What Is ‘The Best Seat In The House’ At Walt Disney World?

When I first went to Walt Disney World, I thought I had to be at the head of the line for everything. So I arrived early for Shows. Huddled by the Entry Doors of Attractions. And ran to the Rides. Many have done this thinking that it will give them ‘the best seat in the house.’ But it doesn’t!

After my first visit, or what I now affectionately call my learning curve, I took a more leisurely approach. So in this article, I am going to share with you just how to get that ‘best seat in the house’ at each Attraction in the World. The same tips will work for those of you who frequent Disneyland, as many of the Attractions I will be mentioning are located in both Parks. Let’s start with:

Thrill Rides

These include: Space Mountain; Rock and Roller Coaster; Expedition Everest; etc. For these rides, you want to sit in the front car. However, you likely will have to ask to sit in the front car, and you may have to wait a little longer as others are let by you until all of the other seats are filled.

Tip: There is one Roller Coaster that you do not want to do this for. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is much more exciting for those who sit in the back seat. This comes from a Cast Member who gave me the tip after I asked for the front seat. He told me that the Train slows after cresting some of the hills, letting the front cars down the other side gradually until the rear of the Train crests. Then the Train is released and the thrills return. So the riders in the rear of the Train get a better experience. I did this, and he was right!

Splash Mountain; Test Track; Soarin’; Mission Space; Maelstrom; Kali River Rapids; The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror; etc. all give a great ride no matter where you sit.

Live Shows

First off, you will be told by the attending Cast Member of these Attractions that all seats are the ‘best in the house.’ And they are right, to a point. Every seat does yield an adequate view. But the principle I will be applying is based on my personal Movie Theater preference, which is: Always sit two thirds of the way back from the front and dead center.

Shows for which this principle should be applied are: Voyage of the Little Mermaid; Beauty and the Beast; Lights,Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show; Finding Nemo – the Musical; Fantasmic; etc.

Tip: Once inside, the Cast Member will ask you to move all the way to the far side of the Theater and fill all available seats. You will not be allowed to stop half way across! So the strategy has to start outside the Entry Doors. Don’t rush to be first in line. Hold back to about the center of the crowd and file in slowly. Once inside, locate a row that is about one third filled and head for it. By the time you get there and move across, you will be in about the center of the Theater. Go in by means of the center Entry Door and you should get the ‘best seat in the house.’

Playhouse Disney and the Festival of the Lion King, among others, give you a good view no matter where you sit. In fact, it’s best to choose a new seat each time you go.

Staged Shows

Shows like: Sounds Dangerous; Muppet Vision 3D; Country Bear Jamboree; The Hall of Presidents; Mickey’s Philharmagic; Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor; Carousel of Progress; It’s Tough to be a Bug; etc. are all examples where the ‘hold back’ approach works best. Again, you will be asked to move all the way along to the far side of the Theater.

Tip: See the last tip.

These rides or shows: Walt Disney World Railroad; The Haunted Mansion; Jungle Cruise; Star Tours; The Enchanted Tiki Room; Snow White’s Scary Adventures; Peter Pan’s Flight; The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh; It’s a Small World; Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin; Stitch’s Great Escape; Spaceship Earth; Universe of Energy; The Great Movie Ride; Dinosaur; Gran Fiesta Tour; Pirates of the Caribbean; etc. all give you a good view no matter where you sit.

And there you have it. Over five years of exhaustive research into Disney Seatology at your fingertips! So the next time you visit Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you’ll be sure to get the ‘best seat in the house!’

Lee Beatens has two sides as a Writer/Artist. His writing side is showcased at the Blog called Disleelandia, and his artistic side is showcased at the Blog called The CANADIAN Kingdom. His improbable third side is showcased here.

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