Fantasmic vs Star Wars Fireworks at HS

[ilovetotravel1977]

How do people manage getting from Fantasmic's 7pm show to the Star Wars fireworks that start at 7:45pm? Now that it is more of a projection show, I assume you need to be at a certain viewing location.

Is there a trick, or should I just pick one to attend?

 

[BrianL]

Unfortunately, it's not really feasible to do both in the same night. The timing is too narrow for you to get to a good viewing spot for Star Wars. Having two HS nights is the only real way.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

I figured as much.

Theoretically, we "could" do Fantasmic then beat everyone to the bus while they are watching the fireworks

 

[kamikazecat]

Will the Star Wars Fireworks still be running this summer? It has been a few years since we have been and they weren't there last time.

 

[cindyfan]

How do people manage getting from Fantasmic's 7pm show to the Star Wars fireworks that start at 7:45pm? Now that it is more of a projection show, I assume you need to be at a certain viewing location.

Is there a trick, or should I just pick one to attend?

When are you going? I am going the first week of March and plan to try and do both. I plan to head out of Fantasmic! before the very end and walk quickly to try and get a spot in front for Star Wars. The advantage I have this trip is I'm going solo. Not sure if I'd try it with a large group. But I can post here after and let you know how it went.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Is Fantasmic performed twice on any night of your trip? We've found it easy to get from the fireworks to Fantasmic2, and even fit in a couple of Tower rides in between. Fantasmic to fireworks seems tougher.

 

[yulilin3]

A couple of things and I have said this in other threads and on the SW thread:
Please, please, please don't leave before Fantasmic ends. It is distracting to the people around you trying to enjoy the show and also you will miss the best ending to a show at WDW. I also think that it is rude to the performers, even though they can't see you
If you only have 15 minutes between Fantasmic and SWaGS there is a way to watch the show but not the most ideal of spots, if you go all the way to the front of the Chinese Theater, and position yourself toward the left of the main entrance you will see fine the projections on the theater and the fireworks, you will miss the wide view of the show so it will be like watching a movie from the very front
If there are 2 F! shows then watch SWaGS first and then head over to F! you shouldn't have a problem getting s spot

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

When are you going? I am going the first week of March and plan to try and do both. I plan to head out of Fantasmic! before the very end and walk quickly to try and get a spot in front for Star Wars. The advantage I have this trip is I'm going solo. Not sure if I'd try it with a large group. But I can post here after and let you know how it went.

January 2018, so there is only one showing of Fantasmic at that time of year...I have seen it twice before, but have not seen the Star Wars fireworks. Also, we don't plan on using a second day at HS (only have base tickets, not hoppers).

 

[FastPasser]

.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

ITA. As someone who has been a stage performer and has a DD that is on stage regularly, its rude to get up and leave before a performance ends. Rude to other viewers, and rude to the performers. At DD's dance recital, they hire ushers to keep everyone out of the isles while dancers are on stage because people cannot seem to abide by stage etiquette even when reminded at the beginning of a performance. They hold anyone trying to enter or exit the seating area until a number is over.

 

[cindyfan]

Please, please, please don't leave before Fantasmic ends. It is distracting to the people around you trying to enjoy the show and also you will miss the best ending to a show at WDW. I also think that it is rude to the performers, even though they can't see you...

I realize it can be distracting if I was part of a larger group, etc. i did say I was going solo and I feel i am considerate enough to sit at the end and literally wait for the very last part of the music. I don't want to disturb anyone's enjoyment of one Of the best shows at WDW! Please don't take it that way. I am not going to be rude. But it's frustrating for Disney to schedule this way and force people to choose, as many people can't do 2 evenings at DHS.

 

[yulilin3]

I realize it can be distracting if I was part of a larger group, etc. i did say I was going solo and I feel i am considerate enough to sit at the end and literally wait for the very last part of the music. I don't want to disturb anyone's enjoyment of one Of the best shows at WDW! Please don't take it that way. I am not going to be rude. But it's frustrating for Disney to schedule this way and force people to choose, as many people can't do 2 evenings at DHS.

I understand that you are not trying to be rude and that you will take measures to not distract as much. What I am saying is that, like you, others are doing the same thing, and while one person getting up before the finale may not distract, when 20, 30 or 40 people o the same, it is. And yes, I also understand how frustrating the current schedule for both shows are, but they have their reasons to do it.

 

[cindyfan]

I understand that you are not trying to be rude and that you will take measures to not distract as much. What I am saying is that, like you, others are doing the same thing, and while one person getting up before the finale may not distract, when 20, 30 or 40 people o the same, it is. And yes, I also understand how frustrating the current schedule for both shows are, but they have their reasons to do it.

Just curious.... what you think their reasons are? There is not much left open at DHS now and these are 2 of the most popular attractions, so why would they schedule it so that the guest MUST choose? Seems to go against any guest service policy I can think of. Not trying to argue.... just curious!

 

[yulilin3]

Just curious.... what you think their reasons are? There is not much left open at DHS now and these are 2 of the most popular attractions, so why would they schedule it so that the guest MUST choose? Seems to go against any guest service policy I can think of. Not trying to argue.... just curious!

Traffic is one reason. If everyone has a chance to see the SWaGS after Fantasmic or vice versa, everyone leaves at the same time, there are only 3 lanes to exit, it's a traffic nightmare for everyone, including Disney buses
SWaGS has only a very small space with ideal viewing, if everyone had a chance to watch it there would not be enough space in the ideal section. As it is, with some people going to F! it creates better crowd management.

 

[nursejackie]

We managed it but only because the timings were different when we were there in December. We watched star wars fireworks at 6.15pm then went to the 8pm Fantasmic show. The star wars fireworks were supposed to be off during the Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam Christmas show was on but they reinstated them so it was a nice surprise to be able to do both in one night. You never know the timings for the shows may change. You know what Disney are like for doing that!

 

[Thiago Acquaviva]

Sad to hear about that! I never stop to think about it and it really should be hard to see both at the same night.
We're going now on February and we're going to do HS 2 times, so it's okay for us.
But I don't like the idea of people having to choose only one between the 2 shows since I know how hard it is to schedule a second visit to HS now that they don't have much rides and attractions to offer til the new lands are completed.

 

[DemoBri1]

When are you going? I am going the first week of March and plan to try and do both. I plan to head out of Fantasmic! before the very end and walk quickly to try and get a spot in front for Star Wars. The advantage I have this trip is I'm going solo. Not sure if I'd try it with a large group. But I can post here after and let you know how it went.

IF you do this you might be able to get a spot to see the projections somewhat, but the prime viewing spots will be long gone by the time you get there. We were at the studios right after new year's day and people were staking out spots in front of the theater prior to 6:00 for a 7:45 viewing. As I said you may be able to find a viewing location on the street but your view of the fireworks will be severely impacted.

 

[cindyfan]

It is simply crowd control that Disney schedules like this.... I get that. A fireworks/laser show is not conducive to where they have it now. I think a previous post pointed out the VERY limited number of spots to actually have a decent view. To keep it there.... they almost have to tear down half of Hollywood Blvd since it is so narrow and the buildings block almost everything, plus all the trees along the sides leading to the GMR. Hopefully once the back half of the park is done they will re-evaluate this.