Fantasmic

[MamaBelle4]

I have a couple, perhaps ridiculous, questions about Fantasmic.

Do you have to have a dinner package to attend?

We are going to be there on this coming Sunday, how early should we get to the seating area if we don't need a dinner package?

Thank you all!!

 

[rwdavis2]

No dinner package necessary. Maybe an hour ahead of time if you want better seats. Depends on how crowded the park is.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

And if it's not a horrendously crowded day, you can even walk-up with 20/30 minutes of the show and get seats. Those last-minute seats would be off to the side, but there's really no bad view with the WDW version of Fantasmic. We've sat one section away from the farmost side section before and it was just fine. There are water jet screens in perfect view of the side sections. I was concerned about it when we sat down, but it was no big deal.

 

[VACamm]

The stadium is HUGE! You will get seats unless the park is beyond crowded that day!

 

[hiroMYhero]

You can also try for a FP as your 4th or later FP of the day. That allows you into the left section of the amphitheater.

If you are late as a Standby guest and the Standby section is filled, you'll need to wait until all waiting Standby guests are allowed to fill in the FP area shortly before Fant begins.

 

[Beer Me]

And if it's not a horrendously crowded day, you can even walk-up with 20/30 minutes of the show and get seats. Those last-minute seats would be off to the side, but there's really no bad view with the WDW version of Fantasmic. We've sat one section away from the farmost side section before and it was just fine. There are water jet screens in perfect view of the side sections. I was concerned about it when we sat down, but it was no big deal.

I have only sat way over to one side and felt like I wasn't seeing some of the projections very well. Also vaguely remember being able to see some back stage stuff which kind of takes you out of the moment. It wasn't bad but it was enough to make me want preferred seating next time.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I have only sat way over to one side and felt like I wasn't seeing some of the projections very well. Also vaguely remember being able to see some back stage stuff which kind of takes you out of the moment. It wasn't bad but it was enough to make me want preferred seating next time.

I bet all the way over on the left side you can kind of make out Steamboat Willie in the dark backstage. Maybe the projections are more iffy on the extreme sides? We definitely didn't get the snake eye spotlights in our section, but I was ok with that.

 

[Klayfish]

I would agree that an hour early will basically guarantee you a good viewing spot. You can still show up 30 minutes ahead, but you may not get a "prime" seat (you'll still see everything, but at a bit of an angle).

One note...the seats at the very, very front often fill up last. But keep in mind that if you sit there and the wind is blowing "in", you will get wet. Those are actually our favorite seats, we always grab them because the kids think it's fun, but be prepared if you do sit there.

 

[Robo]

The stadium is HUGE! You will get seats unless the park is beyond crowded that day!

I have personal info to the contrary.

We were just there this week.
Busy day, but not super-busy.

Fantasmic! theater filled to "standing room, no more-guests-can-enter, packed" status 15-20 min. before 7PM showtime.

It was so completely full ahead of time that they went ahead and started the show 10 minutes EARLY.

This is not the first time this has happened to us, and we travel during what have traditionally been called the
"slow seasons."

If seeing a particular show is IMPORTANT to you.
Go early.
It is much better to take a chance and arrive far too early, than to arrive one minute too late.
(Like many of those unlucky guests who showed up at 20-some minutes before show time on the night we were there this week.)

If something is just of passing interest, you can take a chance and arrive much later.
You might be lucky. Many guests are.

BTW, we arrived an hour before show time (as is our regular practice) and watched as the theater got fuller and fuller.

We were down front, and yes, we DID get sprayed by the water screens a lot that night.
But, it felt good during the very warm night that evening.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

I have personal info to the contrary.

We were just there this week.
Busy day, but not super-busy.

Fantasmic! theater filled to "standing room, no more-guests-can-enter, packed" status 15-20 min. before 7PM showtime.

It was so completely full ahead of time that they went ahead and started the show 10 minutes EARLY.

This is not the first time this has happened to us, and we travel during what have traditionally been called the
"slow seasons."

If seeing a particular show is IMPORTANT to you.
Go early.
It is much better to take a chance and arrive far too early, than to arrive one minute too late.
(Like many of those unlucky guests who showed up at 20-some minutes before show time on the night we were there this week.)

If something is just of passing interest, you can take a chance and arrive much later.
You might be lucky. Many guests are.

BTW, we arrived an hour before show time (as is our regular practice) and watched as the theater got fuller and fuller.

We were down front, and yes, we DID get sprayed by the water screens a lot that night.
But, it felt good during the very warm night that evening.

THIS! We have been in the theater when it was "Standing room only" well before the scheduled start time on a not super busy night. On one Thanksgiving week trip we had the dining package and got there 30 min before showtime. Apparently, dining package seats had been the only ones left for a while. There was a crowd of people waiting for them to open up that section and we got there just in time to get our seats.

 

[VACamm]

I have personal info to the contrary.

We were just there this week.
Busy day, but not super-busy.

Fantasmic! theater filled to "standing room, no more-guests-can-enter, packed" status 15-20 min. before 7PM showtime.

It was so completely full ahead of time that they went ahead and started the show 10 minutes EARLY.

This is not the first time this has happened to us, and we travel during what have traditionally been called the
"slow seasons."

If seeing a particular show is IMPORTANT to you.
Go early.
It is much better to take a chance and arrive far too early, than to arrive one minute too late.
(Like many of those unlucky guests who showed up at 20-some minutes before show time on the night we were there this week.)

If something is just of passing interest, you can take a chance and arrive much later.
You might be lucky. Many guests are.

BTW, we arrived an hour before show time (as is our regular practice) and watched as the theater got fuller and fuller.

We were down front, and yes, we DID get sprayed by the water screens a lot that night.
But, it felt good during the very warm night that evening.

Thank you for the info! I have never personally experienced this happening.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Happened to us also. Got there 20 min before show time, and we were among the last ones allowed into the standing room section. (DW, I, and 3 kids)

Someone in a wheelchair saw us standing there, turned around and started a conversation with us. Then she said, "hey, we're friends now, so why don't you come sit with me" and gestured to the bench next to her wheelchair spot for her companions.

So, it worked out for us. But, we wouldn't count on it again!

 

[Katniss]

It is both of my kids "must do" when we go. We leave in 15 days and we did the dinner package which we have done 3 years in a row. We enjoy Mama Melrose and we like having a designated area to sit. I just got super more excited about leaving in 15 days. Have a great trip.

 

[shanethesaint88]

Just get there 30-45 mins before and it should be fine. But remember nearly everyone in the park is headed there. So it gets very crowded in that area. So I'd recommend getting there like an hour early just to be sure but usually you should be fine arriving 30mins prior.

 

[MamaBelle4]

You guys are all awesome!! We leave tomorrow and I can't wait to see Fantasmic.

Last time we went, I wasn't aware of these boards, and while I knew we would never see everything, I can't believe how much we missed!!