Fantasmic Fastpass

[ohana1221]

Hi!
Okay so the day I view fantasmic I will be at Epcot AM and Hollywood Studios PM. I made all my Fastpasses for Epcot AM (it's important to us to ride Soarin' as much as possible). Because we don't really love any of the attractions in DHS (except muppets but theres never a line for that), it's a half day park for us and we really just go for fantasmic (which is a can't miss for me). Our dates are June 18-24. Do you think I will be able to snag a fantasmic fastpass day of after I use my allotted 3 in Epcot? Or do these fastpasses tend to sell out by the day of? I really don't want to end up doing stand-by, it's my experience that you have to waste a lot of time standing in the line for it only to get really poor seating.

 

[Accident]

every crowd is different, it's a risk to wait though and your more likely to not get one then get one..

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I have done your method of thinking several times. Now, it always a risk, but it will solely depend on your FP strategy at EPCOT. If you plan on using a FP within the times of 9-10, 10-11, and 11-12, then it is doable. That is usually my FP strategy at EPCOT since I spend the afternoon traveling World Showcase or plan to travel to another park. Now, I have gotten a FP for Fantasmic on the same day several times. The sooner you do that, the better. If you are getting to 3 or 4 p.m. at EPCOT, and you haven't used your 3rd FP, it is going to be much more difficult to get a FP for Fantasmic at DHS. I would plan your EPCOT FP for as early as possible. You can always tour EPCOT before heading to DHS while holding that 4th FP to Fantasmic.

Fantasmic normally isn't gone by the day of. That is because DHS has a premium on some attractions like TSMM and RnRC. So, people tend to use FP on those before getting a Fantasmic FP.

Good luck!

 

[ohana1221]

I have done your method of thinking several times. Now, it always a risk, but it will solely depend on your FP strategy at EPCOT. If you plan on using a FP within the times of 9-10, 10-11, and 11-12, then it is doable. That is usually my FP strategy at EPCOT since I spend the afternoon traveling World Showcase or plan to travel to another park. Now, I have gotten a FP for Fantasmic on the same day several times. The sooner you do that, the better. If you are getting to 3 or 4 p.m. at EPCOT, and you haven't used your 3rd FP, it is going to be much more difficult to get a FP for Fantasmic at DHS. I would plan your EPCOT FP for as early as possible. You can always tour EPCOT before heading to DHS while holding that 4th FP to Fantasmic.

Fantasmic normally isn't gone by the day of. That is because DHS has a premium on some attractions like TSMM and RnRC. So, people tend to use FP on those before getting a Fantasmic FP.

Good luck!

That's pretty much the exact plan! Our morning in future world is where all our fastpasses are and my last FP window closes at 1:15, then I was hoping to immediately book that 4th FP and go tour the World Showcase. My last FP at Epcot is for Spaceship Earth, so I may not even wait for that window and just cancel that FP so I can book Fantasmic sooner. Spaceship Earth almost never needs a FP.

 

[CAS239]

Chances are very good that you can get Fantasmic as an extra fast pass the day of. We've gotten it before as our 4th FP and hour before showtime.

However no matter what you're doing, dining/FP/standby, I still recommend you show up about 45 min before showtime for best choice of seats. We usually do FP and we show up about 45-60 min ahead because we like to sit in the front row.

If crowds are big and a lot of people are still coming in, it's not uncommon about 10 min before showtime for them to open up all areas to everyone. You can show up 20 min before showtime, but just know the FP seating might be quite full by then.

So if you want your best choice of seats and care about sitting up front or somewhere specific, then show up early. If it really doesn't matter, then I'd still recommend at least 15-20 min before showtime

 

[peg110]

I agree with the showing up early. We went one time with the "Dining" fast pass and we showed up about 20 minutes before... OMG, the seating was packed and ALL the way to the left (as you enter from the back ) side of the stadium area. And when I say ALL THE WAY, I mean ALL THE WAY (I was sitting on the END) and near the back. I could still see the show but it wasn't my "Ideal" seating.

Here I thought we were going to get good seating as a result of the ADR/FP package (because you were not allowed to use ANY discounts on the meal and we have an AP and TIW) but alas... NO!

 

[Robo]

What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.



If you DO get a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater) or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)

So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.

Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.



There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.) On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.



As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.

Even with a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.



On busy nights, the CMs can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.



-------------------------------------------------------------------



Map Below-

Arrows indicate the center of the seating.

Shaded areas:

(First or Only F! performance of the evening)

Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating

Red= Dining Package Reserved

Blue= FP+ Reserved

Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.



(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)

Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating

Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved

(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

 

[bffdisney]

That's pretty much the exact plan! Our morning in future world is where all our fastpasses are and my last FP window closes at 1:15, then I was hoping to immediately book that 4th FP and go tour the World Showcase. My last FP at Epcot is for Spaceship Earth, so I may not even wait for that window and just cancel that FP so I can book Fantasmic sooner. Spaceship Earth almost never needs a FP.

I think if you cancel, you won't be able to book one at another park. But, if your window closes at 1:15, that means it opens at 12:15. If you go on the ride (scan your fastpass) at 12:15, you can make the 4th while on Spaceship Earth! If you are really not caring about that fastpass, make it for 9am and just let it expire.

 

[ohana1221]

I think if you cancel, you won't be able to book one at another park. But, if your window closes at 1:15, that means it opens at 12:15. If you go on the ride (scan your fastpass) at 12:15, you can make the 4th while on Spaceship Earth! If you are really not caring about that fastpass, make it for 9am and just let it expire.

Can you explain why I would not be able to book another park? If I have zero fastpasses I should be able to book more right? No matter how many I have used?

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

Can you explain why I would not be able to book another park? If I have zero fastpasses I should be able to book more right? No matter how many I have used?

If you use one FP in one park, you can only book one FP at another park after using the one FP that you already used at the current park you would be in. You will not be able to get two FP at DHS, because you used only 1 of your three allotted FP at one park. You will only be able to get one FP at DHS.

Question for you...Have you thought about just rope dropping Soarin? The maximum wait I have ever had at rope drop for Soarin is 20 minutes. That's because I was toward the back of the crowd. I realize you want to ride it as much as possible, but if this is a worry to you and that is the only FP you want to use, maybe make your FP choices at DHS for the evening? I realize you said you only like muppets, but you can book Fantasmic and a couple of the shows at DHS? Maybe even Star Tours if you like that ride.

 

[North of Mouse]

Hi!
Okay so the day I view fantasmic I will be at Epcot AM and Hollywood Studios PM. I made all my Fastpasses for Epcot AM (it's important to us to ride Soarin' as much as possible). Because we don't really love any of the attractions in DHS (except muppets but theres never a line for that), it's a half day park for us and we really just go for fantasmic (which is a can't miss for me). Our dates are June 18-24. Do you think I will be able to snag a fantasmic fastpass day of after I use my allotted 3 in Epcot? Or do these fastpasses tend to sell out by the day of? I really don't want to end up doing stand-by, it's my experience that you have to waste a lot of time standing in the line for it only to get really poor seating.

Just saw Fantasmic this past week with a FP - which was a total 'joke'!! We were on the far end next to last section - had much better viewing with general SB and waited almost as long in line and waiting while seated.

After seeing Rivers of Light twice we don't plan to see Fantasmic again - ROL was 'that' good!!

 

[CAS239]

Just saw Fantasmic this past week with a FP - which was a total 'joke'!! We were on the far end next to last section - had much better viewing with general SB and waited almost as long in line and waiting while seated.

After seeing Rivers of Light twice we don't plan to see Fantasmic again - ROL was 'that' good!!

You must've showed up really late. The FP section is nearly dead center. And just to let you know, if there was open sections available you could've went there, you didn't have to go all the way down.

Like I said though, if you show up close to showtime, they a lot of times open up all the seating areas. Close to showtime FP and even dining package are not necessarily guaranteed a seat in the original areas

 

[ohana1221]

Just saw Fantasmic this past week with a FP - which was a total 'joke'!! We were on the far end next to last section - had much better viewing with general SB and waited almost as long in line and waiting while seated.
After seeing Rivers of Light twice we don't plan to see Fantasmic again - ROL was 'that' good!!

Very excited to see Rivers of Light! It has been so difficult for me to stay away from videos of it, it is rare that something at WDW is a completely new experience for me. I always make it a point to see every nighttime spectacular every trip -- with the exception of star wars galactic spectacular. Won't want to spend 2 evenings in DHS and I could not care less about Star Wars...

 

[ohana1221]

If you use one FP in one park, you can only book one FP at another park after using the one FP that you already used at the current park you would be in. You will not be able to get two FP at DHS, because you used only 1 of your three allotted FP at one park. You will only be able to get one FP at DHS.

Question for you...Have you thought about just rope dropping Soarin? The maximum wait I have ever had at rope drop for Soarin is 20 minutes. That's because I was toward the back of the crowd. I realize you want to ride it as much as possible, but if this is a worry to you and that is the only FP you want to use, maybe make your FP choices at DHS for the evening? I realize you said you only like muppets, but you can book Fantasmic and a couple of the shows at DHS? Maybe even Star Tours if you like that ride.

Unfortunately a lot of rope dropping is out for this trip. It's someone in my party's first time at WDW so they will likely want to "take it all in" instead of being rushed. I'll just take my chances with Fantasmic. Worst case scenario we have a snack while we do standby, but hopefully I'll be able to snag that FP after doing my 3 Epcot ones.

 

[North of Mouse]

You must've showed up really late. The FP section is nearly dead center. And just to let you know, if there was open sections available you could've went there, you didn't have to go all the way down.

Like I said though, if you show up close to showtime, they a lot of times open up all the seating areas. Close to showtime FP and even dining package are not necessarily guaranteed a seat in the original areas

Actually, we went about 20 min. before the times listed for us to be there. There were no openings before where we sat - we checked. Was totally not prepared for that, as the crowd level was not high at all this past week.

 

[CassieF]

I just went last week and we did this, Epcot to DHS for fantastic and our last FP wasn't until 4-5pm for Frozen. We went on frozen, then went and met baymax and didn't even make our fan FP until after, around 6:15 for 8:30 show. It was a slow period after spring break crowds, and we headed over to DHS right after making them and went straight in to get seats after grabbing a drink so we ended up front row in Pocahontas section, but the theatre did fill up despite the late availability of fp

 

[ohana1221]

I just went last week and we did this, Epcot to DHS for fantastic and our last FP wasn't until 4-5pm for Frozen. We went on frozen, then went and met baymax and didn't even make our fan FP until after, around 6:15 for 8:30 show. It was a slow period after spring break crowds, and we headed over to DHS right after making them and went straight in to get seats after grabbing a drink so we ended up front row in Pocahontas section, but the theatre did fill up despite the late availability of fp

Where did you meet baymax? I thought he had left the parks

 

[Doug S]

Touring Plans keeps track of how late you can get FP+ reservations and just posted an update this morning. Most days you can still get a Fantasmic FP+ through 6-7PM, even on 10/10 days.

 

[CAS239]

Where did you meet baymax? I thought he had left the parks

He's at Epcot by Joy and Sadness

 

[CassieF]

He's at Epcot by Joy and Sadness

Yup, Hiro is gone but Baymax is still there