FP or dining pkg seating better for ROL...

My main question is: If I have the dining package (Dinner at 5:50 at Tusker House) how soon do I need to line up? Is there a separate line for Dining package/ FP/ standby? This is my first time doing anything like this.

Thanks!
 
riddlemethis said:
My main question is: If I have the dining package (Dinner at 5:50 at Tusker House)

1. how soon do I need to line up?
2. Is there a separate line for Dining package/ FP/ standby?
3. This is my first time doing anything like this.
Click to expand...

1. That will vary for just about every show.
One thing is for sure... EARLIER will beat LATER every time.

2. Yes. But, exactly which "gates" may change, even within the same show's loading.
(If they fill a given section, they may move guests to another "gate" for entry.)
I put precise labels on an earlier version of my map, but those locations were disputed
as to being changeable.
You will be directed where to go on the night you are there.
After Disney gets a better handle on guest behavior and crowd size,
I'll add more precise labeling to the map.
I can tell you from YEARS of revising and re-revising "entrance maps" for Fantasmic!,
there will be changes, and changes to the changes, and it will go on for awhile.

3. Disney is in a similar situation in regard to seating for this new show.
 
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Robo said:
1. That will vary for just about every show.
One thing is for sure... EARLIER will beat LATER every time.

2. Yes. But, exactly which "gates" may change, even within the same show's loading.
(If they fill a given section, they may move guests to another "gate" for entry.)
I put precise labels on an earlier version of my map, but those locations were disputed
as to being changeable.
You will be directed where to go on the night you are there.
After Disney gets a better handle on guest behavior and crowd size,
I'll add more precise labeling to the map.
I can tell you from YEARS of revising and re-revising "entrance maps" for Fantasmic!,
there will be changes, and changes to the changes, and it will go on for awhile.

3. Disney is in a similar situation in regard to seating for this new show.
Click to expand...

Thank you!!
 


We have a FP for RoL, but in looking at the map, it seems we could end up with a seat similar to those in the stand-by section. We are not going to get there early to line up, so it seems that we'll end up with the same view, just on the opposite side - correct? Wondering if we should just dump the FP and do stand by? I don't really care if we are front and cneter, but we are in the far back off to the side, does it really make a difference if we are FP or Standby? IS the FP section better?
 
mjtatman said:
We have a FP for RoL, but in looking at the map, it seems we could end up with a seat similar to those in the stand-by section.

1. We are not going to get there early to line up, so it seems that we'll end up with the same view, just on the opposite side - correct?
2. Wondering if we should just dump the FP and do stand by? I don't really care if we are front and cneter, but we are in the far back off to the side, does it really make a difference if we are FP or Standby? IS the FP section better?
Click to expand...

1. That's likely, yes.
2. The RoL theater seating areas are MUCH smaller that the Fantasmic! seating (the most-similar for comparison.)
At RoL, the differences between front row and back row and/or left off-center and right off-center would not be significant enough as to be able to "make or break" your enjoyment of the show.
 
Robo said:
1. That's likely, yes.
2. The RoL theater seating areas are MUCH smaller that the Fantasmic! seating (the most-similar for comparison.)
At RoL, the differences between front row and back row and/or left off-center and right off-center would not be significant enough as to be able to "make or break" your enjoyment of the show.
Click to expand...


AWESOME! Thanks so much! So if we cancel our FP for RoL, would we have to worry about it filling up and not being able to see the show? Or is it large enough that we would still be able to see it, just not maybe with a 'good' seat? (We are going in 10 days, crowd predictor is at a 6/10).
 


mjtatman said:
AWESOME! Thanks so much! So if we cancel our FP for RoL, would we have to worry about it filling up and not being able to see the show? Or is it large enough that we would still be able to see it, just not maybe with a 'good' seat? (We are going in 10 days, crowd predictor is at a 6/10).
Click to expand...

I answer the way I would answer the same question about Fantasmic!

The FP gives you twice as many options in seating.

AND, in either case, you really SHOULD arrive earlier rather than later.
No other advice about WDW is as reliable as that.
 
mjtatman said:
AWESOME! Thanks so much! So if we cancel our FP for RoL, would we have to worry about it filling up and not being able to see the show? Or is it large enough that we would still be able to see it, just not maybe with a 'good' seat? (We are going in 10 days, crowd predictor is at a 6/10).
Click to expand...

Yes you would have to worry. The theater isn't THAT big.

We tried to watch it a few days ago and we didn't have a FP. By the time we walked allllll the way around from just before EE (I thought entrances were by EE) to Dinoland, it was about 30-40 min before showtime and standby was standing room only.

We left the line and sat nearby. About 5 min later I heard a CM tell about 60 people waiting to get in that the theater was now full and they'd be waiting for the next show an hour and a half later.

We left so I'm looking to catch RoL in a month or so
 
Robo said:
The back of the house is where wheelchairs are seated in Fantasmic!
How does that work for him?
Click to expand...

unfortunately, not well at all . my husband has very low vision and needs to sit in the front for shows if he is to see anything. the last tme we did fantasmic, he was not in a wheelchair (that was before his major back surgery of 4 fusions) I though I heard for the Jungle book show they did put some wheelchairs in the front. we don't bother with fantasmic anymore
 
I see in hopper fans first picture, it seems as thought there are a very few spots open for wheelchairs in the front. my next question then would be is if there is a spot we can leave the chair, and I can lead him to a seat towards the front.. he can transfer.. he isn't wheelchair bound. just cant't manage all the walking around WDW since his back surgery. I would think there must be spots to leave strollers, so there should be spots to leave Ecvs. I would guess you could leave a wheelchair there. also? (he can't rent a scooter or ECV as he doesn't see well enough to navigate it.. esp at night)
 
Couple reports tonight from bloggers who had sat on the Asia side previously, now sat on the Dino (Nemo) side.

Stated the view was better, screen was clearer and you are closer to things on the water.
 
HopperFan said:
Couple reports tonight from bloggers who had sat on the Asia side previously, now sat on the Dino (Nemo) side.

Stated the view was better, screen was clearer and you are closer to things on the water.
Click to expand...

It's great to know that the view on the dining package side is clearer. Not sure if wind directions or weather conditions make any difference. I would definitely prefer ROL dining over FP+. I want to try out Tiffins anyway and this kills two birds with one stone. We are going in August and would also like to save the FP+ for the Pandora rides.

Thanks for all the reviews, updates, and sharing of insights.
 
We have a FP for 3/25. In the MDE app, it says specifically Rivers of Light - dining package entrance. What's up with that, I wonder?
 
Let's say I have a dining package. How many minutes early so we need to show up to be guaranteed we get a seat?
Do they let standby fill in with 5 minutes to go? 30 minutes? With my kids sitting for an hour waiting on a 15 minute show means we don't see the show. Want to be sure I'm not throwing money away here.
 
Still too new to say.
But, that "newness" is a major contributing factor in drawing larger crowds.
So, as we look at how many guests show up, and at what time, it is VERY likely that
the "safe" arrival time will be earlier than "average," at least within the first 6 months.
What's more, with the sure-to-be-outstandingly strong draw of the opening of Pandora,
it would be fair to say that
the crowds for RoL will also be increased even more by that phenomenon.
Plus, a major contributing factor to added crowd problems with RoL is a far-too-small
theater, to begin-with. Its another situation where Disney has created a prime viewing area
that is inadequate to handle the demands of larger crowds.

So, it would not be far fetched to speculate that 45-60 minutes before show time would be the "safer" arrival time.
And, yes, that does include lining up earlier for guests with FP or Dining Pkg. privileges.
Will later-arrivers get into the theater?
Some will. But, not necessarily all.
That is certainly within the realm of what Disney "must-dos" have become in recent years.
 
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smidgy said:
man I sure wish yak and Yeti was one of the dining package choices. rats!
Click to expand...
Me too. I made my ADR for Yak and Yeti on August 19th. It is one of our "must do" restaurants so I can't even consider changing it to one of the dining package choices......my DH wouldn't hear of it! Fastpass+ it is!
 
anorman said:
Me too. I made my ADR for Yak and Yeti on August 19th. It is one of our "must do" restaurants so I can't even consider changing it to one of the dining package choices......my DH wouldn't hear of it! Fastpass+ it is!
Click to expand...

We booked Yak & Yeti twice on our recent trip.
We really LIKE it!

However, Y&Y is "dissed" (pun intended) by some of the top folks here on the DIS.
They rate it as one of the very worst restaurants in all of WDW!?!
Click HERE.

Again, I don't agree, but that's how "tastes" can vary.
 
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