Down Under Disneyana Australian Disney Forum

Disneyland Resort today announced some big changes to how we watch Fantasmic!

From December, they'll be introducing a Fantasmic FastPass system similar to the World of Color distribution in DCA. The Fastpasses will be available throughout the day up on the Big Thunder Trail.

But sadly, the favourite Fantasmic Dessert Premium Seating will no longer be offered There will be some new Fantasmic dining options which guarantee you a Fastpass, but there will not be any reserved seats in an elevated spot to watch near the waterfront like they currently have.

Here is the official story:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... land-park/

You can read more about the new dining options here:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/f ... -packages/

OH NO!!!

I have never been a Fantasmic fan UNTIL I experienced it through the Dessert doodah... I had never enjoyed it before that because it was a mad crush everywhere you ended up and was too long to stand and wait/watch. Millie and I had planned to do the Dessert option when we were there in Feb but I can't remember why we didn't now,.... of course, I wish we did now because the chances of me bothering again in the 'stand and be crushed option' will now be minimal.

I guess they have to do something with crowd control, but I'm not sure this will improve it any.

I guess they have to do something with crowd control, but I'm not sure this will improve it any.

The advantage of the Fastpass is that people won't be staking out spots hours in advance like they do now, so it will free up the area around the Rivers of America which gets really congested in the evenings before the show.

Also, by not having people stake things out their places for hours, means those people will be in shops or restaurants spending money - so I can see why they want to do it.

But I'll definitely miss the dessert viewing and being able to watch the show from those chairs and be given our hot chocolates etc. - that was always fun and I've got good memories of being there on different occasions with Della, Wayne, Jennifer, Gerard, and my Dad.

Well I guess if it does make a difference it'll be good and perhaps I'll give it another go, but our experience with the WOC FP was pretty much the same... as soon as people were allowed to line up and stake a claim they did... to have any chance of a decent view we lined up an hour before and staked out our spot. That was the most boring waste of time in our whole park experience - unavoidable, but still a rankles. Oddly, I don't feel the same about waiting for a ride, perhaps its just because at that end of the day everyone is tired. Many many people did the 'blanket down for the rest of the group' thing and it did cause some friction with others who had done the right thing and gone in with their whole party as soon as they could. Its probably a logistical nightmare which ever way it happens...

Oddly, I don't feel the same about waiting for a ride

It is funny that waiting for the ride seems a little easier. I wonder if it is because you are always moving in a ride line...shuffle...shuffle...shuffle...whereas for the WOC Fastpass, you just have to stand there for ages even though you can see the empty viewing area. I think it is just something we have to live with.

I think it is just something we have to live with.

So true

I think it comes down to the fact that where I live there is almost never a crowd anywhere and it is a different mindset. Even catching transport, we call a half full bus 'packed', and sharing a seat is unthinkable.