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Pixie Glitter
09-01-2002, 12:42 PM
Aside from the dessert buffet reserved seating, where is the best place to view Fantasmic!?? I will have my short children with me :D so I really want a good spot where their view won't be blocked. I'd appreciate suggestions as to where (and how early) to stake our claim for seats. We'll be seeing Fantasmic! sometime during the weekend before Columbus Day (Oct. 11-13).

Thanks!

Gemini Cricket
09-01-2002, 12:49 PM
Best Viewing:
Smack dab in the middle as you're facing the island, right up against the gate separating New Orleans Square from the Rivers of America. It's the best view in my opinion. A lot of the action in the show is focused for people watching it head on. But, I have also watched the show from the sides and liked it just as much.

:)

Laffite
09-01-2002, 12:59 PM
If you're going to get that seat, you gotta be about 2 hours early. Or, when they start raising up the lights/speakers, start looking for seats. I usually get there 20min before so I'm always in the very back to the very side tiptoeing to see over people's head (and I'm short!). But, even with those disadvantages I still manage to get teary eyes and goosebumps, even though I've seen it countless. :D

wdtv
09-09-2002, 11:39 PM
Don't worry if you don't get a spot against the river in NOS. My second favorite spot is towards the right of the alley, next to the DISNEY GALLERY stairway. It's hard to see the small details on the river, but you do recieve an awesome view of the most important scenes: The dragon, Hook's pirate ship, the evil queen, the Mark Twain, and, of course, Mickey!

mandi2728
09-10-2002, 08:04 AM
We are gonna be there and that week beforehand too.

What we are gonna do is about 2 hours before the first show on Sat nite, one of us is gonna stake out a claim at the rail down front, and the other will walk around with our 3 kids. And then about an hour beforehand, we will get snacks and drinks and join my hubby. Plus we are planning to take cards and stuff so the kids can play!

We will probably try to catch Friday nites show also, but I am not concerned about a great seat for that one.

Laffite
09-10-2002, 08:11 AM
Don't get the center. Sometimes when the waterscreen is on there are dancers behind the center screen on the island. Sit a bit off-center so you can see the island between the screens and you'll see the dancers. Not a big deal, but if you want to see everything :)

Pixie Glitter
09-10-2002, 04:20 PM
Thanks for the tips, everybody! Only 28 days to go. . . .

WOO HOO!!!!

SpaceMTJunkie
09-10-2002, 05:25 PM
The balcony is the best seat! :)

Jennifer
09-10-2002, 06:11 PM
Aim for the manhole cover! Directly across from the stage/island and pretty much in the middle of the lower walkway. If you are right up against the grate you can get misted on (from the water screens) and your view is obstructed by the railing. We usually wait for the second show; that way we don't have to sit on our butts for 2 hours before the show starts. Then as soon as the first show ends and everyone starts heading out...head in! Much shorter wait and (slightly) less people.
P.S. bring a blanket, cushion or jacket you don't mind sitting on... the ground gets cold!

Morrigoon
09-10-2002, 06:40 PM
Here's the trick if you're gonna do that...
Take the train over to FL right about when the first F! should be beginning. Hop on the now-deserted mansion. When you get out, if F! is still on, hover on that side of the river. When F! ends, everyone goes East. You follow them as far as their former seats ;)

bandboy1985
09-10-2002, 07:37 PM
although the majority of the choreography for fantasmic is multi-directional so that (ideally) "no member of the audience is denied seeing the desired effect", formations are most in check and the choreography is as schemed from directly behind the central light tower (tower 2). if you've any interest in experiencing the dancing at its best, that's the best place to watch aside from strapping on a harness and riding tower 2 to its pinnacle! cast members also usually don't fail to throw an extra smile down in that direction to the board operators and stage manager in the tech box. if you don't mind seeing them flip through the massive binders under their pinpoint lights and seeing the digital clocks count down to the exit music, it's really ideal!:)

danyoung
09-11-2002, 12:49 PM
I love this question, cuz I get to give my super secret super cool method for getting a terrific view without investing 2 hours or more waiting.

In the Fantasmic! viewing area there are 3 lighting towers that're underground during the day. They come up sometime before showtime. The 2 outside towers are raised up to their fullest extension on their hydraulic poles, but the center one stays at ground level till right before showtime. The area behind this center tower appears to be blocking the view of the show, so no one lines up here. Get there about 30 minutes before showtime, and to the right of the iron rail in front of you (you'll be standing behind the control consoles, but they don't block much if any of the show). About 10 minutes before showtime, this center tower raises up to show height, and you now have a perfect center view, right in front of the center water screen. As soon as the tower raises, tell everyone in your party to stand firm with elbows extended, as a crush of people tends to try to move in. As long as you establish your space in the next couple minutes, you'll be fine.

This has worked perfectly for me since the show opened. Hope it works for you!!!

roberts1398
09-11-2002, 01:05 PM
Having never been to F! before, Dan, I don't know the geography ... from this spot, will my 7 yr old be able to see, or will we be blocked???

RideMax Mark
09-11-2002, 01:43 PM
Originally posted by roberts1398
Having never been to F! before, Dan, I don't know the geography ... from this spot, will my 7 yr old be able to see, or will we be blocked???

I think it will be close -- it's a standing location, behind a railing, which surrounds a small "hedge" that extends just over the top of the railing (I hope that's clear!)

My wife and I stood here last weekend and it was a good view of the show. We were right behind another "row" of folks that had beat us to this spot, though. Since we're both fairly tall this wasn't a problem, but it would be for a 7-year-old!

Still, it wasn't bad, considering we only showed up a half-hour early for the 9pm show.

RideMax Mark
09-11-2002, 01:46 PM
I also second Dan's suggestion of "establishing your space." We had a bunch of teenage girls trying to encroach on our space, and I had to hold my position firm for the first 10 minutes of the show!

roberts1398
09-11-2002, 02:53 PM
Thanks, Mark. I'm pretty sure we won't even try for the 9 show. I'm guessing with it down to 3 shows a week, the Sat. at 9 show is going to be really packed. So I figured we'd use your trick about sneaking in as the 9 show is letting out to get great seats for the 10:30 show.

Pixie Glitter
09-11-2002, 02:55 PM
Okay, Diane, here's the plan. . .

you and your 7-yr-old test out the spot behind the hedge/railing by the center light tower during your trip and report back with your recommendations for me and MY 7-yr-old (and 4-yr-old!) for our Oct. trip. Better yet, maybe you guys could attend several shows of Fantasmic! and after you've determined the absolute best viewing area for kids, you could erect some sort of official looking barricade around said spot which we will then remove when we get there, and voila!! we're all set to enjoy the show. :D

Deal?

roberts1398
09-11-2002, 02:56 PM
LOLOLOLOL!!!

danyoung
09-12-2002, 05:06 AM
Originally posted by roberts1398
Having never been to F! before, Dan, I don't know the geography ... from this spot, will my 7 yr old be able to see, or will we be blocked???

I can just about guarantee that this will be a terrific spot for your 7 year old. Usually as the show starts I'll look around and see if there are any kids that are buried behind adults, and escort them to the front of the section. I've never gotten down to 7 year old height, but it's my impression that they had a perfect view. Good luck!

danyoung
09-12-2002, 05:07 AM
Originally posted by RideMax Mark
I also second Dan's suggestion of "establishing your space." We had a bunch of teenage girls trying to encroach on our space, and I had to hold my position firm for the first 10 minutes of the show!

It can actually be kind of fun, as long as you're ready for it. Sorta like a mild, Americanized rugby scrum!

momtoo2
08-08-2003, 06:05 PM
We are going to the DLR next week and have never seen Fantasmic. I know about the Balcony Seating but decided against this as we have small children and the cost seemed a little much when I didn't know how the kids would react. Ok so anyway where else is a good spot for Fantasmic? Is there anywhere to stake out a spot or see it "ok" that does not require waiting 4 hours in one spot? How busy is the second Fantasmic of the night? Thanks for any help.

SoCalDisneyLover
08-08-2003, 07:27 PM
Drop me an E-Mail at SoCalDavidS@AOL.Com, and I'll reply with the place to go for Fantasmic! It's a special spot, that many people on this board already know about, but I'd rather not publicize too prominently. :-)

SacTown Chronic
08-08-2003, 07:45 PM
The 10:30 show is always less crowded but the 9:00 has its opportunities.
On a Tuesday night in mid-July, we came across a great spot, with enough room for all of us ( 2 adults, 3 children)against the rail on the POTC bridge right between the trees. We were just strolling through the area at about 8:30 taking a peak just in case there was anything reasonable. We were all set to watch the 10:30 but we couldn't pass up a nice opportunity.

Elly
08-10-2003, 05:27 PM
I'm not sure your little ones will stay up until 11:00, but if they will I recommend the 10:30 show. What we do is lurk around the haunted mansion area near the end of the show/fireworks. As the crowd moves out from the first show, you can move down to the show area and get a great spot. We sat down 40 minutes before the 10:30 show and got a prime location. Try to sit in front of one of the projection towers so that you have a straight on view of the water screens. The best one, in my opinion, is the one near the "Kodak Picture Spot" in the middle. We were sitting about 15 feet in front of the folks in the reserved section actually.

cstephens
08-11-2003, 11:15 AM
Originally posted by SoCalDisneyLover
Drop me an E-Mail at SoCalDavidS@AOL.Com, and I'll reply with the place to go for Fantasmic! It's a special spot, that many people on this board already know about, but I'd rather not publicize too prominently. :-)

Ummm, you know it's not a secret at all, right, because we used to talk about it all the time on a.d.d.? Can't get too much more prominent than a usenet newsgroup, especially at that time.


I always think the second show or last show always works better, but I'm not sure that works well with having small children.