Fantasmic - need info

[jmdisney]

I heard this is something we shouldn't miss but I need more info.
I have heard a lot of talk about dinner packages. Do you have to
go with a dinner package? Can you just see the show. Where is it?
Is there an extra cost to see this or is it included in admission?
Please advise.

 

[Msslaydbug]

We used the Fantasmic Dinner package last year and loved it. You reserve your package with a certain ADR and when you are having dinner they give you a pass to get into Fantasmic through a side entrance. They have a section blocked off on the side of the Fantasmic theater for these package holder's. It allowed us not to have to be at the theater way ahead of time !

 

[jmdisney]

We used the Fantasmic Dinner package last year and loved it. You reserve your package with a certain ADR and when you are having dinner they give you a pass to get into Fantasmic through a side entrance. They have a section blocked off on the side of the Fantasmic theater for these package holder's. It allowed us not to have to be at the theater way ahead of time !

So you can go with out the dinner package. I guess the only reason we
weren't interested in the dinner package was because we already made
all of our dinner reservations for the week. Which park is it in? Do you
get better seating with the package?

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Fantasmic is the closing fireworks show at Disney/MGM Studios. There is no additional charge for Fantasmic. There is normally a very long line to get in, since there is limited seating in an outdoor amphitheatre and people want good seats. With the dinner package you can use an alternate entrance, which cuts down on the wait times. I've sat in many of the sections, and almost every seat is good.

 

[Evil Queen 12]

We've never done a Fantasmic package, but we never cared. I love to be up close in the front of the theater in the middle and with that package you don't get to. The seats are off to the side and I didn't really care for that. We will wait in line until they open the ramp to go to the top and wait. The really cool thing about that was if you have a child then the person who is holding the rope to the theater entrance will let your child, if you are the first, enter the amphetheater first and they will announce his/her name upon entering. They also get a really cool 'ticket' stating that they were first to 'open Fantasmic'. We waited approx. 90 minutes for the show to start, but we bought food and ate dinner down there and just waited for it to begin. In doing this you get to pick your prime spot to sit. Be careful, you will get wet if you sit close to the front, but it's a show not to be missed.

 

[eliza61]

I heard this is something we shouldn't miss but I need more info.
I have heard a lot of talk about dinner packages. Do you have to
go with a dinner package? Can you just see the show. Where is it?
Is there an extra cost to see this or is it included in admission?
Please advise.

Hey JM
Fantasmic is something you shouldn't miss. You can see it without a dinner package. The advantage to a dinner package is that you do not have to line up to wait. Usually the line begins to form 1 hour to 90 minutes before the show. When you get the dinner package you get a pass that allows you to skip the line. The seating is usually on the right hand side of the ampetheater but I didn't find them any better or worse than the regular que. As with most stadium seatings you get a pretty decent view even from the back. If you decide to use the regular line I would suggest getting there an hour before show time. The show is part of your admission to MGM nothing extra involved.
When are you going? You'll love it.

 

[jmdisney]

Fantasmic is the closing fireworks show at Disney/MGM Studios. There is no additional charge for Fantasmic. There is normally a very long line to get in, since there is limited seating in an outdoor amphitheatre and people want good seats. With the dinner package you can use an alternate entrance, which cuts down on the wait times. I've sat in many of the sections, and almost every seat is good.

Closing fireworks show... so are you saying that Fantasmic is only one show
per day, before the park closes? If you get the dinner package, you would
be guaranteed seating right? If no dinner package, would there be a chance
of not getting in?

 

[eliza61]

Closing fireworks show... so are you saying that Fantasmic is only one show
per day, before the park closes? If you get the dinner package, you would
be guaranteed seating right? If no dinner package, would there be a chance
of not getting in?

In the summer they have 2 shows usually the last show starts about 10 pm. Check with the disney site and they will give you exact times. If you don't have the dinner package there is a chance you could not see it, once again depending on the time of year. During the summer months if you want to definitely see it be at the theater at least 1 hour before hand. We go to the late show because we like to see the fireworks when its dark. I have teenagers so they definitely like to hang out as late as possible.

 

[jmdisney]

We are going in August. I will be sure to get there early.
We love to watch fireworks. Thanks for all the replys.
It was a great help!

 

[Cinderellie]

Hi. We went to Disney April 24 to 27. Fantasmic was fantastic!! Don't miss it! We got in line 90 minutes before it started. We went in & sat down. Ate snacks we had with us. Did last minute planning for the next day (what rides/attractions we really wanted to see etc). Chatted with people around us. Did some pin trading (that's fun - get yourself a lanyard & trade pins with the Cast Members who work there... that's a whole 'nother story). Anyway, we sat near the back between the 2 Mickey Mouse signs (in other words in the middle of the theatre seating). It was a great spot as we had a good view & we got up just as the finalee was taking place so we could slip out & beat the crowds to get out of the park. We got seats on the bus & it was great. Have fun.

 

[cdntourguide]

The only bad thing about Fantasmic is the long walk to the Amphitheatre and the long walk back out.
Seating/viewing is good from anywhere in the stands. The aluminum seats can be a little cool at night (you might want to take a sweater to sit on)

Excellent (free) show, I see it at least twice on each trip to WDW. Have not used the dinner package in nearly three years, and still get good seating. I also do not wait in line for an hour. I usually show up at 30minutes before the show starts.
If you have a few children or many adults in your group, I would suggest going as early as possible.

 

[jrasmom]

So...I'm jumping in here. We're going in Sept (which seems to be popular with everyone else here) we will have the dining plan so should we get ADR for a place near the theater to guarantee we will get in with our 3 kids (one can sit on our lap, possibly even 2 of them could)?

Could you recommend restaurants nearby that would be good with the kids? We don't need extravagant food or anything. Possibly even somewhere we could get counter service then just go sit in the theater and eat while we wait?

 

[happypooh]

I haven't seen this show and was wondering if people think it is scary at all??? I'm not really into "bad guy" characters and even the part of wishes that has the scary witch part in it kinda freaks me out alittle (ok I'm a wimp! I even have a butterfly phobia - there I've said it all!) Is this still something I should see? I'll be with a 20month old,4,8 and 10 year old and a couple of adults and initially planned on a fantasmic package but am having second thoughts....

 

[Robo]

I haven't seen this show and was wondering if people think it is scary at all??? I'm not really into "bad guy" characters and even the part of wishes that has the scary witch part in it kinda freaks me out alittle

Fantasmic! has ALL the villians and is designed to be very frightening (certainly compared to all the other shows at WDW.)

Hot flames on the water, a giant fire-breathing dragon, huge snake with spotlight eyes, Monstro the whale slapping giant plumes of water towards the audience, a TOWERING witch, and many more surprising effects.

If you don't like the "scary" parts of WISHES (for heaven's sake).... steer clear of Fantasmic!

OTOH, I would never miss it... I love this show.

 

[Cinderellie]

jrasmom - There are lots of counterservice/quick bite places on Sunset Boulevard just before you go down the pathway leading to the amphitheater. There are places to buy McDonalds Fries, fresh fruit, pretzels, drinks, salads, cheeseburgers, etc. We took the time to get some of the famous smoked Turkey Legs at Toluca Legs Turkey Co & ice cream cones at Hollywood Scoops. I think the idea of buying some stuff & carrying it in to eat while you wait is a great one (as long as you have enough hands to carry it while still watching the little ones etc). There is also a stand at the back of the Amphitheater that sells things, but I didn't notice what. I'm sure you could get your drinks there if nothing else.

happypooh - I say just go! I asked my 12 year old if she thought it was scary & she said no. Although she admitted a couple of unexpected parts that made her jump & a part with a big snake. She summed it up by saying "Any scariness is far outweighed by fun & coolness." It is true that "Socerer Mickey battles Disney villains" but if you don't like what you see for a minute, close your eyes & ask your neighbour to tell you when it's gone. This is a good show. I think you'll like it.

 

[Robo]

So...I'm jumping in here. We're going in Sept (which seems to be popular with everyone else here) we will have the dining plan so should we get ADR for a place near the theater to guarantee we will get in with our 3 kids (one can sit on our lap, possibly even 2 of them could)?

Could you recommend restaurants nearby that would be good with the kids? We don't need extravagant food or anything. Possibly even somewhere we could get counter service then just go sit in the theater and eat while we wait?

We always plan to eat our evening "meal" IN the Fantasmic! theater.
They have "baseball staduim"-type concession stands IN the theater.
We have a hot dog and a giant pretzel and some soft drinks in our seats as we wait. (There's even beer, sold strictly one-at-a-time, one-to-an-adult).
Just outside the theater entrance is the large "food court".
You are allowed to carry in food from there as well, but remember that its a LONG WAY up the sidewalk from there to the theater itself.

 

[Robo]

We are going in August. I will be sure to get there early.
We love to watch fireworks. Thanks for all the replys.
It was a great help!

To describe Fantasmic! as a "fireworks" show is inaccurate and totally inadequate (although I have been guilty of doing this myself many times).

It has the smallest amount of fireworks of any of the night shows at WDW.
But its SO MUCH MORE than a musical show "with fireworks" that it truly defies description.

Read all the descriptions of it (use GOOGLE) and you still won't understand its scope until you experience it yourself.

Then, YOU just TRY to adequately describe it... its not easy.

 

[bookgirl2632]

For those that have been there in off peak times, how is the line for Fantasmic? I'm going in September and am trying to judge when I should get in line. Is an hour sufficient?

 

[Robo]

For those that have been there in off peak times, how is the line for Fantasmic? I'm going in September and am trying to judge when I should get in line. Is an hour sufficient?

There is no "LINE" for Fantasmic! (at least for the first show).

The theater is "opened" about 60-90 before show-time and guests can just walk into the theater and pick a seat.

About an hour before show-time is a great "rule-of-thumb" for any time of year.
If its a BUSY park, you'll still find very good seats at that time.
If its a lower-attendance time, you'll find GREAT seats (front-row or really ANYWHERE) by an hour before.

If there's a SECOND show of the evening, if you arrive a hour early there WILL be a "line".
That's because they hold guests back from entering while the CMs clean the theater after the first show.
But don't worry, once they start letting guests enter, the theater will not be full by any means. The second show virtually never "sells out" even when the park is busy.