Fantasmic @ 9:30, Park Closes at 9:00

[leggoons]

On 9/23/2023 Fantasmic is scheduled for 9:30 pm. However, Hollywood Studios is scheduled to close at 9:00 pm. Has anyone seen Fantasmic after the park scheduled close? Did this cause the Fantasmic crowds to be less or more crowded than when held before the park closes?

Thanks for your help.

Steve

 

[gottalovepluto]

Less crowded. I would note the shops will be closed on the way out and if you take the boat to an EP area Resort the last boat is at 10pm so you’ll have to walk.

 

[sky13]

I did this last November - if I don't remember wrongly park close was at 9pm and 2nd show of Fantasmic was 9.30pm.

This was the Sunday after Fantasmic returned so it was attracting massive crowds - but not for the 2nd show I attended! I assume everyone went for the 1st show. The 2nd show was so empty that there were entire sections that were empty!

I basically just went on some rides and I think I got in line for my last ride just before 9pm... Once I was done I headed over to the theatre for Fantasmic.

After the show the main shop (can't remember the name, the Emporium equivalent at DHS basically) was still open so I wandered in there for a bit. Then wandered out and took the Skyliner back to AoA. Can't remember what time the Skyliner stopped running that night but I definitely took it after 10pm that day.

 

[scrappinginontario]

How many showings of Fantasmic are there that night?

 

[leggoons]

How many showings of Fantasmic are there that night?

So far 9:30 is the only scheduled time.

 

[scrappinginontario]

If there is only one showing that night I would anticipate it being very popular and would personally arrive at least 45-60 mins (if not longer) before it begins. Fantasmic is popular at the best of times but with only one showing and with ‘nowhere else to go but home’, many will choose to end their day with it.

 

[ChipTheRescueRanger]

It appears to start 2nd week of August with this schedule. 1 showing at 9:30

 

[Mollygirl21]

Might be an indication they will extend park hours?

 

[sky13]

How many showings of Fantasmic are there that night?

If there is only one showing that night I would anticipate it being very popular and would personally arrive at least 45-60 mins (if not longer) before it begins. Fantasmic is popular at the best of times but with only one showing and with ‘nowhere else to go but home’, many will choose to end their day with it.

Oh yes good point. The 9.30pm showing I attended was deserted because it was the second show, but yes I agree that if there is only one show then it is likely going to be extremely popular!

 

[KellyKateri]

Starting August 28 the show pushes back to 8:30PM

 

[AdamsMum]

I'm checking into hours way ahead of my trip so they aren't released yet. But I'm confused about something, DHS hours today and most of the month are 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. If you go into attractions and entertainment, Fantasmic is listed at 9:30 p.m. Is it really 30 minutes after park closing?

 

[erionm]

I'm checking into hours way ahead of my trip so they aren't released yet. But I'm confused about something, DHS hours today and most of the month are 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. If you go into attractions and entertainment, Fantasmic is listed at 9:30 p.m. Is it really 30 minutes after park closing?

Yes, Fantasmic is often performed after park closing.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I know when we were there in Feb/March, the Fantasmic show was started 30 minutes after official closing. We thought it was a great idea - people can head to the theater around regular closing time, grab a seat, not wait too long and enjoy the show. Others who aren't interested get the benefit of some of the 'closing' crowds being absorbed in the theater!

 

[zavandor]

Yes, it is. Since it's dark later, they close the rides lines before they can actually start F!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We did the 9:30 show last trip. It was the second show and wasn’t jam packed. We did another show later in the week that was the only show and the line was all the way to the end of Sunset Blvd when we arrived. We still had good seats.

They did walk us out both times. We couldn’t just disperse into the park. One of the shows they took us the backstage way and everyone had to leave. No lingering.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Here now and watched Fantasmic! last night. Park closed at 9PM and show was at 9:30. Only one show last night.

Line for ToT was VERY long!! We arrived at 7:15 to a posted 105 min wait and we waited every one of those 105 mins. Thought it would be a quick hop to F! and it was but attraction lines were all long last evening.

Entered the standby queue for Fantasmic! at 8:58 and will say that was too late. We did get seats but they were the 2nd last row of the overflow seats behind the main walkway and within minutes all seats were full.. We could see most of what happened on the main stage but completely missed anything happening on the water.

If you are going on a night with only one show I recommend arriving 60 mins before the show, 45 at the very least.

Less crowded. I would note the shops will be closed on the way out and if you take the boat to an EP area Resort the last boat is at 10pm so you’ll have to walk.

Neither of these were true last night. The park had been closed for an hour by the time F! ended and all shops on Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd were still open and busy. They were not trying to move guests along and many were shopping. We left the park at 10:25 as Skyliner had a posted closing of 10:30. We waited possibly 10 mins for the Skyliner but they were still allowing guests to join the queue after 10:30 but the line definitely got shorter. (Such an efficient way to move people!!!)

When we walked to the Skyliner one boat was leaving and another was arriving so Friendship boats were also running until at least 10:30.

I'm checking into hours way ahead of my trip so they aren't released yet. But I'm confused about something, DHS hours today and most of the month are 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. If you go into attractions and entertainment, Fantasmic is listed at 9:30 p.m. Is it really 30 minutes after park closing?

Yes.

 

[dachsie]

The week i am going Fantasmic is at 8:30 on the Monday i am going and then 9:30 for the rest of the week.