Fantasmic! and getting depressed!

[Disneyfanfour]

I'm getting a little depressed, guys, about touring DH on a Fantasmic! day. I've read a few threads about how crazy busy DH is, and maybe it's best to not go on F! days. But I really want to see F! Am I crazy to still plan that day when everyone's been saying how it's best to avoid it??

And reading the threads on F&W isn't much better. I guess reality hurts! Oh well, I've planned and replanned my itinerary too many times already, and I'm sticking to the one I've got...well, at least until my trip in three weeks. Then we'll see.

 

[NCtoFL]

I am assuming that you are not Hopping. Yes, usually DHS is more crowded on days when Fantasmic is scheduled. It also depends on when you are going. A day like 11/11 when Fantasmic is scheduled will likely be less crowded than a day like 11/28 when Fantasmic is not scheduled.

 

[nooneshome]

If you are a WDW veteran than you don't need to make a full day of it. We just try to ride TSM a couple times and ToT and RnRc once and catch a show and draw a character or two. We get in line for Fantasmic early and just relax and cutup while we wait.

 

[Disneyfanfour]

Oh yeah! We are veterans, I guess. I just haven't been to my favorite place since Dec. 07 and I'm not sure when I'll get back after this trip. Thus, I'm trying to put all that I can into this trip.

BUT, your laid back experience is a good reminder to me to just take it easy this time around. I think my hubby and I will enjoy that. Thanks!

 

[Disneyfanfour]

A day like 11/11 when Fantasmic is scheduled will likely be less crowded than a day like 11/28 when Fantasmic is not scheduled.

And why do you say that the 28th is busier than the 11th? I'm assuming it's because it's Thanksgiving weekend? Please clue me in to your strategy.

 

[kathy884]

I wouldn't sweat it that much. We're doing the same thing at spring break because my son wants to see Fatasmic, and we are just doing two Disney parks and don't have park hoppers. My recommendation is to use a touring plan ($10 on touringplans.com), get there at rope drop, and follow the touring plan. The last time we went to DHS was over Christmas break 2009 (crowd level 10). With the strategy I described, we had a blast at this park despite the crowds.

 

[ranman1]

Fantasmic is worth it! Just get in line early so you don't miss it, it is awful when you spend the day there and the show is full and you miss it

Anyways I have never noticed larger crowds on fantasmic days, I feel like ALL the parks are crowded ALL the time

 

[Pakey]

We were there last week. For a comparison,

Tower of Terror on a Fantasmic day was over an hour wait. The next day, a non Fantasmic day, the wait was 5 minutes. On the Fantasmic day, the fastpasses for Toy Story Mania were gone long before noon and standby times were 2 hours. On the next day, the standby time on TSM was 50minutes and there were still fastpasses at noon.

The crowd calendar on the Fanstasmic day listed DHS as an 8. The next day, it was a 3.

We were at WDW in May and in January and found it to be the same; Fantasmic days really increase the crowds at DHS. We hop over for Fantasmic but spend the earlier part of the day somewhere else.

We did F&W on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I never thought it was that bad although Friday's lines did get a bit longer but not enough that we felt we needed to leave the park.

 

[Lees3rwe]

We just went to Fantasmic on Monday night and it was an EMH night.
It's great. The park really wasn't too crazy, but get in line and go in around 6:15. We had awesome seats.

 

[Disneyfanfour]

Well, WDW veterans or not, I still always carry a TP touring guidesheet. This year we've got the Lines app and I printed off the cheat sheets for each park for each day I've got planned at the parks. I was already planning on arriving an hour earlier for the show to get good seats. And we'll be there for rope drop, riding TSM first, fast passing it and then on to ToT, RnR and so forth. And I can't miss the Belle show! Or Little Mermaid! Oooo, I can't wait now that I'm talking about it again!! Thanks for all the advice and tips.

 

[mickeyboat]

We are going to miss Fantasmic this year as I am trying to avoid HS that night. However, we are going to Epcot on a Saturday during F&W. I am not sure the stars will always align to make ever trip absolutely perfect. We plan to just do the best we can and have fun no matter what!

 

[g-dad66]

Since you are going at a low-crowd time, I think Fantasmic will just make your DHS day moderately crowded, not horribly crowded.

And you may have already noticed this, but a second Fantasmic has been added for each November evening, so that will give you more time in the park. The second show is typically less crowded than the first show.

 

[Disneyfanfour]

I hadn't seen the new show added yet, though I've been waiting for it. Back to the hours worksheet, but that's good!

 

[Disneyfanfour]

g-dad, where did you see the new shows posted? I've looked on the Disney World site and DIS hours, but haven't seen the updated change yet. WDW site does list the new closing times, but no new shows yet. So tell me, what reliable site am I missing??

 

[smidgy]

Since you are going at a low-crowd time, I think Fantasmic will just make your DHS day moderately crowded, not horribly crowded.

And you may have already noticed this, but a second Fantasmic has been added for each November evening, so that will give you more time in the park. The second show is typically less crowded than the first show.

I've always heard this: go to the 2nd showing of fantasmic.

we did this back in early dec. 2007. the line to wait was awful! maybe we were in line too soon (dont' remember) but they had to wait to clear the theatre befoe they let us in for the 2nd show (of course), and it was getting kinda claustrophobic and almost scary.
we stood for 45 minutes in a jammed crowd, waiting to be let in. no way to get out of it if you needed a bathroom or anything.
we never liked having to go into the theatre an hour ahead of time and wait.. being bored. but we would have been better off doing that than standing, for almost the same amount of time.
at least someone can save the seat if you need a bathroom, want to go for a smoke, someone can go get a beer, or something to eat, etc. and you're SITTING!
for the second show, you're doing the same amount of waiting, only standing in a crowd.

 

[g-dad66]

g-dad, where did you see the new shows posted? I've looked on the Disney World site and DIS hours, but haven't seen the updated change yet. WDW site does list the new closing times, but no new shows yet. So tell me, what reliable site am I missing??

Here's the thread where I got the information:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2578638

Looks like the November calendar has been updated here:
http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_Nov.pdf

 

[g-dad66]

I've always heard this: go to the 2nd showing of fantasmic.

we did this back in early dec. 2007. the live to wait was awful! maybe we were inline too soon (dont' remember) but they had to wait to clear the theatre befoe they let us in for the 2nd show (of course), and it was getting kinda claustrophobic and almost scary.
we stood for 45 minutes in a jammed crowd, waiting to be let in. no way to get out of it if you needed a bathroom or anything.
we never liked having to go into the theatre an hour ahead of time and wait.. being bored. but we would have been better off doing that than standing, for almost the same amount of time.
at least someone can save the seat if you need a bathroom, want to go for a smoke, someone can go get a beer, or something to eat, etc. and you're SITTING!
for the second show, you're doing the same amount of waiting, only standing in a crowd.

It's true that this is the downside of attending the second show.

But the danger with the first show is that it may fill to capacity before you get in.

Even though I have read some reports of second show filling to capacity, this seems to be a fairly rare occurrence -- in which case, if you don't really care all that much where you sit, you could show up 5 minutes before the show starts.

 

[Disneyfanfour]

Thanks for the links, gdad. And the tips on the first and second shows are helpful, too. I guess we'll see how the day goes to decide that for us.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

It's really a shame F! is cut back like this. I was just remembering it used to be every day! Up until Jan 2009.

ahhh the good old days.......

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I am assuming that you are not Hopping. Yes, usually DHS is more crowded on days when Fantasmic is scheduled. It also depends on when you are going. A day like 11/11 when Fantasmic is scheduled will likely be less crowded than a day like 11/28 when Fantasmic is not scheduled.

I'm sorry I have to disagree. No matter how 'low' crowds are all over WDW, Fantasmic nights get very very crowded at DS. Non F! nights during more busy times are often less crowded than F! nights during non peak times. That date in particular is also the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, with most school breaks being the week including Thanksgiving, most of the visitors for that week will be well on thier way home that day (or Sat).

OP if seeing F! is that much of a priority I would just plan to hit the park mid day, do some of the shows, skip the rides and then get in line for F! early. You actually have a small advantage I think from reading all the stories of F! crowds b/c you will be mentally prepared and ready for it. Imagine if you had no clue and showed up to DHS on a F! day and ran into those kinds of crowds.


ETA if I'm reading the calendar right the 28th is also a pm EMH night, another reason to avoid DHS. Poor little park it is just so hard to move people thru there and with all the popular rides w/ long lines and scattered F! showings it is becoming more and more crowded.