Fantasmic on 2-Show Days?

[J-Dog]

Historically, has there been any significant difference in attendance rates between the early and late shows on days that Fantasmic has 2 shows? i.e. does the later show not require you to get in line as early as the early show?

And if so, is there any reason to suspect that it will be different now?

Thanks!

 

[teawar]

The second show has traditionally been less crowded. It’s still crowded, but you don’t usually have to wait as long…

 

[WEDWDW]

Not saying that it can't, but in the many times we have attended the second show,it never reached complete capacity.

(And very true for the third show back in the day.)

 

[J-Dog]

Thanks for the help. I'm debating whether it's worth keeping my Mama Melrose Fantasmic package, or giving up the package and going to Il Mulino, then heading back for the second show, if it's less crowded.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I think it’s going to be crazy packed.
Keep the package .

 

[projectx3]

For the second show, how far in advance should you line up? I realize it's a different ballgame right now since the show has been dark for several years... just trying to get a feel for things.

 

[WEDWDW]

Thanks for the help. I'm debating whether it's worth keeping my Mama Melrose Fantasmic package, or giving up the package and going to Il Mulino, then heading back for the second show, if it's less crowded.

I found these 2 reports from the F! Thread.

It takes A LOT of folks to max out 2 shows-around 20,000.

We went to the 9:30pm show on 11/4 and got to Sunset Blvd around 8:30pm. There was a bit of delay getting everyone into the ampitheater after the 1st show (I think the show started 10-15 mins late) so we were probably standing in the crush of people for at least 45-60 mins which was pretty brutal after a full day at DHS. We got great seats right in the middle (maybe 5th row), but I don't think the theater even filled all the way, so we could have probably showed up right at 9:30pm and still got a seat on one of the end sections. Good luck if you go!

My daughter works at HS, she went last night and got in line at 9:00 and walked in for the 9:30 show without a problem. Hoping the mad rush was just for the first night.
We saw it with her during a cast preview nd it was awesome!

 

[J-Dog]

I found these 2 reports from the F! Thread.

It takes A LOT of folks to max out 2 shows-around 20,000.

We went to the 9:30pm show on 11/4 and got to Sunset Blvd around 8:30pm. There was a bit of delay getting everyone into the ampitheater after the 1st show (I think the show started 10-15 mins late) so we were probably standing in the crush of people for at least 45-60 mins which was pretty brutal after a full day at DHS. We got great seats right in the middle (maybe 5th row), but I don't think the theater even filled all the way, so we could have probably showed up right at 9:30pm and still got a seat on one of the end sections. Good luck if you go!

My daughter works at HS, she went last night and got in line at 9:00 and walked in for the 9:30 show without a problem. Hoping the mad rush was just for the first night.
We saw it with her during a cast preview nd it was awesome!

Thanks so much for pulling that out. Maybe I will opt for the better Italian restaurant and cross our fingers about F!...

 

[Robber Baron]

Thanks for the help. I'm debating whether it's worth keeping my Mama Melrose Fantasmic package, or giving up the package and going to Il Mulino, then heading back for the second show, if it's less crowded.

I will always choose Il Mulino!!

 

[DavidNYC]

Not saying that it can't, but in the many times we have attended the second show,it never reached complete capacity.

(And very true for the third show back in the day.)

Was just there this weekend and was saying to myself on the one-show day that I thought I remembered three-show days but wasn't sure if I was imagining that. We did that third show many times back then and it was great. Maybe half full usually - could walk up 10 minutes in advance and get good seats. . . etc. You'll never see guest conveniences like that again . . .

And for the record - we were there this weekend at the 8pm show on the Friday (first single show day) didn't even fill until about 15 minutes prior (although I think the crowds were lower than expected due to the storm). I'd assume between now and X-mas season the 2nd show on 2 show days won't fill. Obviously the earlier you get there the better your seats but most seats are perfectly fine for this. You didn't say what date you were going but I really think you'd be fine without the package if it's not Xmas week. It's a huge theater. Don't think you're going to see filled 2nd shows other than peak times.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

We used the 2nd show strategy for years as the vast majority of guests will attend the early show. The park would close at 10 with Fantasmic performed at 9 and 10:30.

The crowd would start to build outside the theater entrance at 8 or even earlier, which was the perfect time for a 5 or 6 round Toy Story Mania tournament or several more rides on Tower of Terror. In fact, Tower would often stay open 10-15 minutes past the stated closing time if you needed another ride or two.

This still left plenty of time to stroll into the theater right at showtime. The amphitheater was rarely more than half full, and the last two sections on each end were generally roped off.

I hope it’s still that way after the newness wears off.

 

[projectx3]

You all are giving me hope for our Thanksgiving week trip! We've never seen Fantasmic and it sounds like the second show might actually be reasonable. Even if we need to arrive 30-45 minutes early, that's not bad. It's those folks that were waiting 2-3 hours that had me discouraged... hard pass on that!

 

[onegai]

I arrived at 9:24pm for the 9:30pm show today and it looked like this.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

I arrived at 9:24pm for the 9:30pm show today and it looked like this.

This is great too see. I was very disappointed with Disney not offering fantasimic dining package during one of the most busy week Thanksgiving break when we are going. If my son can stay up that late then this will be out plan.

 

[projectx3]

I arrived at 9:24pm for the 9:30pm show today and it looked like this.

That's great to see and I'm glad you had that experience. But keep in mind... it was a relatively slow weekday in November. I don't think you can bank on that most nights.

This is great too see. I was very disappointed with Disney not offering fantasimic dining package during one of the most busy week Thanksgiving break when we are going. If my son can stay up that late then this will be out plan.

Same here! Though I highly doubt this will be the scene Thanksgiving week. At least I feel optimistic it won't be an absolute cluster for that 9:00 showing like it has been for the single showings they had when it first opened.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

That's great to see and I'm glad you had that experience. But keep in mind... it was a relatively slow weekday in November. I don't think you can bank on that most nights.



Same here! Though I highly doubt this will be the scene Thanksgiving week. At least I feel optimistic it won't be an absolute cluster for that 9:00 showing like it has been for the single showings they had when it first opened.

We’ve watched the late showing of Fantasmic on New Years Eve as recently as 2019 and it wasn’t much more crowded than the picture shown above.

 

[WEDWDW]

Was just there this weekend and was saying to myself on the one-show day that I thought I remembered three-show days but wasn't sure if I was imagining that. We did that third show many times back then and it was great. Maybe half full usually - could walk up 10 minutes in advance and get good seats. . . etc. You'll never see guest conveniences like that again . . .

And for the record - we were there this weekend at the 8pm show on the Friday (first single show day) didn't even fill until about 15 minutes prior (although I think the crowds were lower than expected due to the storm). I'd assume between now and X-mas season the 2nd show on 2 show days won't fill. Obviously the earlier you get there the better your seats but most seats are perfectly fine for this. You didn't say what date you were going but I really think you'd be fine without the package if it's not Xmas week. It's a huge theater. Don't think you're going to see filled 2nd shows other than peak times.

And maybe not even than.

The 3 shows were cool-made it easy to see F! and IllumiNations and Wishes on the same night at times!

 

[AussieFan8]

I hope someone will report back on the crowds/wait time for the second show during Thanksgiving week! I currently have a Fantasmic dining package for the week before Christmas, but I'd like to drop it - our flight is scheduled to arrive just a few hours before our dining reservation, so I'm nervous about missing it and still having to pay for it.

 

[onegai]

I've been to three 9:30pm showings so far (weeknights) and none of them have filled up. The closest one to filling up was opening night 2 weeks back for regular guests and there were one bleacher section on each side still empty. There were decent crowds in the park last night (many ride wait times at 7pm were still 2 hour waits) and it definitely filled up at the 8pm showing.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

It’s good to hear that the traditional crowd patterns for Fantasmic are still intact.

On our next visit, we’ll try and see how many times we can hit Rise while the early show is going on. We did it 3 times in early summer while Fantasmic was closed, so I figure we can do more when the crowds have another distraction.