World of Colour/Fantasmic/Parade Viewing options - best/worst experiences

[lovethesun12]

Hello!

I'm a Disneyland newbie (WDW sort of veteran?), and trying to figure out the best ways to watch Fantasmic/World of Colour/and see the parade. This is likely a one and done for us, and we've budgeted for extras (but would like to save if possible).

At WDW I've had some good, bad and really bad experiences with paying for packages and FP+. On the worst to best experience spectrum, I found FP+/genie/virtual queue to be on the worse end and dining experiences to be better.

My experience with the FP+/genie is that most people at theme parks are good. But the entitled ones will walk in last minute and shamelessly force their way right in front of you if there is no cast member on guard. Since I'd rather not end up on the local news I just let it go but would prefer an option that completely eliminates this possibility.

Here are the related questions I have for anyone with experience! Also please feel free to give what you think would suit what we want best. I would obviously prefer a view of fireworks/projections/everything but would rather a less than stellar view if it means I don't have to defend my spot like a guard at Fort Knox or show up later.

World of colour
1) virtual queue - I don't mind getting wet but would not want to do this if someone can squirm in front of us (could they?)
2) Private balcony at the grand since we are staying there - Is it crowded? Will we see the projections?
3) Dining package - Is there a better option? Is it possible to still get squeezed out of a view? Would only prefer this if it's a much better view than the "free" private balcony
4) Dessert party only if the view of projections, fireworks, are much better and less crowded than the dining package and private balcony view

Fantasmic
1) Prefer to sit....at WDW it was all seated (from what I viewed) is this the same for Disneyland?
2) I've had a front and center view for this and while it was great, I think off center would have been fine. Does the hungry bear package of this along with an earlier entry? I feel like that would work for us.
3) We are dining at Blue Bayou anyway (really want to try it). However, I worked out the numbers and the cost will be about double for us with the package. Is the upgrade from hungry bear worth it for what we want (enter before the crowds basically).
4) We would like to watch the fireworks from the spot we have for fantasmic, which is the best way to do that

Magic Happens Parade
-At WDW, I watched this with genie+. The option was okay. They held us in a roped off area. About 20 min before the parade came through, they removed the rope. A family from across the street walked over and stood right in front of us. I was not happy about this at all. I will admit though, my kids still had a good view, and I was happy their *kids* had a good view. I really don't mind a kid moving in front of me. I was uncomfortable with the situation though and would rather avoid it, but not sure it would be possible with any package. At the end of the day, I had genie+ anyway so it was free and the view was still better than when we watched without it
-Does disneyland work in a similar way? I considered booking a dining package at MK instead but I think it would have worked exactly the same so it would have happened anyway and there was no point.

Sorry so many questions! I did try looking them up but with so many differences before/after covid it was hard to find accurate answers so would prefer more recent experiences.

TIA!

 

[sophy1996]

The view of Fantasmic from the Hungry Bear package area is fine. We were lucky to end up toward the right side of the area, just across the dividing rope from the BB area. So our view was about as good as those BB folks.

Seating for Fantasmic is on the ground. There isn’t a dedicated theater as at DHS; the viewing area is the walkways that border the Rivers of America at New Orleans Square.

 

[starlite_]

WoC dining package is not worth it imo. Only thing I've regreted paying for. There was a family of giants at the front like legit 6feet+, they blocked the view of everyone .

 

[DianaMB333]

If you don’t mind waiting for the second shows you would find plenty room in front of both of them..

 

[wendlle]

I loved the world of color dessert party and IMO it was worth every penny.
I got a low top table and it was perfect, my kids and I got to enjoy the show without stress and worrying about if we could or couldn't see it. You get a perfect view.

I also did the fantasmic package, I chose River Belle but next time will get Hungry Bear, the food at RB was terrible and HB is cheaper and you get the same view. Bring inflatable cushions for your tush and you'll be comfy and have a great view.

 

[lovethesun12]

If you don’t mind waiting for the second shows you would find plenty room in front of both of them..

Do you mean without the packages/upcharges just using general viewing?

 

[lovethesun12]

I loved the world of color dessert party and IMO it was worth every penny.
I got a low top table and it was perfect, my kids and I got to enjoy the show without stress and worrying about if we could or couldn't see it. You get a perfect view.

I also did the fantasmic package, I chose River Belle but next time will get Hungry Bear, the food at RB was terrible and HB is cheaper and you get the same view. Bring inflatable cushions for your tush and you'll be comfy and have a great view.

Thanks! Do you see the projections with the dessert party as well? This might be the way we go...I don't mind paying a significant cost like that if it's worth it. Also my daughter's birthday the day we plan to see it so I don't feel too bad about a splurge

 

[Kit Jackson]

Thanks! Do you see the projections with the dessert party as well? This might be the way we go...I don't mind paying a significant cost like that if it's worth it. Also my daughter's birthday the day we plan to see it so I don't feel too bad about a splurge

When we did the dessert party, we had an excellent view of the projections.

 

[LKing]

When are you going? Depending on how busy it is, you might try to find a place in front of the castle to view the fireworks & projection and then go to the late Fantastmic show.

 

[karrit2000]

Private Balcony at the Grand if you mean the one that used to be for DVC and now seems to be meant only for Concierge Level is not the way to view WOC in my opinion. You can see & hear the show but it's far away from the show. If you mean your hotel room balcony I would say the same thing and I don't think very many rooms have a good view and I'm not sure there are too many that you could actually view the show from and most likely not unless you are on the top floor. I'm doing the WOC Dessert Party this time around as a splurge. I want a seat & don't like the way they pack people in to the other viewing areas which are all standing room & possibly in the splash/mist zone if you want to be up front. Last time I viewed it was still Fast Pass & they assigned you a specific color zone to enter & stand in. I booked the Hungry Bear package for Fantasmic because the place is a total zoo otherwise. People camp out for hours in the non reserved areas and a lot of spots that were my go to options years ago they no longer allow people to view from. Beware that at a certain point on Fantasmic and Firework viewing evenings they will start turning what normally are open walkways earlier in the day to one way passage only and you end up walking around in circles to get from point A to point B because there are Cast members every so many feet directing everyone which way to go to get anywhere. It gets really insane and takes forever to get anywhere. Last year I ended up watching the fireworks from inside Galaxys Edge. It was pretty cool. Everyone was sitting on the ground by the Millenium Falcon to watch. I've never been impressed with the food at River Belle & getting reservations for the package with seating there isn't easy from what I've heard. Blue Bayou is expensive enough without tacking on the package price. From what I've read people seem to think the viewing for Hungry Bear Package is just as good & sometimes even better than River Belle/Blue Bayou area along the riverfront. The only other time I did the Package for Fantasmic was years ago when they had the Dessert Party option where you actually had a seat and all you could eat desserts.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Thanks! Do you see the projections with the dessert party as well? This might be the way we go...I don't mind paying a significant cost like that if it's worth it. Also my daughter's birthday the day we plan to see it so I don't feel too bad about a splurge

Dessert party is lovely and relaxed with a great views and chairs to sit in. Desserts and drinks were fine but the real draw is the relaxed place to sit and no one can squeeze in front of you. Check in early and select a high-top table (comfy directors chairs with foot rests) … choose one in the front row or behind the low-top tables. Come and go as you please once you’re seated until the show starts. It was pricy but a great experience for us. At the time we did it, kids 3-9 also received a glow cup, which was a big hit.

Hungry Bear is just as good as any of the other Fantasmic dining packages. Arrive early and sit far over the right in the section and you’re basically with the Blue Bayou section. Stay seated on the ground for fireworks with projections on the water screen on the river.

Outside of the dining package areas, viewing for Fantasmic is standing only.

 

[wendlle]

Thanks! Do you see the projections with the dessert party as well? This might be the way we go...I don't mind paying a significant cost like that if it's worth it. Also my daughter's birthday the day we plan to see it so I don't feel too bad about a splurge

Yes you get a full proper view of all the projections.
Honestly you won't be upset by the view, it is excellent.
The seating is fantastic, who wants to stand for a show? Not me, and my kids would have never been able to see it in the standing sections. This gave them a perfect view of the show.

Everyone said to get a high top table, we got a low top and loved it. The desserts were fabulous and you get two drinks also, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic available. My kids got light up cups they got to keep.
I'll be doing it again in September when we return, yes it is expensive but I think worth it just to relax.

 

[lovethesun12]

When are you going? Depending on how busy it is, you might try to find a place in front of the castle to view the fireworks & projection and then go to the late Fantastmic show.

We are going early August. Would have preferred the end of that month however my daughter really wanted to go on her birthday so we decided to try it.

 

[lovethesun12]

Dessert party is lovely and relaxed with a great views and chairs to sit in. Desserts and drinks were fine but the real draw is the relaxed place to sit and no one can squeeze in front of you. Check in early and select a high-top table (comfy directors chairs with foot rests) … choose one in the front row or behind the low-top tables. Come and go as you please once you’re seated until the show starts. It was pricy but a great experience for us. At the time we did it, kids 3-9 also received a glow cup, which was a big hit.

Hungry Bear is just as good as any of the other Fantasmic dining packages. Arrive early and sit far over the right in the section and you’re basically with the Blue Bayou section. Stay seated on the ground for fireworks with projections on the water screen on the river.

Outside of the dining package areas, viewing for Fantasmic is standing only.

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Thanks so much for all the tips and pictures. I think we'll definitely do the dessert party for WOC and hungry bear for fantasmic. Now just need to decide for the parade.

 

[lovethesun12]

Yes you get a full proper view of all the projections.
Honestly you won't be upset by the view, it is excellent.
The seating is fantastic, who wants to stand for a show? Not me, and my kids would have never been able to see it in the standing sections. This gave them a perfect view of the show.

Everyone said to get a high top table, we got a low top and loved it. The desserts were fabulous and you get two drinks also, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic available. My kids got light up cups they got to keep.
I'll be doing it again in September when we return, yes it is expensive but I think worth it just to relax.

Yeah I have to agree about sitting over standing.

We did WDW last year and had a dining package to see the show at Epcot. Even though we had no view of the projections, that experience was far superior to when we tried to use FP+. I'd take sitting and/or less crowded over a better view for sure.

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

For the HB package, we did the early seating. After Fantasmic, you can stay on place and watch the fireworks. Not as good of a view for the fireworks, but nice to be able to stay in place and relax, and still see the fireworks.

 

[Pluto468]

World Of Color- We've done the WOC dessert party, and as other people have said, having somewhere to sit is wonderful. We liked the food and thought the view was great. Worth it for us, for sure. We sat at a low table over.

Fantasmic- We've done the River Belle Terrace premium package a couple of times. You sit on the patio of RBT and have a full dinner served to you at your table, and afterwards you stay at your table to watch Fantasmic. They also allow you to stay in your seat to watch the fireworks after Fantasmic.

Parade- I've seen the parade tons of times and have never bought a package to watch it. Main Street is very crowded but alot of people love the view of the castle and the Main St projections. I almost always watch the fireworks at Small World. It's not as crowded and they do the projections right onto Small World. Another place we like is Galaxy'd Edge. You only see the fireworks, but it looks really cool.

 

[lovethesun12]

World Of Color- We've done the WOC dessert party, and as other people have said, having somewhere to sit is wonderful. We liked the food and thought the view was great. Worth it for us, for sure. We sat at a low table over.

Fantasmic- We've done the River Belle Terrace premium package a couple of times. You sit on the patio of RBT and have a full dinner served to you at your table, and afterwards you stay at your table to watch Fantasmic. They also allow you to stay in your seat to watch the fireworks after Fantasmic.

Parade- I've seen the parade tons of times and have never bought a package to watch it. Main Street is very crowded but alot of people love the view of the castle and the Main St projections. I almost always watch the fireworks at Small World. It's not as crowded and they do the projections right onto Small World. Another place we like is Galaxy'd Edge. You only see the fireworks, but it looks really cool.

Thanks for your comments.

Did you find River Belle Terrace offered a good view? I really like the idea of sitting at a table. We did that the last time we were in Epcot and even though we couldn't see projections it was by far the best dining experience I've had.

 

[Pluto468]

Thanks for your comments.

Did you find River Belle Terrace offered a good view? I really like the idea of sitting at a table. We did that the last time we were in Epcot and even though we couldn't see projections it was by far the best dining experience I've had.

We thought the view was very good. It's not right up front, but we could still see the projections, dragon, floats, Mickey etc.