?'s regardiing Fantasmic -- blankets and reserving spots

[AMouse&ADream]

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.

Thanks, I think.

As popular as these boards are (I'm new here and have difficulty keeping up with a single sub-forum), I would imagine the ratio of disboards.com users (limited of course to those that will see this thread and this message in particular) to Disneyland attendees is quite low, so I'm sure you and I have nothing to worry about.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Saving spots for Fantasmic! isn't really a hot-button issue. LOTS of people do it and, no, the CMs will not stop you from doing so.

What IS a hot-button issue is leaving a giant blanket to claim your space and NO ONE sitting with it. If you attempt to do this, do not be surprised if your blanket is folded up and your space is reduced to room for 1. Leaving a blanket with no one there means nothing - other than the fact that you don't care much if you ever see the blanket again.

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT! ...

IF... you don't mind CMs with glow sticks in front of you and a constant flow of guests walking in front of you during the show.

And don't worry - it's not a secret. Well, not one that hasn't been shared here before anyway.


- Dreams

 

[Kittyskyfish]

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.

That's a beautiful attitude, but it's also not always valid. I was physically uncomfortable, not psychologically uncomfortable. We didn't start out with five feet of space all around us. We are happy to sit, legs crossed, with an inch or two between us and everyone else. I've seen Fantasmic many times that way and it's fine. But when I have to put my knees up to my chest and balance my weight on my tailbone (which is what happened), why should "I" leave at the last minute because someone else rushed in and made the seating physically uncomfortable?

But I guess pain is okay, as long as I'm gracious about it.

 

[specialks]

To the OP -- we used a blanket and put it next to lots of people also using blankets. My husband took my daughters for some rides (POC, and Tarzan's Treehouse) while my mom and I stayed on the blanket. Then he came back and I went and got us food; then we took bathroom breaks. All the time people moved in around us. When we settled down to wait for the show we all sat on the blanket. We didn't have anyone make comments to us and I felt totally fine doing it. Hope you have a good time!

 

[phanomouse]

And don't worry - it's not a secret. Well, not one that hasn't been shared here before anyway.


- Dreams

It's a secret enough tip that not many people do it and thanks I'm not naive enough to know it hasn't been brought talked about on the Dis before it was just a pathetic attempt at some humor on a thread that has been having it's moments.

 

[chepar]

. . . 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.

This reminds me of my last trip to DL - well, actually this took place in CA. We were sitting on the ledge of some planters, waiting for the parade to start. Everyone in my family was present the entire time and we sat there for about 2 hours prior to parade time.

About 5 minutes before the parade started, an elderly couple comes wandering up, looking for a place to sit on the ledge. The ledge is completely full, as is the ground surrounding the ledge (people sitting on the ground). A CM asks everyone to scoot down the ledge to accommodate this couple, so we all obligingly scoot down, even though the ledge where we scooted down to is starting to slope downwards, making it impossible to sit on.

Then a college aged couple comes up and the CM directs everyone again to scoot down to make room for them. At this point my sister and I point out that we had been sitting in these spots for 2 hours, had chosen these spots specifically so we could sit, we had already accommodated the elderly couple and if we scooted down some more, we could no longer sit on the ledge. The CM basically orders us to make room for the couple and stands there to watch us move. We inch over enough so that one of them can sit on the ledge (and at this point I'm sitting on the slope, which is rather uncomfortable and I eventually end up standing) and refuse to move further. For the rest of the parade we get dirty looks from the girl and her boyfriend, muttering to themselves that we were refusing to move down.

That incident really left a bad taste in my mouth (mostly towards the CM) but also towards that young couple that seemed to believe that they could stroll up to wherever they wanted to sit and be entitled to a seat 5 minutes before the parade starts.

 

[azdizzymom]

This reminds me of my last trip to DL - well, actually this took place in CA. We were sitting on the ledge of some planters, waiting for the parade to start. Everyone in my family was present the entire time and we sat there for about 2 hours prior to parade time.

About 5 minutes before the parade started, an elderly couple comes wandering up, looking for a place to sit on the ledge. The ledge is completely full, as is the ground surrounding the ledge (people sitting on the ground). A CM asks everyone to scoot down the ledge to accommodate this couple, so we all obligingly scoot down, even though the ledge where we scooted down to is starting to slope downwards, making it impossible to sit on.

Then a college aged couple comes up and the CM directs everyone again to scoot down to make room for them. At this point my sister and I point out that we had been sitting in these spots for 2 hours, had chosen these spots specifically so we could sit, we had already accommodated the elderly couple and if we scooted down some more, we could no longer sit on the ledge. The CM basically orders us to make room for the couple and stands there to watch us move. We inch over enough so that one of them can sit on the ledge (and at this point I'm sitting on the slope, which is rather uncomfortable and I eventually end up standing) and refuse to move further. For the rest of the parade we get dirty looks from the girl and her boyfriend, muttering to themselves that we were refusing to move down.

That incident really left a bad taste in my mouth (mostly towards the CM) but also towards that young couple that seemed to believe that they could stroll up to wherever they wanted to sit and be entitled to a seat 5 minutes before the parade starts.

Sorry you had a bad time too! It is so sad that at such a fun place at Disney some people leave their manners at home. People feel they are entitled or special and don't have to wait. Yes, there are no rules at Disney but there is such a thing as common courtesy. You can't come 5, 10 ,15 minutes before a parade, Fantasmic, WOC, etc and expect people to move for you. More likely than not people have waited for a long time in that specific spot. My family will allow small children to sit in front BUT not the parents. Sorry my children have learned to wait from a young age. They have manners and a proud moment is when they wheeled an elderly lady through Kohls to do a return. The clerk would not do a return at the front register...the lady said she couldn't walk all the way back...CSR should have gotten help for her but didn't. My boys got wheelchair and wheeled her back. CSR at return desk thought she was their grandma...I explained and she was shocked. We pushed lady out in rain to her car. She was almost in tears. So for those who think we are a rude family for not moving...sorry we are not. We just don't think anyone is extra special if the just wander up- now a special needs child or adult we will move down but don't come walking up and stand in front or ask us to move over! That is rude and inconsiderate. It is not teaching children anything but rudeness and to expect everyone to cater to them.

We will all go to Disney and behave in different ways. Some will cut in line, some will throw a blanket down and ride the rides, some will have one person save spots and show up 5 minutes before the show and expect others to make room since the person saving didn't save enough space. Some of us will sit and have a nice time waiting for the show and not move for the rude people. Some people will wait and then move for the others who show up late. It is the way we all do things in normal life...like letting the person in front of you at grocery because they have a couple items, etc. In the end we all have fond memories of our trips to Disney but will remember at least one encounter that left a bad taste in our mouth.

 

[mvf-m11c]

It doesn't surprise me anymore when other guests who show up at the last second for a show (F!, fireworks, WoC, and parades). It just makes me do disappointed when someone comes up the last second and they think that they can try to squeeze in the last minute until a show starts. For shows like WoC, I can understand that young kids are disappointed that they cannot see the show with all the other people. I have no problem letting young kids to be in front of me during a show, but I will not let parents get in front of me when I have waited hours to get a good spot for a show. I asked the young kids when they are in front of me to be curtious and don't make too much noise when I am taping the shows. I had some kids that were nice and some were just too noisy and impolite. I always try to help these young children get to see the show in a good view, but I am getting tired of them not behaving when they get to view the show in a good view.

F! is my favorite show, but it is also the one that I don't like people showing up at the last minute. I have a bad history of guests forcing their way in and take up part of my spot during F!. I had a couple of families that tried to squeeze in before the show and I told them that I have my blanket set up for my party and they gave me the stare down and didn't care. Than I had to get a CM and they told them, they had to leave since I have saved a spot. They were not happy, but they should have got there hours if they want a good spot. I let people sit around my area, but they are always rude every time I let a group sit right next to me just about a half an hour until the show.

 

[Disney Dreams]

And don't worry - it's not a secret. Well, not one that hasn't been shared here before anyway.


- Dreams

It's a secret enough tip that not many people do it and thanks I'm not naive enough to know it hasn't been brought talked about on the Dis before it was just a pathetic attempt at some humor on a thread that has been having it's moments.

I didn't say you were naive, in fact I was replying to AMouse&ADream, so I'm not really sure why you seem upset.

- Dreams

 

[AMouse&ADream]

IF... you don't mind CMs with glow sticks in front of you and a constant flow of guests walking in front of you during the show.

I really don't, especially since you're a few feet above the walkway in front of you that this action might be a distraction out of the corner of the eye for some, but it doesn't block the view.

And don't worry - it's not a secret. Well, not one that hasn't been shared here before anyway.

Good to know...

 

[Disneyland 1951]

All Star Parade last month:

At the All Star Parade last month 5 minutes before the start, this guy wheels the older gentlemen down the street and trys to park in a restricted area. A Cast member escorts him to the nearby but crowded Handicapped area. As soon as the Cast member leaves, he wheels him back to the restricted area he was just removed from with the people who had been waiting behind the ropes for a long time yelling at them. He yells back at the crowd and refused to move again. The cast members give up at this time. This caused others with wheelchairs and scooters to head to this area just as the Parade started. The fastest was this lady with her electric powered chair who runs into the guy in the wheelchair knocking his right foot off the chair. They are locked together so she keeps gunning her chair until she breaks off the footrest of the guys wheelchair. Then she parks in the restricted zone while he looks hurt and frightened.

The Happiest place on earth is very crowded this year and at times brings out the worst in many "Guests". AND, the best in others.


But, I have witnessed many other wonderful moments.

Yesterday, I wanted a baked potato for lunch at the Tribudor Tavern (They ran out last Thursday afternoon!). I am 5 minutes from DLR and will drop in for lunch often.

As I watched the Coronation Ceremony a very shy slightly older (12-13) girl was standing at the back. A cast member went up to her and led her to the floor, and later worked with her on the dance moves. She was having a great time and when they did the maypole she stood back until Cinderella walked up to her and handed her a ribbon and walked the entire time talking with her. At the end she ran back to her father with tears streaming down face, held on to him, and said Thank You over and over. Being an older guy, The Princess Fantesy Fair is not my thing, but this made me think the PFF may not be so bad after all.

 

[Funball]

Yes what dreams said about saving a spot at F! with a blanket and no one in your group to watch that space …. Yep I feel also that any park guest has the right to move that blanket over so that there family or group can sit to watch F! I’m sorry but unless you are on that blanket then it’s just plain rude to save a spot like that, because technically you weren’t saving the spot you blanket was!!

It is totally ok to “camp out” as long as you are on that blanket for F! or fireworks. Its just the ones that trickle in 5 min before the show and shove them selves into your personal spot/area that you been at for X amount of time-those are also the rude people..

 

[MulanFan]

I think that as long as there is at least one person in the group saving the spot, there is no problem with it. Nothing changes if 1 person or the whole group is there - they are still "in line" so to speak. Besides, I'd rather have the kids happily occupied somewhere else instead of being forced to stay in one spot and getting bored and fussy.

Now if someone who came in late wants to be in front, that's a whole different story.