9pm Illuminations/10:30 Fantasmic- Possible?

[RAPstar]

Just wondering how possible it would be to try and see both on the same night.

 

[nicci10681]

Not possible bc of the mad rush for the exit, you'd be lucky to be on a bus by 10:30. Even if you drove I don't see it happening. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Personally I'd much rather watch Fantasmic!! But I'm one of the people that just doesn't like Illuminations.

 

[Robo]

9pm Illuminations/10:30 Fantasmic- Possible?

It's possible.
Watch IllumiNations from near UK or on the bridge between UK and France.

Exit the International Gateway right after IllumiNations (about 9:15PM) and walk to DHS.

You'll reach DHS by 9:45, or so.

Enter DHS, walk to the Fantasmic! theater and find a seat.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

If you walk to DHS, I think you could do it, but it would be tight! You would want to view Illuminations close to the International Gateway.

 

[amandals2007]

totally doable, just make sure you dont waste time. that walk between epcot is a long one, ive done it before, and some members of my party didnt realize how long and they had a hard time walking that much (knee issues)

 

[WEDWDW]

Just wondering how possible it would be to try and see both on the same night.

Extremely possible and extremely fun!

Watch ROE from the English Channel Bridge.

When ROE ends at 9:12,IMMEDIATELY speed-walk out the International Gateway to the Friendship Dock.

There will be a boat sitting there waiting for the first "post IllumiNations" Guests.

You should be able to get on that boat,if not,I would just take off walking to DHS using the "BWI shortcut".

You will have time either way to make the 10:30 F!.

Now IF DHS' "official" closing is at 10:00 that night,I would not risk using the Friendship to get there before 10:00 and would just walk from the get-go.

 

[schoen]

10:30 isn't even a challenge! Watch by the International Gateway and get on the first boat, you'll be in HS by 9:45-9:50. Getting in to HS is quick at that time of night. You'll have time to get a drink if you want!

We made a 10:00 fantastic recently, it was great fun!

 

[elgerber]

I agree, easily doable!

 

[RAPstar]

Extremely possible and extremely fun!

Watch ROE from the English Channel Bridge.

When ROE ends at 9:12,IMMEDIATELY speed-walk out the International Gateway to the Friendship Dock.

There will be a boat sitting there waiting for the first "post IllumiNations" Guests.

You should be able to get on that boat,if not,I would just take off walking to DHS using the "BWI shortcut".

You will have time either way to make the 10:30 F!.

Now IF DHS' "official" closing is at 10:00 that night,I would not risk using the Friendship to get there before 10:00 and would just walk from the get-go.

What is this BWI shortcut?

I figure I'll try this and if for any reason I miss F!, then I miss it, but it won't be from a lack of trying. Thanks everyone!!

 

[Itinkso]

What is this BWI shortcut?

If you follow Robo's magenta-colored line, you'll head towards the Boardwalk's Main Lobby/Wyland Gallery and turn in towards the pool. Cut through past the pool to the walkway that runs along the lake. There is a service roadway that you'll need to cross over to get to the main walkway.

 

[Robo]

Does anyone ever read other posts?

If you follow Robo's magenta-colored line, you'll head towards the Boardwalk's Main Lobby/Wyland Gallery and turn in towards the pool. Cut through past the pool to the walkway that runs along the lake. There is a service roadway that you'll need to cross over to get to the main walkway.

 

[rebekahw]

Is this safe to do that late at night for a woman and child? I'm taking my 8 year old niece and thinking about doing this our last night when MK closes at 7 for a private event. Am really bummed she won't have a Wishes send off!

 

[Robo]

Have a great trip!

 

[hakepb]

Is this safe to do that late at night for a woman and child? I'm taking my 8 year old niece and thinking about doing this our last night when MK closes at 7 for a private event. Am really bummed she won't have a Wishes send off!

In that case, I'd just use the Friendship boat. There is usually a boat docked at EPCOT waiting for the end of Illuminations. It's a 20 minute ride to DHS.
It's a decently, lighted walkway, but between Boardwalk and DHS you are walking along the canal and under a road bridge.
It feels more remote and a little "less Disney bubble" than it might actually be.

 

[houseful of boys]

I've done this before and drove! One crazy night at the last minute we decided we didn't want our evening to end yet. With strollers, as soon as illuminations was over we power walked to the front exit. No, we didn't knock anyone over or run over any toes but we did our best Disney maneuvering. Drove from epcot parking lot to DHS parking lot in 8 minutes and power walked to Fantasmic theater. We actually got there so quickly that they hadn't let the crowd enter the theater yet. They were still lined up at the entrance and we had to wait to get in (this was before fp+). We had a blast that night and the kids still talk about it. It was also the first time we decided to brave out the "wet zone" and sat in the front row. It was a magical kind of night.

 

[Robo]

We actually got there so quickly that they hadn't let the crowd enter the theater yet. They were still lined up at the entrance and we had to wait to get in (this was before fp+).

Just to explain.
For the second F! performance of the night, the CMs must clean the theater seating area following the first show that night.
So, they hold guests from entering the seating until about 40 minutes before show time (give or take.)

Even with a FP+ for the second show, guests will still not be allowed into the seating until
the cleaning is finished.

And, yes, that "hold" for the second show does generate a "line" of guests.

 

[WEDWDW]

In that case, I'd just use the Friendship boat. There is usually a boat docked at EPCOT waiting for the end of Illuminations. It's a 20 minute ride to DHS.
It's a decently, lighted walkway, but between Boardwalk and DHS you are walking along the canal and under a road bridge.
It feels more remote and a little "less Disney bubble" than it might actually be.

The one caveat about using the boat is if DHS is closing at 10:00 PM and having a 10:30 PM F!,if not able to get on the first "post IllumiNations" boat,it probably won't be possible to wait for the second boat and make it to the DHS Mickey readers by 10:00 PM.(Every time I have timed the Epcot-DHS boat trip,it has been right around 30 minutes total).

(That time of night I think the walkway along Lake Hollywood is as safe as anywhere with other Guests using it as well as continuously passing Friendship boats.)

 

[elgerber]

I have never felt unsafe on that walkway at night, and it there is a Fantasmic, there will be people walking the path, both going to and coming from Fantasmic.

 

[Dis703]

Definitely possible. Just watch Illuminations from somewhere near the exit towards the Boardwalk and walk out and over to HS as soon as it's done. Illuminations is only 20 minutes and the walk is around 20 minutes (faster if you want to speed it up) and the second show usually isn't as busy so you shouldn't need to get there early.

 

[Dis703]

Is this safe to do that late at night for a woman and child? I'm taking my 8 year old niece and thinking about doing this our last night when MK closes at 7 for a private event. Am really bummed she won't have a Wishes send off!

I wouldn't be concerned myself walking that way at night with my kids. It doesn't get a ton of foot traffic, but it's well lit.