Fantasmic or star wars fireworks?

[DanieB]

Hoping to get some feedback about which night time entertainment you would pick with just one night at HS. And why? We are taking our three young children (ages 7, 3, and 18 months). We have seen Fantasmic once in Disneyland and enjoyed it. This will be our first time visiting HS. I’m interested in opinions on the shows, as well as, ease of seeing each and the time commitment involved since we have three littles with us. Also, I know some people attempt to do both. We are just not in the quick and rushing season so that’s not an option we can try just yet. Thanks for the help!

 

[hiroMYhero]

which night time entertainment you would pick with just one night at HS. And why?

Because you’ve watched DL’s Fantasmic, I’d choose SW fireworks. I believe you’d be disappointed in choosing WDW Fant over the fireworks.

My CM friend performs in Fantasmic at WDW but always watches DL’s Fantasmic whenever she visits DL. The shows are quite different and DL’s is more intimate and impressive.

Just be sure to search out a good spot to watch the SW projections and fireworks.

 

[DanieB]

Because you’ve watched DL’s Fantasmic, I’d choose SW fireworks. I believe you’d be disappointed in choosing WDW Fant over the fireworks.

My CM friend performs in Fantasmic at WDW but always watches DL’s Fantasmic whenever she visits DL. The shows are quite different and DL’s is more intimate and impressive.

Just be sure to search out a good spot to watch the SW projections and fireworks.

Should we be searching for a spot super early?

 

[HydroGuy]

Hoping to get some feedback about which night time entertainment you would pick with just one night at HS. And why? We are taking our three young children (ages 7, 3, and 18 months). We have seen Fantasmic once in Disneyland and enjoyed it. This will be our first time visiting HS. I’m interested in opinions on the shows, as well as, ease of seeing each and the time commitment involved since we have three littles with us. Also, I know some people attempt to do both. We are just not in the quick and rushing season so that’s not an option we can try just yet. Thanks for the help!

As a DLR regular, I have seen F! at DHS twice and promised myself to never do it again. I am spoiled by the DL version - even without stadium seating!

So the default answer is do whatever is not F! Now, if you have not seen the DL version, I still would pick SW show over F! at DHS. My two cents. I have only seen the SW show once but thought it was very cool.

I think the time commitment is roughly the same, maybe a bit less with the SW show.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Should we be searching for a spot super early?

What time of year will you be in DHS?

@yulilin3 has info in her SW thread:
**Official** Fireworks Viewing

 

[DanieB]

What time of year will you be in DHS?

@yulilin3 has info in her SW thread:
**Official** Fireworks Viewing

We are going the beginning of June. Thank you for the link I will check that out now!

 

[DanieB]

As a DLR regular, I have seen F! at DHS twice and promised myself to never do it again. I am spoiled by the DL version - even without stadium seating!

So the default answer is do whatever is not F! Now, if you have not seen the DL version, I still would pick SW show over F! at DHS. My two cents. I have only seen the SW show once but thought it was very cool.

I think the time commitment is roughly the same, maybe a bit less with the SW show.

Thanks! We loved Fantasmic at dL... it was really an amazing show. Sounds like dhs version might be disappointing in comparison. Thanks for the input!

 

[Tony Toon]

We've not seen Fantasmic at DL since 1997 so can't compare with the current one being shown but love Fantasmic at DHS despite having seen it multiple times. We have seen SW and are not fans I'm afraid - wouldn't bother going again and left in January as it was showing.

Mrs TT

 

[glocon]

We’ve done both and LOVEd the SW fireworks. And the SW dessert party as well. Definitely prefer it over F!.

 

[CAS239]

I prefer the SW show over Fantasmic, but they're both excellent. If their spread more than 30 min apart you can catch both shows.

For SW we usually grab a spot about 30-45 min prior to showtime. As long as you have a clear view of the Chinese Theater you'll be good

 

[DanieB]

We've not seen Fantasmic at DL since 1997 so can't compare with the current one being shown but love Fantasmic at DHS despite having seen it multiple times. We have seen SW and are not fans I'm afraid - wouldn't bother going again and left in January as it was showing.

Mrs TT

Any particular reason the sw fireworks didn’t appeal to you? Just trying to make a best guess as to which the kids will like better.

 

[DanieB]

I prefer the SW show over Fantasmic, but they're both excellent. If their spread more than 30 min apart you can catch both shows.

For SW we usually grab a spot about 30-45 min prior to showtime. As long as you have a clear view of the Chinese Theater you'll be good

Thanks for the advice on timing/location. 30-45 min isn’t too bad. I Think if we grab snacks before that will distract the kids for at least some of the wait!

 

[jacobsmommy]

Won't there be a new projection show at DHS instead of Star Wars by then?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Won't there be a new projection show at DHS instead of Star Wars by then?

Disney won’t stop blatant Star Wars PR before SW:GE opens.

 

[gharter]

if you haven't seen Fantasmic at WDW, I would see it once. While not as good as DL, it still is very good.
While I like the SW evening show, it is mainly projection with some fireworks. It was fun to watch, but we were one and done.

I believe this fall, there is a new projection show before the SW show, but not replacing it.

 

[only hope]

It depends on what you like. If the kids are huge SW fans and not big character fans, then SW is probably better.

The SW show is movie images projected onto the theater set to music, with some lasers, and with a very few very small fireworks. To get a good view you’d need to get there at least 30mn early. To get a view on non-insane nights (probably from the street) you can just show up a few minutes beforehand but with short kids you’ll probably want to show up a bit earlier.

Since your group does not consist of die-hard DL Fantasmic people who have seen the show dozens of times, you’ll probably enjoy ours if you like DL’s. The seating is a huge plus. There are a few scenes that are different. What used to be a Peter Pan scene and is now Pirates at DL is a Pocahantus scene here. The show boat is a let down compared to DL, but it is still an excellent show. It’s usually pretty easy to grab a fp in the early evening for it, in which case you need to be at the tap point between 25-40 minutes before showtime. You are not guaranteed a seat if you tap in late. It takes a few minutes to get to the tap point after entering the walkway by the Beauty and the Beast theatre. If you’re doing standby, I would arrive at the entrance to the long walk to the theater 30 minutes early at the latest; sooner if it seems to be a crowded day.

 

[TillyDe]

The new show starts is May. http://orlando-rising.com/new-projection-show-coming-to-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I think in June the shows could be an hour apart. Which would mean it is easy to see both, though you won't get that great a viewing spot.

We prefer F! by far. Projection shows only do so much for us, and lasers and a few fireworks aren't enough. Plus the waiting in a good viewing spot is hard as you are in the middle of a concrete plaza with nothing to sit on but the floor. Also harder to save spots for snack restroom trips.

F! has seating which makes waiting and snack/ restroom seat saving easy.

 

[DduzDis]

Leaving the park after SW fireworks may be a LOT easier than exiting from F! as well. We have done both SW fireworks and F! at DHS and like both. Also we did a dessert party for F! and got pretty decent seating with that. I'd probably preview both on Youtube and see what you like better.

 

[Tony Toon]

Any particular reason the sw fireworks didn’t appeal to you? Just trying to make a best guess as to which the kids will like better.

We watched SW in January 2018 and have walked past it since. For us it was just a projection show of some Star Wars scenes with lasers and a few fireworks thrown in. Picking up the sound from the SW scenes was very dependant on where you were standing in relation to the speakers. We aren't great SW fans and in comparison with other projection show elsewhere on property (MK for example) it lacked the wow factor for us and was certainly not worth standing and waiting for. The music, live action, projections, lasers and fireworks of Fantasmic (not to mention the amphitheatre with good sound and seating) make it a must see for us every visit.

Mrs TT