How likely will Fantasmic FP+ open up for mid March?

[IBLarsen]

I booked our 3 FP's at 60 days out, but have decided to change one of them to Fantasmic on March 13th (only one showing), for our family of 4. This is not an option at this time, when I hit 'change experience'. Did I miss the boat or what are my odds of more being released? Just want a realistic idea before I spend each and everyday for the next month trying to do this

 

[Robo]

I booked our 3 FP's at 60 days out, but have decided to change one of them to Fantasmic on March 13th (only one showing), for our family of 4. This is not an option at this time, when I hit 'change experience'. Did I miss the boat or what are my odds of more being released? Just want a realistic idea before I spend each and everyday for the next month trying to do this

FP+ for Fantasmic! has not generally been a sell-out in advance on most nights.

It's POSSIBLE that it has been taken by more guests during a much busier time in the parks, however.

 

[hiroMYhero]

There is a finite number of FPs for Fantasmic as all sections to the left of Dining Guests are reserved for FP. For a Friday in March, DHS can always extend hours if the crowd level is high. If hours do get extended, a Fantasmic is added on... a 10:00 show wouldn't be as crowded as the first show.

 

[IBLarsen]

Thanks, definitely need to stick to the early show with little ones. I had read so many times that people seem to be able to get FP as a 4th, or they seemed much easier to come by, kicking myself now.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Enter the Standby section of the amphitheater at least an hour before showtime. You'll be able to find seats on the right side of the amphitheater.

 

[CAS239]

I've picked up Fantasmic as a 4th FP before. So it doesn't go too quick

 

[first state]

Have you thought about the fantastic dinner package. We did it tonight and it worked out great. We ate at the Italian restaurant. Each person gets appetizer, entree, non alcoholic beverage and desert sampler for table. It was actually cheaper then if we paid menu prices. Seats are front and center and no worry about missing the show.

 

[MermaidMommy]

There's a good chance that they will extend park hours and add a second Fantasmic to that day. There haven't been many revisions to the HS March calendar yet, and the hours so far are shorter than they typically are during spring break. According to Josh at easyWDW, the next round of changes should happen mid-February.

 

[Robo]

I've picked up Fantasmic as a 4th FP before. So it doesn't go too quick

Ditto to that, but that can change if there are a high number of guests at the parks during busier seasons.

 

[Itinkso]

If park hours are extended, guests with FPs for the 1st Fantasmic may change their FPs and choose to attend the 2nd Fant. The OP should check again for 1st Fant FPs when the park hours get extended.

 

[IBLarsen]

Thanks! Good point if a 2nd is added, it may open up the first showing! I will make sure to watch for schedule changes! Thanks for all the advice
I'm personally very keen on trying to book the dinner package, unfortunately my kids really want to do the Sci-Fi dinner:/ Worse case scenario we stand in line for an hour. We are used to watching this at DL, and having to stake out a spot 1.5 hrs ahead of time or you can't see, as everyone is made to stand at ground level packed in like cattle. So I think either way, the viewing options at WDW will be much much better

 

[Robo]

Worse case scenario we stand in line for an hour.

I see this posted all the time, and want to clear things up...
Guests for the first (or only) performance of Fantasmic! in an evening do not "stand in line" for an hour.

If they show up an hour before show-time, they walk through the queue (it's a long one) up to the theater, find a seat,
and then WAIT (sitting in the theater) for the remainder of that hour until the show begins.
That's a whole different thing than "standing in line for an hour."

(BTW, I'm not singling you out for this statement... it is repeated far too often in posts and is completely misleading
to guests who want to see this show.)

Also, during the time spent waiting for the show, guests can visit the concession stand in the theater (or bring in food when they enter the theater) and snack as they wait.

And, there is now a "pre-show" of sorts that takes place during the last half-hour before the show begins.
It's three "Morning Zoo Radio DJ-type" hosts who (literally) run around with jokes and contests interacting with audience members.

 

[theyoungs07]

I see this posted all the time, and want to clear things up...
Guests for the first (or only) performance of Fantasmic! in an evening do not "stand in line" for an hour.

If they show up an hour before show-time, they walk through the queue (it's a long one) up to the theater, find a seat,
and then WAIT (sitting in the theater) for the remainder of that hour until the show begins.
That's a whole different thing than "standing in line for an hour."

(BTW, I'm not singling you out for this statement... it is repeated far too often in posts and is completely misleading
to guests who want to see this show.)

Also, during the time spent waiting for the show, guests can visit the concession stand in the theater (or bring in food when they enter the theater) and snack as they wait.

And, there is now a "pre-show" of sorts that takes place during the last half-hour before the show begins.
It's three "Morning Zoo Radio DJ-type" hosts who (literally) run around with jokes and contests interacting with audience members.

We always do the dinner package, so have never waiting in the line...but I have seen a very large line that did not move for a LONG time, maybe not an hour, but definitely longer than 30 minutes. People lined up in the "street" sitting/eating/waiting.

 

[siskaren]

I see this posted all the time, and want to clear things up...
Guests for the first (or only) performance of Fantasmic! in an evening do not "stand in line" for an hour.

If they show up an hour before show-time, they walk through the queue (it's a long one) up to the theater, find a seat,
and then WAIT (sitting in the theater) for the remainder of that hour until the show begins.
That's a whole different thing than "standing in line for an hour."

Thank you for saying this. It drives me nuts whenever I read posts about "waiting in line" for Fantasmic!, because I have never waited in line for it, and I didn't know why people keep saying it. The only way I could see having to wait in line is if you show up before the theater opens up for the first (or only) showing, or during the first showing with the intention of seeing the second.

 

[Robo]

It drives me nuts whenever I read posts about "waiting in line" for Fantasmic!, because I have never waited in line for it, and I didn't know why people keep saying it.


The only way I could see having to wait in line is if you show up before the theater opens up for the first (or only) showing, or during the first showing with the intention of seeing the second.

Bingo!

 

[JimmyV]

We always do the dinner package, so have never waiting in the line...but I have seen a very large line that did not move for a LONG time, maybe not an hour, but definitely longer than 30 minutes. People lined up in the "street" sitting/eating/waiting.

Maybe they were waiting for other people or didn't know that they could go in. (Same people who never figured out that they could use FP-?). We always went in. Brought a deck of cards or other diversion to kill the time on the metal benches.

 

[IBLarsen]

Thank you Robo!!!!! That does help immensely!! I too have read about 'lining up' ahead of time, so I had the image that one would stand in a line until the time they opened up the theater for seating. Being able to be seated does not seem so unbearable to do ahead of time! (in our past visits to WDW, we've always skipped Fantasmic).
So now that I realize we can grab seating ahead of time, is an hour with single showing a reasonable about of time to get decent seating?

 

[Robo]

Thank you Robo!!!!! That does help immensely!! I too have read about 'lining up' ahead of time, so I had the image that one would stand in a line until the time they opened up the theater for seating. Being able to be seated does not seem so unbearable to do ahead of time! (in our past visits to WDW, we've always skipped Fantasmic).
So now that I realize we can grab seating ahead of time, is an hour with single showing a reasonable about of time to get decent seating?

Unless it is a super-busy season, an hour should be plenty early.
Enjoy the show!

 

[IBLarsen]

LOL...OK, I'm a complete idiot! It just dawned on me that Fantasmic and Toy Story are both Tier 1 FP's. And I already have one for Toy Story! I was trying to change a Tier 2 FP for Fantasmic, and I clearly can't do that. Glad I realized this before I kept checking daily to see if Fantasmic opened up!
Which is why people often suggest trying to get Fantasmic as a 4th+ FP! I'm learning!