Do I need a fastpass+ for Fantasmic on a Friday night?

[LifeWithLouie]

Or should I use my fastpass+ for other things?

 

[Jedimike]

It really depends on the crowd level the night you're talking about and if you're willing to wait in line. You never really "need" FP+ for Fantastmic, but it is nice to have if you want to stroll in a couple minutes before the show starts. Of course, you will end up on the far side of the amphitheater, so will be one of the last ones out, and also won't be able to utilize a 4th (or more) FP+ all afternoon if you save one for Fantasmic...

 

[Robo]

You never really "need" FP+ for Fantastmic, but it is nice to have if you want to stroll in a couple minutes before the show starts.

Sorry, but that is not what to expect from having a F! FP+.
FP+ for shows is not designed to allow guests to stroll in a couple of minutes before the show.
(I don't know of any shows where that would be an commonly expected procedure.)
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Regarding the particulars of Fantasmic!

What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

If you DO get a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater) or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)
So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.
Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.

There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.) On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.

As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.
Even with a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.

On busy nights, the CMs can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.

There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

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Map Below-
Arrows indicate the center of the seating.
Shaded areas:

(First or Only F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red= Dining Package Reserved
Blue= FP+ Reserved
Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.

(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved
(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

--------------------------------------

 

[ParrotBill]

Even with FP+, arriving 30 minutes or more prior is prudent. What I have found is that with FP+ it is no longer necessary to line up 2 hours before the first show to be sure of getting in. 30 minutes is good enough with or without FP most of the time.

I think that people now assume that with FP+ they should not bother going if they don't have one. But it's still quite possible to go without FP+ and I would not waste one on this show.

 

[LuvDaisy&Minnie]

As others have said, I would not use a FP for Fanatasmic. I may check and see if it's still available as a 4th or later FP if I was done with everything else I wanted to ride or see, but definitely not as one of the first 3.