way of gaining momentum and creates a happier, more harmonious experience for everyone, me included.

That's what I want my kids to learn.

Well said!

 

[Kittyskyfish]

I guess I see it differently - I see it as an experience that I hope as many people as possible get to enjoy. I don't see it as "fair or unfair" or "me and mine." If 8 more families get to see the show because I scoot a bit over the right, then that makes me happier than having a more perfect spot. The goodwill and peaceful energy that is created by saying "Sure, come on over, we'll squish together, there's more than enough room" has a way of gaining momentum and creates a happier, more harmonious experience for everyone, me included.

That's what I want my kids to learn.

Funny, because this is exactly what I don't like.

What I've noticed is when people create a space and hold it for their family, they ultimately underestimate how much space is needed. Mom sits for hours with us, then five minutes before the show starts, her husband and three teens come in and, "Do you mind squeezing together? My boys need to fit in, too. K'thanksBai!" Now I'm pressed up against my husband with my legs locked in an uncomfortable position and a strange, smelly teenage boy rubbing knees with me. <<<< Personal experience. Not good.

I don't want to sit in squished, skin-on-skin contact with strangers like a pile of tired hermit crabs. If they had worked out their space earlier by sitting down earlier, then we wouldn't have to play Twister.

 

[whimsy87]

We always make sure to overestimate the physical size of our group. And we make sure everyone is back to the blanket an hour before the show start. 45 minutes at the VERY least. And then when more people are squishing in, we have extra space to share!

You never know what someone's circumstances are, so I always try to think about that if someone around me is being what I perceive to be inconsiderate. We went just a couple of weeks after my mom passed away last year and my boyfriend had to kind of remind me to pay attention to other people, because I kept accidentally getting in people's way and just being all-around kind of inadvertently inconsiderate. So whenever someone is doing something that I find off-putting, I remind myself that they may have personal things going on, too. And they just want to enjoy Disneyland like I want to enjoy Disneyland. So we have that much in common. And as long as we have one thing in common, we're kind of friends already, so I should treat them as such.

 

[veddermax]

What you should be asking is, does Disney allow it? The answer is, Yes. If you ask people what they think is fair you will get split results.

Thanks. This is exactly what I wanted to know.

 

[momtotwolittleones]

Funny, because this is exactly what I don't like.

What I've noticed is when people create a space and hold it for their family, they ultimately underestimate how much space is needed. Mom sits for hours with us, then five minutes before the show starts, her husband and three teens come in and, "Do you mind squeezing together? My boys need to fit in, too. K'thanksBai!" Now I'm pressed up against my husband with my legs locked in an uncomfortable position and a strange, smelly teenage boy rubbing knees with me. <<<< Personal experience. Not good.

I don't want to sit in squished, skin-on-skin contact with strangers like a pile of tired hermit crabs. If they had worked out their space earlier by sitting down earlier, then we wouldn't have to play Twister.

Yeah, but it's a crowded area - this kind of stuff is to be expected. It would be nice if we could all design and enforce rules to protect ourselves from discomfort, but we can't, especially not in crowded, crazy environments like Disneyland.

In the end, while at Disneyland, the "rules" are made by Disney, not us, and their rule is that everyone is to squeeze together at the last minute and make as much room for as many people as possible. I know that going in, and if I can't deal with it, I watch from further away or skip it until I'm in a more gracious mood.

I am not the enforcer of my own personal version of what constitutes good manners everywhere I go in the world, and I can only control my behavior, not the behavior of others. Aggression breeds agression, and compassion breeds compassion. I do my best to choose compassion whenever I can.

 

[tdashgirl]

Thanks. This is exactly what I wanted to know.

I agree. Best response. This is a hot button issue, as you can tell

 

[momtotwolittleones]

You never know what someone's circumstances are, so I always try to think about that if someone around me is being what I perceive to be inconsiderate. We went just a couple of weeks after my mom passed away last year and my boyfriend had to kind of remind me to pay attention to other people, because I kept accidentally getting in people's way and just being all-around kind of inadvertently inconsiderate. So whenever someone is doing something that I find off-putting, I remind myself that they may have personal things going on, too. And they just want to enjoy Disneyland like I want to enjoy Disneyland. So we have that much in common. And as long as we have one thing in common, we're kind of friends already, so I should treat them as such.

That is a beautiful attitude.

 

[canadadisney]

Personally we have not done this for F! as we find once we sit there is so many others around us that we can't get out. But, we have done this for parades. I also find that it doesn't seems to matter how long you wait or with who, someone will try and get in front of you. I try to take it all with a deep breath!

 

[AMouse&ADream]

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT!

My wife and I catch Fantasmic every couple of months, and we get a good viewing area without having to wait in line or pick a spot two hours in advance.

We make a reservation for Cafe Orleans for 7:40pm, requesting an outside table (waiting a little past our reservation time if necessary) and eat dinner. Most of the tables, even outside, don't have good views of Fantasmic. But people leave after dinner, and they stop letting people in. We then move to another table (which the wait staff helps with and even encourages). The one in the front corner has the best view.

Cafe Orleans will let you stay there during the show if you've had dinner, but they won't let non-diners on to the patio, so there's virtually no competition for seating. One caveat, though, is that when the show is beginning and all the lights go out, they're required to remove all glass dishes from the patio, so make sure you're finished eating (though they will transfer your drink into a to-go cup for you).

We get a nice view every time, dinner right before, comfortable seats, and we don't have to wait idly by for the show to start; or deal with issues of whether or not it's ethical to save seats for other members of your party while they're off doing other things.

 

[phanomouse]

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT!

My wife and I catch Fantasmic every couple of months, and we get a good viewing area without having to wait in line or pick a spot two hours in advance.

We make a reservation for Cafe Orleans for 7:40pm, requesting an outside table (waiting a little past our reservation time if necessary) and eat dinner. Most of the tables, even outside, don't have good views of Fantasmic. But people leave after dinner, and they stop letting people in. We then move to another table (which the wait staff helps with and even encourages). The one in the front corner has the best view.

Cafe Orleans will let you stay there during the show if you've had dinner, but they won't let non-diners on to the patio, so there's virtually no competition for seating. One caveat, though, is that when the show is beginning and all the lights go out, they're required to remove all glass dishes from the patio, so make sure you're finished eating (though they will transfer your drink into a to-go cup for you).

We get a nice view every time, dinner right before, comfortable seats, and we don't have to wait idly by for the show to start; or deal with issues of whether or not it's ethical to save seats for other members of your party while they're off doing other things.

I know these boards are all about sharing tips, but this is one I wish you would have kept quiet! We do this as well and have never had any crowds... If it gets crowded now, don't expect any christmas gifts from me!

In all sincerity, this is probably one of the best kept secrets, good advice AMouse&ADream.