Fantasmic! Information and shared experiences!

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I keep hearing they let in the dining package people around 630 for the 9 show and I feel like that's too early. We typically do blue bayou and would remember going to the area just before 8 and would still be able to get a rail spot. I don't mind waiting for an hour or so but 3 hours kind of defeats the purpose of a dining package.

Totally agree with you! If this keeps up I’m going to cancel my package and just watch MSEP + fireworks.

 

[Kenshin21]

Totally agree with you! If this keeps up I’m going to cancel my package and just watch MSEP + fireworks.

Part of what we loved about the dining package is its also a prime view for the fireworks right after Fantasmic. And catching the 2nd parade allows us to catch all 3 night entertainment in 1 night.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

The show was great -- but the real joy came from the long wait, the shared thrill of securing a favorite view, the talking with everyone around us. My takeaway: I now know why DL's F! is better than WDW's: It is the crowd and the crowd logistics. The fact that you stake out a spot, defend it with the help of "new friends" and stand shoulder-to-shoulder is a big part of the joy! So much better than filing in for stadium seating (WDW) ... right

I appreciate the play-by-play of your experience. You really made it feel like I was there. So much so that it gave me agita since everything you described is my personal nightmare…the defending of space…talking to strangers…worrying someone will squeeze in front of me and block my view…for hours. For people who enjoy that sort of thing, hats off to you! My brain couldn’t take it lol.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I appreciate the play-by-play of your experience. You really made it feel like I was there. So much so that it gave me agita since everything you described is my personal nightmare…the defending of space…talking to strangers…worrying someone will squeeze in front of me and block my view…for hours. For people who enjoy that sort of thing, hats off to you! My brain couldn’t take it lol.

Ha ha, I was thinking the same thing as you! This is exactly how I do NOT want to watch a show. I was wondering if the OP was being sarcastic but maybe not, ha ha. I also have two little kids including a toddler so there is just no way this scenario could happen for me.

To the OP: I'm glad you got a great spot to watch the show and had a good time!

 

[bwvBound]

Ha ha, I was thinking the same thing as you! This is exactly how I do NOT want to watch a show. I was wondering if the OP was being sarcastic but maybe not, ha ha. I also have two little kids including a toddler so there is just no way this scenario could happen for me.

To the OP: I'm glad you got a great spot to watch the show and had a good time!

I wrote our "play by play" for F!'s opening return but am not the thread's OP.

No, I wasn't being sarcastic -- melding with our local crowd really was the best part of the event. Yes, talking with strangers was delightful. Yes, "defending the space" while waiting for 3+ hours was a real element of the experience -- but it was a shared experience. It was delightful. The crowd around us was great fun -- we enjoyed it thoroughly. (Not being sarcastic.)

Exchanging smiles and conversation with strangers is the best part of going to Disneyland!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I wrote our "play by play" for F!'s opening return but am not the thread's OP.

No, I wasn't being sarcastic -- melding with our local crowd really was the best part of the event. Yes, talking with strangers was delightful. Yes, "defending the space" while waiting for 3+ hours was a real element of the experience -- but it was a shared experience. It was delightful. The crowd around us was great fun -- we enjoyed it thoroughly. (Not being sarcastic.)

Exchanging smiles and conversation with strangers is the best part of going to Disneyland!

Sorry that sounds terrible. And to say 'when CM come, we're not moving' sounds threatening. No wonder they let you stay. They don't get paid enough to deal with threatening crowds.

 

[Kerr84]

This is the far right of the HB section. Perfect viewing.

When they walk you into the viewing section, there is a point where they take your tickets. At that point we walked forward toward the edge of the area. Most other people were doubling back to get front row or second row. We were fourth row or so but directly in front of all the action.

We entered at @ 9:55.

So, was the Hungry Bear section more in the middle than the River Belle section? I assumed River Belle would get the best spots since it costs more.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

So, was the Hungry Bear section more in the middle than the River Belle section? I assumed River Belle would get the best spots since it costs more.

In the past, HB was to the left of BB, so if you got a spot at the farthest right section of HB it was nearly equivalent to the far left section of BB. RBT was to the right of BB. With BB still closed, I wonder if they have just split that section in half and allocated more packages to both HB and RBT or if they allocated all of BB to RBT for now.

 

[Wedgeout]

In the past, HB was to the left of BB, so if you got a spot at the farthest right section of HB it was nearly equivalent to the far left section of BB. RBT was to the right of BB. With BB still closed, I wonder if they have just split that section in half and allocated more packages to both HB and RBT or if they allocated all of BB to RBT for now.

This weekend they expanded the RBT section taking the BB center, meeting the tape border of HB on the left.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

This weekend they expanded the RBT section taking the BB center, meeting the tape border of HB on the left.

In that case, the RBT package is a pretty good deal right now - you get BB views for RBT prices!

 

[Wedgeout]

The Chicken and the Ribs, two of the Hungry Bear meal options.

 

[katyringo]

When it comes to the hungry bear package now I think we have to view it like the WOC dessert party. The dessert plate is you get what you get.. your paying for your seat. Thought I do feel for folks who have been around while when you used to be able to substitute.

I remember another time when one of the fantasmic! Restaurants was closed.. didn't they offer it cafe orleans for a bit once.

Waiting to hear about blue bayou. We have done that one three times and will do it again. Great view but we liked the food! They offered a lunch option for a bit cheaper..

 

[Pluto468]

When it comes to the hungry bear package now I think we have to view it like the WOC dessert party. The dessert plate is you get what you get.. your paying for your seat. Thought I do feel for folks who have been around while when you used to be able to substitute.

I remember another time when one of the fantasmic! Restaurants was closed.. didn't they offer it cafe orleans for a bit once.

Waiting to hear about blue bayou. We have done that one three times and will do it again. Great view but we liked the food! They offered a lunch option for a bit cheaper..

Is the Blue Bayou package definitely coming back?

 

[dina444444]

Just got my meal at hungry bear. They were able to make the salmon salad without the bacon and I was able to sub out the bacon potato salad and desert for extra broccoli but they did not have replacement options. Will report back later on how the food is since I took it to go as I’m not super hungry right now. I will likely only be doing standby going forward unless they make some serious menu changes.

 

[dina444444]

Is the Blue Bayou package definitely coming back?

Yes. It’s listed on the website. The restaurant is suppose to reopen by mid to late June.

 

[Living42Day]

Sorry that sounds terrible. And to say 'when CM come, we're not moving' sounds threatening. No wonder they let you stay. They don't get paid enough to deal with threatening crowds.

Agreed. There are park rules for a reason and this type of action ruins things for everyone else.

I'm not going to be surprised if they change the rules and force having a Genie+ return time rather than dedicated standby viewing because of the 5 hour campers and the big fight that broke out in that area (not sure if it was related to viewing, but it was pretty bad).

 

[dina444444]

Agreed. There are park rules for a reason and this type of action ruins things for everyone else.

I'm not going to be surprised if they change the rules and force having a Genie+ return time rather than dedicated standby viewing because of the 5 hour campers.

Even when they had fp viewing it was a limited area and they always had standby areas which is completely different from how world of color is handled.

 

[katyringo]

Is the Blue Bayou package definitely coming back?

The website says coming soon. One thing I am a bit worried about after seeing how the river bell menu changes is that they will significantly change the blue bayou menu. I want that sorcerer hat dessert

 

[Living42Day]

Even when they had fp viewing it was a limited area and they always had standby areas which is completely different from how world of color is handled.

Totally.

Legacy FP is gone and Fantasmic just returned from being on a long hiatus due to the shutdown. Before COVID, they used to allow campers to sit out for the fireworks, parades, and Fantasmic. That changed once they brought in the dining packages. We would go into NOS around late afternoon and see tons of blankets spread out. There are always room for updates and I'm sure how things are going now (campers waiting 5+ hours/belligerence towards CMs/fights) is going to impact crowd control strategies for Fantasmic going forward.

 

[dina444444]

My meal was good. I may need to get something small to eat later with the lack of a carb component, but the salmon salad was good cold. It has a kick to it and I like the seasoning they put on the broccoli. That could have been better if I ate it hot but it tasted fine cold.