Fantasmic & Wishes in same night?

[cushdisney]

Bringing a first timer to Disney this January (mid-late January). We are only there for 2 nights and I want to give him as much of the experience as possible. I haven't been to Fantasmic! in years. Do you think its possible to see 6:30pm show (Wednesday night) and make it to California Grille at Contempory by 7:55pm for dinner reservations (to see Wishes fireworks from balcony of restaurant). I know it can take a while to get out of Fantasmic but we are in our late 20s with no kids so should be able to move quickly through crowd.

Thoughts? Would we be cutting it too close?

 

[mesaboy2]

Bringing a first timer to Disney this January (mid-late January). We are only there for 2 nights and I want to give him as much of the experience as possible. I haven't been to Fantasmic! in years. Do you think its possible to see 6:30pm show (Wednesday night) and make it to California Grille at Contempory by 7:55pm for dinner reservations (to see Wishes fireworks from balcony of restaurant). I know it can take a while to get out of Fantasmic but we are in our late 20s with no kids so should be able to move quickly through crowd.

Thoughts? Would we be cutting it too close?

If you have your own car, you'd be cutting it close, and I still doubt you could make it. I think a Disney bus would be even slower.

 

[jrtoastyman]

If you wanted to pull this off, your best bet would be to watch Wishes from somewhere on the southwest side of the lagoon (Great Britain, France, Morocco) and then immediately exit out the International Gateway (a/k/a the back entrance to EPCOT) and walk over to Boardwalk or Beach Club, and then catch a cab to the Contemporary. I actually think you could do it if you went this route, because you wouldn't have to worry about the throngs of people using Disney transportation OR alternatively finding your car, getting out of the lot with a bunch of traffic, and then finding a parking spot at the Contemporary.

 

[mesaboy2]

If you wanted to pull this off, your best bet would be to watch Wishes from somewhere on the southwest side of the lagoon (Great Britain, France, Morocco) and then immediately exit out the International Gateway (a/k/a the back entrance to EPCOT) and walk over to Boardwalk or Beach Club, and then catch a cab to the Contemporary. I actually think you could do it if you went this route, because you wouldn't have to worry about the throngs of people using Disney transportation OR alternatively finding your car, getting out of the lot with a bunch of traffic, and then finding a parking spot at the Contemporary.

Fantasmic, not Illuminations.

 

[jrtoastyman]

whoops, yep, brain scramble, my bad. That said, I still think if the OP uses a cab rather than trying to drive herself or use Disney Transportation, though, it would be doable. She'd have to hustle, but it could be done.

 

[cushdisney]

We would be using the Disney Buses. Can anyone remember how long it took them to get from seats (preferably back of Fantasmic stadium) to the gates of Hollywood Studios and how long the bus ride from Hollywood Studios to Contemporary Resort was? As much as I want to see Fantasmic, I'd much rather enjoy a relaxed viewing of Wishes fireworks and a nice meal at the California Grille so I am not willing to miss out on that.

thanks!

 

[mesaboy2]

We would be using the Disney Buses. Can anyone remember how long it took them to get from seats (preferably back of Fantasmic stadium) to the gates of Hollywood Studios and how long the bus ride from Hollywood Studios to Contemporary Resort was? As much as I want to see Fantasmic, I'd much rather enjoy a relaxed viewing of Wishes fireworks and a nice meal at the California Grille so I am not willing to miss out on that.

thanks!

Bus ride itself is maybe 15 minutes. That's not the problem. Waiting for a bus to arrive, and managing to get the first one after Fantasmic lets out, is the time-eater. Also, Contemporary shares its bus line with Poly and Grand Flo, so you may not go directly to Contemporary. The more I think about it, the less I like your chances.

 

[jrtoastyman]

mesaboy is exactly right, and why I think your chances with a cab are MUCH better. I often a cab at the end of the night when EVERYONE is trying to get on Disney Transportation because the wait can make such an enormous time difference. Cab from DHS to Contemporary probably wouldn't cost more than $15-$20, as I recall, which is basically a round of drinks (if that) at Cali Grill, but it could save you 30-45 minutes or more. They'll be sitting right there as you exit, just hop in and go, rock star style.

 

[bauer1168]

On Monday I went to fantasmic 6:30pm show and got to MK at 7:45pm. Got a bus to contemporary then walked. I basically did have to power walk from fantasmic to the bus stop, sitting on the aisle aswell. You would be cutting it very, very close.

 

[bauer1168]

The contemporary was the first stop aswell which helped!

 

[ducky_love]

I've done this with my own car and had to power walk to make it happen. We went from Fantasmic to Wishes on the Poly beach. You could try!

 

[joefeyas]

Fantasimic should end by 7:15, so you have 40 minutes to get to the Contemporary - its going to depend on how good you catch the buses.

To save some time exit fantasmic through the "back door" that dumps you out by the front gate, usually not as crowded that way either.

(Of course you may run out of HWS to the bus to find that the bus driver sits there waiting for the bus to fill up anyway)

 

[KellyNY]

I doubt it, you will also need to exit F!, which can be a huge pain and take time.