I’ve been to Disneyland hundreds and hundreds of times through the years.  It might be hard to believe but there are and still so many things I haven’t yet done or seen.  Recently, I’ve made it a personal goal to try and check an item off of my bucket list each time I visit and so far I’ve been pretty successful.  

Here’s a little peak at some of the items on my list and my progress:

1.   Dine at Club 33
2.   Visit the Enchanted Tiki Room
3.   Tour Walt’s Apartment
4.   See Fantasmic!
5.   Be the last Guest to leave Disneyland for the evening
6.   Rent a cabana at the Disneyland Hotel
7.   Be the Rebel Spy on Star Tours
8.   Spend a night in the Dream Suite
9.   See Candlelight Processional
10. Be chosen as the family to do the countdown to park opening

While planning one of our most recent trips I decided that it was time for me to take care of one of my bucket list items and see Fantasmic! for the first time.  Fantasmic! is an amazing water, musical, and pyrotechnical show that takes place nightly (often twice nightly) on the Rivers of America in Frontierland.  During the 22 minute show the forces of good and evil battle all in the imagination of Mickey Mouse.

Due to it’s popularity guests often begin lining up/ reserving their seats (on the ground) hours and hours before the show actually starts.  Much of the action happens on the water so having a front row or elevated seat is preferable.  Prior to our first Fantasmic! show I started researching the best places to sit and came across many articles about the premium viewing and instantly knew that it was something I wanted to do.  

The premium viewing seats, while an additional expense, were the right choice for us for two main reasons: a. I wanted to make our first show magical and memorable and b. I wanted to be sure that we had an excellent view without the long wait.  Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance by calling 714-781-7469.  If you are staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel the Disney Vacation Planners can also help make reservations.  Tickets for the premium viewing of Fantasmic! are $60 for adults and $50 for children ages 3-9.  Included in the cost is reserved seating in the raised section in New Orleans Square, a yummy dessert tray, unlimited beverages (soda, juice, hot tea, and cocoa), and an amazing guest experience provided by the Cast Members specially assigned to this area.

On the day of our reservation we picked up our tickets from Town Hall on Main Street U.S.A. and went on with the rest of our day.  Even though we had tickets seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis which meant that later in the day we had to head over to a designated area (podium near the churro cart across from the Haunted Mansion) to select our seats.  After we selected our seats we again went on with our evening and needed only to return to our assigned seats 30 minutes or so before the show.  It was truly awesome to have secured awesome seats without the 2-3 hour wait.  

Once we got to our seats a Cast Member came over to hand out our dessert trays and take our drink order.  The dessert tray was yummy and very filling- it contained a selection of cheeses, grapes, cookies, and bite sized cakes.  As we are all fans of Disneyland hot cocoa we all opted for that and the Cast Member helping us even made some that were not as hot for the kids.  We had time to enjoy our dessert and take photos before the show started.  

I have to say that the show was absolutely, amazingly awesome.  The kids were completely entertained the whole way through and still talk about it all of these months later.  I learned a few things along the way and am looking forward to using them when we book our next Fantasmic! premium viewing experience.  

Kendra’s Fantasmic! Tips

Get in line to select your seats early.  For us the seat selection time was 6:00 and the Cast Member who gave our tickets suggested we arrive at least 30 minutes early- we arrived 45 minutes early and were already 10th in line. Because we were traveling with young kids I really wanted front seats in the front row but we weren’t able to get them because we didn’t arrive early enough.

Sit in the back row.  We found out after selecting our seats that guests in the third/ back row can stand during the show.  If the front row seats are gone don’t be afraid to try the back row where those with kids can hold them, put them on their shoulders etc., in order to get a better view.

Use the restroom before the show.  I highly recommend using the restroom prior to showtime as getting in and out of the reserved seating area and to a bathroom during showtime can be quite a challenge.  

Purchase Glow with the Show Ear Hats.  Not only do they make for fantastic photos but Glow with  the Show Ear Hats are also programmed to match colors and flash to the beat of the corresponding show you are attending.  Ear Hats are available throughout the park and cost $25 each.  They can be used though out the resort and work with the Mad T Party, World of Color, select Cars Land locations, Fantasmic! and the Fireworks.  

Stay for the Fireworks.  If your show corresponds with the nightly fireworks show you can watch them from your premium viewing seats.  The speakers used for the show will play the music from the fireworks show and the view is great.

Do you have a favorite location to view Fantasmic!? or a favorite Fantasmic! story you’d like to share?  We’d love to hear all about it via the comments section below or on the Babes in Disneyland Blog Facebook page.

Be sure to follow Kendra on Twitter and on Instagram @kendrakuske for more updates and photos.