We are always leaping with excitement to watch Fantasmic! This Disneyland Park nighttime show takes our frog squad to a whole new world, so to speak. Just ask Aladdin and Jasmine, who dance through the fog amid spectacular lights and music! Mommy Frog loves the water projections, while Tad and Lily can't stop talking about the pirate ship. Me? I'm all about the live-action, pyrotechnics and strobe lighting effects!
After its closure in April 2023, Fantasmic! returned May 24, 2024, with new special effects in the battle scene between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent, as well as a returning "Peter Pan" scene that features The Lost Boys for the first time. The dragon is not currently featured and the "Peter Pan" scene takes the place of a Jack Sparrow and skeleton crew segment. Watch out for a projection of Tick-Tock the crocodile following the ship in search of Hook!
Fantasmic! features lighting, projection mapping, pyrotechnics, fountains and mist screens. Enjoy this nighttime spectacular and its beautiful musical score with our most fantastic Disneyland Fantasmic! tips.
Our Most Fantastic Disneyland Fantasmic! Tips
1. Find the Best Place to View Disneyland Fantasmic!
With three water screens displaying state-of-the-art projections (photos cannot do it justice), you can get a pretty good view of Disneyland Fantasmic! from most areas bordering the water on Rivers of America. Just avoid the far right and far left. If you can see the center stage on Tom Sawyer Island, even from an angle, you are good. All floats and boats pass by all viewing areas. The areas bordering the water offer the best views. The next best views can be found directly behind a low railing in the tiers that rise up behind the front sections in New Orleans Square and the Pirates of the Caribbean bridge.
Here is Tad's YouTube video, which he shot from the back of the Blue Bayou dining package viewing area.
Leading up to the show's return, Disneyland modified the walkways of New Orleans Square. That means the terrain of standby areas has changed and no longer has as many levels as before. If you're directly behind a planter box railing, your kids will have a great view without people standing directly in front of them. Watch out for obstacles (such as lights, poles and trees) that could block your view. There's a small viewing area in front of the Royal Street Veranda restaurant — it may fill in later than the other locations. Be aware that it's possible to get wet in any of the front sections! It may vary due to wind direction.
Most of the closest and lowest sections that are centered are all reserved for people with restaurant vouchers. There is no virtual queue for viewing. Besides the restaurant packages, all areas are standby viewing. You will need to be in taped or roped sections to view the show. Walkways behind viewing areas need to stay clear.
2. Check the Calendar for Showtimes
The Fantasmic! schedule is dependent on the season. On busier nights, there are usually two shows; on other slower nights, there may only be one. There are even many weeknights during the school year with no show at all, so always check the entertainment calendar and plan accordingly. If you have a choice of showtimes, it's best to decide in advance which show you want to see. The early show is much more crowded and requires planning. The advantage to seeing a 9 p.m. show is that the Disneyland fireworks go off at 9:30 p.m., just three minutes after Fantasmic! ends, so you can stay in place to view the fireworks.
The later show is less crowded and easier to hop in place for a good standby viewing location, especially just after the fireworks end. If you must see the fireworks at the castle, then you can head straight to Fantasmic! after the fireworks end and claim your spot.
Keep in mind that for the first month or so this summer, demand is high so it's even more challenging than usual to hop in place for the second show, but it will be easier as time goes on. Weeknights may be less crowded than Fridays and Saturdays.
3. Secure Your Spot in Advance
Because there is no virtual queue and all viewing is standby (outside of dining packages), we suggest that you scout out a good spot early. As time goes on, this may mean an hour or two in advance. But right now, since the show has just returned, it may mean getting in place even earlier. The other option is to plan 60 days out and reserve a dining package.
4. Know How to Use Standby Viewing Areas
There are a number of standby viewing areas, and we think they offer a pretty decent view of the show for those who arrive early. The more people standing right in front of you, the harder it is to see.
There are multiple standing-only, standby areas for viewing, but the area has been slightly modified with the new dining area and reworking of New Orleans Square. Most of the viewing areas are a tier behind and above the Fantasmic! dining package viewing areas in front of New Orleans Square. They run from Pirates of the Caribbean to Harbour Galley. If you get there early enough, you can have a great, unobstructed view of the action. The bridge by Pirates of the Caribbean is also a standby viewing area that gets you a little higher up and is perfectly centered. It just will have some obstacles in the way.
If you want to catch the first show, arrive a few hours early and claim a spot behind a planter railing or bridge railing for the best view. You can usually get a pretty decent view an hour before showtime, but line up earlier to get the front row on a railing. You can always ask a cast member about viewing areas if you aren't sure. On very crowded days, when Pirates of the Caribbean has a long line, the cast members may not open up some viewing areas until later.
Here's a tip for later standby seating. Go near Harbour Galley, where the dining packages enter. Once most of the dining package guests are seated, the cast members open more standby viewing to the left of the dining package sections.
Just a couple of minutes after the 9 p.m. Fantasmic! show ends, the Disneyland fireworks show begins. We found the areas across from the Tiana's Palace entrance sign all the way to the Pirates bridge to have pretty good viewing for both fireworks and Fantasmic! We've hopped to those locations right after the first show ended and watched the 9:30 p.m. fireworks show from there. After the audience members from the first Fantasmic! show leave after fireworks, we get a jump on their railing location for the 10:30 p.m. show. Sometimes they leave before fireworks and we get a railing spot and unobstructed view of both the fireworks and the second Fantasmic! show. #Bonus
There is a waterfront standby area to the right and to the left. Standby viewing may be a lot easier to find for the second show. The first areas to fill in are to the right of the dining areas when facing the water. But there is a lot more viewing to the left of the most left dining viewing section. Those may open after dining package guests are seated.
To reach this area, walk down the ramp from Harbour Galley. You can stand in the section between Pelican Landing and the dining sections. You can also sit on the steps behind that section. You'll get a side view of the show but can see the projections and other show elements really well.
There are wheelchair viewing areas, although people who use wheelchairs are free to watch from any standby area that works for them. One is all the way over to the right, near the petrified tree. It's ideal if you are coming from Frontierland. The other is the lowest Pelican Landing dining deck for Harbour Galley. That one is ideal if you are approaching from Bayou Country and is likely to be less crowded. You'll enter where people enter for their dining packages. It becomes very hard to navigate the Rivers of America area before and during Fantasmic! in a wheelchair due to narrow pathways and a lot of people. That's why you'll find a viewing area on either side.
If you use a wheelchair, we recommend scouting out a location in front of a planter box early so you can see the show from a central area. If you purchase a dining package, you can sit in your wheelchair behind the people who are seated on the ground. That's the best view for people who use chairs. If you have a stroller with a wheelchair tag, you can bring it into the dining section. Regular strollers need to be parked outside of the viewing area.
5. Get Reserved Seating Front and Center with a Disneyland Fantasmic! Dining Package
If you aren't one to scout out and camp out for the perfect spot, then another choice is to reserve a no-stress Disneyland Fantasmic! dining package that provides you with a voucher for a reserved viewing section. Most Fantasmic! dining packages require guests to be seated on the ground. Wheelchair and ECV users are seated at the back of the section, but they're above the people seated in front of them so they still have a great view.
You can make reservations in the Disneyland app or online now. There is a new option! Plus, the way to sign up has changed. All the packages are reserved through the Fantasmic! Dining Packages page online or in the Disneyland app. Your reservation will designate the location (sometimes meal) and which show you are viewing before you select it. If dining packages are not sold out at a location, you may be able to upgrade with your server. However, while the show is still fresh from its return, the packages sell out quickly, so don't count on that.
Choices include multi-course meals at table-service restaurants such as Blue Bayou and River Belle Terrace or a new package at Rancho del Zocalo. We have a whole post on Disneyland dining packages, so you can read up and determine if they are worth it for you. Because Fantasmic! is more challenging to get free standby viewing, especially for kids, we love getting a dining package so they can sit on the ground and see well.
The three dining package viewing areas are in the middle and on the water. The Blue Bayou section is traditionally in the middle. The Rancho del Zocalo section is usually immediately to the left (facing the water). River Belle Terrace is to the immediate right of the Blue Bayou section. However, the locations can swap places depending on how many people buy each package each night. But all three are pretty central and are subject to possible water spray. The music and floats are timed to give Blue Bayou and River Bell Terrace the best show experience. In other words, the music matches the character you are seeing in front of you when you sit in the center sections.
As Tad learned, if you are filming the show, you have to have your camera or tripod below the railing. If you cannot film through the railing bars, plan to be toward the back of the section.
Bring a towel or blanket to sit on. The ground is hard. Plus, we recently learned during a winter show that the ground can be chilly at night. Leap to the rescue. He ran off to a gift shop and purchased a double-layered souvenir blanket. It made a huge difference in our warmth and comfort. From now on, we will bring one from home and store it in a locker until showtime.
(New!) Rancho del Zocalo
The quick-service Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante (replaced Hungry Bear option) offers the least expensive on-the-go package at $35 per person ages 10 and up or $25 per child (ages 3-9), plus tax. You can enjoy a Mexican-Korean fusion-style three-course lunch or dinner at Rancho del Zocalo. Lunch and dinner options are the same. You must cancel at least two hours before the reservation to avoid a per-person fee. You get prime viewing of Fantasmic! at a separate location.
Entrees include:
- Chile Verde Riblet
- Sweet and Spicy Shrimp Taco
- Potato Tacos (plant-based)
- Sweet and Savory Carne Asada
Each entrée comes with radish slaw, cilantro-lime rice, Korean potato salad, refried beans, cortadillo (cake) and a fountain beverage choice.
Kids menu includes::
- Kid's Riblet
- Kid's Potato Taco (plant-based)
- Kid's Mac and Cheese
Each kid’s entrée comes with a mandarin orange, cortadillo and a beverage choice.
Our frog fam was really hoppy with our food in this dining package! It was really tasty, and served up on a plate in front of us. But if you want it to go, you can have them put it in a container for you. It's the most affordable package, but the food is still really good, so save some green and lock in this package if you can.
Lunch is 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dinner is 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Food is the same for each meal.
You'll get your voucher at the restaurant when you pay (discounts apply!). Hold onto the vouchers and your receipt. Arrive at the viewing area on the early side. This is highly recommended as the area fills in well before the suggested times. The front row looks through the railing. We prefer the back half of the section. The entire section has good viewing. You want to aim to be as close to center stage as possible, rather than off to the side or behind a light pole. If the wind is blowing toward you, you might get wet.
River Belle Terrace
River Belle Terrace has two packages. You now reserve both in advance.
For the standard package, you'll savor a delectable three-course Southern-style meal for brunch or dinner and receive a voucher for a separate reserved viewing location for one of the two Fantasmic! performances that evening. For brunch or dinner, you'll choose dishes from the regular menu and get dessert.
Brunch and dinner cost $55 per person (ages 10+) and $30 per child (ages 3-9), plus tax and gratuity. Brunch is 11 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. Dinner is 4 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. You'll watch the show in a separate area. We really like the viewing area for this package. You must cancel the River Belle Terrace standard package at least two hours before your reservation to avoid a per-person cancellation fee.
The River Belle Terrace premium package allows you to view the first show from your table on the outdoor patio. Keep in mind that people may be walking between you and the show (which can be distracting), but the advantage is having a chair to sit on if the ground is too hard or cold for you. Dining is at 7:15 p.m. and costs $89 ($45 for ages 3-9). You can choose items from the regular menu or from special items offered only to Fantasmic! dining package guests. Those include:
- A platter featuring fried chicken, brisket and pork belly burnt ends
- Pot roast
- Mashed potatoes
You must cancel the River Belle Terrace premium package at least one day prior to avoid a per-person cancellation fee.
The four-course Fantasmic! dining package is back, with some changes. You can reserve lunch or dinner and select a reservation for the first or second show before you book. It usually has the most centered and front viewing area. You are seated on the ground. Packages are limited. Book here: Fantasmic! Dining Packages.
Lunch (starts at 11 a.m.) and dinner (starts at 4 p.m.) packages are $89 for adults ($35 for ages 3 to 9) plus tax and gratuity. Cancel up to two hours in advance.
For lunch and dinner, you can choose from a variety of delectable offerings, including:
- Surf and Turf
- Oscar-style Filet Mignon
- Blackened Ribeye and Bourbon Shrimp
- Gumbo
- Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad
- Strawberry and Pistachio Salad
- And for dessert, enjoy a Fantasmic!-inspired chocolate decadence tart!
The menu may change seasonally. There is a $10 upcharge for some items.
Guests receive a souvenir item for nonalcoholic beverages. A wine pairing option is available for an additional charge.
6. Watch the Disneyland Fireworks at Rivers of America
It can be challenging to see all of the nighttime entertainment at Disneyland, but you can hit two birds with one stone by watching the Disneyland fireworks from your Fantasmic! viewing location. We believe Rivers of America is one of the best places to view Disneyland fireworks outside of those spots with a castle view. The music plays and you can see the projections on huge water screens. You can stay in place after the 9 p.m. show to see the fireworks about three minutes after it ends, or watch the show in the vicinity and then jump in place as the first-show viewers move out after the fireworks.
7. See the Second Disneyland Fantasmic! Show
We always have the best luck viewing the second show of any nighttime spectacular that offers one. Seeing the later Disneyland Fantasmic! show can be easier to get a closer, standby viewing location, especially during the week. Guests may have gotten tired and gone home after the first showing. If there is space left closer to the water due to no-shows, a cast member might allow you to move in behind them just before the show. Seeing the late show is the easiest way to get a good view without investing as much wait time.
8. Make Sure Your MagicBand+ Is Charged
If you have a MagicBand+, it can enhance your show experience. Your MagicBand+ interacts with the show with colorful lights and vibrations. Toadally cool! But if the battery needs charging, you will not get those show experiences. It should be fine if you charged it up for the day before coming to a park, but we carry a MagicBand+ charger cord and a portable phone charger every time we go to the park just in case.
We are sure you are hopping with excitement to see Fantasmic! Just plan ahead for when you want to see the show. Have a tip we didn't mention? Share it below! You can save money on your Disneyland tickets when you purchase multi-day tickets from Undercover Tourist.
Related: Disneyland Dining Packages — Where to Splurge & Where to Save
Related: Best Places to View Disneyland Fireworks
Keep hopping!
