Fantasmic withOUT a package

[snowwhitesmom]

Are we crazy?Is the line THAT bad? TGM says it is so I am nervous!

 

[Don Pacho]

On Memorial day weekend, I showed up half an hour before the 9:00 PM show and found a great spot.

There are always empty spots all over the place if you look around.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

Awesome! Thanks!

 

[LaPatita]

I never went to the first show because the lines were one hourand a half before the show.
But in the second show you can find place very easy, is not crowded

 

[Robo]

Folks,
There simply CANNOT be LONG "LINES" for the first show of Fantasmic!

That's because the theater is just OPEN... so (if you are early enough) you can just walk on in and find a seat.

No one can predict EXACTLY what will happen on any given day.
It has totally to do with how much time you wish to invest, and the general crowd levels.

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-90 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45 minutes before: Good seats
20-30 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 50-60 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
40 minutes before: Good seats
25-35 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests. (The crowd of "last-minute" arrivals can be slow to get seated before show-time.)

Off-Season (not busy days):
You should be OK to enter by 10-20 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

If you do the dinner pkg. you can enter 30 minutes before (or a bit later) and still be guaranteed pretty good seats, regardless of crowd-levels.

If there are TWO Fantasmic! shows in one evening, the second one will have lower crowd level than the first one. You can arrive a bit later and still find a seat.

Be aware that the second show waiting area will LOOK like the show is too crowded.
That's because they HOLD the 2nd crowd outside the theater while the CMs CLEAN it after the first crowd has exited.

Then, they will let those waiting together in that big group IN... all at once, and there will be PLENTY of room.

(The theater holds 10,000 guests!)

 

[Goofy4]

Folks,
There simply CANNOT be LONG "LINES" for the first show of Fantasmic!

That's because the theater is just OPEN... so (if you are early enough) you can just walk on in and find a seat.

Are you sure? In 2003 we stood in a very long line, in the rain. They kept the theater closed until they finally called off the show Got in the same line the next night, saw the show.

Last year we did the dinner package. We were told to be at the back gate by a certain time. Shortly after that they opened the main gate and the masses came rushing in. Then some rain and distant thunder came rolling in, and they cancelled the show.

 

[kabbie]

Are you sure? In 2003 we stood in a very long line, in the rain. They kept the theater closed until they finally called off the show

If the theater is closed then you would stand in line. Normal circumstances, you are allowed to enter theater and find seats. Sometimes there are bottlenecks of people trying to find seats.

I've only gone on nights where there was 1 show and I would get there 45 minutes to 1 hour before showtime and got great seats. I noticed that 15-20 minutes before it started the outer edges were beginning to fill up.

 

[Robo]

In 2003 we stood in a very long line, in the rain. They kept the theater closed until they finally called off the show.

I can see how on rain-threatended nights they would keep the theater "CLOSED" (and the guests out) for an extended time.

A main safety factor in the show and seating areas is LIGHTNING.
On nights when lightning might be a real threat, they would want to keep from filling the seats with happy guests.

Also it would require the CMs to clean up after a crowd exited and THEY would be exposed to the lightning threat during the clean-up.

But on most nights, they simply open the gates for seating up to about 2 hours before showtime (the time they start admitting guests can vary with the crowd-levels).

 

[goofy4tink]

I have been to Fantasmic! during busy times of year and not so busy times of year. I have 'walked' in a long line before, but not waited. There were so many arriving at the theater that it took about 20 minutes to get to the theater area from the entrance!! This was about 45 minutes before the show started. I have gotten there an hour beforehand and gotten a seat way down in front. But, you have to get there early...you either sit and wait for an hour or stand and wait for an hour!! I did get there about 15 minutes before the show in '03...it was miserable. We had eaten at 50's, told our server we needed to get going since we were going to Fantasmic!...but, it took her about 20 minutes to bring us our bill. So, rather than arrive 35-40 minutes beforehand as we had planned, we got ther 15 mins. early. They were already starting to put people in the SRO area, in the rear of the theater. We got lucky (I think) and were put on one of the handicapped benches in the last row. There were three of us seated on a bench made for two, and it was incredibly hot/humid. Not so comfy, but at least we were sitting!!
We now try to get seats in the rear, towards the side you enter on...makes for faster exit after the show.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I am with Goofy4tink. I used to get the package but found that it was actually harder on me. It seems easier to walk into the regular entrance than to go all the way to the front of the park and then walk all the way up that winding walkway with nothing interesting to see on the way.

Also because of my leg problem I prefer to sit in the back (avoid all the cold water also) as it is easier to get in and out. If I go in the package entrance I have to walk all that way and then walk all those many steps up to the back where I wanna be.

Slightly Goofy

 

[magicaldisney]

We have never done a package and have sat in just about every spot in the place, from front row to very side towards the back. Honestly, there is not a BAD spot in the house. You can see just fine from everywhere.

In my opinion....you don't get the best of the best seats with the package.

 

[kim35]

We decided at the last minute to do the early show and walked in right before it started. We walked to the middle area, down the steps, and found all kinds of open spots.

You'd be amazed at how many open spots there are. Just look around and don't be afraid the walk straight to the front.

We had perfect seats with no disappointments.

 

[nightowlky]

Is it better to sit further down front or is it ok being center section toward the back (to beat the crowd on the way out)?

 

[Robo]

Is it better to sit further down front or is it ok being center section toward the back (to beat the crowd on the way out)?

Depends on what you like.

The "stage" is very far from even the front row.
We love to sit down front.
We wait-out the crowd leaving and don't attempt to exit until the way is much less crowded.

That's just what WE DO.

I've seen folks (many folks) get up and RUN out of the theater (dragging their little kids) DURING the FINALE (one of the BEST parts of the show) so they won't be caught in the exit crowd. Some might have other appointments... but I know most of 'em just don't want to be DELAYED by the crowd... I don't want to miss any of the show... different PRIORITIES, I guess.

All of the seats (well MOST) let you see the show very well (its HUGE).
So, if you want to sit near the back, you'll still enjoy a great show.

I've sat at MANY places in the theater (we've been well-over a dozen times... maybe 2 dozen) and I find I like the "up-close and personal" seats the best... but that's just ME.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

We tour in the summer months and on nights where there is one show people start lining up at the gate 90 min or more before show time. We always arrive about one hour early and the theater has never been open. We have to wait outside the theater for at least 15 min then they open the gates and people are allowed in about 45 min before showtime.

My best friend visited in May and they arrived 30min before the show and there was standing room only.

I think other posters visit at less crowded times of year.

Fantasmic Dinner package is good if your visiting in crowded months, really isn't necessary during slower times. You can get a seat in the summer much easier if you see the 2nd showing.

 

[Iluvpooh&mickey]

We just went on Sunday night (6/4) and did not have the FDP. We walked right in about 45-50 minutes before the 9:00show and the only section that was completely filled was the center one. We sat in the section in between the center section and the FDP seats. There was a huge rainstorm about an 1 1/2 before the show and lightning off in the distance while waiting for the show to start so maybe that's why it was not that crowded.

 

[kim35]

Becca may be right....We went in September so I don't know what the crowds are like in busy season, but I can tell you that the entire place was full of people with standing in the back.

 

[Nite0wl71]

We went to the first show the week before Easter. We entered about 30 minutes before it started, we sat 3 rows from the front, and three sections from the left end.

Leaving was so crowded, as we were walking up I looked over and the right side was completely empty so I led everyone back down and walked to the farthest steps and went right out. We did it in less then 10 minutes.

 

[huey578]

Are we crazy?Is the line THAT bad? TGM says it is so I am nervous!

We have yet to do a dinner package and we always end with great seats. Do they still seat folks to the far end of stadium for those who are package?

 

[NALA 24]

We've always done the FDP, arrived early and got OK seats. It seemed like we wasted so much time waiting for the show to begin. About 10 minutes before the show, we saw people just walking in.
Also, once the show was canceled due to weather and the FDP seating pass was lost.
My least favorite part of Fantasmic is the exit after the show and the return trip to the hotel. The lines move very slowly, especially when your tired.