How far is it to Fantasmic once you have walked from Epcot to DHS?

[lvdis]

Can anyone tell me how far it is to get to Fantasmic (and how long it takes) once you have walked into DHS from Epcot? I've never walked from DHS to Epcot, so I'm not even real sure where you come into DHS at.

I'm hoping to get to see the 2nd showing of Fantasmic, that was added recently, after we have early dinner reservations in Epcot that night. Thanks for any help you can offer!

[Robo]

Originally Posted by lvdis

Can anyone tell me how far it is to get to Fantasmic (and how long it takes) once you have walked into DHS from Epcot? I've never walked from DHS to Epcot, so I'm not even real sure where you come into DHS at.

I'm hoping to get to see the 2nd showing of Fantasmic, that was added recently, after we have early dinner reservations in Epcot that night. Thanks for any help you can offer!

It's a good long walk, just to get to the ENTRANCE to the long pathway to the theater.
And then, there's the unknown of how many guests will be IN that long pathway to the theater.

Here's a lengthy explanation of the timing of arrival, and some maps that show the locations.

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No one can predict exactly how large the crowds will be or how early you should go to find a seat for Fantasmic! on any given day.
It has totally to do with the whim of the crowd at DHS on that day, and the general crowd LEVELS.
How much time you wish to "invest" in waiting is a personal decision. We have never done the formal Dinner Package, and have always seen the show (dozens of times).

(Take all of these as "average" numbers, sometimes the crowd will be MUCH greater and the theater can fill up much sooner.)

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-120 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45-60 minutes before: Outside seats likely still available.
30-40 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Yes, the lines can start forming over 2 hours before the show-time.

At about 120 min. before show-time, they will open the gates and begin allowing guests in line to approach the theater seating.

(See my maps. It is a very long ramp.)

They will continue with the lines of guests walking in until the theater is completely filled or the show begins, whichever comes first.

They will "hold open" the Dining Pkg. seating area ONLY for guests who have the Dining Pkg. voucher.

BUT, if the theater is over-crowded (a very likely scenario in 2009)
then, at about 35 min. before show-time,
the CM's will cease holding the DP area open for DP voucher guests
and, at that time, begin to allow ANYONE
who still needs a seat to sit in (any seats left) the DP area.


Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-120 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
60 minutes before: Good seats
25-35 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests. (The crowd of "last-minute" arrivals can be slow to get seated before show-time.)

Off-Season (not busy days):
You should be OK to enter by 30-50 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

Dining Package:
New Dining Pkg. Entrance was added in mid-Sept. 2009.
If you do the Fantasmic! Dinner Pkg. you still SHOULD enter by AT LEAST 35-45 minutes ("safer" at 45 minutes) before show-time and still be guaranteed "pretty good" seats (not my "first choice" area, but fine), regardless of crowd-levels. Remember, the DP is only valid for the first show of the evening, if there are 2 or more. If you do have DP and you spy some seats outside the DP "reserved" area, you are free to choose to sit anywhere outside that area you like, no problem.

If there are TWO Fantasmic! shows in one evening, the second one will have lower crowd level than the first one. You can arrive a bit later (generally, 45-60 minutes) and still find a seat.
(Some say less advance time will be needed, but I'm cautious.)


Be aware that the second show waiting area will LOOK like the show is "too crowded".
That's because they HOLD the 2nd crowd outside the theater while the CMs CLEAN it after the first crowd has exited.

Then, they will let those waiting together in that big group IN... all at once, and there will be PLENTY of room.

(The theater seats over 7,000 guests.)

When you enter the theater, there will be CMs along the way directing the flow of traffic, but you may (if you are early enough to have a choice) simply choose any open seats in the theater to be your own.
If you want to exit more quickly, choose a seat farther back and to towards audience-right.
If you want to be immersed in the show (and sometimes, immersed in water-mist, if the wind is blowing "in") choose a seat towards the front.

We like to eat our evening meal while waiting for Fantasmic! to start.
You can bring in items from the counter-service places in DHS, or they DO have concession stands at the rear of the theater serving "baseball stadium-type" food and drinks. Yes, even beer, sold strictly ONE-at-a-time, one-only-to-a-person, so a single person can't go and buy beer for other members of a group... all guests wanting to buy a beer must be present in-person at the counter.
We have a hot dog, maybe a pretzel, later some popcorn or cotton candy (Disney Health Food).
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_fan.htm
Click above for the "menu."

But, nothing ALWAYS happens the same way at WDW.
I would be cautious about assuming anything, as WDW has been experiencing
unpredictable (sometimes record-breaking) crowds even over the past couple of years.

If its IMPORTANT to see a particular show, arriving a bit too early will be better than arriving a bit late.

If its not a really big deal to see a particular show, you may certainly arrive closer to show-time and just see if you get lucky.
Many folks do.

========================

[robert@dvcstore]

Once you go through the turnstiles at Disney's Hollywood Studios, it may be a 4 minute walk to the entrance to the Fantasmic Theater. You would walk down Hollywood Boulevard, turn left on Sunset Boulevard and the Fantasmic entrance is on the right just before you reach The Tower of Terror.

Robert

[Zippa D Doodah]

I have nothing to add to the OP, but just wanted to take the chance to say what a treat it is to have Robo's maps on any given thread here. Thanks a bunch, Robo! Your maps add a great deal to this site -and to my knowledge of WDW.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by Zippa D Doodah

I have nothing to add to the OP, but just wanted to take the chance to say what a treat it is to have Robo's maps on any given thread here. Thanks a bunch, Robo! Your maps add a great deal to this site -and to my knowledge of WDW.

Aw, shucks!

[lvdis]

It sounds like we probably won't be able to make it. I knew I was probably crazy to even consider it! We were going to skip it this year, so I didn't plan for it. Now that they've added additional Fantasmic shows, I thought maybe we could try to get to a 2nd showing. The two nights next week I would be able to try it, we have ADR's in Epcot that I don't really want to give up! Wednesday at Le Cellier at 6:05 and Thursday (Thanksgiving) at Garden Grill at 6:00. I doubt we can get done in time to hightail it over to DHS and get in to see Fantasmic at 8:00. Too bad Fantasmic isn't showing even later those nights! Oh well! Thanks for your help!

[lvdis]

Will they let you in at the last minute if there are still seats available at the back?