FANTASMIC WITH FASTPASS!?

[trishdee]

How does using the fastpass + for fantasmic work? is the certain seating area & entrance for it? if so how is it? & how early do you need to arrive if you use them? also the park says it closes at 8pm that day but fantasmic starts at 8:30? does that mean we just need to be at the park by the 8pm closing time? & would we be able to check out the osbourne light show afterwards?. Thank you

 

[Robo]

1. How does using the fastpass + for fantasmic work? is the certain seating area & entrance for it? if so how is it? & how early do you need to arrive if you use them? also the park says it closes at 8pm that day but fantasmic starts at 8:30?

2. does that mean we just need to be at the park by the 8pm closing time?

1. What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

If you DO get a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater) or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)
So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.

Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.
There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.)

On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.

As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.
Even with a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.

On busy nights, the CMs can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.
There is a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Map Below-
Arrows indicate the center of the seating.
Shaded areas:
(First or Only F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red= Dining Package Reserved
Blue= FP+ Reserved
Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.

(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved
(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

2. Yes.

 

[Robo]

would we be able to check out the osbourne light show afterwards?

The Osborne Lights attraction presented an unusual

problem for WDW.

When they were "acquired" by Disney from the Osborne

family (not OZZY, BTW) there was a huge amount of

national publicity about them.

Disney got a lot of "mileage" out of having them and

they needed to DISPLAY them for lots of guests to see

(after dark).

But...

Even in the winter months, it simply does not get

really DARK in Florida until about 6pm.

So the lights can't be properly viewed until that

time.

(They simply are NOT a daytime or even "regular hours"

attraction).

And the DHS park usually closes (except EMH) only an

hour or so after dark.



Since Disney spends a major (MAJOR) amount of time and

money to set-up, promote, fund the electricity and

CM's and (after the holidays) remove and store these

hundreds of thousands of lights, they needed a way

that guests could actually VIEW them.

(Otherwise, what's the POINT?)



So since, at sunset, MOST (up to 7,000-8,000) guests in DHS

are SITTING IN THE FANTASMIC! THEATER and can't SEE

the lights as it gets dark... AFTER the show, the CM's

actually ENCOURAGE the exiting crowds from Fantasmic!

to go over and see the Osborne Lights.

Even though the rest of the park is closed, the lights

are in full glory, and there are even some concessions

open for refreshments.



There are some nights when the OLights are being used

for a private "event" and regular guests are not

allowed in.

You simply will not KNOW about this unless you stop at

Guest Relations that day and ask if the OLights will

be available after Fantasmic!



As for how late?

If Fantasmic! is at 7pm, then its over at 7:25pm, most

guests are out of the theater by 7:50pm and headed to

the Osborne Lights.

I'd estimate that they would keep the OLights open for

a hour-plus, so, say 9:15pm-9:45pm would be the

approx. wrap-up.



On EMH nights, the OLights should be on and open to guests until the EHM is concluded.



See the following thread for more confirmation of this-

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1884272

 

[trishdee]

Thank you robo!!

 

[housetomouse]

Is there a preferred seating area? Toward the middle, if possible? And how high up or low down is best for viewing? Thanks!

 

[CAS239]

Preferred seating would be as close to the center as possible, and for us, as close as possible.

Note that if the wind is blowing toward you, you might get wet from the water mist effects.

We prefer to sit in the very front and with FP, the front right of the section. Basically dead center and next to the dining section.

 

[MudBud]

From the seating picture, it looks like even if you were sitting in Hades or Beast, they would be pretty ok seats. Is this true or will you miss out on some of it?

 

[Robo]

From the seating picture, it looks like even if you were sitting in Hades or Beast, they would be pretty ok seats. Is this true or will you miss out on some of it?

Virtually all seats offer a great view.
But, some guests do have their favorite places to sit.

 

[housetomouse]

Preferred seating would be as close to the center as possible, and for us, as close as possible.

Note that if the wind is blowing toward you, you might get wet from the water mist effects.

We prefer to sit in the very front and with FP, the front right of the section. Basically dead center and next to the dining section.

Thank you so much!

 

[CAS239]

The best benefit to sitting as close as possible imo would be because you're right there by the characters when they all come by on the boat.

But if anyone can't make it early or doesn't want to wait, there's really not a bad seat in the arena. Disney is really good about that with all their shows