[Question] Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

[rreading]

We are going to be in DL this next month, and will probably only have one night available to see both shows. We are also coming from TX so, even with a nap, keeping our 3 and 7yo kids up till 10:30 for the second Fantasmic show won't be an option (would be past midnight for them).

How feasible is it to catch the 9PM Fantasmic and then still be able to see Dreams Come True? I imagine we could stay put after the show and that we would be left with a poor view of the fireworks with the music? We've been to WDW many times, and it will be our first fireworks at DL, so it would be nice to see the pyrotechnics and Tinkerbell along with the fireworks. Is it possible to move from the Fantasmic viewing area to the area in front of the castle? It it crazy to try?

Help!

[pyttius]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

Hmmmm... I guess you could try to do both. I'm not exactly sure how long F! is, but usually the fireworks are shoot off just a few mins. after F! ends. I suppose you could leave F! early to try and get a spot for the fireworks. If you did that, you'd miss the end of the show (which is really the only part of F! that I like) and even then you may not get a great spot for the fireworks to be able to see the castle. Plus, there may be others trying to leave F! early as well which will cause a big slow down when Disney starts their one way traffic patters. My advice is to just stay put and try to get a spot past POTC that faces back toward the Matterhorn since Disney does play the music for the fireworks throughout the park to try and get people to stay where they are. PLUS..... we are getting closer to fall and "Santa Ana Wind season" so it is possible that "DUE TO WINDS AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS, TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION OF .......... MAY BE CANCLED" and your wait for the fireworks may be for nothing.

[rytheguy]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

I have managed it many times, I even managed to squeeze World of Color in one night this summer. I'm not sure how easy it will be to move as quickly as you will need to with the little ones though.
The key, Ive found, is to quickly make your way to the back of main street. It's not as crowded back there so you'll be able to find a spot, and that's where crowd control is trying to push everyone anyway, so you can move pretty quickly.

[MarenBoBarren]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

The viewing of the Fireworks from the Rivers of America isn't that bad....it's how I often watch the fireworks since I love Fantasmic! Although since it's your first time watching you would not really be able to see tinkerbell and all the lights display they do on the castle. You can move quickly (although that will be harder with small children) to the castle area but that close to the start of fireworks it is harder to get a good viewing spot. But again, not impossible. You can certainly try but it will be harder than it looks. Fantasmic runs about 24 minutes and the fireworks usually start 6-10 minutes later.

[rreading]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

Thanks! Sounds like if it were just me and the kids we could do it, but my wife's not one for a hassle so it'll depend on her mood.

[bigcatrik]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

Don't go too far toward New Orleans Square for your F! viewing position and as soon as the show ends get ready to move! If you can make it over or past the POtC bridge and into Adventureland *before* the crowds start moving that way then you'll be able to get to Main Street easily before the fireworks start. I've never been to WDW but I hear it's a lot bigger than Disneyland so you might be surprised how close things are.

[WaltDisney'sAlec]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

I have the perfect solution for this problem! I watch both Remember... Dreams Come True and Fantasmic! the same night almost every time I visit.

With that said, let me give you some pointers:

The times for Fantasmic! and Remember... Dreams Come True are intentionally overlapping so as to provide for some crowd control in the cramped park, as it was not intended to hold the kind of crowds it regularly maintains.

What will work best is seeing the second showing of Fantasmic! for two main reasons: 1) it is less crowded, and therefore has better viewing space for you to get a good seat, and 2) there is enough time to find seating following the fireworks show.

What follows is my plan for how to get the best of both shows on a typical night at Disneyland:

Pt. 1 - Fireworks Access
You'll want to be in Tomorrowland about 1 hour/45 min before the fireworks show starts. I may suggest going on Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters or seeing Captain EO, as those rides/attractions can be counted on for having a set time for when you may get out.

About 45 minutes before the fireworks show starts, begin making your way towards the hub of Disneyland. You'll run into the crowd that is trying to get around the hub to access Frontierland, as the Cast Members try to keep people moving in a counter-clockwise direction around the hub. Instead of following the crowd around it, slip under the rope so you're on the black pavement instead of the red brick pavers, and you'll see a huge crowd of people sitting down waiting for the fireworks to start. Slowly and courteously maneuver your way through the crowd until you're right in front of the castle and have a good view of the Matterhorn as well (not obscured by trees).

Here is where the time planning comes in. If you left Tomorrowland at the correct time, everyone will still be sitting down, and there won't be much room left for you and your family. But don't fret! Shortly after you arrive, the Cast Members directing the crowds will tell everyone that they cannot have you taking up so much space sitting down. So they politely ask everyone to stand up, and before you know it, tons of free space and real estate clears up leaving plenty of room for strollers, wheelchairs, and children to enjoy the fireworks.

Sit back, wait for the fireworks to start, and enjoy your prime seating spot right in front of the Castle.

Pt. 2 - Fantasmic! viewing
Now that the fireworks are over, it's time for Fantasmic!'s second showing of the night. Begin making your way around the hub, following the counter-clockwise direction guided by the Cast Members.

When you reach the entrance to Frontierland, begin walking in. You will see a wall of benches that serves as a divider between to opposite moving crowds (like a freeway). Keep to the right of it while nonetheless trying to head in the direction of Pirates of the Caribbean. However, at a certain point (see the pink star on the map) you will reach a crowd of people that isn't moving at all.

Directly in front of them is a rope, holding the crowd back to prevent them from mad-rushing the Fantasmic! seating and claiming a spot while the previous group of Fantasmic! watchers is still clearing out from the first show. What my family does is try to get as close to the front of the crowd as possible.

After a few minutes, the Cast Members actually slowly pull the rope away (instead of dropping it - I know, the name is misleading). They have found this usually prevents people from sprinting all at once. Nevertheless, people walk as fast as they can with Cast Members shouting, "Don't run!" as we leave them in the dust. Continue along the pathway towards Pirates of the Caribbean, but then bear right at the fork.

You will see many roped off areas for seating to watch Fantasmic! While they may look like reserved areas, they really aren't, and anyone can slip under the ropes and find plenty of seating for an entire family. I've found the best viewing spot - square with the center of the stage is just a few steps from the left of the Kodak pictures spot facing the Rivers of America. It's marked by a yellow star on the map.





I sure hope this helps! This plan is nearly foolproof and works every time my family tries to do a double-feature of Disneyland shows with some of the best seating.

Thank you, and enjoy the show!

[MagicWDI]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

I have the perfect solution for this problem! I watch both Remember... Dreams Come True and Fantasmic! the same night almost every time I visit.

With that said, let me give you some pointers:

The times for Fantasmic! and Remember... Dreams Come True are intentionally overlapping so as to provide for some crowd control in the cramped park, as it was not intended to hold the kind of crowds it regularly maintains.

What will work best is seeing the second showing of Fantasmic! for two main reasons: 1) it is less crowded, and therefore has better viewing space for you to get a good seat, and 2) there is enough time to find seating following the fireworks show.

What follows is my plan for how to get the best of both shows on a typical night at Disneyland:

Pt. 1 - Fireworks Access
You'll want to be in Tomorrowland about 1 hour/45 min before the fireworks show starts. I may suggest going on Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters or seeing Captain EO, as those rides/attractions can be counted on for having a set time for when you may get out.

About 45 minutes before the fireworks show starts, begin making your way towards the hub of Disneyland. You'll run into the crowd that is trying to get around the hub to access Frontierland, as the Cast Members try to keep people moving in a counter-clockwise direction around the hub. Instead of following the crowd around it, slip under the rope so you're on the black pavement instead of the red brick pavers, and you'll see a huge crowd of people sitting down waiting for the fireworks to start. Slowly and courteously maneuver your way through the crowd until you're right in front of the castle and have a good view of the Matterhorn as well (not obscured by trees).

Here is where the time planning comes in. If you left Tomorrowland at the correct time, everyone will still be sitting down, and there won't be much room left for you and your family. But don't fret! Shortly after you arrive, the Cast Members directing the crowds will tell everyone that they cannot have you taking up so much space sitting down. So they politely ask everyone to stand up, and before you know it, tons of free space and real estate clears up leaving plenty of room for strollers, wheelchairs, and children to enjoy the fireworks.

Sit back, wait for the fireworks to start, and enjoy your prime seating spot right in front of the Castle.

Pt. 2 - Fantasmic! viewing
Now that the fireworks are over, it's time for Fantasmic!'s second showing of the night. Begin making your way around the hub, following the counter-clockwise direction guided by the Cast Members.

When you reach the entrance to Frontierland, begin walking in. You will see a wall of benches that serves as a divider between to opposite moving crowds (like a freeway). Keep to the right of it while nonetheless trying to head in the direction of Pirates of the Caribbean. However, at a certain point (see the pink star on the map) you will reach a crowd of people that isn't moving at all.

Directly in front of them is a rope, holding the crowd back to prevent them from mad-rushing the Fantasmic! seating and claiming a spot while the previous group of Fantasmic! watchers is still clearing out from the first show. What my family does is try to get as close to the front of the crowd as possible.

After a few minutes, the Cast Members actually slowly pull the rope away (instead of dropping it - I know, the name is misleading). They have found this usually prevents people from sprinting all at once. Nevertheless, people walk as fast as they can with Cast Members shouting, "Don't run!" as we leave them in the dust. Continue along the pathway towards Pirates of the Caribbean, but then bear right at the fork.

You will see many roped off areas for seating to watch Fantasmic! While they may look like reserved areas, they really aren't, and anyone can slip under the ropes and find plenty of seating for an entire family. I've found the best viewing spot - square with the center of the stage is just a few steps from the left of the Kodak pictures spot facing the Rivers of America. It's marked by a yellow star on the map.

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I sure hope this helps! This plan is nearly foolproof and works every time my family tries to do a double-feature of Disneyland shows with some of the best seating.

Thank you, and enjoy the show!

I'll be trying this method when my girlfriend and I visit next. We also only have one day to see both shows and really want to squeeze them in.*

What I used to do was see the fireworks from the hub. After the show rush away from the crowds toward the Tomorrowland Train Station and ride it to New Orleans Square, bypassing all the madness. Then, find a spot for the second F! show and enjoy. It was a great trick but one year I ran into a glitch in the plan. When we got to the Tomorrowland Train Station we found out it was still shut down until the Fire Marshal gave the go ahead. that year it took way longer than expected and put a huge delay in trying to get to Fantasmic to get a good spot.

So this time I may try your plan instead.

[WaltDisney'sAlec]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

I'll be trying this method when my girlfriend and I visit next. We also only have one day to see both shows and really want to squeeze them in.*

What I used to do was see the fireworks from the hub. After the show rush away from the crowds toward the Tomorrowland Train Station and ride it to New Orleans Square, bypassing all the madness. Then, find a spot for the second F! show and enjoy. It was a great trick but one year I ran into a glitch in the plan. When we got to the Tomorrowland Train Station we found out it was still shut down until the Fire Marshal gave the go ahead. that year it took way longer than expected and put a huge delay in trying to get to Fantasmic to get a good spot.

So this time I may try your plan instead.

You're more than welcome to! I love it and it works pretty well. Let me know how it goes!

[rreading]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

So in the moving from Fantasmic to the Castle, is the majority of the crowd heading from Frontierland? Would it be efficient/smart to move through Adventureland?

[swampymarsh]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

So in the moving from Fantasmic to the Castle, is the majority of the crowd heading from Frontierland? Would it be efficient/smart to move through Adventureland?

It will be much harder to go through Adventureland, it has really tight squeezes and can be a nightmare to get through when crowded.


To add to Alec's post, I do the same thing. Just be careful when selecting a firework viewing spot, that you can also see the top of the Matterhorn. In the 2 oclock posistion some trees can block the view of it. But going 45 minutes early you should fine plenty of spots and have lots of choices.

The only hard part of getting into Frontierland is the entrance area, in the picture above it's over the water and between the bigger trees just off the hub once past that just keep right of the exiting traffic and you will be fine. To make this easier as soon as the fireworks end get into the area kept open for access to beat the hundred of fireworks viewers also trying to get to F!. Choosing a spot to watch the fireworks near the open access path will help with this. Also know when you arrive to the fireworks viewing area people are sitting all over, but have to stand for the show.

Above the blue arrow is a spot I like. It's one of few areas where you can sit on the ground. It's partioned later when Fantasyland closes for the show, about 30 minutes before the fireworks start.

[wltdzny]

Re: Fantasmic and Dreams Come True?

rreading, how did it go? We are in the same boat as you. We'll be there Sunday night. Kids are going to be beat, but hoping against hope to see both 9:00 Fantasmic and 9:30 fireworks.

Anybody think a Sunday night will make this any easier?

And finally...which to choose if you only get one. Normally I'd say fantasmic, but it is similar to WOC and that "Remember" show sounds pretty good...

The more dangerous question