Fantasmic Dessert Questions

[sunnydalegirl]

I just called to book our Fantasmic Dessert seating for the 9:00 PM show on Wednesday, April 18 and I am so excited! I have read the old threads about it, but want to make sure I understand the process. We will have 4 adults, a 9-year old and a 2-year old, who I know will sit on a lap. Here are my questions:

1. From what I understand we pick up our tickets from Guest Services the day of the show and seating assignments start at 8:00 PM. What time should I go to wait in line for seat assignments (I want to be first in line!)?

2. If I don't get there first and can't get the front row, where should I ask to sit so that my kids can see? Is there anywhere I do not want to be because of obstructions, even in the front row?

3. I think I understand where the seats are, but I cannot envision where the check-in podium is. Does anyone have a picture of it? Is it always there so I could scope it out earlier in the day? What about the seats, are they always there or are they put our right before the show?

Thanks for any help! This is quite a splurge for us but it's our first trip in four years and Fantasmic is our favorite thing so we thought this would be so much fun. Our last trip we staked out seats at about 5:00 for the 9:00 show and I didn't want to do that again!

[Malcon10t]

1. It really depends. Usually 715p is when the line starts, but depending on the season, it can be earlier.

2. There are 6 or so "front row" areas. To get 5 together, you would need to get B tower, seats 5-9. Or there are 3 sets of seats in C tower and I believe all of them have 5 seats across.

3. If you are walking from NOS towards HM, just as you approach HM, on your right you will see a churro stand by the stairs. This is where the podium will be at night. The line usually starts at the top of the stairs. The chairs start getting put up about 630p.

They usually will seat you just before the 845p fireworks.

[Drince88]

When we had 4 adults, an 18 month old, and a 3.5 year old, we did a 3/2 configuration. This worked well for us with the older nephew in the front row with his parents, and the younger one on his other Aunt's lap (who he was VERY attached to that trip) on the aisle side of things. Then I held both dessert boxes (my sisters and mine), with one open at a time and she just picked what she wanted out, and we handed the little guy a variety of items. And everyone could still interact together.

Just something to think about.

[ogold72]

I just called to book our Fantasmic Dessert seating for the 9:00 PM show on Wednesday, April 18 and I am so excited! I have read the old threads about it, but want to make sure I understand the process. We will have 4 adults, a 9-year old and a 2-year old, who I know will sit on a lap. Here are my questions:

1. From what I understand we pick up our tickets from Guest Services the day of the show and seating assignments start at 8:00 PM. What time should I go to wait in line for seat assignments (I want to be first in line!)?

2. If I don't get there first and can't get the front row, where should I ask to sit so that my kids can see? Is there anywhere I do not want to be because of obstructions, even in the front row?

3. I think I understand where the seats are, but I cannot envision where the check-in podium is. Does anyone have a picture of it? Is it always there so I could scope it out earlier in the day? What about the seats, are they always there or are they put our right before the show?

Thanks for any help! This is quite a splurge for us but it's our first trip in four years and Fantasmic is our favorite thing so we thought this would be so much fun. Our last trip we staked out seats at about 5:00 for the 9:00 show and I didn't want to do that again!

Here is a link to a nice overhead image showing pertinent locations to include the location of the check-in (by the Churro cart). Hope this helps! http://media.photobucket.com/image/r...wingArea-2.jpg

[sunnydalegirl]

Thanks everyone, and that image is fabulous!

[gloria]

It is possible to pick up your tickets before the day you are going. I have picked them up at least two days ahead of time at City Hall. It doesn't hurt to ask.

The earliest I have ever been to stand in line was two hours beforehand and there were always at least 5 to 10 people ahead of me. Because it is just me and my three kids, I will bring a blanket for them to sit on (and play their hand-helds) while we wait in line.

Also, because we are still full from eating dinner, I will bring a big bag to hold all the trays to bring back to our room. We (or maybe just I!) eat them later.

[danyoung]

So never having done the F! seating other than back when they used to do it in the Disney Gallery balcony, I have a question. Is it really necessary to arrive way early to get a seat assignment? In other words, aren't all of the seats in the reserved sections pretty danged good?

[Drince88]

When you have small children, I think it's better to be in the first row.

I still don't understand why you have to pick up tickets for this one, though. For all the pay special events at WDW - they have people with lists of names and you have to show id, and then that's it. Depending on the size of the event, you may get wristbands (like the large dessert event at the F&W Festival) but for special luncheons or dinners - it's just a check the names off the list deal. and they don't have your credit card number or anything on their list - so it doesn't have to be kept 'protected'

[Malcon10t]

So never having done the F! seating other than back when they used to do it in the Disney Gallery balcony, I have a question. Is it really necessary to arrive way early to get a seat assignment? In other words, aren't all of the seats in the reserved sections pretty danged good?

Actually, they really are. We have had front row, and 3rd row. Both are very good.

But like Cathy said, if you have small children, front row is easier for them.

[ogold72]

Actually, they really are. We have had front row, and 3rd row. Both are very good.

But like Cathy said, if you have small children, front row is easier for them.

Concur - one workaround I took on one occassion when we couldnt get front row and a large adult was in front of us, was that simply took my (at the time 2) little one to the back in the space in between the last row and the cart that the cast members serve the desserts and beverages from and put her on my shoulders. The CMs were fine with it, and it didnt obstruct anyones view that was standing behind us. Sure, my shoulders were burning by the end, but I wanted my daughter to actually see the show we shelled $60 buck p/p for.