Fantasmic

[mom0299]

We are going in mid-October. I know this may be a busy week for Fall Break, but we are used to June and Christmas crowds.

Anyway, we've only ever done Fantasmic with a dinner package. This time we want to eat at 50s Prime Time which doesn't offer the dinner package. Fantasmic is scheduled for 7:30. Since we've seen it before I don't care if we are close to the front. When do we need to get in line? What kind of seats would we get if we waited for the crowd to get seated then went in just before it starts?

 

[Itinkso]

You can get a FP as your 4th or 5th FP of the day. On Wednesday, we picked up a FP at 7:30p for the only Fant at 8:30.

Every section was full a few minutes before the show began. The FP will guarantee you a seat in the left side if the amphitheater if you arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime.

 

[Robo]

You can get a FP as your 4th or 5th FP of the day. On Wednesday, we picked up a FP at 7:30p for the only Fant at 8:30.

Every section was full a few minutes before the show began.


The FP will guarantee you a seat in the left side if the amphitheater if you arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime.

If you change that info to closer to 30 minutes, I'm with you.
Nothing can really "guarantee" a seat within the last 15 minutes on some busy nights.

 

[Robo]

If it is important to you to see a given Fantasmic! performance, arrive early.

Another situation where it's better to arrive far too early, than just one minute too late.

OTOH, if you have only a passive interest in seeing the show, you can arrive closer to show-time.
You might get lucky. Many guests have.

 

[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 will stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Plan 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.)

 

[Itinkso]

If you change that info to closer to 30 minutes, I'm with you.
Nothing can really "guarantee" a seat within the last 15 minutes on some busy nights.

I agree with 30 minutes and 45 minutes is actually the best for more central seating within the FP area.

Because the OP only cared about timing, 15 minutes before show is when the FP return window closes. A couple of minutes after the window closed on Wednesday, the left-over Standby guests began streaming in and filled in the Beast section, the Dining section, and the bleacher section up on top.

 

[momof2n2]

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 Plan 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.)

Man, I'm a sucker for a map!
Love it!

If we have F! dinner package, how early would you recommend?? 45-60 minutes ahead, as well?

 

[Itinkso]

If we have F! dinner package, how early would you recommend?? 45-60 minutes ahead, as well?

That section begins filling in 30 minutes before show time. If you want the best choice in that area, arrive at least 30 minutes before. By 15 minutes before Fant, most Diners have been seated and the late arrival Standby guests may fill in when they are finally allowed to enter.

 

[mom0299]

Thanks so much! I hadn't even thought about getting FP+. That just might solve the problem.

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

We always get a FP for Fantasmic and never had a problem getting a good seat. We always go in Sept/Oct!

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Is the view from the seating areas on the sides of the theatre very bad? I guess I was naively thinking all the seats are okay... no?

 

[CAS239]

That section begins filling in 30 minutes before show time. If you want the best choice in that area, arrive at least 30 minutes before. By 15 minutes before Fant, most Diners have been seated and the late arrival Standby guests may fill in when they are finally allowed to enter.

The dining package area begins filling in an hour and a half before showtime. Just like with fast pass and standby for the first show.

 

[CAS239]

I'm here right now and this is the dining package area at about 7:30 for a 8:30 Fantasmic.

 

[CAS239]

Is the view of the seating areas from the sides of very bad? I guess I was naively thinking all the seats are okay... no?

It's definitely not front and center, but it's not bad. There's really no bad views for Fantasmic (unless you have a pole blocking you). Disney shows in general there's not many bad views, if any

 

[Robo]

Is the view of the seating areas from the sides of very bad? I guess I was naively thinking all the seats are okay... no?

All seats are fine.
Below is the theater as seen from behind the audience.
As you can see, all of the stage is in full view of all seating.