Fantasmic - yay or nay?

[MischaOz]

We haven't seen Fantasmic yet and I would love to get others' thoughts on it. For reference, my family loves fireworks and we really enjoy both Wishes and Illuminations. But, we tend to be on-the-move kind of people and don't really like sitting though shows... Even the Frozen sing along was too long for us! So I'm concerned that the whole process of Fantasmic might be too much for the family... Thoughts??

 

[Robo]

F! is one of our all-time favorite shows.
We have seen it (no exaggeration) dozens of times.

We also love Wishes and IllumiNations.
We see 'em all, and each, again and again.

 

[Alesia]

It's a great show. Give it a shot.

 

[Robo]

we tend to be on-the-move kind of people and don't really like sitting though shows...

That line concerns me.

If you don't like "shows," Fantasmic! is certainly a show. A half-hour show.
And, it can take up, all told, 90-120 minutes of time. (Waiting before, half-hour performance, exiting with 7000 other guests.)
For us, that's just all part of the process, and we are happy to do it.

But, if you don't enjoy that sort of thing, then I'd not put myself in that position.

 

[dkrauss]

It's a really good show..........everyone should do it at least 1 time! To me its not an every visit attraction.............but that's me.

Doug

 

[minnie mum]

we really enjoy both Wishes and Illuminations. But, we tend to be on-the-move kind of people and don't really like sitting though shows...

???? They are all shows. It's just that Fantasmic is inside an amphitheatre, and you don't have to stand for the whole show. And Fantasmic is a few minutes shorter than Illuminations. We like this show a lot. What do you really have to lose by watching it once?

 

[Pkltm]

We only do it if it starts when the park closes, we don't find it to be a must do- personal preference. We love Wishes though and would not miss that!

 

[Robo]

Fantasmic is a few minutes shorter than Illuminations.

Sorry, but no.

IllumiNations runs somewhat shorter than half as long as F!

 

[drnp]

My family really enjoyed it. The sitting beforehand waiting for the show to start was helped along with a box of popcorn to keep the kids busy. Once the show started, the story and characters keep the pace moving well.

 

[minnie mum]

Sorry, but no.

IllumiNations runs somewhat shorter than half as long as F!

I checked, and as usual you're right. I guess it just SEEMED to last twice as long to me. Can you tell I'm not Illuminations biggest fan?

 

[Delirium]

We make it a point to do every trip. It's a good opportunity to relax at the end of a long day. We usually hop over to HS 2-3 hours before. grab a bite to eat or do a couple of rides before getting in line. We always do the second show. It's a little thing, but from our perspective, it allows us to maximize park time since there ususally is nothing else open when the second show ends.

 

[cgattis]

Ok, here goes...I'd say you might NOT enjoy it. My family has tried to see it twice and been rained out both times. I then saw it (on a trip that my kids may not know about...
) and I found it quite meh. It's kind of a combo of a show and a parade (the riverboat), with a few fireworks thrown in. I think several of the sequences run reeeaally long. I still want my kids to see it one of these days, but they like parades and shows (well, DS is starting to complain about parades, but...). I don't think they will be wow'ed by it though. So, YMMV. But I wouldn't assume you will love it, just because lots of folks do. If there's something you think you'd rather spend that evening doing, you might be right. Have fun, whatever you pick

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Fantasmic is an exceptional show and shouldn't be missed. We generally visit during the summer months when two shows are performed nightly. We attend the 2nd show and have never waited more than 10 minutes but always seem to find great seats. In fact, it's been several years since we've seen the theater much more than half full for the late show.

Another bonus is that the lines for the headliners can get really short when the early edition of Fantasmic is underway. For example, it's not uncommon to be able to ride TSMM 4 times in an hour during this time.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[Robo]

Another thing to do, in advance, if you don't mind a
MAJOR SPOILER
is to go to YouTube and search for video recordings of Fantasmic!

Take at least a brief look and see what you think.

 

[raddisneyfan]

Fantasmic is the one thing that I absolutely try and see multiple times each trip to WDW--if it weren't at HS, I probably wouldn't go to that park at all really--although with the upcoming additions of SWs and TS lands, I may rethink this. Yes, the lines can be long and the wait for the show can be long, but the show is definitely worth it--especially if you have never seen it. I like it for the simple reason that it's lots of things rolled into one--fireworks, laser/water show, special effects, all sorts of characters--good and bad (don't want to give too much away). This coming December will be the first time that I'm doing the Dinner package where I won't have to wait in line to get into Fantasmic--I never thought this was worth it in the past, but I finally decided to give it a try. They also have FP+ for the show, so that could save you some time too if you are lucky enough to get one--I've yet to get one myself. As always just my two cents--take them for what they're worth! And, as always, you'll have a great time no matter what you end up doing at the World--only, GO AND SEE FANTASMIC!!!

 

[BalooFan]

I enjoy Fantasmic, but it requires a significant time commitment beyond the actual show. If the Frozen Singalong was too long for your family, Fantasmic might not be a wise choice. I have never used FP+ for it. I am planning to try the later show for the first time on my next trip, but for the earlier or only show, I have always arrived 45 or so minutes early. Exiting the show is typically an excruciatingly slow process.

 

[georgina]

We really enjoy Wishes and Illuminations also, but do not see Fantasmic every trip. It's a good show and I agree you should try it once, but is not a must-do for us. You could check it out on you tube and see if you think the family would like it.

Part of the show is on water screens which is my least favorite part. (Hope that is not too much of a spoiler)

Our very first trip to WDW was in Oct of 1998. I looked at the schedule and saw that F! was offered on Thursday and Friday nights of our trip, so we planned to go Thursday. Didn't realize it was the first official scheduled F! ever! People were lined up for hours so we did not bother trying. Did go back the next night to see it though.

I just went back and watched it on YouTube myself, so I will be riding TOT multiple times instead of watching F! in Sept. And beating the F! exiting crowds to the buses.

 

[gzmtlock]

If possible during your trip, I'd try to see it, but during the 2nd show. Unless you're going at a super-busy time of year, you can just about walk up 15 minutes before show time for the 2nd show and get good seats. That way, your family can see it without the larger time commitment.

I like Fantasmic a lot, but I don't see it every time I go. I'm not willing to wait an hour or more prior to showtime to see it. (I don't wait an hour or more for anything at WDW. Unless I can do it sitting down, with an adult beverage and a yummy snack in hand.)

 

[MischaOz]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! We will be hopping to HS for the Osborne lights, so maybe I'll wait and see if I can score a FP for it.

 

[Robo]

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 sometimes 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.)