Fantasmic Show at DHS - Too scary?

[lmf1122]

I'm trying to decide whether or not to reserve the Fantasmic Dinner Package for our trip in Nov. What is the show like? Will it be too scary for my 2 DDs, age 6 and almost 3? My oldest does seem to be easily frightened.

Also, if I book the package, what restaurant do you recommend for our family - Brown Derby, Mama Melrose, or Hollywood & Vine? We will have the DDP, so the price doesn't matter.

 

[rebecca314]

My DS 4 and DD 5 got a little scared last week. There are loud booms from fireworks and there's a part when the water is all aflame and it gets pretty hot. I'd sit up on a top row with the little ones.

In terms of value, if you are on the DDP, dinner at Mama Melrose's is a good deal. Appetizers, which normally are not included, do come with the package, plus the tickets to the special entrance. All that for the standard 1TS credit.

 

[Fingerpaints]

I loved Mama Melrose.

Fantasmic was kind of dark for my kids. They didn't like it at all. They were 3 and 2 at the time. When we go back we are going to skip it altogether. It was pretty cool. I liked the effects, but the kids just weren't into it.

 

[mommytoone]

I was wondering this myself. My DD is 7 and she does not like loud things like the booms from fireworks. Should we skip this as well? I have no idea what this is all about, have never been to it. I made a ressie at H&V for this show but am having second thoughts. Should I cancel?

 

[xominnieox2]

My little guys first saw it when they were 2 &4. It is very loud. My advice is to bring ear plugs. We've done this ever since and it works great. We buy the orange swimming ones, they are easy to use. Sit on top if you think you'll need to exit quickly.
We ate at Mama Melrose last year and it was one of our favorite meals!!

 

[wife5080]

My DD was 6 when we saw the show last and she HATED it. She does not like loud noises at all, we watch fireworks from inside our car. We had to leave shortly after the show started because she was very upset. We are going back to WDW in June and DD, now 11, is asking to see Fantasmic.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

We took DD when she was just shy of 3 and she HATED it. It scared it and the booms and fire really terrified her. We didn't even dare to go last year. This year she is claiming she is old enough. We will see, she will be 5 by the time we go.

 

[KEMdisney]

Just wanted to add my two sense since everyone seemed to be leaning towards the negative side.

i was there with my nephew and niece ages 4, 6 at the time and they both really enjoyed the show! I warned them from the beginning that it got a little dark, and a little scarey at times. I also told them that Mickey always saves the day, so not to be too scared! During the 'scarey' points they were a little weary, but to see their glowing faces during the finale and hearing them chear for Mickey was just priceless!
Im going in June with younger children this time, a one year old and three two year olds, and Im hoping they are okay!

Id say give it a shot, you can always leave I suppose.

 

[brymolmom]

My dd (3 last time we tried it) hates fantasmic. It's not worth it for us to even try again for a few more years as no one in the family absolutely loves it. DS 4 at the time - was pretty scared too although he didn't scream and cry like his sister.

Not worth it for us.

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

Fantasmic is Fantastic! lol
No, really, my kids 6 and 10 did it for the first time when they were little and they have always loved it!

 

[kg66]

It took us 3 trips to see it as a family The first 2 times my DDthen 4 and 5 cried and I had to leave immediately. The 3rd time we were with another family in 2007 and she sat through the whole thing. She has asked to go again this year. It is a loud show as others have said, some villain type stuff, fire, loud music(which can all lead to making surrounding other children cry)

 

[lindsmom]

There is a part where Maleficent (?) turns into a HUGE snake. At that point, DD6 buried her head in my shoulder and didn't look until the happy ending when I MADE her look

We wouldn't do this again, until DD is, oh, about 18...it is a wonderful show, just not for OUR daughter.

 

[lmf1122]

Thanks for your replies. I think we'll skip it this trip, especially reading that Maleficent (or someone similar) is in the show. My 6 year old is terrified of her and won't even look at pictures of her. Oh well, maybe she'll be OK in a few more years.

 

[TanyaS]

We just went with my DD (age 3) and my niece (2 1/2), and I really recommend glow sticks or a light-up spinning toy. My DD was a little scared, but I had her wave her glow sticks and chant "Go away scary guys!" and that kept things okay (no tears!). You might also tell the children that the show is about Mickey having a nightmare but then he will remember that it is HIS dream and he can make the bad guys go away.

We ate at Mama Melrose, DD had spaghetti and DS had pizza - the food was okay, but not outstanding. Last trip we ate at Hollywood and Vine and everyone in our family enjoyed their meal - it was all very basic mom's kitchen kind of foods - the deserts were very tasty though.

I would do the Fantasmic package. The only year we didn't we couldn't get seats and that was no fun.


Have a great trip!

 

[jessicas]

We went last year with my two girls (2 and 4). It was too dark, too scary with the fire and the entire show was of all the evil charachters of Disney. My girls were ready to go back to seeing Princesses after that one. Skip it until they are older.

 

[Grendalynn]

We went in April with my boys who are 1.5, 5 and then 8. They all/we all loved it!! They were not scared or frightened at all! They were on our laps (5 & 1.5) and dint seem a bit freaked out... We did the Fantasmic package and ate at Mama Melrose and went to the first show at 8pm. The meal was one of teh best meals on our entire trip. It was at 3:40 which I was worried would be too early, but we had an late breakfast, went into the park a little later than usual, being taht we would be there ALL day, ate a snack for "lunch" and had a huge meal at MM and we were all good to go! We didnt feel a bit rushed and were able to enjoy our meal and the day!

We did this on the DDP and had no out of pocket expenses. You get an appetizer, your meal and a dessert with this package which is nice, normally an app isnt included! Good luck!!

 

[nytimez]

I suspect the typical three-year-old might not like Fantasmic... maybe take her first to the "Dream Along With Mickey" show at MK (throughout the day) and see how she reacts to the appearance of Malificent and also the light pyrotechnics they do at the end of the show... just to get a sense of how she handles villains and explosions.

 

[tinklover74]

We went with DS and DD. At the time DS was 5 and DD 2.5...and she does not like loud things like fireworks and such, but they both loved it...we just had her cover her ears and she was fine. We went to mama melrose and loved that as well.

It is a wonderful show to see...we can't wait to see it again!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

You might also tell the children that the show is about Mickey having a nightmare but then he will remember that it is HIS dream and he can make the bad guys go away.

That's what we did when my niece and her 3 1/2 yr old DD came with us to WDW. W
Before it started, I explained to her that Mickey was dreaming and that we would get to see his bad dream. I told her that some scary things would happen in his bad dream and that the evil things would try to make his dream scary. But, then he would remember it was his dream and that he could make his dream about good things. She actually was familiar with bad dreams, as her mom said she had been waking up with nightmares a few times in the months before the trip.
She was kind of worried at first, but then she really got into it; her comments were really cute - about halfway thru, she said "I wish Mickey would wake up pretty soon. His dream is SCARY!" She only hid her head a few times for a few seconds at a time. During the scariest times, she kept saying, "Mickey, wake up" and at the end she was really happy for Mickey because he had suceeded in making his nightmare into a good dream.

It actually had a carryover into her own dreams. She told her mom that next time she had a bad dream, she was going to do what Mickey did!

 

[jessp1021]

I am actually shocked to see such negative reviews!! We went last year with a 4mo old and a 6yr old and both loved it! Well actually the baby slept through the whole thing lol!! I would reccommend bringing glow sticks that way if they do get frightened they have those with them!