Fantasmic

[lovethesun12]

My kids both love Fantasmic.

Last year we had a dining package and showed up 15-30 minutes before the show. My kids are young (4 & 6) and it was perfect. Is it possible to do this if we just have a FP+? We are o.k. with a not perfect view.

ETA: I really don't want to do a dining package this year but would if I had to

 

[Kaadk]

I'm not sure, as we usually arrive early for our dining package seats as the family loves to be up front and centre. But I seem to remember being told that if we weren't there at least 30 minutes early then our dining package access could be forfeit and we'd be just seated with the general masses. Not sure how true that was though.

 

[Robo]

What a FastPass for Fantasmic! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

If you DO get a F! FastPass, 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 get 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 having 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.

Guests who learn how to take advantage of the various available "tools" and timing strategies will be able to take more control over their WDW experiences.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.)

 

[lovethesun12]

What a FastPass for Fantasmic! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

If you DO get a F! FastPass, 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 get 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 having 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.

Guests who learn how to take advantage of the various available "tools" and timing strategies will be able to take more control over their WDW experiences.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.)

Thanks! This is helpful. Are FP+ guests let in before standby? Or does everyone enter the same time?

 

[lovethesun12]

I'm not sure, as we usually arrive early for our dining package seats as the family loves to be up front and centre. But I seem to remember being told that if we weren't there at least 30 minutes early then our dining package access could be forfeit and we'd be just seated with the general masses. Not sure how true that was though.

Thanks for the response! I think you are correct because I remember since we were running late (we got stuck in crowds) we were nervous we would lose our seats but just made it.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

We went in no FP or dining and sat row G I wanna say, in Ursala. It was still amazing. I don't think there is a bad seat for that show.

 

[figment5]

Thank you for that map!

 

[Robo]

Thanks! This is helpful.
1. Are FP+ guests let in before standby?
2. Or does everyone enter the same time?

1. Nope.
2. All gates open approx. 70-100 min. before show time.

 

[pens4821]

We haven't done the show in probably 3/4 years, but before that we've always shown up about 5-10 minutes before it started and been able to get seats (one time we walked in as it was about to start and were in the overflow area). Now with the crowds from the new rides I'm not sure if thats still doable or not, but if you're not that worried about the perfect seats you may not even need a FP. Others can chime in if the increased crowds at HS have made this impossible to do or not though.

 

[Tink9721]

What a FastPass for Fantasmic! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

If you DO get a F! FastPass, 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.)

This wasn't my experience last month. With FP, showing up about 45 minutes before showtime, we were all herded to the left/FP side of the theater. The FP sections closer to the center were full and they were only letting FP people into the second section from the end on the left.

 

[Robo]

This wasn't my experience last month. With FP, showing up about 45 minutes before showtime, we were all herded to the left/FP side of the theater. The FP sections closer to the center were full and they were only letting FP people into the second section from the end on the left.

My point in the expanded info quoted is that without a FP, you would have only been able to go to the standby area.
The FP gives you a choice that you don't otherwise have.

Arriving 45 min. early could very well be "too late" on a night when the crowd-level is staggeringly busy.
Look at the crowds. Arrive accordingly.
On our most recent trip, we did Fantasmic! on two of our nights and arrived at the theater 75 min. before show time each night.
The DHS crowds were HUGE!

At WDW it is better to err on the side of arriving far too EARLY, than it is to arrive one minute too late.