A little disappointed by Fantasmic

[jann1033]

Just saw Fantastmic for the first time last week, and I was a little disappointed. Wasn't sure what to expect (tho I'd read the chat boards ahead of time).

I thought the technology was really interesting (like how they projected the video on the "walls" of water) but the show itself didn't interest me much. Too much "dark" theming, I guess. Plus, it was really loud!!!! I guess maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind (I just loved Mickey's Philharmagic!).

Anyone else feel the same way?

i felt exactly the same..i thought maybe i felt bad for the crying little ones that threw me off but husband didn't thinkit was that great either...guess i'll go again just to make sure

 

[RyMickey]

You're not alone. I don't like Fantasmic either. Unfortunately, everyone else in my family does. I think it's rather loud and obnoxious. They do way too much on the water screens (then again, I love Illuminations and they do a whole lot on the globes) and I agree that the Pocahontas scene is really stupid.

Illuminations:Reflections of Earth has always been my favorite because I love the music, but Wishes is a very close second. I've never liked the Magic Kingdom fireworks...I've always found them too schmaltzy, too sentimental, and too kid-oriented. For some reason, though, Wishes bypasses all the aforementioned characteristics for me. It'll be interesting to see which of these two is my favorite on our next trip.

 

[tiki23]

With our first trip to the World coming up (still a year away! ) it will be interesting to see how the WDW version compares to the DL version - it was awesome!

Then again, we just walked up and found a place to watch - no waiting in long lines and it was held on the lagoon, not in a stadium.

 

[byoung]

I am with the I LOVE FANTASMIC group.

 

[MonkeyPants]

I saw it for the first time when I was down earlier this month. From some of the raves I heard on the board I expected something different. It was an interesting and entertaining show, but Wishes and Illuminations are better IMO

 

[iliketoby]

Wishes! Pure Disney magic!

Illuminations! A great show!!!

Fantasmic? I don't get what everyone likes about this.

 

[LoriZH]

We've seen it twice and my dh could careless if we saw it again, however dd and I want to see it. the only problem is the seating and since I've had an accident since my last visit to the world, I too would be using a wheelchair or an ECV because I won't make it with my back in the shape it is right now, it killed me when I was healthy!

 

[mommyoeo]

I am SOOOO happy to read this! The dark theme did not sound great to me, nor the long wait, so we did not see it when we were there earlier this month. We had 11 days and did everything on our list, but when we returned, I wondered if I should have seen it after all. This sets my mind at ease. My trip was, indeed, perfect after all!

 

[GGOOFY1]

Loved it, loved it and loved it again!!! I guess you either love it or just glad you saw it. Haven't seen Illuminations in a few years, watched it from our balcony at the Dolphin on New Years Eve. which was cool, but, prefer wishes and Fantasmic

 

[Aimeedyan]

Saw the DL version first and it puts the WDW one to shame, honestly. We saw it once at WDW and that was enough.

Now Wishes and IllumiNations - I can watch those every night and never get bored.

 

[GalDisney]

Disneyland's version of Fantasmic is better. It is perfomed on the Rivers of America, not an amphithetre as it is at DisneyMGM Studios

 

[mare1203]

My family and I really like Fantasmic. Both my sister and I were in band and find the music to be amazing. It really brings the show together for us and, although the story can get old after a while, we continue to see if b/c of the music. Plus, we usually eat at the 50's Prime Time beforehand and are too stuffed to do anything else for an hour, lol!

 

[disneyholic family]

we saw it many years ago when it first came out (it's actually pretty old, which is why it uses pocohontas - which was still big then)...

i think we thought it was ok when we first saw it...the effects were quite new back then...
we never bothered with it again until we were at Disneyland about 4 years ago, where you can get reserved seats on the gallery balcony.....for some reason we thought the one at disneyland was better...

in any case, we haven't seen it since...but then in september, my daughter and i were at WDW alone and since the park was totally empty we though we'd try our luck getting in one minute before start...no problem...we walked right in...
and sat through it and thought, UGH.....that was awful...why did we like it the first time we saw it?...
anyway....it's a definite "don't bother" for us...

by the way, we also don't like illuminations..
on the other hand we LOVE Wishes and are willing to watch it every night of our stay...

 

[kydisneyfans]

We skipped Fantasmic last visit. It is an every other year event for us. Maybe they should change the story slightly or add new scenes to juice the production up every now and then. I hate the 90 minute wait where you set there and do nothing except maybe the wave.

A preshow is needed, like the mime at the Clyde and Seamore show at Sea World. Maybe like a "Disney Dance party" to keep the kids occupied. A better food selection is needed inside also-you are afraid to leave the theatre to get anything in fear of not being able to return, yet you are limited to pretzels and popcorn.

We like Illuminations better-more relaxing.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

My husband and I loved it. We aren't going to rush to see it again (we don't like staying late at park) but we enjoyed it.

 

[TLHB70]

I am another vote for the LOVE IT crowd. Yes, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Fantasmic!!!!!! I never miss it when we are in WDW. I get there at least 2 hours early, too, to make sure we get a great seat. The music and effects are awesome IMO.
I really love Wishes also. It is my close second favorite. We make sure to see that each trip.
However, Illuminations is just O.K. to me. We go when we are there and have the time. However, if we are too tired or whatever, I don't mind missing it. Don't get me wrong....it is neat. It has beautiful music and effects. It just doesn't excite me as the other two shows do.
See, that is what makes WDW so great, as someone else posted earlier; there is something for everyone. Each person has his/her own favorite of the WDW magic. The wonderful thing is that WDW has it all so everyone can enjoy!

 

[rflorek]

Illuminations is horrible, in my opinion. I'd take Fantasmic any day. We actually walked in about 2 minutes before the show started (it was a last minute venture to MGM hoping to see the ealry show rather than the later one), and we were able to get a seat in the second row just right of center. Last time we went (in 2003), we got there 90 minutes early to get a front row center seat.

Wishes is also great, but I LOVED Hallo-Wishes!!!!!

 

[tink22]

I agree with you. They really seemed to think that the whole projecting the picture on the water thing would make the whole show. After the first 10 minutes, it really wasn't novel any more.QUOTE]

I admit it they show the water projections a lot but they have to do something while the cast is getting ready for the next scene. I know people who perform in the show and they told me they run around enough backstage as it is trying to get ready. So that is why they project the animation for so long. Not as much because they felt it would 'make the whole show'.