Fantasmatic

[chr1972]

Can anyone give me some information on this show? Are the reserved seatings necessary to enjoy it or are there other places to enjoy it just as well? Thanks for any help.

 

[JRawkSteady]

The show is great no matter where you watch it from... the reserved seating locations are nowhere near the best either. They're on the right side of the theatre. To get your choice you have to be there anywhere from one to two hours ahead of time (depending on when you go).

 

[kirbsam]

dont go that early. every seat is actually pretty good...

 

[Hobbes]

Its in a large ampitheatre (!) that seats around 6000, but depending on when you go and how large your family is you need to be seated around an hour before. The good news is you can take food and drink in so I would always pick up a snack from the stalls outside and have them whilst I waited.It does get full most nights but during peak time there are 2 shows. Don't sit too close to the front or you will get damp and possibly smokey.

 

[phisigprincess]

Your best bet is to go to the 2nd show if it's available. It's usually less crowded and the line isn't as long. Have a great time, Fantasmic is one of my favorite shows!!!

 

[Goofy Rulz]

Since it will be your first trip there, I would suggest taking advantage of the Fantasmic Dinner Package. This way you won't have to spend time waiting in a long line. The restaurants included in this package are Hollywood & Vine, Mama Rosa's and The Brown Derby. They give you priority seating at the show and you only have to get in line 45 minutes before the show (if it's a busy day; if not then 30 minutes prior will do). Some people may say that the seats aren't as good this way, but you can see everything and have more time to do other things in the park while others are waiting in line. We will be doing this during our trip in June.

 

[princessj&e]

I have to agree with the get there an hour early crowd. We were there 4/3/06 and by 8:20 it was standing room only for the 9:00 show, but it was worth standing for

 

[Robo]

dont go that early. every seat is actually pretty good...

Everything depends on the time of year, the night you choose, etc.

There are many nights when the show fills (10,000 seat theater!!) by a half-hour or so before the show and you can't get a seat.

If you don't care whether you get in or not (or where you will sit, if you CAN sit) then go about 20 minutes early and take a chance.

If you WANT to be SURE to SEE the show... an "hour before" is a safe bet.

We always eat our "supper" in the stands while we wait on Fantasmic! nights.
They offer "baseball stadium food & drink" for sale at consession stands in the theater.

 

[Aisling]

Since it will be your first trip there, I would suggest taking advantage of the Fantasmic Dinner Package. This way you won't have to spend time waiting in a long line. The restaurants included in this package are Hollywood & Vine, Mama Rosa's and The Brown Derby. They give you priority seating at the show and you only have to get in line 45 minutes before the show (if it's a busy day; if not then 30 minutes prior will do). Some people may say that the seats aren't as good this way, but you can see everything and have more time to do other things in the park while others are waiting in line. We will be doing this during our trip in June.

On our first trip to WDW, we knew nothing about the FDP, and waitied in the middle of a huge, and I say huge, crowd for at least an hour in the heat and humidity, and our feet were aching like mad by the time we finally got in. This was for the 2nd show, and we got seats to the side and middle of the theater. It was a great show, but not worth the terrible discomfort of the 60-90 minutes of waiting. There was no place to sit while waiting, and to be in such a big crowd shoulder to shoulder in that heat was awful. My son was 8 at the time, and eventually I had to let him sit at my feet and just watch that no one would accidentally step on him.
Then we found out about the Fantasmic Dinner Package. We had a great meal at Mama Melrose (a bit pricey, but we budgeted it in beforehand), got our reserved seating vouchers, strolled over to the "vip" entrance, and walked right on in, sat down in the 3rd row to the right side, and the show began maybe 15 minutes after that. We walked in while the pep guys were working the crowd.
Because of these two experiences, I'll never go to Fantasmic without the reserved seating. I really don't want to take a chance that it would turn out to be the miswerable experience of the first time.

We went in July, by the way, both times.

HTH

 

[chr1972]

How are the crowds at Fantasmic at the end of Sept?

 

[Robo]

This was for the 2nd show, and we got seats to the side and middle of the theater. It was a great show, but not worth the terrible discomfort of the 60-90 minutes of waiting. There was no place to sit while waiting, and to be in such a big crowd shoulder to shoulder in that heat was awful.

The SECOND show of the evening "loads" completely DIFFERENTLY from the FIRST show.

First show, the theater is OPEN for immediate seating 60-90 minutes (or more) ahead of show-time. You can walk right in, find a spot, maybe go get snacks at the concession stands in the theater (good place to eat a snack dinner) and wait for the show.

BUT...
Second show, CM's must CLEAN the theater (after the first crowd exits) for the second crowd, so they make you WAIT while they clean... then let all who are waiting in "at once".
But the second show is virtually never FULL (like the first one) so there's not so much NEED to go to wait as early as the first show.

So... if you're going to the SECOND show, wait until about 30 minutes before posted show-time to enter, and you won't be STANDING in a crowd for so long.

 

[Robo]

How are the crowds at Fantasmic at the end of Sept?

Fantasmic! is "always" busy.

But in the lower-attendance times (during when schools are running) there are fewer crowd problems, in general.

But MGM is likely to only have ONE showing of Fantasmic! at these times.
So, I really recommend, regardless of when you go, to just plan on arriving 45-60 early. Its just "safer".

Or you can do the Dining Package, if you' like.

Some folks just don't want to "go early" to anything, for any reason... that's fine.

I, however, don't mind going a bit earlier for "insurance" purposes and to allow us to sit closer to "front-and-center".

We LIKE this show!