SO Bummed....Re. Fantasmic! Important Tip!

[AmyBeth68]

Just a tip to all those DL newbies out there. I researched the balcony and premium seats for Fantasmic....was all set to call today at 7:56 am. Got thru...and guess what. I called at exactly 30 days out BUT....I was still a day late. It's actually not like WDW Priority Seating where it has to be 30 days out....it just had to be on Oct. 11th for our Nov. 11th day . So we lost out on the seats and now we're just bailing on Fantasmic . I don't want to stand around for hours waiting for the show with two little kids and my MIL who has bad knees...we're just going to have to skip it. I was really frustrated because everything I read said 30 days out exactly...even the guidebooks i own.

Oh well...hope this helps out others who still have to call. If you want to see Fantasmic on, say, Nov. 19th you must call on Oct. 19th NOT at 30 days...it's not the same.

Good luck!

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

I didn't know this. While we have never tried to book I have seriously considered it many times. I will keep this in mind for those times we know we will be there that late. Unfortunatley it has not been playing when we have been there lately but that has been mid week.

 

[denyd]

Why don't you bring along a blanket and folding stool and have the MIL take a couple hour break for hold your seats while taking the little ones to Tom Sawyer's Island or Fantasyland to burn up some energy. That way you get to see Fantasmic and MIL gets to rest those bad knees. Also consider renting a wheelchair for MIL. It's quite cheap (less than $10 after you deposit is returned) and she'd be alot more comfortable (and feel a bit more queenly).

 

[albianne]

Thanks so much for sharing your story, it can be a bit confusing for us newbies. Does anyone find it ridiculous that a show meant to be viewed by tens of thousands has less than 30 balcony seats with another couple of dozen river seats? Why on earth wouldn't they construct some bleachers or have the show in an area where it can be viewed from a larger area?

 

[WickedWench]

In another thread, someone suggested having desert at the River Belle Terrace, which overlooks fantasmic. I plan to go there early and enjoy an leisurely snack, so I can have a seat for the show.

 

[Scratch42]

Thanks so much for sharing your story, it can be a bit confusing for us newbies. Does anyone find it ridiculous that a show meant to be viewed by tens of thousands has less than 30 balcony seats with another couple of dozen river seats? Why on earth wouldn't they construct some bleachers or have the show in an area where it can be viewed from a larger area?

Unfortunately, there is no room!

Our first trip was this past August before our Repo Cruise and was lucky enough to get tickets for the Balcony. Since we were staying on site, I took the advice here and called the DL Vacation Planners at 714-300-7526, option #2, gave them the date and time and # of tickets. There is no guarantee that they will get them for you but they did for our group!

Good Luck! It's something to try at least once!

We loved DL so much that we are going back for Christmas!

janet

 

[AFMom]

I haven't looked at the calendar - so not sure what day of the week Nov 11th is - but if there are going to be 2 Fantasmic shows that night - you may be able to just sit right down only about 20-30 minutes before the scond show. We've done this many times, not had to stand, and had center stange, 'front row' seats! I know with smaller kids the later show can be hard - but you can just play this one by ear! Good luck - it's a great show there and worth working around - we've never done the preferred seating and still always enjoyed it as a highlight of our trip ever since the kids were 6 mo's old....

 

[Michelle2]

So all of the premium seating was booked up too?? I called about a week later than the 30 day mark, and there were still seats on the riverside seating. they usually take alot longer to fill up....You control your own destiny on where you sit there, so that is a good thing!
I feel your pain though, because the date we wanted first, I had made the exact same mistake and missed it by a day (balcony seating).
Through alot of just plain luck, we ended up with balcony seating on our second and last Fantasmic date, and we loved it!

 

[astroboy]

THIS IS MADNESS!!!

I've been planning a trip to DL for my partner and I for about 5 months now, and I was counting on the fact that we would reserve priority balcony seating for the 9pm Sunday session, and watch the fireworks show afterwards.

So, being in Australia, I waited until 12:57am this morning (7am on Oct 13 in the US) to reserve seats for Nov 13 and started dialing until I got through. I was eventually put in the "queue" and waited for what seemed like forever... though it was actually only a few minutes.

Anyway, when a CM finally answered the call, I was told that the 9pm session was booked out!!!

I know this thing is popular, but within *THREE* minutes of the lines opening?? Almost too hard to believe...

Fortunately there was a second showing that night at 10:30pm and I reluctantly agreed to that one.

Looks like I'll have to draw up some new plans for that day. Arghhh!!

 

[disneychrista]

Yeah, it is unfortunte that they are still saying 30 days in advance instead of 1 month in advance. Which begs the question what if you want to do it March 29, 30, 31st?

 

[azgal81]

I normally call a few days before they are supposed to be on sale and ask them when is the earliest I can book reservations for this date for. When I called to make reservations for the blue bayou for my summer trip. I called on the 30th of June to make reservations for the 31st of August (for restaurants its 60 days in advance). I was actually just checking to see when I could book for that day since I have heard both the 30 day rule and the same date rule the next month rule. They let me book them then. The whole reservations thing was confusing to me as well so when in doubt it never hurts to call a few days early just in case!

 

[ZeusNike]

I had the same problem booking Goofy's Kitchen. I called ahead and was told that it had to be 60 days out for me to book. We wanted to go on November 12th so I called on September 13th first thing the the AM. All the seating times (for our size party) were already booked up. When I asked how that was possible she said they had started booking the day before. I said that was 61 days out, not 60 and was told that counting days was too difficult so they just book on the 12th of September for the 12th of November etc. and don't worry about the months that have 31 days. Seems to me they should advertise "2 months" instead of "60 days". I found it a wee bit frustrating....

Ah well, I hate to complain, at least we get to go to Disneyland!!!

 

[LuvTigger]

I also was not able to get Balcony seating for a recent Fantasmic show (not because of anything with the 30-days out, it just sold out quickly!). However, I decided to get Riverside seating as a back up, and we really enjoyed it! I was actually starting to feel a little hesitant about the Balcony seating because of some recent posts where people were a bit frustrated about partially-obstructed views.

I thought the Riverside seating was great, and like one of the other posters said, you have a little more flexibility in where you sit because they offer choices rather than assigning you a seat. Basically, the earlier you check in, the earlier you will be seated, and the more choices you will have.

And, the seats don't run out as quickly. One of my friends decided to join us after we had already booked, and she called only a week ahead and got the last seat.