Fantasmic? Line up when??

[mhmcduff]

We are going to Fantasmic a night when they have EMH at DS - just worked out that way and we don't have a dining package when should we get in line for a 7pm show??

 

[mickeystoontown]

We always line up an hour ahead of time but we go during the busy times of the year (usually two nightly shows).

 

[Robo]

We are going to Fantasmic a night when they have EMH at DS - just worked out that way and we don't have a dining package when should we get in line for a 7pm show??

You don't necessarily have to "line up" for Fantasmic!
They open the gates and you walk in and find a seat.

No one can predict exactly how large the crowds will be or how early you should go to find a seat for Fantasmic! on any given day.
It has totally to do with the whim of the crowd at DHS on that day, and the general crowd LEVELS.
How much time you wish to "invest" in waiting is a personal decision. We have never done the formal Dinner Package, and have always seen the show (dozens of times).

(Take all of these as "average" numbers, sometimes the crowd will be MUCH greater and the theater can fill up much sooner.)

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-120 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45-60 minutes before: Good seats
20-40 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 50-60 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
40 minutes before: Good seats
25-35 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests. (The crowd of "last-minute" arrivals can be slow to get seated before show-time.)

Off-Season (not busy days):
You should be OK to enter by 10-20 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

If you do the Fantasmic! Dinner Pkg. you still SHOULD enter by AT LEAST 35 minutes (much "safer" at 45 minutes) before show-time and still be guaranteed "pretty good" seats (not my "first choice" area, but fine), regardless of crowd-levels. Remember, the DP is only valid for the first show of the evening, if there are 2 or more. If you do have DP and you spy some seats outside the DP "reserved" area, you are free to choose to sit anywhere outside that area you like, no problem.

If there are TWO Fantasmic! shows in one evening, the second one will have lower crowd level than the first one. You can arrive a bit later and still find a seat.

Be aware that the second show waiting area will LOOK like the show is "too crowded".
That's because they HOLD the 2nd crowd outside the theater while the CMs CLEAN it after the first crowd has exited.

Then, they will let those waiting together in that big group IN... all at once, and there will be PLENTY of room.

(The theater seats over 7,000 guests.)

When you enter the theater, there will be CMs along the way directing the flow of traffic, but you may (if you are early enough to have a choice) simply choose any open seats in the theater to be your own.
If you want to exit more quickly, choose a seat farther back and to towards audience-right.
If you want to be immersed in the show (and sometimes, immersed in water-mist, if the wind is blowing "in") choose a seat towards the front.

We like to eat our evening meal while waiting for Fantasmic! to start.
You can bring in items from the counter-service places in MGM, or they DO have concession stands at the rear of the theater serving "baseball stadium-type" food and drinks. Yes, even beer, sold strictly ONE-at-a-time, one-only-to-a-person, so a single person can't go and buy beer for other members of a group... all guests wanting to buy a beer must be present in-person at the counter.
We have a hot dog, maybe a pretzel, later some popcorn or cotton candy (Disney Health Food).
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_fan.htm
Click above for the "menu."

 

[Disney Doll]

About an hour ahead, althoguh I have walked in there at the last possible second and still gotten a seat...not the best seat in the house, but a seat nonetheless.

 

[lilyfrog73]

What an awesome map!! Where would be considered the best seating?

 

[dreamergirl78]

What an awesome map!! Where would be considered the best seating?

I don't think there are any really bad seats. I always enjoy sitting near the middle to the back of the theatre and towards the center.

This is one of our favorite shows!!!!! We always get there about 30 - 45 minutes early for our seats and we travel in Sept/Oct.

 

[becca123]

just need to say your maps and ocd attention to detail were amazing
will be PM-ing YOU with questions.
Thanks for the info
R/

 

[Mckymousefn]

I can't wait to see it... we have never see Fantasmic.

 

[mhmcduff]

WOW!!! Thank you! Now we will get to DS about 90 minutes ahead of the show get our CS dinner and arrive at the theatre 45-50 minutes ahead of the show and eat while we wait- what a great idea!!- who knows we may even get a beer while we wait- or two- Thank you to all . We have never seen this show and we are psyched!