Fantasmic! and getting depressed!

[Disneyfanfour]

Mikeandreneeplus5, I tried to PM you, but you must be too new? Anyway, I noticed your name and wondered if it means that you and your wife have 5 kiddos. We now have 5, ages 4 to 16. How does your family do a WDW trip as a whole family? I mean, how have you made it affordable and pleasurable, too. Right now, I'm trying to figure out how to manage the different ages and likes and preferences at each park! If you don't mind my asking and your answering such questions, I'd find it very helpful in planning our next family trip if you have any tips. Thanks.

 

[i_heart_the_mouse]

I'm sorry I have to disagree. No matter how 'low' crowds are all over WDW, Fantasmic nights get very very crowded at DS.

I have to agree with this. We went in January and the parks were very empty all week, even DHS on our non-F! day.

On the day we planned to see F! we just did a resort/dtd day and hit up DHS in time for dinner and the show. WOW! I felt claustrophic just walking down the streets.

I vowed right then that I will NEVER choose to tour DHS on a F! day. Not worth it to me. I'll go later just for the show or skip it like I plan to in December.

 

[LaurenT]

We'll be there the same night as you...
Don't forget, you not only are getting to see Fantasmic!, but the Osborne Lights as well (super excited about that one..we've never seen it)!
It's not going to be too crazy. Get there at rope drop, work the FP's and do the shows while you're waiting for the next FP window to open...piece of cake! Start with TSM FP, when that window opens, get your RnRC, then ToT.

 

[LaurenT]

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.

Have you checked to see if there are any Fantasmic! dining packages left?
That's what we're doing...We'll have a late luch/early dinner at Mama Melrose and they'll give us the saved section seating for the show...that way we don't have to do the whole crazy crowd thing....gotta eat anyway...right?

 

[lovethattink]

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.

I haven't been to the studios in a while. We are going on Sunday with the plan of seeing Fantasmic.

 

[JimmyV]

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.

Must have been there on the same day. I was there on 10/12. Absolutely absurd crowds for October. We discussed skipping the park that day because of warnings on this board, but decided that as veterans, we could beat the system. For the most part we did, but even getting there at 9:10 and rushing to get FPs for TSM, our return time was 12:35-1:35, our wait at RRC standby was 15 minutes, and our standby wait at TT after that was close to an hour. So by 11:30 all we had done was get a FP, and the two other thrill rides. Just not a very enjoyable day all the way around.

 

[jeffn5631]

Take this for what it is worth, as a 10 year experienced season passholder, I avoid going to HS on a Fantasmic day period. I realize that as a SP, I have a big advantage over other park guests on vacation at the various resorts because of the alternative choices I have available. If Fantasmic ever returns to daily showings, that will change this situation completely.

 

[kjpotter]

I went to DHS in June on a F! day. It was the only day to do the park, so we made the best of it. Even with a large group, we got to do everything we wanted.

TSM
TOT
RNR
Beauty and the Beast show
Star Tours
Block Party Bash
Playhouse Disney - twice

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Take this for what it is worth, as a 10 year experienced season passholder, I avoid going to HS on a Fantasmic day period. I realize that as a SP, I have a big advantage over other park guests on vacation at the various resorts because of the alternative choices I have available. If Fantasmic ever returns to daily showings, that will change this situation completely.

The only way to go to F! IMO is Park Hop over to a F! Dining Package. Especially now that the 2nd entrance is back and you don't have to stand in the main queue.

 

[eliza61]

The only way to go to F! IMO is Park Hop over to a F! Dining Package. Especially now that the 2nd entrance is back and you don't have to stand in the main queue.

I have to agree. We get park hoppers as a general rule but now with this ridiculous cut back in Fantasmic, it makes it worth the price. We go to HS early on non Fantasmic days, then schedule the dinner package on a fantasmic day and simply hop over specifically for that.

I'm so mad at the mouse for this cut back.