Fantasmic Question

[Tammy296]

We're going to WDW for our first visit in May 2007. We want to see Fantasmic but don't really care about going for a meal with it. Do we need to book Fantasmic ahead of time? How?

Thanks all!

Tammy

 

[Bob P]

If you are not doing the meal then no booking is needed, all you have to do is line up to see the show!

 

[bradk]

you can't book Fantasmic. the best you can do is get the dining package, which is roughly the same as if you were going to eat at one of the restaurants anyway (at least as far as the DDP is concerned).

without the FDP, you have to stand in line with most everyone else.

 

[QuickGold]

You don't need the Fantasmic! Dining Plan and I don't think you'll need it anyway.

 

[Robo]

Do we need to book Fantasmic ahead of time?

Nope, no booking.

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 MGM on that day, and the general crowd LEVELS.
How much time you wish to "invest" in waiting is a personal decision. We never do 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 holds about 7,000 guests.)

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).

 

[phoenixhazard]

nope, its just an open seating show. you should try to be there 1 hour if you want a decent seat. i usually come 20min before show and am stuck on the far left, you can still see quite well though.

 

[minijeanie]

we usually show up 20 minutes before the show and always have had great seats.

I think wherever you sit you can see.

Personally I would not wait 1 hour ahead of time to see a show just so you can have center seats.

I think Fantasmic is great because you can enjoy the entire show from wherever you sit

 

[Harambe]

we usually show up 20 minutes before the show and always have had great seats.

I think wherever you sit you can see.

Personally I would not wait 1 hour ahead of time to see a show just so you can have center seats.

I think Fantasmic is great because you can enjoy the entire show from wherever you sit

Agree with minijeanie on this. We've never done the meal pkg., and have always gotten perfectly fine seats going about a half-hour before the show. We buy ice cream from the vendor that's right across from the entrance, find seats, and enjoy our Mickey Bars before the show!

I love Fantasmic!