Fantasmic Light Tower Trick

[S. S. Columbia]

Fantasmic Viewing Area map, from HydroGuy’s Fantasmic! Superthread (link)


What is the Light Tower Trick?

Here’s the trick: There is a middle light tower that stays at ground level until just before the Fantasmic show starts. Most Guests think that the middle light tower will block their view, so the area behind the middle light tower tends to be uncrowded. But just a few minutes before the Fantasmic show starts, the middle light tower gets raised to its elevated “show position,” which reveals a fairly good view of the show. Note: It’s better to stand on the right side of the middle light tower (to the right as you’re looking at the Fantasmic “stage”). Avoid the “left side” and the “pole”; this will be discussed below.


Where is the middle light tower?

The middle light tower is at location #6 in the Fantasmic Viewing Area map above.


What does the middle light tower look like?

A couple of photos can be seen near the bottom of this post.


When should I arrive to get a good viewing spot?

In general, about 30 minutes before the show.

Some DISers recommend arriving at least 45 minutes to an hour before, since they believe that the “secret” has gotten out and they have found that they’re not finding this spot as available as they used to.


What are the minuses?

Partially blocked view of the water
The director’s console and soundboard partially block the view of the water (Rivers of America), so you will likely have a partially blocked view of the Princess floats, Tic Toc (the crocodile from Peter Pan), Flotsam and Jetsam (from The Little Mermaid), etc. (The director's console and soundboard are also referred to as the "Show control area," and is location #5 on the Fantasmic Viewing Area map.)

Beware the middle pole
When the light tower gets raised to its elevated "show position," the shiny metal pole that supports the middle light tower will remain in place, so you don’t want to stand directly behind the pole as it can partially block the view of the stage. And there’s a lightpost to the left of the pole (to the left as you view the stage). The better viewing spot is on the right side of the shiny metal pole (to the right as you’re looking at the stage).

Standing spot
This is a standing spot only, so it isn’t as good for younger children, unless you're o.k. holding them up during the 23 minute show.


What are the pluses?

Center view
The view is closer to the center than the Reserved Seating/Premium Viewing/Dessert Package area (link), and that area costs $50 or $60 per ticket.

Shorter wait time
Instead of waiting three (3) or more hours, the Light Tower Trick lets you “only” wait about 30 or 45 minutes.

A good trick to know
You never know when you might be running behind schedule. In a pinch, a “fairly good” view is better than a bad one.


What if there are two Fantasmic shows? Does the Light Tower Trick work for the second show?

Yes, the Light Tower Trick usually works for the second show as well.

This photo shows the middle light tower at ground level (the Fantasmic show area is in the background
This photo was taken on June 29, 2009, 7:37pm.

This photo shows the middle light tower at ground level, as seen from the water’s edge
This photo was taken on June 29, 2009, 6:40pm.

For reference: this is the light tower that is near location #13 on the Fantasmic Viewing Area map (in front of the River Belle Terrace)
This photo was taken on June 29, 2009, 6:39pm

For reference: this is the light tower that is near location #8 on the Fantasmic Viewing Area map
This photo was taken on June 29, 2009, 6:41pm.


Summary

Ths Fantasmic Light Tower Trick may not provide a great view of the Fantasmic show, but the view is fairly good. If you find yourself in the Fantasmic viewing area 30 minutes before show time, and you don’t see any great viewing spots, this trick will allow you to at least have a fairly good view of the show.

Hope this helps.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Thanks for the photos! I appreciate them, because not having been there, it is hard to visualize. This makes it easier. On the bottom picture it shows people sitting down. What time would you guess you took that picture, and is that area a sitting only area? Or do people stand up when the show starts?

 

[brenda1966]

Thanks! This is very helpful. Is the paid seating right beside that light tower that stays down until the show starts?

Are you able to stand right behind that blue railing? Are people in front of the tower standing? Is that why it's not good for kids -- because they are not tall enough to see over those in front of the tower?

I'm going to have to check this out. Last 2 years we were able to find seating in that little cafe. It's kind of distracting because there's a walkway right in front of it that the CM's have to work diligently to keep people from stopping and standing there. You have to sit very tall in your chair and still feel like you have a hard time seeing over the people standing in front.

 

[Mom of three]

WOW!! Thanks for the visual on that, it really helped. I kept wondering about it and probably would have just bypassed it had I not known otherwise.

Thanks again!

 

[HydroGuy]

Great post!

 

[Sally_fan]

WONDERFUL!!!!!!! Thank you so much for posting that! Every single time that we have been there, without fail, Fantasmic has not been running so I was finding it very hard to visualize these lighting towers. I am someone who always has a "plan of attack" & this one was driving me batty! lol Now I can relax, wander in & know what to expect.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks! This is very helpful. Is the paid seating right beside that light tower that stays down until the show starts?

No. The paid seating with dessert is close to being in front of the tower in the bottom picture. As you view Fantasmic it is off to the left of center of the actual show but right on the water.

Are you able to stand right behind that blue railing?

Yes.

Are people in front of the tower standing? Is that why it's not good for kids -- because they are not tall enough to see over those in front of the tower?

No. The area in front of the tower is all sitting only. I believe SSC's comment about small children relates to the fact that they would have to stand for the whole show and may not be able to see clearly over the blue railing. If an adult held them in their arms they would be able to see. But the show is 20 minutes long and that is a long time to hold a child! If the child is tall enough to see over the railing and strong enough to stand for a long time, it would work.

And please, do not put your child on your shoulders here as there will be others standing behind you who got there before you did! And you would block their view!

 

[daisyyy]

Just wondering.... We had gone to see the show several years ago, and weren't really all that impressed... (no flames please)... so we've skipped it a few years in a row... now this year, we were considering to go see it again and give it another shot... ( In September). But,,, we did not plan on getting the dinner package... (just not interested in those places).... so, we thought, maybe we could just try to go "stand-by"... and see what happens... I'm not necessarily looking for great seats... but, I also don't want to wait 4 hours ahead of time to get in.. We don't even like to save a spot for the parades becuase we'd rather be doing other rides.... so... my question is... do we just forget it... and not even bother trying to see it because we wont get in anyway? avoid HS on Fantasmic days all together since they tend to be more crowded??? or give it a shot as a walk in at the last minute? One of the nights is a MNSSHP in the MK.. maybe it will be less crowded in HS.. or not...

 

[DisneyMomma81]

daisyyy ~

I think you're confused this is Fantasmic at Disneyland not Disneyworld we are discussing.

 

[HydroGuy]

In case anyone wants to know, if there are two Fantasmic shows on the same night (which is always true in high season - every night all summer) then you can see the late show with only a moderate wait. The first show is at 9PM. The second at 10:30. You can get a decent seat 30-45 minutes ahead of time. Even down in front. Failing that use SSC's tower trick.

If you need to see the 9PM show - maybe because of sleepy-eyed children, or because there is only one showing - then under normal conditions you need to get there by 7PM to get a decent spot down near the water where the children can have a good view because everyone has to sit. This summer Fantasmic has been refurbed and the demand has been higher. Not sure if 7PM is the right time now but it will be after the excitement dies down.

A few times a year there are three showings on extremely busy nights. I believe the third showing is at 11:30PM.

 

[jennilouwho]

So does the tower go back down again before the second show? You can use this trick for the 10:30 if need be?

 

[S. S. Columbia]

... On the bottom picture it shows people sitting down. What time would you guess you took that picture, and is that area a sitting only area? Or do people stand up when the show starts?

I added times to the photos.

The bottom photo (of the other tower) was taken at 6:41pm.

I believe that it's a sitting only area. The rail can block the view slightly, so in that area it actually might be better to sit farther back from the rail.

The above photo was taken on June 29, 2009, 6:41pm.

 

[brenda1966]

No. The paid seating with dessert is close to being in front of the tower in the bottom picture. As you view Fantasmic it is off to the left of center of the actual show but right on the water.!

In the first photo, it looks like there are folding chairs to the left -- is that not the paid seating? Isn't the vantage point that you are behind the tower, looking out across the river to the island?

No. The area in front of the tower is all sitting only. !

Thanks. Good to know. I'm more worried about grandma being able to stand that long than the kid!

And please, do not put your child on your shoulders here as there will be others standing behind you who got there before you did! And you would block their view!

Heavens no. I HATE that! It's so unfair to the people behind you. Just steams me to be watching fireworks and have all these kids suddenly on parents shoulders. Hold them on your hip, so they are adult height please, not 2 feet above everyone.

 

[labattblue]

For the late show during the summer, is it possible to walk up 10-15 minutes before the 2nd showing and find a place to stand and watch the show? I realize I am not going to be front and center, but as long as I can see the show(it doesn't matter how far back) without much of an obstructed view, I would be okay.

 

[HydroGuy]

In the first photo, it looks like there are folding chairs to the left -- is that not the paid seating? Isn't the vantage point that you are behind the tower, looking out across the river to the island?

Yep, those are the chairs. I have seen the chairs numerous times but it is hard from the pix to see exactly where they are set up. It looks like they are just to the left of the middle tower. Either my memory is hazy (gets worse every year ) or they have moved the spot for the reserved seating closer to the center.

Also I am not sure if the "middle" light tower is really in the middle of the whole show. To me the middle always feels like the middle is further to the right. In any case it will be obvious where the chairs are setup

 

[got2travel]

They did move the seating area to be more center. Not sure if that was the intent of moving or just a result of a move for some other reason.

That area used to be empty space that cast members could 'reward' some guests with seating there. Many years ago my son and I were hanging around the light pole eating our dinner and chatting with a cast member. About the same time that they raised the lights, the cast member asked if we would like have special seats for the show. She opened the ropes and let us into the area that is now filled with the chairs. Back then we just had to sit on the ground.

 

[Vacation Dad]

We have used this trick and it works great. Last time we did it a couple years ago we were one of only 2 groups waiting, and this was the week before Thanksgiving when there are decent sized crowds. I mentioned this trick on the board and got chastized (in a nice way though), so I'm glad this is out there again.

By the way, if you stand directly behind the pole you will have some of the views of Mickey blocked occasionally. It's not bad, but if you can stand slightly to the side of the actual pole you will have a better view.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The area in front of the tower is a sitting-only area. In the first picture (I'm including it again here) the chairs you see to the left are the Fantasmic Dessert Buffet seating (section B). At least, this was the case when we saw it on 6/14/09.

btw, I added your thread to the FAQ sticky at the top of the board. Good going.

 

[HydroGuy]

For the late show during the summer, is it possible to walk up 10-15 minutes before the 2nd showing and find a place to stand and watch the show? I realize I am not going to be front and center, but as long as I can see the show(it doesn't matter how far back) without much of an obstructed view, I would be okay.

If I did this I would look for a place in general and also check ou the middle light tower. I think you would have hard time finding a regular spot this close to the show. But you might depending on the crowds that night.

 

[HydroGuy]

So does the tower go back down again before the second show? You can use this trick for the 10:30 if need be?

I am pretty sure it does. I will be out there in a few weeks and will try and confirm.