How early to arrive for shows?

123SA

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Apr 12, 2005
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I've visited WDW several times in the last 15 years, but always during a low or moderate crowd level time (last week August or September). This year I'll be at WDW 8/4 - 8/17 which I expect to be significantly more crowded that I am used to. On previous trips, I never used FP on shows and arrived generally 10-15 minutes before the show. I'm not sure if that will work for this trip. We are a party of 5, youngest is 12. How early do I need to arrive without FP for:

Animal Kingdon:
Lion King
Finding Nemo
Up! A Great Bird Adventure

DHS
Indiana Jones
Beauty & the Beast
Frozen Sing Along


I'm not concerned about night time shows or the parade as I have either dessert parties or meals that included FP booked.

Thanks for your help.
 
Animal Kingdom:
Lion King - 15 minutes is typically more than enough - there isn't a "bad" seat in the house, so really no need to be extra early...just don't show up very last second and expect a seat.
Finding Nemo - ditto
Up! - haven't seen this one yet, since it's new. But the previous show you could walk in 5 minutes after it started and still find a seat, I'd assume this is the same

DHS
Indiana Jones - for the better seats, 20-30 minutes, for a decent spot, 15 minutes
Beauty - DW really likes it, so we show up 30 minutes early, but we've shown up 5 minutes early and still found limited seating
Frozen - This one often does reach capacity, so 15-20 minutes is a good idea
 
We usually go towards the end of August each year but have gone the middle of August and never have a problem getting into the Lion King with getting there 15 minutes early. Indiana Jones and Beauty and the Beast we get there about 30 minutes earlier. Frozen last year we got there about 10-15 minutes early and got great seats but it was raining and the park wasn't super crowded. I hope that helps.
 
Animal Kingdom:
Lion King - 15 minutes is typically more than enough - there isn't a "bad" seat in the house, so really no need to be extra early...just don't show up very last second and expect a seat.
Finding Nemo - ditto
Up! - haven't seen this one yet, since it's new. But the previous show you could walk in 5 minutes after it started and still find a seat, I'd assume this is the same

DHS
Indiana Jones - for the better seats, 20-30 minutes, for a decent spot, 15 minutes
Beauty - DW really likes it, so we show up 30 minutes early, but we've shown up 5 minutes early and still found limited seating
Frozen - This one often does reach capacity, so 15-20 minutes is a good idea
Helpful information for me as well since I'm going around that time. Thanks for posting.
 

In November,
Lion King 15 minutes is good unless there is a speific area you want to sit.
Nemo 15-20 minutes
Up - never seen it
Indiana Jones depends. If you are picky 30 minutes, otherwise 15 mintues will still get you a seat.
B&TB WE showed up just before it started and still got a good seat
Frozen we were in line about 20 minutes before and the line was very short. The show filled so many come at the last minute.
 


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