Watching Fantasmic! outside of dining viewing areas?

[LizzyS]

Is this feasible and, if so, what area would you recommend and how early can or should we be in the area? I do have a lunch reservation at RBT and I've read that you can add on the dining package for F! at the time of your meal (that's still a thing, right?), but I'm not 100% sure we'll make it to the show, so I don't know if I want to do that or not.

Thoughts on this? TIA!

 

[maleficent55]

Many say the bridge above pirates is a great place, but I think it definitely requires a 2 hr wait beforehand

 

[disneychrista]

There is standing behind the dinning packages. Pretty much any non-dining package will be standing.

Many say the bridge above pirates is a great place, but I think it definitely requires a 2 hr wait beforehand

I remember when that was a last minute there are no riverfront spots viewing area. Just like sitting at RBT to view without paying $100 for the seat.

 

[LizzyS]

Many say the bridge above pirates is a great place, but I think it definitely requires a 2 hr wait beforehand

Thanks, good to know!

 

[LKing]

Many say the bridge above pirates is a great place, but I think it definitely requires a 2 hr wait beforehand

Do they let people start lining up on the bridge for the first show that early?

The first show is at 9 pm. Fireworks are at 9:30 pm. The second show is at 10:30 pm. Most people watch the first show and the fireworks and then leave. When they leave (approximately 9:45 pm), those that want to watch the second show can find a place on the bridge. If fills within 5-10 min. That is less than an hour before the 2nd show.

 

[OlliePop27]

The Fantasmic situation is frustrating without having to pay for a dining package. I'm not really into the extra cost packages for parades or nighttime shows, but Fantasmic is the one where I think it's worth it.

If you do Rancho, it's about $35 for adults. You get a meal (albeit expensive) and let's say that's $20 per person. For an extra $15 you get a reserved SEATED spot for the show and not the mad scramble of standby. You also can show up 30-45 minutes in advance so it's not a massive time commitment. The real kicker to me is the ability to ALSO watch fireworks from the same spot. This pushes into totally worth it territory for me.

For people with young kids like me, where 9:00 is really the only option, I think the dining package to-go is a good deal because of the seating and the two shows back to back. If you can do 10:30, then yes you can get a spot around 9:45. In July, I walked past during the late show and could have gotten a decent spot in front of Tiana's Palace as the show was starting (maybe because of the construction in the area, I don't know).

I do wish they'd bring back virtual queue like they used to have before Covid for standby (it was technically Fastpass, but is the same as the current VQ).

 

[LizzyS]

Definitely thinking about catching the 10:30pm show at this point!

 

[LizzyS]

What if we watched the fireworks in Galaxy's Edge and then made our way over for the 10:30pm showing of Fantasmic!? I know people will be exiting the ROA area and that the passage near HB is currently closed, correct? How quickly do things open up through FL after the fireworks? I don't need the best possible spot to see F!, just A spot, lol.

 

[edwaffle]

Many say the bridge above pirates is a great place, but I think it definitely requires a 2 hr wait beforehand

even for the second show?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

What if we watched the fireworks in Galaxy's Edge and then made our way over for the 10:30pm showing of Fantasmic!? I know people will be exiting the ROA area and that the passage near HB is currently closed, correct? How quickly do things open up through FL after the fireworks? I don't need the best possible spot to see F!, just A spot, lol.

The Galaxy's Edge entrance near Hungry Bear has reopened.

 

[LKing]

What if we watched the fireworks in Galaxy's Edge and then made our way over for the 10:30pm showing of Fantasmic!? I know people will be exiting the ROA area and that the passage near HB is currently closed, correct? How quickly do things open up through FL after the fireworks? I don't need the best possible spot to see F!, just A spot, lol.

I've done this and, if you hustle, you can get a view from Pirate's bridge. Are you familiar with the ins and outs of Disneyland? I can talk you through how to get from SWGE to the bridge.

The Galaxy's Edge entrance near Hungry Bear has reopened.

That is a much longer route. It is best to leave by Frontierland, stay to the left and enter the bridge from the Treehouse side. Standby is a roped off area on the right side of ROA. It is really dark at 10:30 and the people trying to enter the Fantasmic viewing area get backed up on the right side near the Mark Twain boarding where everyone has to merge to the left. If you exit SWGE and stay to the left past Golden Horseshoe and River Belle, you will avoid the crowded merge.

Let me know if you want me to draw it on a map for you.

 

[LizzyS]

The Galaxy's Edge entrance near Hungry Bear has reopened.

Oh that's wonderful! Thank you!

 

[LizzyS]

I've done this and, if you hustle, you can get a view from the Pirate's bridge. Are you familiar with the ins and outs of Disneyland? I can talk you through how to get from SWGE to the bridge.


That is a much longer route. It is best to leave by Frontierland, stay to the left and enter the bridge from the Treehouse side. Standby is a roped off area on the right side of ROA. It is really dark at 10:30 and the people trying to enter the Fantasmic viewing area gets backed up on the right side near the Mark Twain boarding. It is because the area is roped off and everyone has to merge to the left. If you exit SWGE and stay to the left past Golden Horseshoe and River Belle, you will avoid the crowded merge.

Let me know if you want me to draw it on a map for you.

Thanks! I've been to Disneyland many times, but have never watched Fantasmic! before.
Edited to say that I've just considered this route on the map & it seems great, thanks again!

 

[edwaffle]

I can talk you through how to get from SWGE to the bridge.

Any tips on Castle front to Pirate's bridge?

 

[LKing]

Any tips on Castle front to Pirate's bridge?

I haven't done that recently for Fantasmic. Warning, people start gathering to view fireworks from the castle very early.

My suggestion would be to watch from the Frontierland side of the castle. Traffic exiting the first show/fireworks should be guided out via Adventureland. Traffic flow in will be via Frontierland. You can either walk into Frontierland from the hub or, if it is open, walk through the short cut from the Royal Theater to Rancho del Zocalo.

In the picture below, teal lines are traffic exiting the first Fantasmic show. Purple is if you walk through Frontierland. Red is if you can cut through by the Royal Theater and Rancho del Zocalo.



In the following picture, red shows the line from RdZ to Pirate's bridge. Blue is if you are coming from SWGE. Yellow is the roped off scooter and standby area where traffic gets congested. This is where I suggest staying to the left.

You can see that, once you get past Golden Horseshoe, you'll be walking with the flow of traffic of guests exiting the first Fantasmic show. What you need to pay attention to is when you need to cross the masses to get to the treehouse. By the time you get from the castle to that area, I think the congestion will have diminished a bit, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[edwaffle]

I haven't done that recently for Fantasmic. Warning, people start gathering to view fireworks from the castle very early.

My suggestion would be to watch from the Frontierland side of the castle. Traffic exiting the first show/fireworks should be guided out via Adventureland. Traffic flow in will be via Frontierland. You can either walk into Frontierland from the hub or, if it is open, walk through the short cut from the Royal Theater to Rancho del Zocalo.

In the picture below, teal lines are traffic exiting the first Fantasmic show. Purple is if you walk through Frontierland. Red is if you can cut through by the Royal Theater and Rancho del Zocalo.

View attachment 891929

In the following picture, red shows the line from RdZ to Pirate's bridge. Blue is if you are coming from SWGE. Yellow is the roped off scooter and standby area where traffic gets congested. This is where I suggest staying to the left.

View attachment 891953

Wow, these are amazing tips! Thank you so much Lking! If you allow me, I'll be adding these to my personal DLR guide.
Also, I had no idea you could cut through Rancho! definitely going to try this.

Now I just have to build up the courage to camp for 2 hours for Halloween Screams and then brave the crowds to Fantamisc 2.

 

[LKing]

I updated the second picture to add more arrows showing the flow of traffic when people are exiting the first Fantasmic show. Fireworks end around 9:45 pm and the bridge viewing is usually closed (roped off) just before 10 pm.

When you enter RdZ from the Frontierland side, there are restrooms just past the restaurant entrance. Keep walking past the restrooms and you'll see the carriage where the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo kids take their pictures. Just past the carriage is the Royal Theater. From the castle side, you will be entering between the Royal Theater and the princess autograph queue. Walk it during the day so that you understand what I am talking about.

I'm pretty sure they close off access to the Royal Theater area during fireworks. What I'm not sure of is how quickly they open it after fireworks. Maybe someone else knows.

 

[LKing]

@LizzyS I posted about where guests can watch fireworks in SWGE here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/best-non-ride-experiences-at-galaxys-edge.3948544/post-65571154

 

[LizzyS]

@LizzyS I posted about where guests can watch fireworks in SWGE here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/best-non-ride-experiences-at-galaxys-edge.3948544/post-65571154

Thank you so much, you are AWESOME!!

 

[Pluto468]

I always loved watching from the Pirate's bridge, but I think you do have to wait a while for that spot nowadays.