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Fantasmic seating question

clareita

New Member
Original Poster
Can you save seats for Fantasmic? I'm concerned that my 4 year old won't be able to wait 45 minutes (we'll be there in late April so I hope 45 minutes is early enough). Can my husband take him out while I stay with the other kids?
 

DisneyJoe

Well-Known Member
Can you save seats for Fantasmic? I'm concerned that my 4 year old won't be able to wait 45 minutes (we'll be there in late April so I hope 45 minutes is early enough). Can my husband take him out while I stay with the other kids?

The amphitheater seats 9000 people, so make sure he comes in with you so he knows where you are!

The path to get back to the amphitheater from the main park is very long, I don't know if he would be able to go all the way out and back in again...

There are refreshments available in the amphitheater, if that helps.

I would bring games and activities with you to help pass the time.

It can also get quite congested with all of the people coming in.
 

rainfully

Well-Known Member
Once you leave, there's no guarantee you can get back in. So chances are if you're saving the seats and your husband comes with your son 10 minutes before showtime, he won't even be able to get in. You coud take that chance if you want... but I'd suggest just getting him something to distract him for the time... maybe a travel game or something you could play together.
 

RiversideBunny

New Member
There really are no bad seats in Fantasmic. It's not necessary to try to get in the middle.

We used to get there early for the first show, go on in and sit down, and then wait 30 or 45 mins. through that boring preshow entertainment.

Last time though, we just walked in about 15 minuters before the show.
We ended up sitting all the way over in the last section on the left.
No difference. Same show. Saw everything.
A lot less time wasted.

As long as you can can get in, any seat will give you the same Fantasmic.
Good luck.
:)
 

lilclerk

Well-Known Member
Last time though, we just walked in about 15 minuters before the show.
We ended up sitting all the way over in the last section on the left.
No difference. Same show. Saw everything.
A lot less time wasted.

That's what we did. Definitely not worth wasting an hour for.
 

rainfully

Well-Known Member
On some crowded days however, you HAVE to get there at least 45 minutes before to even GET a seat... I've gotten there up to an hour beforehand only to be turned away.
 

KingStefan

Well-Known Member
Once you get in, there is a little plaza in the back where there are bathrooms and souvenir carts, etc. There are also food stands behind the top row of the ampitheater to the left as you enter the ampitheater proper. You can find seats and then one of you can take your 4 yo and walk around a bit, shop, etc, run around the plaza, without leaving the ampitheater area, so you won't have to worry about not being re-admitted. Just don't go further back than that little plaza there.

Maybe one or two of you can get food for the family and bring it down after you've gotten your seats. We usually plan to eat in our seats before the show. That allows us to have more time in the park by not having to stop somewhere for dinner before the show. It's a bit of a balancing act, but it usually works out OK.

You should have something like backpacks, hats, etc. to hold seats, and pay attention. If it's crowded, I've heard stories about people coming in and sitting in the saved seats while mom or dad (whoever stays) is fussing with the kids and doesn't have time to say "I'm sorry, I'm saving those". I've even heard of people shoving backpacks out of the way and sitting down.

Most people are very polite, however, and ask if the seat is taken first, and we've never had a problem, so don't be too nervous. Sounds like you have at least three kids, so try to save seats in the middle.

The few times that I was there, there were very nice CMs finding open spots for families and escorting them down. I really thought that was a nice touch and very Disney.

Have a good time!
 

Chape19714

Well-Known Member
The offical policy is that your entire party must enter together to be seated together. This applies to all WDW live entertainment, but is really enforced at Finding Nemo, Lion King, and fantasmic. Note the 9000 number includes standing room, there are not 9000 seats, there's actually somewhere around 7500 seats, plus 1500 standing room, so 9000 capicity.

In the off season, there is no need to arrive more than 30 min early.
 

wdwdude423

New Member
Me and my brother were hanging out at MGM one day and decided to watch Fantasmic, but we didn't feel like waiting and wasting all that time, so we go there about 10-15 min before it started and got "seats" in the standing room only section. It's actually not bad if your feet arent too tired and you want to leave the theater before the huge mob forms after the show. I had a perfect view of the entire show and wasn't cramped and uncomfortable. For most people this is a last resort option, but I really enjoyed the benefits of getting there right before it started and leaving before 9,000 people swarmed everywhere. (If you've got kids, it's up to your discretion if you think they would be comfortable with this, but all the kids I saw there were happy to be able to stand and not have people blocking their view.)
 

sillyspook13

Well-Known Member
I'm not sure what the current policy is, but a few years ago when I worked at Fantasmic they had re-entry passes. If part of the party wanted to stay seated and somebody wanted to leave and come back they would receive the pass as they left and return it when they got back (to prove that he/she had already been there).
 

scpergj

Well-Known Member
Can you save seats for Fantasmic? I'm concerned that my 4 year old won't be able to wait 45 minutes (we'll be there in late April so I hope 45 minutes is early enough). Can my husband take him out while I stay with the other kids?

We didn't have TOO much trouble with our youngest when she was that age - but we did get some snacks to munch on, and made sure that she had something to do. Even at that, she did start to get a bit antsy.

Kevin
 

mofrazier05

New Member
Can you save seats for Fantasmic? I'm concerned that my 4 year old won't be able to wait 45 minutes (we'll be there in late April so I hope 45 minutes is early enough). Can my husband take him out while I stay with the other kids?

We took our 4 and 2 year olds to Fantasmic. Honestly, we waited about 30 minutes before the show started. The crowd had great energy so they did the wave 50 million times and with refreshments and light up necklaces, he should be WELL occupied so you won't have to go out!:D
 

tonganprince

Well-Known Member
I only scanned the previous messages, so I am not sure if this was mentioned.

You can do a dinner package and get reserved seating for Fantasmic.

I know that the Brown Derby and Hollywood and Vine have the packages, but not sure about others.
 

Chape19714

Well-Known Member
I'm not sure what the current policy is, but a few years ago when I worked at Fantasmic they had re-entry passes. If part of the party wanted to stay seated and somebody wanted to leave and come back they would receive the pass as they left and return it when they got back (to prove that he/she had already been there).
They still do that as needed, but everyone must still enter together. The re-entry point is the Gate at Tower's Exit.
 

mary219

New Member
We took our 4 and 2 year olds to Fantasmic. Honestly, we waited about 30 minutes before the show started. The crowd had great energy so they did the wave 50 million times and with refreshments and light up necklaces, he should be WELL occupied so you won't have to go out!:D

my kids are not that young,but the wait went quickly and really you can see from anywhere,some views are better than others but you can see everything.The crowd is great and its fun ,the same stuff as above happened when we were there and it was a good time.I really would not wait more than 30 minutes,i dont think its necessary(as long as its not prime time of year,and i believe they have 2 shows during the more crowded times.)But it is something you should not miss,IMHO,its the best show in Disney.have fun and i am sooooo jealous.I wish it was me making plans!:lol:
 

imamouse

Well-Known Member
I only scanned the previous messages, so I am not sure if this was mentioned.

You can do a dinner package and get reserved seating for Fantasmic.

I know that the Brown Derby and Hollywood and Vine have the packages, but not sure about others.

Mama Melrose is the 3rd Fantasmic dinner pkg option.
 

MiceysBestPal

New Member
They still do that as needed, but everyone must still enter together. The re-entry point is the Gate at Tower's Exit.

I don't know if you mean enter the first time together or re-enter together.

But the CM's have no way of knowing if your entire party enters, exits, or re-enters together or individually.

They just want you to know that if you separate, and the stands are crowded, it may not be possible for later arrivals to sit next to those who arrived earlier.
(Or even FIND those who arrived earlier.)

And, it is quite possible that they will close admission to the theater at some pont and those who have exited might not get back in.
 

Chape19714

Well-Known Member
I don't know if you mean enter the first time together or re-enter together.

But the CM's have no way of knowing if your entire party enters, exits, or re-enters together or individually.

They just want you to know that if you separate, and the stands are crowded, it may not be possible for later arrivals to sit next to those who arrived earlier.
(Or even FIND those who arrived earlier.)

And, it is quite possible that they will close admission to the theater at some pont and those who have exited might not get back in.
I mean the 1st time.
 

MattyFresh

Well-Known Member
I just got back, and not sure how the crowd in April relates to early Oct, but I would suggest the Fantasmic dinner package. We went to the 2nd show, and it was complete CHAOS!!! No line they just hurd you in like cattle. The show is awesome, but no organization at all. People cut in line, and it gets very confining the closer you are to the gates. But to answer your question, I would advise everyone staying together, if you want to sit together. Or keep in touch with cell phone or something, I did see some people that would go in and save a few seats for someone that was coming in later.
 

Lucky

Well-Known Member
Once you get in, there is a little plaza in the back where there are bathrooms and souvenir carts, etc. There are also food stands behind the top row of the ampitheater to the left as you enter the ampitheater proper. You can find seats and then one of you can take your 4 yo and walk around a bit, shop, etc, run around the plaza, without leaving the ampitheater area, so you won't have to worry about not being re-admitted. Just don't go further back than that little plaza there.
That's what we did last time.

With the dinner packages - which we've also done - you're still told to arrive at least 30 minutes early. The advantage is you're guaranteed a seat and you can avoid the long line and crowds, and get out a little more quickly afterward.
 

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