Fantasmic - What's the Rush?

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Are the FastPass+ seats for the show any good? I can't imagine blowing one here though unless they were giving them away late in the evening.

 

[Itinkso]

Are the FastPass+ seats for the show any good? I can't imagine blowing one here though unless they were giving them away late in the evening.

This is how they now load the amphitheater. Gates open for Dining, Fp+, and Standby guests one hour before showtime.

- Fp+ enter on the left side of the pathway and sit in the Fp+ area - all sections to the left of the Dining Package area are filled one by one with CMs overseeing this process.

- Standby guests enter on the right side of the pathway and veer to the right entrance. Each section to the right of Dining is filled one by one until the complete standby area is filled.

- Once standby is filled, all waiting standby guests are held in the entrance pathway until 5 minutes before showtime. At that time, they are allowed to fill in the Fp+ area.

 

[RalphinSC]

Seating for Fantasmic used to be a much bigger issue when they were limiting showings a couple of years ago. Some people still haven't caught on that there is a show virtually every night now and often two a night. I'm all for the 10:30 Fantasmic now and for shoiwing up to it at about 10:15. We did the F! package in 2011 and the seats left much to be desired. But this was when they were only showing it about three times a week and only once a night then.

 

[kellyjeanie]

We saw F! on a night with one showing, can't remember what time it was. After the show we waited for things to clear out a bit, had to retrieve the stroller, and headed for the bus at the tail end of the crowd. By the time we got to our bus line, it was really long. When the bus arrived, it looked like we just might make it on but it was so crowded, we decided to wait for the next one, which arrived within 10 minutes and we practically had it to ourselves. If we had rushed back to the bus we would have been one of the first ones on but packed in like sardines. Worked out great, I'm glad we waited!

 

[BudgieMama]

We did the F! package in 2011 and the seats left much to be desired. But this was when they were only showing it about three times a week and only once a night then.

I think they changed them. I've seen seating maps that put dining package guests right round on the sides, but have seen in numerous places and from numerous accounts that the seats now are front and central and really good for those using the Dining Package.

 

[sedaniel]

I had no idea so many people disliked Fantasmic... It confused me when my boyfriend said he doesn't really like it much because I loved it when we saw it in December! It was the first time I'd ever seen it though so that could explain things

 

[RalphinSC]

I think they changed them. I've seen seating maps that put dining package guests right round on the sides, but have seen in numerous places and from numerous accounts that the seats now are front and central and really good for those using the Dining Package.

Yeah, noticed they changed since we did the package. Now it's center-top instead of off to the far right.

 

[kidd_freeper]

When there are two shows in one night, the second one is always the best to go to.

When there is only one show, then it might be necessary to wait.

 

[ShannonMB]

The whole thing is pretty hilarious, but I must say I get wrapped up in it! It's like rope drop at Hollywood Studios, waiting at the rope in the direction of RnRC. Speed-walking like a zombie is chasing you to be one of the first in line, even if you could have walked at a leisurely pace and still had a 5 minute wait. I get a kick out of the adrenaline rush I guess. I am one of those people lined up for F! down at the entrance before they drop the first rope. This year, though, now that F! dining package seating is in the center instead of far right, I'm going to give it a whirl. Knowing me I'll still be amongst the first in line.

 

[Itinkso]

The whole thing is pretty hilarious, but I must say I get wrapped up in it! It's like rope drop at Hollywood Studios, waiting at the rope in the direction of RnRC. Speed-walking like a zombie is chasing you to be one of the first in line, even if you could have walked at a leisurely pace and still had a 5 minute wait. I get a kick out of the adrenaline rush I guess. I am one of those people lined up for F! down at the entrance before they drop the first rope. This year, though, now that F! dining package seating is in the center instead of far right, I'm going to give it a whirl. Knowing me I'll still be amongst the first in line.

Take your time! I noticed that most Diners arrived about 30 minutes before showtime. The two center sections are reserved for Dining - that's a huge amount of seating. And, the seating is heavily enforced by CMs and Managers so no Fp+ or Standby guests sneak in!

 

[ShannonMB]

Seating for Fantasmic used to be a much bigger issue when they were limiting showings a couple of years ago. Some people still haven't caught on that there is a show virtually every night now and often two a night. I'm all for the 10:30 Fantasmic now and for shoiwing up to it at about 10:15. We did the F! package in 2011 and the seats left much to be desired. But this was when they were only showing it about three times a week and only once a night then.

Totally!

 

[ShannonMB]

Take your time! I noticed that most Diners arrived about 30 minutes before showtime. The two center sections are reserved for Dining - that's a huge amount of seating. And, the seating is heavily enforced by CMs and Managers so no Fp+ or Standby guests sneak in!

Thanks for the info!! Sounds like a pretty good situation these days!! Can't wait to be watching F! from the Mickey section and . Don't know why, but F! popcorn is the best ever.

 

[JimmyV]

We have an entirely different approach to F!. We are a small family (3 people). We arrive 10-20 minutes before the show with the belief that there is "always room for 1 more". We do not care where we sit, or if we sit together. There are always rows where "just 1 more person" can fit in. Especially when the CMs ask people to do the "Disney butt shuffle" and slide on down an inch or two. 30 people each moving an inch opens up a 30 inch space. And if we reaaallly can't get a seat (which has not happened yet), we would be willing to stand at the back. Or skip the show. But waiting 60-90 minutes to get in just isn't for us. There are no bad seats for the show and people spend too much time worrying about getting the "perfect" seat. Same with fireworks. The pursuit of perceived perfection can cause far more stress than it is worth. And when the show is over, we let the mobs go ahead and depart at our leisure. Rare is the night that our heads hit the pillows before mid-night, so there is no rush to get out of DHS at 10:30.

 

[DisMama5]

I personally take it slow after the shows and fireworks, it can get crazy! I think it has to do with people not wanting to wait in a long bus line with tired little ones but luckily my little ones easily fall asleep in their strollers and we take our time to avoid the mad rush

 

[OtherScott]

I think they changed them. I've seen seating maps that put dining package guests right round on the sides, but have seen in numerous places and from numerous accounts that the seats now are front and central and really good for those using the Dining Package.

As we were waiting to queue up in October, a woman gave us her 4 dining package tickets. We went in before FPs, were seated front and center.

Got some hot dogs and drinks and stretched out until it got crowded.