Fantasmic is a shell of it’s former self ☹️

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I watched Fantasmic tonight with family who had never seen it before. Fantasmic is my very favorite Disneyland entertainment and I was really looking forward to it since we rarely stay that late and I haven’t seen it in a year. Luckily for my family, they had nothing to compare it to because it’s a shell of its former self right now.

I have come to terms with the fact that the show no longer has the amazing dragon animatronic. However, tonight’s show had ZERO pyro—nothing, not Mickey’s hand fireworks, no pinwheel fireworks on the Mark Twain, no regular fireworks, no fire effect in the river. Someone else reported zero pyro last weekend as well in the Fantasmic thread. I’m not sure how long it has been running without pyro but it’s a huge downgrade without it.

Additionally, Maleficent does not rise and turn into a dragon (the replacement feature after the dragon burned down). She paced around the stage and Mickey ran around and sort of “vanquished” her (I’m not sure how). When fire effects were supposed to have been going off on the river you could hear fire audio but nothing replaced the effect.

It was such a huge disappointment after spending the money on the dining package and the time to stay and watch the show. Thankfully, my family enjoyed it (luckily, since I talked them into getting the dining package and watching the show) but for anyone who has ever seen the show in the past, it’s just nothing close to what it was. It was like watching the B mode of the B mode. No idea what’s going on with the show but it was just blah.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I know I’m in the minority here, but I never cared for Fantasmic. I’ve seen it twice, as I thought perhaps I missed something the first time.

Extremely overrated IMO. Best part was the comic during the pre-show.

Full disclosure: that was probably 15-20 years ago

ETA: I now see this is at DL. I was specifically talking about WDW.
I have seen it at DL once, but no better, and no comic.

 

[gottalovepluto]

ETA: I now see this is at DL. I was specifically talking about WDW.
I have seen it at DL once, but no better, and no comic.

Just so folks don’t get more irked at DLR downgrades these days- WDW has not had a comic for years.

 

[BrianL]

Just so folks don’t get more irked at DLR downgrades these days- WDW has not had a comic for years.

True, but at least the show at Hollywood Studios has had some recent revamps and plus-ups. It still has the dragon too, however it was never quite as good as the Disneyland one. Honestly, I became disappointed in DL's Fantasmic when they retooled some of the music a while back - it just didn't hit right (this was when they retooled to add the POTC scene, which I think is now back to the Peter Pan scene). I know it's sacrilege, but I've pretty much always liked the WDW version better - better set, better seating. Then again, I've seen Tokyo's version of Fantasmic! (no longer running), and it, not surprisingly, blew the others away!

 

[Tinkaboo]

Oh i hope people keep an eye on this for next few weeks...I got rezzies for Sept 13. and report if this was an anomaly or if this is the "new normal"...i would hate that. But then again, it would give me a chance to go see the SWGE version of fireworks, which I never seem to do because I am always at Fantasmic!

But @SOCALMouseMommy , I am sorry this happened to your group...I know you've been planning their trip for awhile and wanted their visit to be special...hope they are enjoying it all in spite of things being awry!

 

[DizMe]

Wow. I saw it for the first time last December and thought it was pretty awesome. I'm glad I got to see it but I sure wouldn't go through all the angst I experienced to get the premium dining package at RBT for the inferior version you describe. Let's hope it's a temporary thing and not a permanent change.

 

[mdmost]

We had all of those things that were missing when we saw it on 8/3. The only thing that didn't happen that normally does is Peter Pan and Hook swinging around during their segment on the Columbia. It might've been too windy.

I'm guessing the trouble with the pyro stems from what happened a week or two ago when the show suddenly stopped. I miss the Dragon but I can understand why it hasn't returned.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Fantasmic 2.0 was amazing they added the Dragon, Ursualla had a float with her two eels following her

The flow of the show just sucks now it was made like a musical and like many of the live action remakes they just Frankenstein in parts into it that don't fit as well

Also I hope the Dragon comes back but...they have never confirmed it would but unless they are updating it I'm not sure why it has not been re added back yet. Its been Over 18 months, that should be more then enough time to rebuild it

People who never saw Fantasmic before the recent changes dont mind but to me its like the people who watch the live action remakes and are fine with them even if the original is much better

 

[mich311e]

I understand what you are saying and your disappointment.

I saw it for the 2nd time ever last week and really enjoyed it. I haven't seen it since 2015, during the 60th. I guess because I don't remember it from 10 years ago, I wasn't disappointed.