WDW Shows and Packages

[LKing]

I am planning a trip for two adults to WDW next spring. We are DL vets but rarely visit WDW. I have the list of rides that unique at WDW and those that are the same as we have at DL. Now I'm working on shows.

Is there a list somewhere of all of the different evening shows, viewing areas, packages, etc? I'm looking for opinions on which show packages really add to the experience and which are for convenience.

 

[holden]

https://allears.net/

This might help. If you click on "Walt Disney World," go to "Theme Parks," you can click on each park to get info. Once you click on a park, on the left hand side you'll see "Entertainment." That's where you'll see show info.

Your title says "resort" shows, but I'm assuming you mean parks too. Hoop Dee Doo is the only resort show I can think of.

 

[JCornell]

https://allears.net/

This might help. If you click on "Walt Disney World," go to "Theme Parks," you can click on each park to get info. Once you click on a park, on the left hand side you'll see "Entertainment." That's where you'll see show info.

Your title says "resort" shows, but I'm assuming you mean parks too. Hoop Dee Doo is the only resort show I can think of.

Yeah, depends on what you mean by resort shows.
If you mean ticketed, paid shows, Hoop De Doo is probably it these days.

Many resorts do have entertainment. For instance:
Port Orleans Riverside has nightly entertainment in the River Roost Lounge: Yee Ha Bob Wed-Sat (when he's not traveling) and sometimes there are others.
Port Orleans French Quarter has live music in Scat Cat's Club Lounge.
The Boardwalk has some carnival-style entertainment some nights and there are the Dance Hall and Jellyrolls dueling pianos. Those have an entry cost
... and so on, but I wouldn't necessarily say the entertainment alone is worth its own trip.

That said, each resort is uniquely themed with unique lobbies/grounds/restaurants/stores etc and some have fun ways of getting to them (boat, Skyliner, Monorail). We go to WDW often and always include some resort visiting time as a way to cool off and see more of the property.

 

[LKing]

I'm from CA. Out here, the individual parks are Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. Everything, all inclusive, is referred to as Disneyland Resort. What do you call WDW all inclusive?

In CA, we refer to Fantasmic, WOC and fireworks as shows. What do you call them? Are they considered "entertainment"?

I'm trying to get a grip on how many different fireworks shows there are and the best place to view them. For example, Epcot has the Spice Road Table package which sounded good, but since we are a party of two, our seats wouldn't be great. It looks like there are plenty of other viewing spots, so maybe it isn't necessary to purchase a package for fireworks at Epcot. In CA, during the fireworks show, there are projections on the castle, Main Street, Small World and on the water after Fantasmic. Does WDW do that? If so, are there certain places that are better to view the projections? Is it worth paying or purchasing a package to ensure that we get a good view?

Parades: It doesn't sound like there are any packages for parades. Are there any better viewing areas?
Fantasmic: Looks like there is a package, but I'm not sure if it is necessary.
Drone show: That's outside of the parks, right? Any pointers on the best place to view it?

I read threads where people talk about watching fireworks from the hotel. Are they talking about watching fireworks that are for the parks, or are there additional shows outside of the parks? If watching from a hotel, you wouldn't hear the music or see any projections would you?

 

[JCornell]

I'm from CA. Out here, the individual parks are Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. Everything, all inclusive, is referred to as Disneyland Resort. What do you call WDW all inclusive?

In CA, we refer to Fantasmic, WOC and fireworks as shows. What do you call them? Are they considered "entertainment"?

I'm trying to get a grip on how many different fireworks shows there are and the best place to view them. For example, Epcot has the Spice Road Table package which sounded good, but since we are a party of two, our seats wouldn't be great. It looks like there are plenty of other viewing spots, so maybe it isn't necessary to purchase a package for fireworks at Epcot. In CA, during the fireworks show, there are projections on the castle, Main Street, Small World and on the water after Fantasmic. Does WDW do that? If so, are there certain places that are better to view the projections? Is it worth paying or purchasing a package to ensure that we get a good view?

Parades: It doesn't sound like there are any packages for parades. Are there any better viewing areas?
Fantasmic: Looks like there is a package, but I'm not sure if it is necessary.
Drone show: That's outside of the parks, right? Any pointers on the best place to view it?

I read threads where people talk about watching fireworks from the hotel. Are they talking about watching fireworks that are for the parks, or are there additional shows outside of the parks? If watching from a hotel, you wouldn't hear the music or see any projections would you?

Fireworks:
For the general access areas, general rule of thumb is same as DL, get there early if you want to pick a good spot. They will generally pack in though and keep in mind that they will be taping off walkways they need to keep open.

MK: Lots of ways to experience them. Depending on the season, the castle can have lighting or projections that factor in to the presentation. If you care about that, you'd want to be in the hub area. There are often, not always, paid options that give you access to a reserved area (either by Tomorrowland Terrace or in front of Casey's). If you only care about the fireworks and accompanying music, you can also view from down Main Street and even behind the castle is a neat way to get a different perspective. You can also view the fireworks from the monorail resorts, especially from the beach at the Poly and the terrace outside of California Grill at the Contemporary (some tables in the restaurant, too). Both have the music. This isn't exhaustive but covers the big ones.

Epcot: The lake is big and there are a lot of options around the lake to see the show. There are restaurant areas like Spice Road Table and Rose and Crown and also sometimes a paid option for a reserved area with party. There are also a boat option that pulls near the lake area by the International Gateway.

Fantasmic is an impressive show within its own theater area. There may be two showings during busy times of year. First showing is typically at park close. If you want to see it, you should line up beforehand, probably at least a half hour but definitely more in the busier season. The dining package puts you in a reserved section which I don't think is ideal. Good if you want a guaranteed space but you can probably do better on your own.

DHS has fireworks for some seasonal things like Christmas but the main fireworks shows are MK and Epcot. Nothing like that at the resorts themselves.

Drone show is at Disney Springs over the river. I know that one or two restaurants have a viewing space you can get with reservation but assume there should be plenty of space to view it.

Hope that helps some. Let us know what other questions you have.

 

[LKing]

Thank you! That's exactly what I was looking for!

 

[purple figment]

We live near San Francisco so DL is our home park, but we travel to WDW once a year.

Epcot is our favorite park. The current night show Luminous is visible around the entire lagoon so plenty of choices for viewing. Just choose a spot where the middle of the lagoon isn't obstructed by trees. The Fireworks show packages will include a meal and table & chairs to sit on while viewing the show if seating is important.

MK fireworks. The above poster has covered the various fireworks viewing packages and other locations throughout the entire resort.. Seats & Sweets at Tomorrowland Terrace is the package where you remain at your table. There is also a before or after fireworks package where you'll watch from an area at the end of Main Street (sitting on the ground), but have desserts at the Terrace. We've only done the after fireworks package and liked it.

DHS Fantasmic. If you do a package your seats will be in the center section of the theater. We haven't done the package because the theater is huge and the show is far less exciting than the DL production (even without Murphy). The best thing about the DHS show is the fact there's a theater so the area doesn't get congested like ROA at DL.

Disney Springs Drone Show. At this time they haven't said if the drone show will be extended past this summer. It's new so we haven't seen it.

Fort Wilderness Campground Hoop De Doo Dinner & Show. Its been many years since we went, but it reminded me of the show at the Golden Horseshoe at DL way back when Wally Boag and Betty Taylor were performing.

 

[LKing]

Thank you!

For Fantasmic at DL, I would recommend that people purchase some sort of dining package (especially since Rancho del Zocalo is only $35) so they don't have to deal with the crowds. Are any of the shows like that at WDW? Sitting in a chair isn't important to me. I'm looking for something were maybe the view is significantly better or where it will save us a significant amount of time and headache. If not, I'm good.

For the MK fireworks, did you like the dessert package because you liked the desserts or because it made the fireworks experience a more positive one? Is it at the end of Main Street where you would be able to see the projections? Maybe the projections are not as big of a deal at WDW.

Depending on our timing, we may skip WDW Fantasmic completely.

Thanks for your help!

 

[CarolynFH]

I'm from CA. Out here, the individual parks are Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. Everything, all inclusive, is referred to as Disneyland Resort. What do you call WDW all inclusive?

All inclusive it's WDW. The individual parks, of course, are MK, Epcot, DHS, and AK.

 

[LKing]

All inclusive it's WDW. The individual parks, of course, are MK, Epcot, DHS, and AK.

Thanks, I edited the title to reflect that.

 

[purple figment]

Dining package ala Rancho del Zocalo. There are some less expensive dining packages. One with a price point similar to Rancho is at Epcot, but it is for the concerts at the American Garden Theater during an Epcot Festival, such as the Festival of the Arts in January which is when we go to WDW. It includes a meal at the Regal Eagle Smokehouse and a guaranteed seat in the theater. It's for those who want seats near the front. We've never done the package, although we've eaten at Regal Eagle many times (usually after a concert) because we're fine with seats farther back. I think Regal Eagle has the same package for concerts during the Flower and Garden Festival. Spice Road Table might have a similar package, but I'm not sure. I can't recall any similar packages for nighttime shows at other parks.

MK fireworks post dessert party. We did it because we didn't have to find a spot on Main Street long before the show. The viewing area is in the grassy area in front of the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor and Plaza Inn so a good view of the projections as well. The desserts are okay, but not the main reason we book. We chose the post fireworks party because we could enter the reserved area earlier than those who did the pre-party since they were still enjoying their desserts, because it seemed like a fun way to end the evening and to avoid the crowds leaving the park at closing. On the other hand, if you're going when the park stays open well after fireworks the Seats and Treats or pre-party will give you additional time afterwards to do rides.

Fantasmic often performs after DHS' official closing time, like WOC at DCA. You just have to be in the park before closing.

Luminous. Forgot to mention that the World Showcase side of the lagoon is less crowded than the front area bordering Future World with the exception of the area around the bridge between France and the UK.