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I’m reposting something I wrote on another board about Fantasmic.
Fantasmic used to be presented every night and some nights, there were 2 shows. The crowds were much smaller and it was very possible to get a seat arriving 30 minutes before the show; in fact we actually were able to come less than 10 minutes before the show began sometimes and there were still seats left. In fact, I have some pictures which show the amphitheater with still about 1/4 of the seats empty when the show began.
After they cut back on the number of shows, things changed dramatically. Most weeks, Fantasmic is only run 2 - 3 nights per week, so the crowds that were spread out in 7 nights are compressed into 2 or 3. I checked back for the schedule for 2010 and even during the busy summer months, they were only running shows 2-3 nights per week.
October 2010 was our last trip to Fantasmic and it was very, very crowded. When I asked about any accommodations for my daughters needs, the explanation we got was that it was too crowded to make special arrangements for anyone. We arrived to the front of the line between 7:10 and 7:15 and it was already standing room. DD has a wheelchair and she also had a GAC, which I held out in plain view.
At least 3 CMs saw the GAC and didn’t even read it or look at which stamps it had, they just said it was too busy and to stay to the right and watch for a CM. This is similar to what other people have reported to me. Even when the show was held more nights per week, the CMs consistently told us there were no accommodations and GACs were not used at Fantasmic.
Once we got past the immediate entrance, it was not bad and the crowd was spread out so that we had lots of room between us and the next guests. Because of the wheelchair, we had to wait just past a souvenir stand that is just past the stroller drop off. It was very busy there with people coming and going. The line we were in crossed the path that people sitting in the dinner package area used to get to the souvenir stand, the food stands and the bathrooms. So, there was a pretty constant stream of people crossing the line we were waiting in.
We were told to stay in that line until a CM came to get us to show us to seats. Each person using a wheelchair or ECV was asked whether or not they could transfer. My daughter can’t get out of her wheelchair, so we were very luck that we got the next to last spot for someone not able to transfer.
When it was time for us to get seats, a CM led a group of 3 wheelchair/ECV parties, but we had to keep with the CM in the crowd of people walking in. That was probably the tightest and most difficult because we were walking against the people who already had seats and were coming to the restrooms or snack stand, as well as the people walking to get to the standing room only area. This was very tight with people and although the CM tried very hard to keep the group together, it was not easy and people do have problems with going thru that area to get to their seats.
CMs will not save a seat for you, but once you have been shown to seats, you can have part of your party stay in the seats to save them while the rest move around. This used to be much easier than when we went with standing room only. People who were part of the standing room only group frequently saw the ‘empty’ seats and tried to bring their party over to sit there. We actually saw 2 semi-nasty confrontations, one of which was particularly nasty and involved a CM telling a group to get out of the disabilities area or they would be ejected since they kept trying to sit there without disabilities.
I left our group to get something from the food stand. It was very busy trying to get to that area and I had to work my way through the crowd both going and coming. I would not recommend moving once you are sitting down (this used to be possible before, but in my experience, it is too busy now that the shows are less frequent). So, bring things to do if your child will need to be distracted.
When we came out after our show, we waited until most guests had already left so that we could leave in a small group of people rather than the mob going out. The walk out the guests for the 2nd show were already waiting in a very tight line about 15 feet wide with a chain across the front of the line at a point not far behind the stroller drop off point. That line stretched all the way from there back outside the attraction all the way up Sunset Blvd to almost the end. Half of the street was blocked off for the line and it was about 15 feet wide and very well packed.
If you can’t manage in the crowds, rather than take a chance that a CM might allow you in, I would suggest the dinner package.
And, as was pointed out already, guests in the past could come as long as 30 minutes before the show began, but now guests are told to arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the start.
At that point, the dinner show area is open to other guests and guests with the dinner package are not guaranteed a seat.
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Clarification -
I meant to say that there is no accommodation with a GAC for getting INTO the show area that I am aware of. We have shown up before they started letting people in and were told to get into line ( the line is roped up Sunset Blvd as far as needed for the crowd).
They start letting people into the show area up to 90 minutes before the show starts (45 before the second show from what I have read and seen). The line outside is very long and tightly packed until they start letting people in. Once they start letting people in, the line dissipates quickly and you will be in a slowly moving loose group of people for most of the time. That was the point it was at when we joined the line in October.
Once inside, if you have a wheelchair or ECV, you will be directed by a CM exactly where to park. The spots for wheelchairs and ECVs are across the back row of seating, with space for the rest of your party in the rows ahead of you. These rows are marked with a blue line to designate they are for guests with disabilities. Guest who have parked an ECV or wheelchair or do not have one, but have a GAC will be able to sit in those seats.
There is a stroller drop off area not too long before actually getting to the seating area. All guests may keep their children in a stroller up until that point. Guests who want to use them after that point need to show a ' stroller as wheelchair' tag or GAC with that stamp. Those guests will wait in the same line as my family waited with a wheelchair. ECVs, wheelchairs and strollers as wheelchairs that people have gotten out of are parked behind the last row of seating.
Last edited by SueM loves WDW; 01-14-2011 at 12:23 PM..
Even though the line for the 2nd show will look very long, it really isn't. The CM's usually take people using wheelchairs for the 2nd show out of the line (stay to the right) near Beauty & the Beast and take them up the back way, avoiding the crowd. When the amphitheater is empty from the 1st show, they let in the wheelchair people who have gone up the back way, and get them seated before letting int he people standing in line. This is one of the reasons we like the 2nd show. You can ask any CM standing around while the first show is being seated about when the line for the 2nd show will close and if you need to "stay to the right".
We have gone into the first show as late as 15 minutes before the show started. We were inquiring about the capacity at the bottom of the entrance and the CM's radiod up and were told to send us up for standing room. We were able to put the wheelchairs in the upper standing room right next the fence while my DH and I stood behind. The CM's made everyone in the lower standing room move so our kids could see sitting in the wheelchairs and were persistent about it. Actually the view from the upper standing room was really nice!
We bring a portable DVD player that keeps my son occupied. The GAC card doesn't help for this show; however, when you get to the seating area you can ask for help in being seated in a preferred area (further back, closer for vision, etc). I've also found that it's harder to get help during busier times simply because there are so many people with special needs that the CMs can't get to everyone.
You could also opt for the later show which will have less people (generally speaking). This is all just from my own experience.
The portable DVD player is a wonderful strategy for waiting. I love to see these ideas.
I would not recommend moving once you are sitting down (this used to be possible before, but in my experience, it is too busy now that the shows are less frequent). So, bring things to do if your child will need to be distracted.
.
Thanks for the detailed tip, and I wanted to highlight this.
I've seen some parents expecting a GAC to fix the problem for kids who can't wait, but they did not plan any waiting activities or pack a waiting bag. A GAC may be able to help, but knowing what helps an individual child and making use of that knowledge really needs to be combined with the GAC for the happiest trip.
Thanks for all your advice!! I love the DVD idea....I thought about the dinner package but decided not to do it - in case my son is having a bad day that day I wouldn't want to feel like we have to go because we paid for the package...I think we are going to see how he is that day and decide if we should try it. Thanks so much!!
Thanks for all your advice!! I love the DVD idea....I thought about the dinner package but decided not to do it - in case my son is having a bad day that day I wouldn't want to feel like we have to go because we paid for the package...I think we are going to see how he is that day and decide if we should try it. Thanks so much!!
Smart plan. I really feel for you! I have several families with kids where they simply can't anticipate what kind of day to expect. It makes it hard to plan ahead.
I really hope you have a god time, and get tosee Fantasmic! because it is wonderful.
I just thought of another tip.
If your son likes to open suprises, wrap lots of small lightweight toys, fidgets, and interesting looking cheap gadgets. When he sits down, let him unwrap each one, one at a time, and explore the textures and the objects. Even the cheap little pencil grips that squish or make sounds or little Koosh balls work with this. Oriental Trading has a bunch. This can keep a kid occupied for hours because when he gets bored with one thing, you hand him another to unwrap.
Smart plan. I really feel for you! I have several families with kids where they simply can't anticipate what kind of day to expect. It makes it hard to plan ahead.
I really hope you have a god time, and get tosee Fantasmic! because it is wonderful.
I just thought of another tip.
If your son likes to open suprises, wrap lots of small lightweight toys, fidgets, and interesting looking cheap gadgets. When he sits down, let him unwrap each one, one at a time, and explore the textures and the objects. Even the cheap little pencil grips that squish or make sounds or little Koosh balls work with this. Oriental Trading has a bunch. This can keep a kid occupied for hours because when he gets bored with one thing, you hand him another to unwrap.
Have fun!
Great idea!! I wonder if I would have a problem brining a bag a wrapped stuff through security? Even if I just pack a bag of his favorite stuff. I guess worst case either me or DH (hoping DH since he has seen it before) will take him out if need be and the other will stay with the rest of our kids.
Thanks so much!!
Great idea!! I wonder if I would have a problem brining a bag a wrapped stuff through security? Even if I just pack a bag of his favorite stuff. I guess worst case either me or DH (hoping DH since he has seen it before) will take him out if need be and the other will stay with the rest of our kids.
Thanks so much!!
OK, that is a really good point. You'd need to pack the stuff in the checked luggage, I think.
Kind-of reminds me ofonce when I worked on a Steamboat for a summer and the theme was frogs...you know,,,for the Mississippi River. Well, I had my luggage packed with all sorts of little frog prizes and projects. There were squishy ones, ones that jumped, koosh frogs, frogs that spit water. I got such a wierd look from security.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
OK, that is a really good point. You'd need to pack the stuff in the checked luggage, I think.
Kind-of reminds me ofonce when I worked on a Steamboat for a summer and the theme was frogs...you know,,,for the Mississippi River. Well, I had my luggage packed with all sorts of little frog prizes and projects. There were squishy ones, ones that jumped, koosh frogs, frogs that spit water. I got such a wierd look from security.
We are driving - I meant security in the park I always carry a bag of his favorites but usually I keep the DVD player behind - I think though I am going to throw that in the bag just in case....There is a good chance he may be so tired from being in the park all day that he wont mind sitting a resting for a bit. My DH and I have decided that if he really cant make it then one of us will leave with him and go back to the room while the other stays with the kids.
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Last edited by jovigirlnj; 01-23-2011 at 08:02 PM..
Security won't care about the DVD player or bag of favorite items, as long as nothing looks like glass or a weapon. I'm not sure about wrapped items though. It may depend on how small they are and also on just how thorough the security person is. Someone on another forum said they made her son open his coin pure each time! But other people have gotten more of a cursory glance.
We are doing the fantasmic dinner package this May. My DD(2) would never be able to do the wait but she loves to watch fnatasmic on you tube so we are really hoping she will like the real thing. The good thing about the package is you could actually do a lunch instead of a dinner and just ride what you can up untill show time. For my family it is definitley worth it.
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I always carry a bag of his favorites but usually I keep the DVD player behind - I think though I am going to throw that in the bag just in case....There is a good chance he may be so tired from being in the park all day that he wont mind sitting a resting for a bit. My DH and I have decided that if he really cant make it then one of us will leave with him and go back to the room while the other stays with the kids.
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