Fantasmic to be cut to two shows per week

[King Triton]

This is not good. The Fantasmic Dinner package will sell out five years before your trip.

 

[Dznefreek]

This is simply incorrect.... I know for a fact that it ran every night in January of 07 and 08 weather permitting

but what about all the other months and years . . . . . . . .It was run on selected nights in the past.

 

[DancingBear]

From the rumors I have heard the reason they are cutting Fantasmic back to two nights a week in Jan. is because of the opening of American Idol attraction and how much money they have put into it.

Boy, that's rich. Their funds have been depleted by the cost of opening a karaoke show (in an existing venue that's been empty for years)? Sure, they may have paid a bundle for the rights, but who asked 'em to?

But I'm sure that "guest surveys showed....."

 

[DancingBear]

but what about all the other months and years . . . . . . . .It was run on selected nights in the past.

When?

 

[DancingBear]

This is not good. The Fantasmic Dinner package will sell out five years before your trip.

And you'll be eating that dinner at 10:30 a.m.

 

[DancingBear]

Personally....WAY too crowded of a show....

But I thought they "aren't filling up the ampitheater"?

 

[DancingBear]

I have to say i'm not quite sure what to make of all the "concern" over Fantasmic. Yes it is a very good show, hwever i would never think of canceling a trip to WDW because of not being able to see a show, or a parade. I guess i get more of a kick out of actually being in WDW than just the glitz and glamor.

I don't understand how Fantasmic! is "just the glitz and glamor" of WDW. I thought it was part of the Show. Isn't the quality of the Show why you get a kick out of being in WDW? Or do you just like the central Florida heat, humidity and lack of topography?

 

[Dznefreek]

When?

Forgive me if I do not have week by week recall of the schedule since it has been opened, but I have been going since it debuted and distintcly remeber it not being shown every night in the beginning.

Remember Spectro and fireworks were not shown every night until the year long celebration for the 25th anniversary.

 

[Fantasmiss]

WHY would they cut back on such a POPULAR attraction as Fantasmic that's close to FULL pretty much every single day of the year?

I know, many performers, economy etc, but still.. FANTASMIC?? It's the best thing in the whole WDW by far and and.... Speechless!!!!

Cut down on Illumination instead, fireworks ain't cheap either.. or do less of stupid Idol.. Or cut back on pretty much anything else!

Fantasmic is THE ONLY ATTRACTION in WDW, that would make me not wanting to go to WDW at all if it wasn't on. 2 days a week is faaaar from enough and just imagine how busy it'll be and how early you'll have to be there to get a good space or even get in!

In fact I love it so much that my husband has tried to avoid me finding out about the cut back, I only found out now.

Ok, brainless rant over. For now!!

 

[Fantasmiss]

Oh no, you.. I hate the wave, LOVE Fantasmic. Just make the stupid wave illegal and arrest all the wave makers and it'll be pleeeenty of space for the rest of us and no noisy cheesy stupid wave!

(Sorry about my excessive use of smileys tonight, dunno what's wrong with me..)

Personally....WAY too crowded of a show, and that stupid "wave" thing they do. Mass hypnosis if you ask me. Can't stand when huge mobs of people all do the same ridiculous thing. Close it down, we could care less........ {IMHO, of course}

 

[bookwormde]

Just a little perspective, there were 10 shows last week. And the one I went to was full

bookwormde

 

[mitros]

Oh no, you.. I hate the wave, LOVE Fantasmic. Just make the stupid wave illegal and arrest all the wave makers and it'll be pleeeenty of space for the rest of us and no noisy cheesy stupid wave!

(Sorry about my excessive use of smileys tonight, dunno what's wrong with me..)

Wow, I thought we were the only ones that hated that stupid wave thing!

 

[c4a]

I got a private e about this thread asking what I am hearing from Disney (Directily)...and to reply.

Okay-here's the scoop. Yes, Fantasmic is going to Monday & Thursday nights starting in Sept. 2008.
Disney is stating that to produce one show costs almost $30 THOUSAND dollars-that is for staff, fireworks, saftety personnel, etc. They are recommending that all TA's "suggest the "New!American Idol" show as an alternative."
Disney may/may not have extra shows during "peak" season. At this point, they are not speculating either way...only saying that "It is a possibility."
As for the dinner/show preferred seating, Disney is offering "No Comment" at this time: however, they do not foresee this being an issue, either.
<Sidebar note: Disney truly believes that guests ARE wanting American Idol vs. Fantasmic. >

As for posts on room rates/DDPs-there really wasn't that big of a jump this year or a lot of changes. The addition of the new Counter Service Plan is children:$8.99 per night/per child, adult-$29.99 per night/per adult. Same rules apply as the other DDPs. Includes:2 meals (combo or entree), 2 snacks, refillable resort mug. The rest of the DDPs stayed the same. On rooms-in Jan. 2009-the Pirate Rooms are scheduled to open at Caribbean Beach Resort (Trinidad South-384 rooms-went up in price $25. standard/ $50 increase on a water view. Hoppers went up from $45 flat fee to $50 flat fee.

In the GRAND scheme of "doing Disney", it could have been worse.

 

[DisneyFanGuy]

I've seen Fantasmic on almost every trip for years. Sometimes multiple times. The theater has always been full, or almost full, so that argument doesn't really hold water. I'm convinced that Disney has a finite budget for evening entertainment, and that AI is the big push, and that leaves Fantasmic out in the dark. Pun intended.

Disneyland has often tried to cut back on Fantasmic over the years to reduce cost, and attendance has always suffered, and it has always come back. In fact they have added enhanced effects recently and are rumored to be ready to upgrade the mist projectors to a digital system that will be even better for the crowd. But they never really had an alternative.

AI will be new and it will be way cheaper to do. But the thing is, that I cannot imagine anything replacing Fantasmic in terms of spectacle, effects, and that Wow end of the day feeling. For this mousefanatic, I won't spend any time in the studios past about 5:00 PM anymore. My family loves the TOT, the GMR, RRC, and Fantasmic. Now probably TSM. But it will be like the AK.........in and out for us. None of us really have any desire to stay for the AI finale, although we may try out the show during the day.

Seriously, some of the biggest reasons that we love Disney are the end of the day spectaculars. ROE at epcot, Wishes at the MK, and Fantasmic. If those types of things begin to falter, then we will honestly go less and spend less. I can't predict how many people feel the same way, but you combine bone headed decisions like this with the new HP land at IOA, and our 10 year patterns of visits may change. It's like when we go camping. The day stuff is fun, but what we really love is the ending hours around the campfire. We don't visit campgrounds that don't allow campfires. Disney will lose some of our business. Unless they replace Fantasmic with something even better. I don't know what that would be, but I can tell you that AI, as good as it may be, won't be it for us.

I predict that within 12 months, Fantasmic will be back in full force. Disney DOES listen to guests, and they DO pay attention to attendance figures. But until then, I will sorely miss it on my visits. I'm looking at it like Early Entry. They took it away, and 18 months later it was back bigger and better than every. That's what will happen with Fantasmic. I hope.

 

[DisneyMom14]

I'm disappointed to hear of this decision. We've always gone to WDW during the slow season and have always seen Fantasmic in a full ampitheater. Fantasmic is definitely a must see for us and IMHO the best "show" at WDW. Showing Fantasmic only two nights a week will definitely dictate which days we will visit DHS and I cringe at what time I will have to get in line with my young children just to get a seat. I hated the wait time as it was. When I did get a seat, I had to entertain and keep my 3 year old from falling down the steps. I hope this decision doesn't last long and Disney realizes how important of a show Fantasmic is. Then again, full ampitheaters would have tipped me off.

 

[manning]

ya yes the old pay more get less is finding its way back in Disney's game plan. We own DVC and more and more other non-disney attractions are becoming the norm for us.

 

[KCmike]

for all the money we throw at disney parks you would think they would do more than just two shows per week. What an insult.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I was a CM at Fantasmic several years ago and I am so sad to hear this. For the record, Fantasmic never ran on selected nights only- there may have been a few nights it couldn't run due to weather or was cancelled if they were running the special fireworks instead, but there's never been a night they didn't have a nighttime spectacular scheduled.

When I worked (August-January) there were some nights we only had one show- sometimes it didn't go into standing room, but those were very rare. On busier nights we had two or even THREE shows a night!! To cut back to two shows a week, when I remember three in a night, just boggles my mind!!

OTOH, on busy nights, that theatre can get crazy and (dare I say) violent. For example, the first show would start at (say) 7 pm- we would have ten or so people in line when we arrived there for our pre-show meeting at 4. Three hours in advance. I've seen fights, pushing, arguments, etc. all to get a seat. I've had people climb into the potted plants to get a seat. I can't imagine how much this all will increase if it's only twice a week. I can't imagine this working long term- maybe during very low attendance times, but otherwise, I'm honestly scared. It just seems like a bad idea.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

This is planned for January, I think, and I kind of don't think it will last very long. Either because it's planned that way, or because they just discover that they need to change it back.

 

[Zspa<3ariel]

I got a private e about this thread asking what I am hearing from Disney (Directily)...and to reply.

Okay-here's the scoop. Yes, Fantasmic is going to Monday & Thursday nights starting in Sept. 2008.
Disney is stating that to produce one show costs almost $30 THOUSAND dollars-that is for staff, fireworks, saftety personnel, etc. They are recommending that all TA's "suggest the "New!American Idol" show as an alternative."
Disney may/may not have extra shows during "peak" season. At this point, they are not speculating either way...only saying that "It is a possibility."
As for the dinner/show preferred seating, Disney is offering "No Comment" at this time: however, they do not foresee this being an issue, either.
<Sidebar note: Disney truly believes that guests ARE wanting American Idol vs. Fantasmic. >

As for posts on room rates/DDPs-there really wasn't that big of a jump this year or a lot of changes. The addition of the new Counter Service Plan is children:$8.99 per night/per child, adult-$29.99 per night/per adult. Same rules apply as the other DDPs. Includes:2 meals (combo or entree), 2 snacks, refillable resort mug. The rest of the DDPs stayed the same. On rooms-in Jan. 2009-the Pirate Rooms are scheduled to open at Caribbean Beach Resort (Trinidad South-384 rooms-went up in price $25. standard/ $50 increase on a water view. Hoppers went up from $45 flat fee to $50 flat fee.

In the GRAND scheme of "doing Disney", it could have been worse.

Sept 2008? That can't be possible the offical calander on WDW.com states fantasmic is running weekly at 7pm all nights I believe or most nights rather. I believe its Jan 09 when this starts and I dont see it lasting past May 09 I have a feeling once spring/summer hits it'll be up to 5-7 shows a week