Who saw Fantasmic! with FastPass on Fri/Sat & wants to share their thoughts?

[HydroGuy]

I just got back from DLR and had a good time and tried out the F! FP system. It was an interesting experience...some of it was good...some of it still needs work.

Great info! I provided a link to this in the Fantasmic Superthread until more info develops and/or the process becomes more well established.

 

[cmwade77]

I wanted to follow directions and line up in the que in the area I was told. The trampling by the crowd and the lack of cast members having a clear understanding of what needed to happen was mind blowing to me. I asked multiple questions at the fast pass booth and then more at 7ish when I was eager to line up. Not one of the cast members ever gave the same directions or had the same idea of what to do. I'm not one for being a rule breaker. I love order and rules but this was out of control.

I also experienced world of color for the first time this trip. When I asked questions to cast members for tips or ideas on what to do (I had not planned to see this so I did not research here on the DIS) they were all consistent in their answers and even showed me where to que up suggesting I arrive earlier for a better viewing spot. So I did and the process was painless and easy.

I guess I expected the "kinks" to be worked out since DCA has already mastered world of color and is bringing a similar circumstance across to DL. My expectations were too high in the cast or in the crowd... regardless I did not complain to them anymore than necessary. It was our first time in the parks in 5 years and we ended up purchasing annual passes as we left friday because our trip was the best ever. We plan to return once in summer and once next Christmas.... hopefully by then everything will be worked out and it will be a much smoother process.

They can't iron out the bugs, as the viewing area is not designed to handle this. Really, this concept is a bad idea to begin with and I don't think that it can last in the long term.

 

[figment_jii]

I also experienced world of color for the first time this trip. When I asked questions to cast members for tips or ideas on what to do (I had not planned to see this so I did not research here on the DIS) they were all consistent in their answers and even showed me where to que up suggesting I arrive earlier for a better viewing spot. So I did and the process was painless and easy.

It's worth pointing out that WoC FP/Dining Packages have been around for several years at this point, so they've had plenty of time to work out the kinks and make sure the information the CMs have is consistent. F! FP/Dining Packages are only four days old, so no matter what, there are going to be bugs. They can have the best laid plan in mind, but once it's implemented issues are bound to arise. You can take the general concept for WoC, but the actual logistics of implementing it for F! is going to have its own set of issues. I do think that once they smooth out the process and have a bit of time to assess what is working and what isn't, the process will improve and it'll turn out okay.

 

[Blue32]

It's worth pointing out that WoC FP/Dining Packages have been around for several years at this point, so they've had plenty of time to work out the kinks and make sure the information the CMs have is consistent. F! FP/Dining Packages are only four days old, so no matter what, there are going to be bugs. They can have the best laid plan in mind, but once it's implemented issues are bound to arise. You can take the general concept for WoC, but the actual logistics of implementing it for F! is going to have its own set of issues. I do think that once they smooth out the process and have a bit of time to assess what is working and what isn't, the process will improve and it'll turn out okay.

Thanks for all the info. figment_jii!! As it is now, are all of the dining areas seated areas? Or are there sitting and standing within each of those areas? Will any of the dining or FP options guarantee you a sitting spot?

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks for all the info. figment_jii!! As it is now, are all of the dining areas seated areas? Or are there sitting and standing within each of those areas? Will any of the dining or FP options guarantee you a sitting spot?

From what I saw and heard, there are sitting areas for both FP groups and dining plans, but only in the area immediately along the Rivers of America. The Blue Bayou reserved area is meant to be seated, however it sounds like if you want to stand in the very back you can. Same is likely true for the RBT and Dessert Party viewing areas; most is seated, but if you want to stand in the back you can.

 

[grnflash]

I do think that once they smooth out the process and have a bit of time to assess what is working and what isn't, the process will improve and it'll turn out okay.

I agree. We were in Blue on Friday night. We did not queue early so no experience with that line up. When we did arrive shortly before the show, the scene was confusing (though not chaotic.) We were properly directed to our section.

More staff would help, obviously better training. But I don't think they could actually staff enough since like every single person was asking questions (us included) and stopping, looking around, etc. But having done it just once, we're already more knowledgeable about what to do next time. This will be the case for a lot of people and will also help smooth things out.

No excuses for the poor training and CM's directing people incorrectly. I think they got lucky Friday since crowds were so low due to the earlier rain. None-the-less, I think the confusion will die down as we get the hang of the system. Plus someone on the Dis will come out with a F! FP superthread to guide us all

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Do you think dessert party guests are put with RT guests? I was initially told we would be in the around the Tom Sawyer landing, which looks like it is stand by in red.

 

[figment_jii]

Do you think dessert party guests are put with RT guests? I was initially told we would be in the around the Tom Sawyer landing, which looks like it is stand by in red.

No...from the map the CMs showed me, the RBT (Riverbelle Terrace) guests are to the right of the BB area and the Dessert Party guests are to the left of the BB area.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

No...from the map the CMs showed me, the RBT (Riverbelle Terrace) guests are to the right of the BB area and the Dessert Party guests are to the left of the BB area.

Awesome, thanks! I hope we get some DISers reporting back from the dessert party soon!

 

[CassieF]

Well, things are changing every day it seems. They have added a green fast pass, which from what I heard, is the bridge. Also, they have staggered the arrival time, blue first at 745, gold at 8, dining at 815, but still all entering by the petrified tree.

Crowds seemed worse though, at about 645, an hour before the start, it was wall to wall people from Golden Horseshoe to haunted mansion and all Adventureland and barely moved. Traffic was one way from GH past pirates, you could cut back to Adventureland after the bridge, which was one way toward AL.

I still got different info from each cast member I spoke to so there is still a lack of communication, but I was very impressed with the attitude of CMs tonight. Everyone seemed like they were trying to make the best of it.


So I got gold for the first show around 10am (two rejects before I got my fp, and they supposedly ran out for both shows by 3, not sure when it switched from 1st to 2nd) and was in the first group in. They tried to send us up to the standing area behind the sound booth, right past the seated front area which I was like, uh, I'll go here, thanks. I got front row against the railing and while it was a bit toward the side, it worked for pictures. After the show I joined the standby line for the 1045 show and was 6th in line. The line didn't build really until after firworks were over. They handed us tickets at 1015 and escorted us to the viewing area. If you weren't in the standby line by 1015 they would not let you into the viewing area. There was open space at the 2nd show. The standby section (just one area) is from about where RBT starts over to the Twain dock, standing only.

 

[figment_jii]

Well, things are changing every day it seems. They have added a green fast pass, which from what I heard, is the bridge. Also, they have staggered the arrival time, blue first at 745, gold at 8, dining at 815, but still all entering by the petrified tree.

Thank you for the update!

Did you happen to hear/see if the Green FP were distributed before or after the Gold ones? I'm guessing that the Green would be considered better than Blue because the bridge was previously part of the Gold section. Now that's one area where they should be able to have it's own entrance point! It's not even 'connected' to the rest of the viewing areas!

The standby section (just one area) is from about where RBT starts over to the Twain dock, standing only.

Again, it makes sense to me to eliminate the standby viewing section over by the HM. I wonder if they stretched the Blue area out to take over some of that area or if they're just leaving it open.

I know my map was very rough, but I was pretty sure there were Gold viewing areas between the RBT Viewing Area and the standby viewing area. If the standby area (Red) starts about where RBT starts, then is there still any Gold viewing area left over there? I thought the Gold area extended to at least the end of the RBT seating area (near Golden Horseshoe and Stage Door Cafe).

 

[AmberStar]

So Gold is better than blue but blue is distributed first and is allowed to enter first?

I know I was at the petrified tree at 745 and there was no sort of line established or even an entry point. It was a mob. Granted it was night one so I've calmed down a lot. I still want to grasp this since we will be back sooner rather than later.

 

[figment_jii]

So Gold is better than blue but blue is distributed first and is allowed to enter first?

When I was there, they distributed the Gold for each show before the Blue for that show (e.g., 8:45 Gold -> 8:45 Blue -> 10:45 Gold -> 10:45 Blue).

Assuming there is one entry point, having the Blue arrive first makes sense because their viewing area is further over towards NOS. So they have to walk through some of the Gold viewing area to get to the Blue viewing area.

 

[AmberStar]

When I was there, they distributed the Gold for each show before the Blue for that show (e.g., 8:45 Gold -> 8:45 Blue -> 10:45 Gold -> 10:45 Blue).

Assuming there is one entry point, having the Blue arrive first makes sense because their viewing area is further over towards NOS. So they have to walk through some of the Gold viewing area to get to the Blue viewing area.

Ahhh... gotcha. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[AquaDame]

So aside from getting to be front and center with BB is it just as good to just get a FP for the show and not bother with dining? How do the FP they hand out later work - is blue blue regardless of which pass you have? Are you still sardines straining to view regardless of which pass you get?

 

[figment_jii]

So aside from getting to be front and center with BB is it just as good to just get a FP for the show and not bother with dining? How do the FP they hand out later work - is blue blue regardless of which pass you have? Are you still sardines straining to view regardless of which pass you get?

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by is "blue blue regardless of which pass you have". I think the biggest difference between the dining packages FP and the general FP is that the dining package viewing areas all seem to be mostly ground sitting. The general FP viewing areas may have some ground sitting areas, but much of them are standing room only.

The Gold FP viewing area (at least when I was there) was more centrally located than Blue. However, yes, we still end up packed in like sardines. I got there close to the start of the FP window and ended up with an okay/good viewing spot. I think it's better than WoC FP viewing areas, but it's still not going to give you a perfect view without a wait.

 

[AquaDame]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by is "blue blue regardless of which pass you have". I think the biggest difference between the dining packages FP and the general FP is that the dining package viewing areas all seem to be mostly ground sitting. The general FP viewing areas may have some ground sitting areas, but much of them are standing room only.

The Gold FP viewing area (at least when I was there) was more centrally located than Blue. However, yes, we still end up packed in like sardines. I got there close to the start of the FP window and ended up with an okay/good viewing spot. I think it's better than WoC FP viewing areas, but it's still not going to give you a perfect view without a wait.

I felt like when they started doing the World of Color ones they didn't have a separate area for dining... did they/do they? You just got one without having to go to the kiosk. That was a long time ago now though. So its Blue-Dining and Blue-FP? Or do you not get a Blue color without being dining?

 

[figment_jii]

I felt like when they started doing the World of Color ones they didn't have a separate area for dining... did they/do they? You just got one without having to go to the kiosk. That was a long time ago now though. So its Blue-Dining and Blue-FP? Or do you not get a Blue color without being dining?

The colored FP (Blue, Gold, Green) are general FP that you get from the FP machines. The Aladdin's Oasis dining packages may get a Blue FP, which is the same as the Blue FP you get from the machines (no one has confirmed this yet).

The Blue Bayou, RBT, and Dessert Packages all have their own reserved viewing areas. The BB is located front and center, the RBT is to the right of the BB (towards Frontierland) and the Dessert Party is to the left of BB (towards NOS). These areas are different than the general FP viewing areas.

I can't remember how WoC originally worked, but currently the dining package viewing areas are different from the general FP viewing areas.

 

[pennym]

What happens to the River Belle Terrace? Is that reserved viewing or can you still get a seat on the terrace there?

 

[cmwade77]

I felt like when they started doing the World of Color ones they didn't have a separate area for dining... did they/do they? You just got one without having to go to the kiosk. That was a long time ago now though. So its Blue-Dining and Blue-FP? Or do you not get a Blue color without being dining?

WOC has always had separate areas for dining, but they did tweak it and Carthay Circle has it's own dining section. Also, when they did the picnic lunches, they simply mixed them in with the Yellow section.

For Fanstasmic! Blue is a FP section and "Blue Bayou Section" is for those who dined at Blue Bayou. This is what is leading to a lot of confusion.