Opinions on Fantasmic Disney Gallery Seating Experience?

Planning an October trip to DL, and have been reading Birnbaum's
description of the Disney Gallery (as opposed to the Preferred) seating
for Fantasmic. Would appreciate any comments, experiences,
worth-it-or-not reactions. One thing that concerned me was Birnbaum's
description of the Gallery seating as being 100 yards away from the
River. Seems far for premium seating.

In article <1156293480.333146.127090@74g2000cwt.. com>,
"Chairman Clench" <chairmanclenchm> wrote:

> Planning an October trip to DL, and have been reading Birnbaum's
> description of the Disney Gallery (as opposed to the Preferred) seating
> for Fantasmic. Would appreciate any comments, experiences,
> worth-it-or-not reactions. One thing that concerned me was Birnbaum's
> description of the Gallery seating as being 100 yards away from the
> River. Seems far for premium seating.

I've done this and the seating is just fine for viewing the show, not
sure what the pricing is now to tell you whether it's worth it or not.

I didn't feel ripped off at the time. :)

--
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Please excuse the munging, but after receiving thousands of emails
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I have done preferred seating and I loved it, I also felt it was so worth
it!! Ask your travel agent soemtimes they comp thses things mine did. And
as my husband put it he ate 15.00 worth of chocolate covered strawberries
that were on the dessert buffet since they were 3 bucks a piece on Main
Street.

Tracy
"Somebody Who Might Not Like You" <jnkblakemore@> wrote in
message news:RiOGg.12810$xp2.4989@newsread1.news.pas.earth link.net...
>
> "Chairman Clench" <chairmanclenchm> wrote in message
> news:1156293480.333146.127090@74g2000cwt. ...
>> Planning an October trip to DL, and have been reading Birnbaum's
>> description of the Disney Gallery (as opposed to the Preferred) seating
>> for Fantasmic. Would appreciate any comments, experiences,
>> worth-it-or-not reactions. One thing that concerned me was Birnbaum's
>> description of the Gallery seating as being 100 yards away from the
>> River. Seems far for premium seating.
>>
>
> I've done the balcony seating twice. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!! It is a
> bit pricey-about $50, but more than worth it. It might seem a long
> distance on paper, but you see everything from a unique perspective. The
> view is awesome and there is nothing obsructing your line of vision.
> I've also seen Fantasmic from the river's edge and the biggest difference
> is that you don't "feel" it as much from the balcony...no water spray, no
> heat from the fires, etc. I love being able to walk up to my seat 10
> minutes before it starts and then be waited on by others.
>
> If you are going to to the Gallery seating, you should know that the seats
> go FAST...sometimes within minutes of their being released. You can call
> the Disney reservation line one month before your trip and reserve the
> seats. I have had times when I have called at 6 am 30 days before the
> trip and all seats are gone by the time my call was answered at 6:02. If
> that happens, just try for the next day.
>
> Enjoy!
> KB
>

I've done this twice, and both times were on vacation. It is pricey but I
thought it was well worth it. The view is clear and unobstructed from the
balcony of the Disney Gallery. The desserts were sumptious and I enoyed the
mint juleps. Plus it was nice to be waited on, not have to push and shove
to get a good seat for the show, and allowed me a little time both before
and after the show to relax. I have also sat on the ground and had a
delightful time staking out a place and getting to know my neighbors around
me. I guess I am saying it is up to what you expect and would enjoy.
I haven't done the riverside seating over by the Haunted Mansion but have
passed it on Fantasmic! nights. It looked nice but I hear you get a boxed
dessert and the selection and amount in not as plentiful as the balcony.

--
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

A friend helps you move.
A best friend helps you move the body.

ºoºCliffºoº
WDW 1972, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006; DL 1998, 2005; DLP 2000
"Chairman Clench" <chairmanclenchm> wrote in message
news:1156293480.333146.127090@74g2000cwt. ...
> Planning an October trip to DL, and have been reading Birnbaum's
> description of the Disney Gallery (as opposed to the Preferred) seating
> for Fantasmic. Would appreciate any comments, experiences,
> worth-it-or-not reactions. One thing that concerned me was Birnbaum's
> description of the Gallery seating as being 100 yards away from the
> River. Seems far for premium seating.
>

Its no longer a boxed dessert now its a buffet as well.

Tracy

"Disney Park Fan" <C.Downey-PTO@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:jd4Hg.293596$mF2.137870@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I've done this twice, and both times were on vacation. It is pricey but I
> thought it was well worth it. The view is clear and unobstructed from the
> balcony of the Disney Gallery. The desserts were sumptious and I enoyed
> the mint juleps. Plus it was nice to be waited on, not have to push and
> shove to get a good seat for the show, and allowed me a little time both
> before and after the show to relax. I have also sat on the ground and had
> a delightful time staking out a place and getting to know my neighbors
> around me. I guess I am saying it is up to what you expect and would
> enjoy.
> I haven't done the riverside seating over by the Haunted Mansion but have
> passed it on Fantasmic! nights. It looked nice but I hear you get a boxed
> dessert and the selection and amount in not as plentiful as the balcony.
>
> --
> A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will
> be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
>
> A friend helps you move.
> A best friend helps you move the body.
>
> ºoºCliffºoº
> WDW 1972, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006; DL 1998, 2005; DLP 2000
> "Chairman Clench" <chairmanclenchm> wrote in message
> news:1156293480.333146.127090@74g2000cwt. ...
>> Planning an October trip to DL, and have been reading Birnbaum's
>> description of the Disney Gallery (as opposed to the Preferred) seating
>> for Fantasmic. Would appreciate any comments, experiences,
>> worth-it-or-not reactions. One thing that concerned me was Birnbaum's
>> description of the Gallery seating as being 100 yards away from the
>> River. Seems far for premium seating.
>>
>
>

If the balcony buffet is unavailable, there is a special reserved
seating option available too. The seating is up near the river and
includes a boxed dessert pack. I've heard they are near the Haunted
Mansion side of the Fantasmic! area.

I've signed up for it during Labor Day weekend and it was $59 per
person. Reservations are non-refundable, payable at time of booking.
The balcony, calling at 8 am 30 days out, was already booked for both
dates I will be there.

It's a little pricey but it will beat staking out a spot way in advance
of the show and standing there forever. ;)

Troy
ºoº


Somebody Who Might Not Like You wrote:
> "Chairman Clench" <chairmanclenchm> wrote in message
> news:1156293480.333146.127090@74g2000cwt. ...
>
>>Planning an October trip to DL, and have been reading Birnbaum's
>>description of the Disney Gallery (as opposed to the Preferred) seating
>>for Fantasmic. Would appreciate any comments, experiences,
>>worth-it-or-not reactions. One thing that concerned me was Birnbaum's
>>description of the Gallery seating as being 100 yards away from the
>>River. Seems far for premium seating.
>>
>
>
> I've done the balcony seating twice. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!! It is a
> bit pricey-about $50, but more than worth it. It might seem a long distance
> on paper, but you see everything from a unique perspective. The view is
> awesome and there is nothing obsructing your line of vision. I've also
> seen Fantasmic from the river's edge and the biggest difference is that you
> don't "feel" it as much from the balcony...no water spray, no heat from the
> fires, etc. I love being able to walk up to my seat 10 minutes before it
> starts and then be waited on by others.
>
> If you are going to to the Gallery seating, you should know that the seats
> go FAST...sometimes within minutes of their being released. You can call
> the Disney reservation line one month before your trip and reserve the
> seats. I have had times when I have called at 6 am 30 days before the trip
> and all seats are gone by the time my call was answered at 6:02. If that
> happens, just try for the next day.
>
> Enjoy!
> KB
>
>

--

"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all
started by a mouse." - Walt Disney, 1901-1966

I just reserved two riverside Fantasmic Preferred Seats for me and a
pal this Sunday. (It's my pre-40th birthay gift to myself! Wheee!)

I've never done this before, so I'm curious...I've heard that they
serve boxed desserts when you sit riverside, but other reviews say
there's a buffet. Which is true?

If there's a buffet, is it served near your seats or do you have to
hustle to the Gallery area?
Is the selection good?

Thanks in advance,
Ray

Excellent - thanks for the info, Troy!

Ray

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 20:05:06 -0400, TECO <user@email.com> wrote:

>In September, it was a buffet. I thought it was great. They really
>treat you like VIPs the whole time. Of course, the riverfront view is
>fantasmic! The buffet is in the middle of the reserved area, towards
>the back. There was an oriental cast member (forgot her name) who was
>one of the nicest people I've ever met.
>
>One recommendation, even though you have tickets, you still have to get
>there and reserve your desired seat that evening. That is first come,
>first serve. As soon as you see the little podium brought out, go to it
>to reserve. I was told when I picked up the tickets at Guest Services
>that I should get there about 35 minutes prior to show time. I went by
>the podium a couple times between 60 and 45 minutes prior to be sure I
>knew where it was (not marked very well) and the best seats were already
>reserved when I actually checked in at 35 minutes prior. We ended up
>with seats that were just fine and all of them can see the show pretty
> well.
>
>Troy
>
>
>rpiff wrote:
>> I just reserved two riverside Fantasmic Preferred Seats for me and a
>> pal this Sunday. (It's my pre-40th birthay gift to myself! Wheee!)
>>
>> I've never done this before, so I'm curious...I've heard that they
>> serve boxed desserts when you sit riverside, but other reviews say
>> there's a buffet. Which is true?
>>
>> If there's a buffet, is it served near your seats or do you have to
>> hustle to the Gallery area?
>> Is the selection good?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Ray