Has anyone did this recently? What is the cost now and is it worth it if you really dislike holding a spot all afternoon? Thinking about doing this at Christmas.
Has anyone did this recently? What is the cost now and is it worth it if you really dislike holding a spot all afternoon? Thinking about doing this at Christmas.
First family Christmas @ Disneyland
I have been thinking of doing this for our trip in August. We have done it when they had balcony seating-that was a while ago! I believe the cost is $59.00 per adult now and includes the dessert box. If we decide to go ahead and make reservations next week I will post and let you know how it goes in August. I am curious about the specifics of getting an actual seat with the reservation. I heard reserved seating guests start lining up at 7 or earlier to claim their specific seat for the 9 Fantasmic and that's with "reserved seating." I would be bummed to spend $59 x 4 seats and get the second or third row and have to look over others heads. I am short (5'2") as are my daughter and niece who will be with us.
Mal does it all the time, especially at Christmas time and seem to really enjoy it.
Yes, you have to line up to check in and choose your seats then.
Those are some of the same concerns I have. We had also done the balcony seating which was wonderful and special. I just don't think this set up has that same feeling.
First family Christmas @ Disneyland
We are doing this in two weeks! July 19th, I think. I will try to remember to come back and post about our experience. My DH thinks it will be just like the balcony seating that we did ten years ago and no matter how many times I try to explain that it is different now he just doesn't get it.
We've done both and I do prefer the balcony. We didn't get there early enough for the prime front-row seating so we took the back row (behind Mal in fact). We were told that we could stand during the show if we were in the back row, but when I did stand, I got yelled at by the people who were trying to see over us. So my choice was to sit and not have a 100% amazing view, or stand and know that people were mad at me. Between having to check in early and then being annoyed with the sit/stand issues, it wasn't the amazing time I was hoping for. It was good, it just wasn't amazing. I'm not saying we will never do it again, but it will be awhile before we do. Hopefully they will consider reopening the balcony by then - though I doubt they will as I believe the seating there may be too limited for the amount of reserve seats they are currently selling.
I think the current cost is $60 per person. Yes, we thought it was well worth the cost. We were hosting friends from Japan, and they absolutely loved it. Since this was their first visit to DL, there was no way we were going to ask them to stake out a spot for 4 hours or more.Originally Posted by mrsdisney68
We did the balcony seating, too, many moons ago. It was really special, but I don't think it is fair to compare it to the current set up, since the balcony seating is no longer an option. If you want to do VIP seating for Fantasmic!, then you have to take what DL is offering now. When we've done the current VIP seating, we've never regretted it or felt that the memories of the balcony seating overshadowed things. Our balcony memories are special; and our waterside seating memories are special, too. When we've taken guests, adults and kids, they've had a blast. Usually we wait about 45 minutes to an hour at the podium for our seat assignments (and have never had a problem getting the front row). The one time we waited much longer than that (almost 3 hours) was because that day was extremely crowded and NOS was packed. We weren't even the first people in line that day! As long as you are willing to arrive early at the podium and are clear with the CMs about your party's viewing needs (and they are very helpful about trying to meet all those needs), there really aren't any bad seats.
Do you call the Disney dine number to set up reservation?.
I think I did call the Dine Line and was given the menu option for Fantasmic! VIP Seating (option #1?) -- you will be transferred to a F! reservations CM.
Fantasmic Phone Number; 714-781-7469
Next Trip - October 2013.......Just The Two Of Us
We did this in April for the first time (myself, husband, two kids and my parents). We all loved it and thought it was completely worth the price. I showed up 45 minutes before the seating assignment time per advice on this group and I was the first in line. No one else joined me in line until 20 minutes before assignment time. The desserts were great and we had a perfect view of the show. We are HUGE Fantasmic! fans so this was really the highlight of our trip. It was completely worth it for us to not have to sit for hours before the show to get a decent view.
I waited in line for assignments alone and then met everyone else and brought them back to the seating right before the show started. It was as smooth as could be.
Prior to realizing there was a preferred seating option, I hadn't seen Fantasmic in probably a decade. My back can't take the wait.
Is it perfect? No. But it's pretty nice and completely worth the price to me.
So I'm reading my bean feed...
"...since I don’t do drugs, I spend the money that I save on good dried beans." David Lebovitz
Question. Do the kids dessert boxes differ from the adult ones? Either in quantity or content?
No. The box is one size fits all.
So I'm reading my bean feed...
"...since I don’t do drugs, I spend the money that I save on good dried beans." David Lebovitz
So we have reservations for Thursday July 19th, the 9 o'clock show. What time would you suggest we line up?
They check both shows in at the same time. I would suggest being at the check in at 715p. They will check you in at 8pm.
Planning 3 trips at once...
The boxes are the same for both, so if you have leftovers, you might want to bring some ziploc bags for the extra goodies or some larger bags for the boxes themselves.
Kind of off topic but if you are saving a spot by the water can you leave your blanket once people start saving spots?
First family Christmas @ Disneyland
No. Empty blankets will be picked up by cast members.
Planning 3 trips at once...
Unattended anything will be picked up. Last May, the CM picked up both the blanket and backpack left by someone. In December, unattendeed backpacks triggered security to clear the area and the PD dog to be brought out to sniff test it before they picked them up. I am not sure what changed in their procedures but there was a change.
How far in advance can I book this? 30 days?
Yes, one month.
Planning 3 trips at once...
Definitely need a ziploc bag or larger bag for the boxes because they don't close tightly!
I called Disney to get more info on the seating arrangement and am a little confused on where the seating area is exactly. We stood last year for Fantasmic but recall seeing the seating area to be in the very front by the water. The DL employee told me the seating area is raised and there are people standing in front of you but you would not have an obstructed view. Can anyone clarify this information?
Thanks! Also, we are looking for tickets Aug 6, 7, 8th and she said there were plenty available so the demand doesn't seem to be as high as I might have expected.
We just did the reserved seating 7/6.When I called at the 30 day out point they said they'd have to call me back and took my phone number. That didn't sit well with me so I called vacation planning right away and they got my ressie while I waited on hold and my tickets were waiting for me at my hotel, so no need to go to Guest Services to pick them up the day of the ressie. If you are staying on property have vacation planning make your ressie. Our ressie was for the 9PM show. 9PM was sold out but the 10:30 show was still being sold the day of.
I lined up at 6:30 and the 2nd group arrived at 6:45. By 7 the line had over 20 people in it. Only one person from your group needs to be there to check in and get your seat assignments. My party was 2 and the people behind me had a party of 5 and the people behind them had a party of 4 so the entire front row of the best section was taken with the first 3 groups. The 3rd group took two front row and two 2nd row right behind their front row seats.The best seats are in the section next to the F! control tower. If the front row is gone in that section I would ask for the 3rd row in that section as you can then stand if taller people block your seating view. The next section over is not dead center and your view is the side water screen not the center one. The people that showed up at 7 and after were not happy and some complained to the CMs that they were told to get there at 7:15 for the best seats and that for $60 a seat they shouldn't see F! from the side or from a 2nd or 3rd row. The best seats are #3 and 4 if there are two in your party. If you have four the best seats are #6, 7, 8, and 9. Seats #1,2 and 5 have a brick pillar that can impair a bit of the view as the ships and other floats arrive at the center of the show but if you have five or more in your party they are better than the 2nd row or the next section over. Check in and set assignments for both shows are at 8PM.
The dessert box contained: Red grapes, assorted cheeses and water crackers, cheese cake, leomon tart, chocolate tart, macaroon, rasberry shortbread cookie, and two chocolate truffle type candies. Avialable beverages were: Coffee, hot coco, water and soft drinks. They can no longer get mint julips for you. If you skip dinner and have an early lunch you can enjoy most of the desserts at the 9PM show without filling stuffed.
The view is the best that is currently available. Is it worth it? It is if you want a chair to sit on and not be squeezed in with strangers sitting on the ground. The area right in front of the reserved seats is now a sitting area so no one will block the reserved seating area view. CMs are close by and make sure no one stands in the walk way in front of the reserved area and they make anyone that trys to stand in the seating area on the ground sit down right away.
Is it as posh as the balcony? No it doesn't even come close, but it is the best that is now offered.
The 9PM guests are offered the abilty to stay in their seats and see the fireworks and are offered additonal beverages during the fireworks. The fireworks view is ok. You see the larger fireworks and can see Tinkerbell and Dumbo fly between a couple of trees. It's not as good as seeing them from in front of the castle but still nice. They also offered us beverages to go as we left.
At one point they offered an ice cream sunday (in a Mickey plastic container\mug) for the little ones instead of the dessert box but they haven't done that for several years. We saw a lot of full boxes sitting on the ground where little ones had been sitting as we left, so I guess the box might not be a great selection for some children.
Will we do it again? Yes, we will, unless they offer an alternative that is better.
dsny1mom
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