Fantasmic or Illuminations--can only do one!

[tINK the real pixie]

Fantasmic all the way, here's why...

I went to WDW last year and I had just turned 14 years old. I've seen Fantasmic sooo many times in DLR so I wasn't too excited to see it. The first night or so, I saw Illuminations and I wanted to leave a couple minutes into the show. Of course, my parents wanted me to watch the whole thing so I could possibly get the full effect.
The next night or so, I went and saw Fantasmic and I was blown away. I don't know what it is about Fantasmic, maybe it is the colors, music, water screens... whatever, but I just loved it so much! As my parents are scheduling another trip to WDW, I'm making sure Fantasmic is on the list of things to do!

So I say Fantasmic, always and forever, but which ever you choose, you'll have a great trip!!!

 

[Stittsville]

My family preferred Fantasmic. Sitting is nice, particularily with children. We even enjoyed the wait for the show. People were buying or bringing all sorts of glow in the dark items, so even the crowd looked great! And crowd got "The Wave" going, something my children had not been in before, but really enjoyed doing.

 

[Rudegrle]

Illuminations!!!

Unless you want to spend an evening w/ the roaches, then Fantasmic is all yours

 

[ldadar]

I just got back Friday from a 4 night trip. We took 3 kids-1, 3, and 12. For me, this is a no-brainer. Fantasmic is incredible. (Of course, I didn't see any roaches...)

btw-this is my first post.

 

[ldadar]

My family preferred Fantasmic. Sitting is nice, particularily with children. We even enjoyed the wait for the show. People were buying or bringing all sorts of glow in the dark items, so even the crowd looked great! And crowd got "The Wave" going, something my children had not been in before, but really enjoyed doing.

Definitely byo light up/glow toys.

 

[enyaj40]

at this time, i've only ever seen illuminations and would not give it up to see fantasmic

 

[byoung]

We are going to WDW the first week of April...thinking of illuminations or fantasmic on a Thursday night.

Fantasmic is at 8:30pm on April 3 and IllumiNations is at 9:00pm so you will not be able to see both then. Sometimes Fastasmic has 2 shows one at 7 and one at 8:30. Then you can see both in the same night.

 

[seobaina]

I love them both but Fantasmic! is my MUST SEE!

 

[enyaj40]

Illuminations!!!

Unless you want to spend an evening w/ the roaches, then Fantasmic is all yours

what?

 

[mjf2wdw]

Both shows are great to see and whichever you choose, you will not be disappointed. Word of advice, If the weather looks like anything could go wrong, rain windy etc, Fantasmic is cancelled far more often than Illuminations. Also depending on how tired the children are, If you see Fantasmic and at the end head for the boat to Epcot, You will be able to catch both in one night, but it may be a frantic trip. We have done it many times but without children. Have fun

 

[jeni16]

I would pick Fantasmic hands down. DH & I enjoyed this much more than Illuminations.

 

[SunShineGurl]

just saw both illuminations and fantasmic the first week of January and if I had small children, I would choose Fantasmic. The show was packed and there was a lot of excitement. People were singing along with the pre-program music and they did the wave as well. The water effects are awesome! There were small children sitting around us and they were so amazed by the water screens. And then Mickey!!! Everyone was caught up in the excitement.

the main criticism I had was the amount of time spent in the story with Pocahontas,as it takes a little away from the idea or theme of Mickey and his dream turning into a scary dream with a happy ending.

Illuminations is a beautiful show, but, it can be hard to get a good viewing area, especially for small children. It does not last as long. You also don't have to wait as long to get out of the park.

Leaving Fantasmic can be torture. I think it took us thirty minutes to get out into the park. I saw some families who really knew what to expect and while everyone was shuffling out, they were sitting back and having a snack and waiting for the crowd to die down. That was a lot better than the family who was trying to push past us and others with a two-year old in arms and dragging a three-year-old, yelling at him to "keep up or he'll get lost". yikes!

all in all - Fantasmic gets our families vote 3-1.

 

[Rudegrle]

what?

Yup, ROACHES!!! They were all over and I was freeked out. It was a super hot evening and I was enjoying a nice cold beer during Fantasmic when my friend stopped me from placing my cup on the ground to point out all of the creepy buggers. All I could focus on were roaches, Roaches, ROACHES for the entire show. We would've gotten up and left, but we were in the middle of a row w/ lots of little kids and no easy escape was in sight. Thankfully I've been able to enjoy Fantasmic raoch free in the past, so I wasn't missing much.

 

[wilda]

Fantasmic gets my vote as well!

 

[SGMCO]

I Love Fantasmic!!!

I'm a Adult and found Illumanations Boring too!

I love the special effects that are in Fantasmic
and that you can sit down on benchs.
With Illumanations we had to sit on the sidewalkto watch it.