Special Shows? Special Seating?

[Minuet888]

Last time I went to DW was in 2021 and they were reopening from COVID, so we didn't get to see any shows.
We are going in 2026 and I honestly don't know what shows are there we should see.
And with these special shows are there special seating packages for extra $$.
For example I'm by Disneyland and our Fantasmic seating is quite different I think from DW and here at Disneyland you can pay $$ for special seating and desert etc. Does DW have this?
Doesn't Epcot have a show on the waterfront as well? Is there special seating for that?
Firework shows in what parks? Special seating for those?
We are planning on doing this trip big because it is our 25th wedding anniversary AND our son is autistic and waiting around in crowds is just not an option so we prefer to pay for special seating.
Help?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Google is your friend and so is the Disney website. All nighttime shows are listed on the Disney website and they will include a section on upsell options like dining.

Fantasmic is held in a purpose built stadium. Bleacher seats, holds something like 7-8k people seated and they fill it. Dining will get you center seats but beware the exiting is serious crowded. Best to stay seated and let others exit for awhile.

 

[loves to dive]

There are the dessert parties at MK, I'm not sure if they still have the one where you get dessert then they lead you out on the hub but I know they still have the one in Tomorrow Land Terrace. I think you have assigned seating now so it's not guaranteed you will have seat up next to the rail. To be honest, the one time we did it, even with a seat at the rail it wasn't the best seat to see the castle.

Every now and again they also have dessert parties at Epcot with special viewing for those fireworks but I haven't seen them this year.

You can get a dining package for Fantasmic but a PP said, it will just get you guaranteed in the middle section and you will still be packed in. They did used to have special dessert seating for an upcharge but I haven't see that this year.

 

[BrianL]

For Fantasmic! at WDW, it is held in a huge amphitheater with bench seating, so it's not like Disney;and's version at all. There is a LOT of good seating available, though you can do a dining package and be guaranteed to be in the central - i.e. best sections. If you get there early enough, you can still get really great seats though. In my opinion, it's not as crucial as it is at DL to get dining package seating for F!.

There are other packages and desert parties that may be more worthwhile. Epcot has a lot of viewing spaces around the entire lagoon, but the best spots are going to be with packages. MK is probably the most valuable one as it can get pretty full and good, unobstructed views will go first. My usual rule would be that if I am interested in eating at one of the dining package restaurants already or the desert party is appealing, I would go for it, but if not, it usually works out pretty well if I grab a spot pretty early.

 

[zanzibar138]

There's also fireworks dining packages at EPCOT - we booked at Spice Road Table for our upcoming trip, but Rose & Crown also have one (which we would have preferred, but couldn't get).

 

[Minuet888]

Do any of these special dining package for seats are they usable with the dining plan or no? (I know probably not but I had to ask). I have been looking on the disney world website but cannot find the upcharge seating stuff, can someone please help and direct me where to go on the website? Please and thank you.

 

[LoveDaisy]

You can find many of these items in the Enchanting extras section on Disneys website. I can’t help with the dining plan question we don’t normally get it.

 

[pangyal]

Do any of these special dining package for seats are they usable with the dining plan or no? (I know probably not but I had to ask). I have been looking on the disney world website but cannot find the upcharge seating stuff, can someone please help and direct me where to go on the website? Please and thank you.

None of the Enchanting Extras can be used in conjunction with the dining plan. It says this on each activity’s page. And, that’s the section you want to look at- Enchanting Extras .

 

[kylenne]

Do any of these special dining package for seats are they usable with the dining plan or no? (I know probably not but I had to ask). I have been looking on the disney world website but cannot find the upcharge seating stuff, can someone please help and direct me where to go on the website? Please and thank you.

None of the Enchanting Extras can be used in conjunction with the dining plan. It says this on each activity’s page. And, that’s the section you want to look at- Enchanting Extras .

The Fantasmic dining package can be booked with DDP TS credits.



https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/fantasmic-dining-package/

Dining packages are a bit tricky to find but if you search for them by the name of the show for the most part you’ll find them that way.

 

[pangyal]

Right, I wasn’t thinking of this as being in the Enchanting Extras category, so thank you for posting the Fantasmic option !

 

[aboveH20]

There's also fireworks dining packages at EPCOT - we booked at Spice Road Table for our upcoming trip, but Rose & Crown also have one (which we would have preferred, but couldn't get).

Wondering if your trip happened yet. I’m curious about Spice Road Table (I’ve eaten there before) for the Luminous package.

 

[bray632]

There are the dessert parties at MK, I'm not sure if they still have the one where you get dessert then they lead you out on the hub but I know they still have the one in Tomorrow Land Terrace. I think you have assigned seating now so it's not guaranteed you will have seat up next to the rail. To be honest, the one time we did it, even with a seat at the rail it wasn't the best seat to see the castle.

Every now and again they also have dessert parties at Epcot with special viewing for those fireworks but I haven't seen them this year.

You can get a dining package for Fantasmic but a PP said, it will just get you guaranteed in the middle section and you will still be packed in. They did used to have special dessert seating for an upcharge but I haven't see that this year.

We did the dessert party Nov 23. Seating was still a free for all for the fireworks. My kids loved the desserts and my wife loved the booze so it was a win and something different for us. Still wasn't the amazing private, not crammed, firework viewing I dream exists somewhere...

 

[bray632]

Get there early! We watched it the first time from the outer edges and the pyrotechnics, lights, lasers, etc will lose their affect with what's in front of them.

 

[redrosesix]

For Fantasmic! at WDW, it is held in a huge amphitheater with bench seating, so it's not like Disney;and's version at all. There is a LOT of good seating available, though you can do a dining package and be guaranteed to be in the central - i.e. best sections. If you get there early enough, you can still get really great seats though. In my opinion, it's not as crucial as it is at DL to get dining package seating for F!.

There are other packages and desert parties that may be more worthwhile. Epcot has a lot of viewing spaces around the entire lagoon, but the best spots are going to be with packages. MK is probably the most valuable one as it can get pretty full and good, unobstructed views will go first. My usual rule would be that if I am interested in eating at one of the dining package restaurants already or the desert party is appealing, I would go for it, but if not, it usually works out pretty well if I grab a spot pretty early.

This. the real benefit of the dining package for F! is that you can show up 25 minutes before the show and still get a great seat...any longer than that and you've lost your seat.

We are only planning a half day at HS on the day we're going to F! and we weren't keen on any of the restaurants so we're going to pick up whatever we want at that moment at a food court and eat in the seats. We've done this before and got ourselves there at least an hour before the show.

We did actually like the Epcot dessert party because that show is hard to get a good seat for unless you give up a couple hours of your park day. but I can no longer have sugar so that's out...I truly wish WDW had more options for people skipping desserts.

 

[zanzibar138]

Wondering if your trip happened yet. I’m curious about Spice Road Table (I’ve eaten there before) for the Luminous package.

Sorry not quite there yet! Our ADR is on 6 Feb. Getting super excited for our trip!