Fantasmic after park close?

[Cotta]

So we plan on going to HS on 1/31/23 there are two Fantasmic showings that night (8 and 9:30) but park hours are 8:30-9. Do we just have to wait the half hour if we go to the later show? I kind of thought they would change hours but it is pretty close now and they have already adjusted times that week...

 

[scrappinginontario]

It's recommended you arrive a minimum of 30 mins before the final show (possibly earlier) so a 9:00 park close and 9:30 Fantasmic is quite common. I wouldn't recommend waiting to go at the last minute as you risk the show being full. Less likely to happen with the second showing but quite common for the earlier show.

 

[DisneyMama811]

currently at at 8pm Fantasmic! we bought the dining package and the theatre is wall to wall people with 12 minutes to go to start time

 

[Pigletpal40]

So we plan on going to HS on 1/31/23 there are two Fantasmic showings that night (8 and 9:30) but park hours are 8:30-9. Do we just have to wait the half hour if we go to the later show? I kind of thought they would change hours but it is pretty close now and they have already adjusted times that week...

We went a few weeks ago to the 9:30 show. You have to be in the park before 9. Many people were leaving (after the first show) when we arrived. We went through the gates at 8:56, stood inline for about 15 minutes and were seated. At that point it was 10-12 minutes to show time.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

So we plan on going to HS on 1/31/23 there are two Fantasmic showings that night (8 and 9:30) but park hours are 8:30-9. Do we just have to wait the half hour if we go to the later show? I kind of thought they would change hours but it is pretty close now and they have already adjusted times that week...

This schedule has been in place for several years. We’ve always attended the late show when available and have rarely seen the amphitheater much more than half full. Quite often, the two outer sections on each side are roped off as unavailable.

The vast majority of the crowd attends the early show, which also leaves the lines for the headliners at their shortest of the day.

Riding Rise of the Resistance a couple of times with a 20 minute or less wait then strolling into the Fantasmic theater right at showtime is a good way to end a day at DHS.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

This schedule has been in place for several years. We’ve always attended the late show when available and have rarely seen the amphitheater much more than half full. Quite often, the two outer sections on each side are roped off as unavailable.

The vast majority of the crowd attends the early show, which also leaves the lines for the headliners at their shortest of the day.

Riding Rise of the Resistance a couple of times with a 20 minute or less wait then strolling into the Fantasmic theater right at showtime is a good way to end a day at DHS.

That’s exactly what we did. Rode Rise, then speed walked over to Fantasmic. Plenty of seating.

 

[bluedolphin32]

Is the 1st show more crowded because that's the one tied to dining packages? Or do you think it's just because it's earlier and people can leave sooner?
We've never seen F! so I'm trying to figure out what our strategy should be to see it on this trip.