Fantasmic Help

[kayteekt]

Ok, so I'm almost ashamed to say it...we've been to the world 7 times now and we've never seen Fantasmic. Well that's going to change this Fall, hubby and I are going for 3 nights first of November and we ARE going to do it...finally!

However, we realllly don't want to sit around and wait for an hour before the show to get in, and even if we wanted to not sure we could b/c of an ADR. Is it really necessary to be there that early? We don't have to have the best seats. Just as long as we're in, we're good!

Advice?

 

[siskaren]

I've never gotten there more than 45 minutes ahead of time. It's supposed to be pretty easy to get as a fourth FP, so you could do that.

 

[PsychoCelloChica]

When we were there in January, we got Fantasmic FPs as our 4th FP of the day at around 3pm. There was only 1 Fantasmic showing that night, and a huge Venezuelan Quince tour group in the park (they took up an entire seating section of Fantasmic). With our FPs, 2/4 of us arrived about 30 minutes before the show and got seated in the next to last section (we missed the FP return window I believe, so it was just a free-for-all by that point). The rest of our group didn't arrive until about 5 minutes before the show and they were directed into the standing room area and had to argue quite a bit with a cast member before they would allow them to join us.

Anyway... If you can get a 4th FP for it, you'll have no problem whatsoever. I wouldn't try to do it 11/1, since the park will be more crowded with the EMH that night. If you don't get a FP, be there 30-40 minutes early.

 

[kayteekt]

When we were there in January, we got Fantasmic FPs as our 4th FP of the day at around 3pm. There was only 1 Fantasmic showing that night, and a huge Venezuelan Quince tour group in the park (they took up an entire seating section of Fantasmic). With our FPs, 2/4 of us arrived about 30 minutes before the show and got seated in the next to last section (we missed the FP return window I believe, so it was just a free-for-all by that point). The rest of our group didn't arrive until about 5 minutes before the show and they were directed into the standing room area and had to argue quite a bit with a cast member before they would allow them to join us.

Anyway... If you can get a 4th FP for it, you'll have no problem whatsoever. I wouldn't try to do it 11/1, since the park will be more crowded with the EMH that night. If you don't get a FP, be there 30-40 minutes early.

Thanks so much, hadn't thought about doing it for a last fast pass, great idea!

 

[Travis B]

Thanks so much, hadn't thought about doing it for a last fast pass, great idea!

If you're eating in the park and don't want to use a FP+, there's also dining packages that offer preferred seating.

 

[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.
There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

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

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.)

 

[Patsydust]

I went for the first time this past Feb and it was during the Princess Half Marathon, so I would like to say it was a high crowd time and we got there like maybe 40 minutes early and it was practically empty and it still took awhile to fill up. It's like stadium seating! I don't think you have to arrive super early, but I still wouldn't come at the last 10 minutes. It's an amazing show! Planning to go again next trip! It's a must-do in my book!

 

[ladyslipper]

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.
There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

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

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.)

This is the best info!! answered any questions I had about arrival and seating. Wonderful... Thank you for posting !

 

[MissionMouse]

There were the dining early entrance seating and now there is the FP+ seating too, so I would highly recommend arriving early. We did not find the Cyan area in Robo's graphic to be open for standby but already filled before standbys were even let in during July. We were FP+ in July and the stadium was pretty full before standby's were even let in. They took what seats might be open plus section 4 in the picture. Availability might differ depending on the day of the week, 1 or 2 presentation/night and season.

 

[Robo]

There were the dining early entrance seating and now there is the FP+ seating too, so I would highly recommend arriving early. We did not find the Cyan area in Robo's graphic to be open for standby but already filled before standbys were even let in during July.

Sorry, but I don't think that could be the case.

UNLESS, you happened to be there when they were conducting some of those bizarre seating TESTS.

 

[PsychoCelloChica]

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.)

Robo, that is a fantastic map! And I'd never seen it anywhere before...

We ended up in the 4th row in either the Jafar of Hades section. Like I said before, that was a solid 30 minutes+ before the show. By 10 minutes before it, they were not letting anyone else into the FP+ sections marked on here, even if they had a FP+. I'm guessing that if there hadn't been that Quince group filling up all of Maleficent, we may have had much better seats. But I can't complain, we ended up sitting next to a new friend of Peter Pan and chatting the whole time. He was very sad we couldn't come to his first training day because we were leaving the next afternoon.

On the negative side... that just makes me feel like I actually need to do the dining package someday. I've never seen it from a better angle.

 

[DisneySOS]

I've only been to the show once & can't wait to see it again. I'm not going till May but that is a great map to use for reference.
Can you tell me where scooter parking/viewing would be? I'm assuming up top between the top row & standing room? My mom will be using one and can't sit in the stadium style seating for too long. Was wondering how that works. Would one of us be able to stay/stand there with her or would she have to stay there by herself?

 

[Robo]

Can you tell me where scooter parking/viewing would be? I'm assuming up top between the top row & standing room? My mom will be using one and can't sit in the stadium style seating for too long. Was wondering how that works. Would one of us be able to stay/stand there with her or would she have to stay there by herself?

It IS the top row. Guests who accompany the scooter/wheelchair guests can sit next to/in front of them.
But... the number of places for guests using a scooter or wheelchair is LIMITED.
Arrive early.
Arrive early.
Arrive early.

Seating seen on the older map below (ignore the marked "Dine Pkg" seating.)

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

This is my experience from this Sunday 8/23. I booked at Fantasmic Dining Package. The window for seating was 7:50-8:15 for the 8:30pm show. The end of the stand by line was at in front of Beauty and Beast theater. I got to the seating area at 8pm--still plenty of seating all over. Dining Package is seated at the Scar section--right in the middle. About 8:15, the seat were pretty much filled and it was the wave time. BTW, Fantansmic FP+ was still available when I last checked at 5pm.

I believe Frozen Summer Fun had something to do with the lower crowd level at Fantasmic. Although, it was one showing only but many people could have chosen Frozen Firework over Fantasmic. We got out by the main gate and was able to catch the firework but definitely not the best spot for the show. Many people chose to sit on the top rows to get out faster for better viewing spot for the firework.

The last time I saw Fantasmic was 6 years ago. Never bother to take my girls to the show--was thinking it is too scary for them. I found new love for the show and my girls love it too. They asked me why we never came to the show before. Well, we usually leave the park by 4 and only stayed last year for the Frozen Summer package. Guess Fantasmic is now a must do for us.

 

[Jeannie in NJ]

we went to see it once when my kids were younger. As soon as the show started, they started crying that it was too loud so we left. They and my husband have never agreed to try it again. Maybe someday I will just have to see it by myself.

 

[JeninTexas]

On our last visit, we did the dining package and showed up about 30 minutes early. We got to sit front row, right in the middle. Terrific view of the show. It is probably my favorite show at WDW. Don't miss it!

 

[DisneySOS]

It IS the top row. Guests who accompany the scooter/wheelchair guests can sit next to/in front of them.
But... the number of places for guests using a scooter or wheelchair is LIMITED.
Arrive early.
Arrive early.
Arrive early.

Seating seen on the older map below (ignore the marked "Dine Pkg" seating.)

Thanks!
New to dealing with scooters, so glad I can stay with her & the rest can sit wherever they can. I was considering getting her a FP+ for it (she doesn't ride RNC or TOT) & then hoping to score myself a 4th FP+ for it. Plenty of time to figure it out but your maps are very helpful.

 

[kayteekt]

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.
There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

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

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.)

Wow! Thanks so much for the detailed info!!

 

[kayteekt]

Ok, next question...they should have Extra Magic Hours (open til 9pm) one of the nights we'll be there...will they do a second show or just the one at 7pm?

 

[Robo]

Ok, next question...they should have Extra Magic Hours (open til 9pm) one of the nights we'll be there...will they do a second show or just the one at 7pm?

Sometimes there will be a second F!, (and sometimes they will add one at some point closer to the actual date) but, second performances of F! are not related to whether there is a PM EMH or not.