The Trifecta: All 3 DL Shows in One Night?

[Amore Disney]

Haven't been at Disneyland in a few years, so I am very excited to visit this weekend! I will only have one night in the Disneyland Park (Friday, May 29), and I am really hoping to see all the three night-time shows on this night. My priorities are the fireworks and Fantasmic, but it seems that I might as well go see the Paint the Night Parade while I am at it. The primary plan is to see the 8:50pm PtN Parade, 9:30pm Fireworks, 10:45pm Fantasmic.

My concern is this. I would like to see the fireworks from the hub which has been my favorite spot since the past. Typically, I have had great success in staking out a spot 1-1.5 hours before the fireworks to enjoy a wonderful view in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. However, with the PtN Parade happening right before, it seems that it's been very crowded VERY EARLY.

If I stick to my original plan, how much time/ at what time do you think I would need to arrive in the hub to grab a spot? Or would you suggest doing 9pm Fantasmic, 9:30pm Fireworks at the Rivers of America, then the 11pm PtN Parade? Thank you so much for all your help!

 

[SMD]

Based on reports from Saturday and Sunday, 5pm or earlier. Although if you're alone you may have a chance to squeeze in once the parade ends, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[elmoandzoey]

I was there in Fri and Sat. People claimed spots as early as 6am on Fri. By noon Sat all of Main Street was occupied. If the hub is where you want to be, there are overflow areas on the Tomorrowland side and in Tomorrowland where they will allow people to wait until they open up the hub after the parade. We waited in one of the overflow areas in front of the Plaza Inn from around 7:30pm on (everything else was already packed!) and were able to get onto Main Street right after the parade stopped. You can also watch the parade from there.

The problem probably will be with the masses of people and little to no crowd control to get to the Rivers of America and still get a decent spot for F!

 

[SMD]

And between the holiday weekend, blockouts and the shortened work week, next weekend will be the first time many locals will have to see both new shows. I'd expect many to camp out just for that for the next week or 2 until the summer blockouts starts.

 

[figment_jii]

I also just got back and have to agree that while possible, I think it's going to be tough to see all three shows in one night without having to invest significant time into waiting for PtN or giving up good viewing spots for at least one (maybe two) of the shows. I also saw folks starting to stake out prime parade viewing spots in the morning (there were folks there from near opening all three days this weekend), so I think if you wait until late-afternoon, all of the curb spots along the route will be taken.

Ultimately, I do think you could see the 8:50 pm PtN, 9:30 pm fireworks, and 10:45 pm F!, but you will have to give up most of the afternoon waiting for PtN (my guess, if you really want the hub) and then will probably have a moderate/non-prime viewing spot for F! (unless you doing the BB or RBT dining packages, but then you'd lose your PtN/fireworks viewing spot). If you do the 9:00 pm F!, 9:30 pm fireworks, and 11:00 pm PtN, I think you'll be okay for F! and fireworks (because you can watch the fireworks from the F! viewing area), but you'll probably lose out on an ideal PtN viewing spot because by the time fireworks ends and you get out of the F! viewing area, I would guess most/all front row spots will be taken.

 

[Amore Disney]

I really appreciate all your help! I'm really intrigued about the Tomorrowland/Plaza Inn "overflow" area, since that would get me into the hub. I'm hoping that area will be open so that I could swoop in as soon as the parade is over. The Fantasmic! viewing spot might be questionable since it will be after fireworks, but that should be okay since I'm planning to grab a FP during the day.

 

[figment_jii]

The Fantasmic! viewing spot might be questionable since it will be after fireworks, but that should be okay since I'm planning to grab a FP during the day.

I think the biggest/most important thing to remember is that even with a FP, you will not be guaranteed a good/great viewing spot for F!. The FP viewing areas generally open an hour before F! starts (although with fireworks viewing spots in that area, it might be a bit closer to the start time of the second show before they can clear out the F! viewing areas and let in the next group) and guests will already be lined up at that point. So if you wait until fireworks ends to head to the F! viewing area, my guess is that the prime viewing areas will already be filled in both F! FP viewing areas. I just mention this so you don't go to F! expecting to get a prime/unobstructed view even with a FP.

 

[Angrose]

If you are going solo then I think you can do it. I was there on Friday, solo, and was able to squeeze under the rope for a fantastic view of PtN and then moved onto Main St. with everyone else for fireworks. I was not planning on seeing PtN until the 1am show, but wanted to hang around close to Main St. for the fireworks, so I just hung out at the China Closet shop until a few minutes before the parade was due to start at 8:50 and when I walked out the CM just lifted up the rope for me to join the others who had been waiting there for hours. The CMs were asking people to scoot in so other people could join in the viewing areas. I had a great view because I was standing right behind someone in a scooter. I think if you wanted to swiftly head over to F! after the fireworks then try to be on the left side of Main St. facing the castle. I headed that way myself afterwards to ride BTMRR and I thought the CMs did a great job with crowd control, it didn't take but a few minutes to get over there. Good luck!

 

[Amore Disney]

I just wanted to thank everyone here for their help and give you an update on my adventures! I successfully watched all three shows: PTN, Fireworks, and F! on Friday, May 29th. With all your tips, I decided to just go ahead and stake out a spot from 5pm for PTN. It was so worth having curbside seats for me and my SO. Then, once the parade was over, we dashed as far forward as we could (because on Main St., there would have been trees blocking our view). We had an unobstructed view of the castle and Matterhorn between the Jolly Holiday Bakery and Plaza Inn. If we looked back, we were able to see the projections on Main Street. Finally, the 10:45 Fantasmic showing... We were prepared to have poor viewing since we were going after the fireworks. With our Yellow FP's for F!, luck was on our side, and we sat by the waterside at the railing! It was truly amazing how with some planning and a stroke of luck, I was able to see all three shows at a prime viewing spot in one night (Grad Night at that). Thank you for all your help!

Frozen Float in PTN: http://imgur.com/OPrSMpe
Beauty and the Beast in F!: http://imgur.com/WckFfr0