Fantasmic and Illuminations same night? October...

[jjohns]

Using last year's schedule, I notice that Fantasmic shows at 7:30 and Illuminations at 9.

Is it reasonable to think that we might be able to see both on the same night?

I'm thinking it is physically possible to get from MGM after Fantasmic (should end at 8) over to Epcot via boat or walk, but I wonder if its worth it. Probably not many 'good' viewing spots left in the World Showcase by the 8:30/8:45 that we would be wheeling in...

Thoughts? Do-able, or better to schedule each of these on separate nights?

(A consideration for us is to keep the late nights to a minimum... The kids are 6 and 8, and we are pretty well always using EE to get into the parks early).

TIA, Jeff

 

[WDWAurora]

I actually just saw a thread about this on another board, and I'll give you the gist of my reply and what others added. The question there was the opposite, however. Illuminations at 9, Fantasmic at 10. I would NEVER consider doing this, just because it seems way too stressful. The way you're talking about I can't imagine there being any "good" viewing places (keep in mind, I'm used to sitting on a bench right on the water, and will sit there as long as necessary to ensure I get one of these prime spots!), but I'm sure others probably have places they would go at the last minute. If it's possible, I'd go another night. I think you would have a better overall experience if you weren't stressed and running around.

Someone on the other board replied that they had done it in the order you would, and enjoyed it because of the adrenaline from rushing around. That person also had a car, and no kids. Walking is 15-20 minutes, maybe more with tired kids. I hear that the boat takes longer. If you think you (and the kids) are up to it, go for it, but I wouldn't even think about it.

 

[Goofyish]

Last time we went to Fantasmic it took quite a while toget out of the Fantasmic theatre after the show and then wind our way back to the park exit! They are both on every night so I would do them on seperate nights and have enough time to really savour both of these fantastic shows

 

[raidermatt]

I wouldn't do it. Its a solid 30 minute or so walk to get from Fantasmic to Epcot, and with a tired 6 and 8 year old, it could take longer (some describe this as a 45 minute walk...so a lot depends on how fast you walk). Plus, if you don't get a seat on an aisle near the top at Fantasmic and jam on the final note, you could get stuck in that cattle call for a few extra minutes.

I'm not sure how hard it is to get in the Epcot gates at that time, but you will have to go through the security check.

If you do it, your view will depend a lot on how tall you are. You obviously won't get a spot along the railing, but if you are tall enough to see over people, you could still have a decent view. The kids will likely need to sit on shoulders to have a real good view.

If you only had one night, it might be worth the trouble, but if you can use different nights, I would. With Fantasmic at 7:30, that shouldn't be too late of a night.

 

[Timon]

We've done this several times during our previous October trips. We just made it and we didn't get a great spot to watch from. But we weren't expecting anything and we just wanted to be around that "Illuminations atmosphere" so we were happy that we did it

 

[paperboy]

This past January, DW and I did exactly that...Fantasmic then Illuminations. Illuminations happens to be my favorite attraction at WDW, so I wanted to see it for the 2nd time that trip.

The first time I saw Fantasmic on a previous trip, I was blown away and briefly dubbed it my favorite attraction passing Illuminations. However, in January, we watched Illuminations our first night and I remembered why it was my fave. We saw Fantasmic a couple of nights later, and I just remember thinking that it wasn't as great as the first time, so we ended up leaving right before the steamboat came out.

We booked it out of there ahead of the crowd, and we were on the first bus to Epcot with about 25 minutes to spare. We had time to walk to France, buy a couple of bottles of wine, and went back to a prime viewing spot in Canada.

So yes, it is possible, but keep in mind that January was not very crowded at all, plus the fact that we left MGM a little early. If you watched the end of Fantasmic while standing closer to the exit, you might be able to do the same. We are also VERY fast walkers, and did not have our kids with us.

Would I do it again? Only if that was my only chance to see both, but when the two shows conflict, Illuminations wins every time. On trips longer than a weekend, I probably wouldn't. It can get stressful!

 

[jjohns]

That I will only use this as a 'backup' plan.

Along with paperboy, Illuminations is my favourite show. I think one trip I managed to see it 3 times .

Fantasmic is the one the kids really like, though, so I can't just remove it from the schedule!

And, raidermatt is right, with Fantasmic at 7:30 it won't be too late a night for the kids.

So I think I should plan for Fantasmic early in the week and Illuminations (on its own) on the last night (who cares if you're tired on the plane, right!).

We'll only do the Fantasmic-Illuminations combo-sprint *if* we get rained out of Fantasmic (which has happened to us - I don't know if they actually cancelled the show, but it was pouring when we would be standing in line so we didn't go).

Big problem with this plan is I don't get a 'rain date' for Illuminations... If the long-range forecast is for rain maybe I'll just go off one night and see it on my own.

 

[dgaston]

I have done this easily in November when Fastasmic started at 6:30, taking the boat from MGM (made the second one) and found a nice place to watch somewhere near Morocco. It wasn't very crowded. Last October, my DH, DS and I had dinner at Boma, went to Fantasmic (7:30 showing), and then Illuminations with a great viewing spot in Norway. We had a rental car--and that made all the difference.

 

[jjohns]

Originally posted by dgaston
Last October, my DH, DS and I had dinner at Boma, went to Fantasmic (7:30 showing), and then Illuminations with a great viewing spot in Norway. We had a rental car--and that made all the difference.

With the rental car - you parked @ MGM, and then drove over to Epcot after Fantasmic? And that was faster than walking/boat?

Did you have to leave Fantasmic at the stroke of the last note, or a bit early? I have found that it seems to take forever to get out of there... The 'backstage' route through the gas station is faster than Sunset Blvd, but it has always felt to just creep along, too. And then the parking lot mayhem...!

So, how 'rushed' were you in leaving Fantasmic/gett out of MGM? Did you have excellent 'exit' seats to beat the foot traffic? Did you rush to the car to beat car traffic?

 

[dgaston]

No we did not have any great "exit seats," rather we were near the middle. We just left with the crowd. But what did help is that by driving late to each of the parks, our car was close to the front. There weren't any CM's directing traffic and we were able to park close to the entrances. I think DS may have even ridden Test Track in the single rider's line while we were waiting for Illuminations to begin! We didn't dawdle on the way to Norway, but didn't run either. The rental car was much faster than either walking (that takes me at least 30 minutes) or the boat. When I take the boat I usually get off at the Yacht/Beach Club and walk the rest of the way.

 

[webprinter]

We did it in Dec. this past year. We sat down in the front at Fantasmic, hurried out, went through the Osborne lights, (very quickly), jumped in our car and took off. I know times were different in Dec. which gave us more time but we also had the lights and snow in New York to go through which added some extra time. One thing that helped was that we did the Illuminations cruise and didn't have to look for a spot at EPCOT. I thought the cruise was the best way to see Illuminations. We shared a boat with other DIS people.

Debby