Fantasmic questions!?!?

[2littleprincesses]

Ok ydd really wants to see this this year. How early do we line up? When would be the better day--Thursday Aug 19 at 9 or Sunday Aug 22 at 9 or Tuesday Aug 24 at 8:30?

 

[Robo]

Ok ydd really wants to see this this year.

1- How early do we line up?

2- When would be the better day--Thursday Aug 19 at 9 or Sunday Aug 22 at 9 or Tuesday Aug 24 at 8:30?

1- 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 DHS on that day, and the general crowd LEVELS.
How much time you wish to "invest" in waiting is a personal decision. We have never done 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: Outside seats likely still available.
30-40 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Yes, the lines can start forming over 2 hours before the show-time.

At about 120 min. before show-time, they will open the gates and begin allowing guests in line to approach the theater seating.

(See my maps. It is a very long ramp.)

They will continue with the lines of guests walking in until the theater is completely filled or the show begins, whichever comes first.

They will "hold open" the Dining Pkg. seating area ONLY for guests who have the Dining Pkg. voucher.

BUT, if the theater is over-crowded (a very likely scenario in 2009)
then, at about 35 min. before show-time,
the CM's will cease holding the DP area open for DP voucher guests
and, at that time, begin to allow ANYONE
who still needs a seat to sit in (any seats left) the DP area.


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.
60 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 30-50 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

Dining Package:
New Dining Pkg. Entrance was added in mid-Sept. 2009.
If you do the Fantasmic! Dinner Pkg. you still SHOULD enter by AT LEAST 35-45 minutes ("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 (generally, 45-60 minutes) and still find a seat.
(Some say less advance time will be needed, but I'm cautious.)


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 seats over 7,000 guests.)

When you enter the theater, there will be CMs along the way directing the flow of traffic, but you may (if you are early enough to have a choice) simply choose any open seats in the theater to be your own.
If you want to exit more quickly, choose a seat farther back and to towards audience-right.
If you want to be immersed in the show (and sometimes, immersed in water-mist, if the wind is blowing "in") choose a seat towards the front.

We like to eat our evening meal while waiting for Fantasmic! to start.
You can bring in items from the counter-service places in DHS, 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).
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_fan.htm
Click above for the "menu."

But, nothing ALWAYS happens the same way at WDW.
I would be cautious about assuming anything, as WDW has been experiencing
unpredictable (sometimes record-breaking) crowds even over the past couple of years.

If its IMPORTANT to see a particular show, arriving a bit too early will be better than arriving a bit late.

If its not a really big deal to see a particular show, you may certainly arrive closer to show-time and just see if you get lucky.
Many folks do.

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2- Which day to go would be a toss-up, I'm afraid.
Also, expect Disney to ADD performances of F! as the actual dates get closer.
That has been their modus operandi since Jan. 2009.

 

[MandyMaloo]

I've always heard that if there are 2 shows, try to go to the later one (I'm not sure if that's what you were asking or not). As far as lining up early, we were there an hour in advance. We got excellent seats, and I'll tell ya that place filled up FAST!!! It's an amazing show though- totally worth it in my mind.

Have an excellent time!!

 

[bkoehl]

We always get there about an hour before, grab food inside (hot dogs) or if in the mood for something more adventurous (hamburgers and chicken fingers ) one of us goes back out and brings it back. If you ask a cast member before leaving they will give you a special pass to come in the "secret" entrance by ToT and you can avoid the long regular line.

 

[squirrel]

My guess would be Sunday. MK is open late and should have an EMH. That should draw some people over to that park.

Since I didn't look at the park hours for August. That would be my best guess.

 

[Gelfling_Jen]

We always get there about an hour before, grab food inside (hot dogs) or if in the mood for something more adventurous (hamburgers and chicken fingers ) one of us goes back out and brings it back. If you ask a cast member before leaving they will give you a special pass to come in the "secret" entrance by ToT and you can avoid the long regular line.

Is the special pass a pretty standard thing they give out and is it easy to find to get back in? I've never been to the show before so I apologize ahead of time if these are obvious questions. Thanks!

 

[bkoehl]

Is the special pass a pretty standard thing they give out and is it easy to find to get back in? I've never been to the show before so I apologize ahead of time if these are obvious questions. Thanks!

If you start walking back out the way you came in there are usually CMs standing around where the railings end, I think it is near the bathrooms and stroller parking. Just ask them and they will give you the pass and show you the path that takes you in and out by ToT. I have used this 4 different times, last being during Easter week and never had a problem. Actually the first time I got it I didn't even know there was such a thing; a CM noticed me leaving and just handed it to me!

 

[SweetMommy]

Ok ydd really wants to see this this year. How early do we line up? When would be the better day--Thursday Aug 19 at 9 or Sunday Aug 22 at 9 or Tuesday Aug 24 at 8:30?

I just wanted to point out that the show on Aug 22 is at 8:30pm..........we are attending that show as well

 

[2littleprincesses]

Wow, thanks for all the great info. Can you save seats (will this get me in trouble?) or is it just to get up for snacks/bathroom?

 

[Robo]

Wow, thanks for all the great info. Can you save seats (will this get me in trouble?) or is it just to get up for snacks/bathroom?

It's impractical to try to save seats at F!

On many nights, the late-arrivers may not:
A-actually be admitted to the theater due to over-crowding
B-not be able to find you in the churning mass

Your entire group really needs to come in together.

 

[Autin]

Does anyone know if they have they stopped adding a second Fantasmic show for June or if they simply have stopped updating the official calendar? Throughout May, the calendar @ disneyworld.disney.go.com showed two shows, but now has only one show throughout June.

 

[Robo]

Does anyone know if they have they stopped adding a second Fantasmic show for June or if they simply have stopped updating the official calendar? Throughout May, the calendar @ disneyworld.disney.go.com showed two shows, but now has only one show throughout June.

Keep checking, and re-checking, even while you are at WDW.

Disney has been known to add shows as late as the actual DAY of performance.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

We're going in 18 days and are hoping that they add a second show on our DHS day; it would make our day much less hectic.

 

[leebee]

We've sat in a dozen different places for Fantasmic over the years, including the standing-room-only section way in the back. EVERY time we've seen the show, it's been great! You get a different perspective on the show from the different seating areas. The only places that I would suggest you avoid trying to sit are the very edge sections to the left and right (ironically where the dinner package seating is); these seats are too far out to the side and you don't get to see as much of the show- but a lot of the stuff that is lining up to come out on to the river, if you KWIM.

I believe the stadium holds 10,000 people. We never line up more than 60 minutes in advance and, depending on the season/crowd level, have never had a problem getting a decent seat. The one time we ended up in sro was because we had decided not to go to F! and changed our minds about 10 mins before showtime!

 

[Robo]

We never line up more than 60 minutes in advance and, depending on the season/crowd level, have never had a problem getting a decent seat.

To be clear, since they have cut the number of shows from every-night-of-the-week down to as few as 2-4 shows per week, there are many nights during the year when arriving an hour before show-time will not even get you into the theater.

On other nights, you can be OK.

Predicting which will happen on which performances on the night(s) you are there is the problem.

 

[sherbet]

Im a little confused here. First time to go in December. I was under the impression that Fantasmic was a parade? Obviously its not, can someone explain this popular show, we dont need tickets do we ? Thanks for your help!

 

[MandyMaloo]

It's part water show, part live action performance, part musical and park fireworks. In my opnion it's one of the the best shows at Disney!

If you want to take a look, you can see if here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3QOy3-7_qw. Otherwise, it's really a great thing to be suprised at!

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

They will continue with the lines of guests walking in until the theater is completely filled or the show begins, whichever comes first.

They will "hold open" the Dining Pkg. seating area ONLY for guests who have the Dining Pkg. voucher.

BUT, if the theater is over-crowded (a very likely scenario in 2009)
then, at about 35 min. before show-time,
the CM's will cease holding the DP area open for DP voucher guests
and, at that time, begin to allow ANYONE
who still needs a seat to sit in (any seats left) the DP area.

Dining Package:
New Dining Pkg. Entrance was added in mid-Sept. 2009.
If you do the Fantasmic! Dinner Pkg. you still SHOULD enter by AT LEAST 35-45 minutes ("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.


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Thank you for the maps, I wish they had not moved the dinner package entrance from the front of the park by Oscar's I wonder how congested it will get at that entrance now being so close to the general audience entrance? Has anyone noticed this when going?