Should I spend a FP+ on one of the Evening Shows?

[Coral Reef Diver]

Sitting up close is paramount to one of our party, so I plan to use a FP+. I presume the earliest FP's would get the "better" FP sections, so this strategy seems right to me. We would like to do this for all the evening shows.

But I read here that members would not spend a FP+ on an evening show, so I'm perplexed. Won't I lose out by not booking my FPs in advance for the evening shows?

• Does getting an advance FP+ for an evening show essentially mean I can't get a fourth FP+?
• What kind of show seating could we expect if we waited to book as a same day 4th FP+?

 

[mesaboy2]

Sitting up close is paramount to one of our party, so I plan to use a FP+. I presume the earliest FP's would get the "better" FP sections, so this strategy seems right to me. We would like to do this for all the evening shows.

But I read here that members would not spend a FP+ on an evening show, so I'm perplexed. Won't I lose out by not booking my FPs in advance for the evening shows?

• Does getting an advance FP+ for an evening show essentially mean I can't get a fourth FP+?
• What kind of show seating could we expect if we waited to book as a same day 4th FP+?

1. Yes, since you can't get a 4th until after entering the queue for your 3rd.
2. Two of the three total evening show FPs have little chance of securing as a 4th day-of (Rivers of Light and IllumiNations, with the latter a poor FP choice anyway). Fantasmic is usually available however, and if you get it then it's still like any other show seating--earliest there gets the most choice in seating. Even with FP for it, I would arrive at least 60 minutes before showtime to improve your chances for "close" seating--which can also be "wet" seating.

 

[fla4fun]

It depends too on what time you are entering the park. For example, if you are doing a late day in a park on arrival day, it makes more sense because you wouldn't have much time to get more than 3 FP anyway. Or if you plan to rope drop one park and then hop and book your FP in a second park, it also makes more sense. I wouldn't do it for Illuminations because there are so many decent spots to watch it and you really want the flexibility to be upwind of the smoke. The FP viewing is in a fixed location. But I have one for RoL for next month on a day when I'm not going into AK until after 3pm anyway (I used the other two for FoP and the Safari).

Another option is to see if there is a dinner package available for the show you wish to see. You will still have reserved seating, but won't be tying up one of your FP to get it.

 

[melanielll]

I schedule late fast passes only on our arrival day. I go with dinner packages for late shows if I can't manage to fit them in on arrival day.

 

[Klayfish]

No, I would not waste a FP+ on any of the evening shows. They're just not necessary, and as noted they keep you from getting other FP+. In F!, people tend to sit more toward the middle/back first, so the front rows are available later anyway. My kids love to sit in the very, very front row at that show. We get there 40-45 minutes ahead and have no trouble getting one of those rows. The FP+ seating is just in a different section than the rest. It's not as if FP+ gets you in before non-FP+. They enter at the same time.

 

[Mickey92]

When on the DDP,I perfer doing a dinning package for ROL and F! I would discourage you from using one of your initial fastpasses for a night show as that keeps you from getting additional fastpasses throughout the day. I have snagged a late day illuminations fastpass before, so that is always a possibility. Though, like have others have said, this is certainly not necessary as there are plenty of good viewing locations.

 

[jsmla]

I believe the front and center seats at Fantasmic are dedicated to those with a Dining Package.

I don't find it difficult to get a nice view for Illuminations, even arriving fairly late, albeit in the slower seasons. It would probably be a lot more difficult on a Saturday during Food and Wine than a Tuesday in early February.

I haven't seen Rivers of Light or Happily Ever After yet although I have to confess that I've reserved a Dining Package/Dessert Party for those in September. Both are kind of new and still draw large crowds.

I just booked a spur of the moment August trip (Yay, Hotwire!) and am thinking about skipping RoL until September because I really don't want to tie up my FastPasses like that. I have been doing a lot of research and it's been a little easier to see the second showing of RoL when they have one.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I wouldn't use a FP+ for Illuminations. You can find better views around around the lake with short wait times. The view from the FP+ area isn't great and you actually have to get there early to get a good view. If you have to wait anyway for a better spot, why waste the FP+?!

If you are planning TS in either AK or DHS, you might want to consider booking a dining package instead of using your 3rd FP+ on ROL and/or Fantasmic. IMHO, you are basically paying a slight upcharge to secure a seat at the shows. If you really want to go for 4th, 5th, etc. FP+ throughout the day, it's most likely a better strategy.

 

[Klayfish]

I believe the front and center seats at Fantasmic are dedicated to those with a Dining Package.

Not the small benches at the very front of the theater, right in front of the railing. A few are roped off, which may be for Dining Package, but a lot of them are available to non-FP+. Like I said, our kids love those, we always get one. Just be aware that if the wind is blowing in, you will get wet.