Fantastic FP needed?

[Rwsm0319]

We are going during spring break and my kids are asking to see Fantasmic. This its our fourth trip there, but we've only ever seen the night show at MK. Do I need to get a FP for it? We have a couple of nights that we can switch out a FP, as we are going to HS on our arrival night and the evening after going to Discovery Cove, so we have TSM three times, which we don't really need. However, if it's not necessary to have one, I'll keep the ride FP and then just find a seat at the show.

 

[teawar]

If you get there 45-60 minutes ahead of time, you should be fine. In the amphitheater, a large section is blocked off for the fantasmic dining package (reserve a certain Place for a meal and get a fast pass). A second section is reserved for FP and a third section is for standby.

 

[Robo]

We are going during spring break and my kids are asking to see Fantasmic. This its our fourth trip there, but we've only ever seen the night show at MK. Do I need to get a FP for it? We have a couple of nights that we can switch out a FP, as we are going to HS on our arrival night and the evening after going to Discovery Cove, so we have TSM three times, which we don't really need. However, if it's not necessary to have one, I'll keep the ride FP and then just find a seat at the show.

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.
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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.)