Other Dining options

[LadyDarling]

Since you seem to enjoy fine dining, there are a couple other options you may want to think about as well!
Catal is great. So is Naples and Ralph Brennan's (all in Downtown Disney).

If you want fine dining in DCA, check out the winery area! There are a couple great dinners there (sometimes they even have dinner and Electric parade view reservations, much like the Fantasmic balcony thing).

If you're interested in a really one of a kind experience, and there are no young childeren in your party, get dinner reservations at Napa Rose in the Grand Californian. Bring a suit and, if you're traveling with a lady, have her bring a cocktail dress.

Enjoy!
~Jay

 

[LadyDarling]

Fantasmic in Disneyland is VASTLY different from the Fantasmic in MGM. We'll start off by just the seating arrangements. In MGM, you are admited into an ampitheater with bleecher seating. In Disneyland, you simply claim a bit of ground in front of the River's of America. It's less organized (though they are trying to make it more so) and you often end up with heads in front of you, etc.

The balcony thing I was refering to is this:
You can make reservations early in the day for balcony seating and a dessert buffet for Fantasmic. I've personally never done this (at last check it ran over $20 a person). It's limited availability and gives you a great view of Fantasmic, without having to fight for a seat, and you get dessert with it!

It really is up to you if you think it's worth it or not. For my DH and I, though we'd love to try it sometime, it's not worth the money yet. We just wait and get a good spot waterfront, and one of us will get up while the other one saves the spot - and get hot chocolate and some dessert. It's part of the adventure for us, but people can get VERY possesive of thier piece of ground, and very rude with thier strollers. Disney is working hard to contain the stroller issue better as well as the flow of traffic during the shows.

~Jay

 

[xfkirsten]

Actually, I believe the balcony seating is up around $50 a person now.

-Kirsten