Tell me what to expect with Fantasmic Dessert Package

[HydroGuy]

I used to think this package was not worth the money, and it probably isn't, but I am getting older and things change over time. So, I'm planning to do it this summer for a party of 5-7. All kids are teens.

My first preference is that if we are going to get a reservation it might as well be the 9PM showing when seating is already harder to get. However, I have read about the people who show up at 6PM to get in line for seating assignments which do not happen until 8PM. That seems to defeat the purpose!

So what will happen if I reserve for 9PM and show up at 8PM? I know I will be behind others. I do not care really. What I do care about is that we all sit together and have a reasonably good view. I don't care if we sit in the back row of seats as long as we can see. Like I said, we are adults and teens and do not have to worry about having any young kids being too small to see over an adult in front of them.

Anyone have some insight for me?

 

[Raindown]

My first preference is that if we are going to get a reservation it might as well be the 9PM showing when seating is already harder to get. However, I have read about the people who show up at 6PM to get in line for seating assignments which do not happen until 8PM. That seems to defeat the purpose!

I'm interested as well. I love F! and have usually settled for farther back standing and only showing up 30mins before the show.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I used to think this package was not worth the money, and it probably isn't, but I am getting older and things change over time. So, I planning to do it this summer for a party of 5-7. All kids are teens.

My first preference is that if we are going to get a reservation it might as well be the 9PM showing when seating is already harder to get. However, I have read about the people who show up at 6PM to get in line for seating assignments which do not happen until 8PM. That seems to defeat the purpose!

So what will happen if I reserve for 9PM and show up at 8PM? I know I will be behind others. I do not care really. What I do care about is that we all sit together and have a reasonably good view. I don't care if we sit in the back row of seats as long as we can see. Like I said, we are adults and teens and do not have to worry about having any young kids being too small to see over an adult in front of them.

Anyone have some insight for me?

Since assignment is based on first come first served there is always a chance you maybe separeated by a body but the CM's work hard to put everyone together. Last year I was second in line because I wanted the front, the 1st 10 of us sat around and talked about where we are from, etc. Since we only do 1 "vacation" a year we really never do anything on the cheap. We will not be doing "F" this year since we have other plans.
It really is a fun experience for the us "senior citizens"
By the way, it wasn't 1800 it was 1630 when the first person showed.

Jack

 

[DizNee Luver]

We preferred sitting in the back row (of 3 rows)....that way we could stand if we wanted to stretch & set up a tripod for pics & video without blocking anyone.
My only concern would be getting your entire group together if you were at the back of the line for check-in.

We did this during a very busy spring break last year & we didn't show up until 7:45. Yes there was a line, but when we got up to the CM, they had just filled the 1st row & were starting on the 2nd. They tend to go right across & fill each seat, as to not have a large group divided that are near the end.

Once you check-in, you're free to go again until it's time to be let into the area. We were let in about 8:30pm for the 9pm show.

Even though you have to stand in line for check-in, it still frees up a lot of time you would have spent holding your spots without the ressie. If you have the 9pm ressie you also get to stay seated for the fireworks....which we found very interesting at this angle.

I think it was well worth the money & wish we could budget it this year for our group of 10....but just don't think that will happen.
So relax & enjoy the show!!!!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I don't think you'll have a problem if you show up later... what we do (have done this twice), is book an early dinner at BB and then I go check us in afterward... there was only a couple people "in line" to check in at 6--and you can check in for both shows then... so the people in front of me were actually checking in for the later show, then the cm got to me, and I mentioned having a little one, so I wanted to make sure no one tall was in front of us... she actually showed me the map both times, and we were put in the front row each time... Anyhow, after this we rode pirates, btmrr, HM and pooh and basically stalled until we could be seated... but stayed in the general area since it gets soooo crowded... oh and a potty break too! Once you get seated, even if there is time before the show, it sure seems to take a long time to get through the crowd and back...

 

[mvf-m11c]

From my experience of the F! Dessert Package, during the first night of Summer Nighttastic June 12, 2009. I was in line around 6pm for the 9pm show that night and got front row seats, just a few groups were ahead of us. It was a hassle to wait that long, but it was better to do the F! dessert package than not willing to wait 6+ hours for a spot right next to the roa.

I would say that you might be able to get all your party members seating right next to each other for the 9pm show if you just show up when they open the podium, since this summer of F! will not be as bad as last summer.

You only have to have one person in line for signing up your group and must have your vouchers for all your group. So everyone doesn't have to stay in line. Thats what the CM told me last year when I was standing in line.

 

[Raindown]

By the way, it wasn't 1800 it was 1630 when the first person showed.
Jack

Whoa. Do they space the seats so that you end up between the two people in front of you or is there not that much attention to chair placement? Does it matter?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Whoa. Do they space the seats so that you end up between the two people in front of you or is there not that much attention to chair placement? Does it matter?

When you look at this picture, most of the chairs are really close to one another. I have watch F! behind the FDP and there were tall people in front while smaller people have trouble seeing in front of them.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Whoa. Do they space the seats so that you end up between the two people in front of you or is there not that much attention to chair placement? Does it matter?

You are shown a seating map(once they open the podium) and you get to pick your seats. We switch off and do rides normally. Last year they had to move to podium to the interior part of the seating becuase the line was interferring with the vendor next door and was blocking traffic.

Jack

 

[sierranevada]

Here is a description I wrote of F! Riverfront seating:

Premium Viewing is reserved seats at the Riverfront very close to the water (you can feel the heat when the river catches on fire! They serve a dessert box with assorted small desserts - mini cheesecake, macaroon, chocolate lava cake, raspberry filled shortbread cookie, mini key lime pie, grapes, cheese and crackers (contents can change from time to time). There is also a sugar spoon - great for stirring coffee/tea and adding even more sugar to hot chocolate! They have bags for to take make your dessert box with any leftover treats. Drinks are unlimited and include coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, sodas, lemonade and water.

And yes, people do start lining up as early as 6:30 but if you are fine with back row seats (and some people prefer them), then 8 pm is fine. That is when they actually start the seat assignment process. Although only 1 person has to check in (with all the vouchers), you might want everyone close by at that time because you can actually sit down at 8:30.

Here is a great thread that has photos of the current dessert box:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2120325

We love it and do it almost every time we are there!

 

[sierranevada]

BTW, HydroGuy, if you go, you know we will all expect a great thread with descriptions and tips that can become a sticky on Fantasmic! seating!

(I have lots of your threads bookmarked for reference!)

 

[erinbharris]

My kids are 4 and 7. They don't like fireworks...but I'm not sure if they'd like this? They find fireworks too loud and scary (doesn't help that my 7 year old was burned by an ash from one when she was 3...freak accident). Thoughts?

 

[nana50]

My God, some of these wait times seem incredible. I can't imagine sitting for 3 hours waiting for a show. I did wait overnight once to see the Beatles, but come on, it was the BEATLES. For a water show?? Don't think so. I have seen it once years ago and didn't even watch the whole thing. Can't take people shoving and pushing.

 

[Brady's Mom]

When we were there last July they did pay attention to seat placement. All of the chairs were off-set from the row in front so you were looking over shoulders instead of over/around heads. This worked well for me since I am short and DH is tall.

We had the second row because we wanted to be in the middle of the 3 groups of chairs. The CM was great since they remembered who had checked in before us and had marked up their maps and put us behind a mom and little girl. I sat behind the little girl and she ended up on mom's lap - so I didn't have to look over any heads.

The CM's will let you wander around in the area and try out seats so you can see what you like and don't like. If I wanted to take pictures I would opt for the back and/or an end so I could set up a tripod and get some good ones. And I might choose the back if I didn't have anyone in my group that was short (like me - 5'1").

DH and I felt it was worth it - but there were just the 2 of us and it was his birthday. I don't know if I would do it with my littler kids, they were fine in the front seating area by ROA and DH had a sore foot so he didn't mind waiting while we rode Pirates and got some dinner.

I would probably do it with my older kids, it's really nice to sit on a chair instead of the ground and they would appreciate the view better than my littles.

 

[sierranevada]

My kids are 4 and 7. They don't like fireworks...but I'm not sure if they'd like this? They find fireworks too loud and scary (doesn't help that my 7 year old was burned by an ash from one when she was 3...freak accident). Thoughts?

That is a tough one! My son did not like F! until he was about 7 yrs old. I would hate to see you spend the money for it and have to leave because the kids got scared. Maybe this trip just try to get close to the show and see how the kids react before investing money in the priority seating.

 

[blackjackdelta]

My God, some of these wait times seem incredible. I can't imagine sitting for 3 hours waiting for a show. I did wait overnight once to see the Beatles, but come on, it was the BEATLES. For a water show?? Don't think so. I have seen it once years ago and didn't even watch the whole thing. Can't take people shoving and pushing.

I saw the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl back in the sixties. I had a PT job with Radio station KRLA (while I was going to USC)taking pictures of minor R and R bands, Turtles, Dino, Desi and Billy. I had a press pass, so I got in everywhere the played.
Also the Stones, the Yardbirds with Jeff Beck, Barry McGuire, The Birds and many more. There was a club on SSS called the TRIP next to the playboy club where a lot of locals played. ooops, sorry sparked a memory.

Jack

 

[Raindown]

If I wanted to take pictures I would opt for the back and/or an end so I could set up a tripod and get some good ones.

Can you stand if you select the back row for pictures or do you up being 'that' guy? (meaning behind the back row instead of in my seat.)

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I wish they would come up with a reserved option for WOC, then I could decide if we are going to do F! DP.

We are long time WDW visitors. I have to admit that F! is my family's least favorite nighttime show. I've been told DL's version is superior, but I can't imagine spending $60 per person. It would be over $400 for my family! We have done the dessert party for the Wishes fireworks at WDW. It was less than $20 at the time, with an unlimted dessert buffet and nice tables and chairs.

Does the window for the dessert reserved seating open at 60 or 30 days?

 

[Brady's Mom]

Can you stand if you select the back row for pictures or do you up being 'that' guy?

We saw people standing when we were there. If there are people behind you they have to stand also, since they are in a standing area only section - either that or it's a walkway - I can't remember.

 

[HydroGuy]

I wish they would come up with a reserved option for WOC, then I could decide if we are going to do F! DP.

It sounds like they will. We should know more by May 11 (30 days before WoC opening). See World of Color Superthread

We are long time WDW visitors. I have to admit that F! is my family's least favorite nighttime show. I've been told DL's version is superior, but I can't imagine spending $60 per person. It would be over $400 for my family!

That is why I have never done it. Too expensive and we always just go to the late 10:30 show and get a decent spot. But some people are interested. And now I am one of them. I understand the reservations sell out on the first day! Supply and demand!

In any case, Fantasmic at DL has a very different feel. First, no stadium which turns off a lot of WDW visitors. However many of those same WDW visitors will stand a long time to see Wishes or Illuminations. So standing for shows does happen at WDW too!

Since F! at DL is performed on the Rivers of America it just feels more cozy and intimate. Plus the show is better. They use the ROA ships and also have Murphy the giant animatronic dragon.

Does the window for the dessert reserved seating open at 60 or 30 days?

30 days (actually I think it is one month - so sometimes 31 days) for Fantasmic and probably the same for for WoC. See http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland-california/disneyland-fantasmic.htm