How to see Fantasmic without dinner pkg?

[bookworm61]

The two times we have seen Fantasmic, we used the dinner package to get into the reserved seating area. This trip, we are with a large group and won't know when we will be at MGM until that day or how many people will be with us. It wouldn't be practical to reserve a package for 12 people, so I think we will have to just wing it.
How far in advance do we have to be at Fantasmic? Are there any tips you can offer? Should we consider bringing some counter service food with us to eat dinner there?
Frankly, wouldn't bother to queue up 2 hours in advance for any show, but one hour would be okay, I think. We usually come at least 1/2 hour before anyway with the dinner package.
Thanks for any help you can offer!!

 

[valeriekc]

What time of year will you be going?
I would think that unless it's a super busy time you will be fine 1 hr in advance.
I also think that bringing some food in for dinner is a splendid idea.

You know I've always been irritated by the fact that WDW advertises and promotes the idea that folks " be there 2 hours in advance".
It just seems so pointless to waste all that park time sitting in an empty amphitheatre. We certainly enjoy the show but its' not that good....I won't wait 2 hrs for any attraction at WDW.
JMHO

 

[Kirky99]

We've never been outside of the Mickey section (which is a little irritating as I've only had one view of Fantasmic). We used to do the 2 hour wait when it first opened, it's down to 1 hour now.

I wouldn't count on just walking up at your leisure however, it can fill to capacity, although last time there were still two sections empty, and that was in the middle of July (second showing though).

 

[wisbucky]

Whever we have gone to fantasmic we have always gotten in line at least 1 1/2 hour in advance. Then once inside we eat the counter food there.

 

[snjmorrison]

We went first week in August and did the 2nd showing. We got there at most 1 hour before. We had great seats. In the middle, a few rows up. We also went the last week in September last year. We got there no more than an hour before (only 1 showing) and had seats in about the same place as August 2nd showing.

 

[QueenGoblin]

We are going to be there the week of Sept 17-23 and I think my DD (almost 4) will really like this show but I'm not sure how much she will like waiting for a long time beforehand, especially late in the day. Anybody been there in mid-late Sptember? Can we show up more like 30 mins before? We aren't worried about having the best seats in the house, just seats!
Don't mean to hijack the thread from the OP...just looking for more feedback.

 

[Robo]

We are going to be there the week of Sept 17-23 and I think my DD (almost 4) will really like this show but I'm not sure how much she will like waiting for a long time beforehand, especially late in the day. Anybody been there in mid-late Sptember? Can we show up more like 30 mins before? We aren't worried about having the best seats in the house, just seats!
Don't mean to hijack the thread from the OP...just looking for more feedback.

No one can predict EXACTLY how large the crowds will be or how early you should go to find a seat for Fantasmic! on any given day.
It has totally to do with the whim of the crowd at MGM on that day, and the general crowd LEVELS.
How much time you wish to "invest" in waiting is a personal decision. We never do the formal Dinner Package, and have always seen the show (dozens of times).

(Take all of these as "average" numbers, sometimes the crowd will be MUCH greater and the theater can fill up much sooner.)

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-120 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45-60 minutes before: Good seats
20-40 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 50-60 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
40 minutes before: Good seats
25-35 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests. (The crowd of "last-minute" arrivals can be slow to get seated before show-time.)

Off-Season (not busy days):
You should be OK to enter by 10-20 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

If you do the Fantasmic! Dinner Pkg. you still must enter by AT LEAST 35 minutes (safer at 45 minutes) before show-time and still be guaranteed "pretty good" seats (not my "first choice" area, but fine), regardless of crowd-levels.

If there are TWO Fantasmic! shows in one evening, the second one will have lower crowd level than the first one. You can arrive a bit later and still find a seat.

Be aware that the second show waiting area will LOOK like the show is "too crowded".
That's because they HOLD the 2nd crowd outside the theater while the CMs CLEAN it after the first crowd has exited.

Then, they will let those waiting together in that big group IN... all at once, and there will be PLENTY of room.

(The theater holds 10,000 guests!)

We like to eat our evening "meal" while waiting for Fantasmic! to start.
You can bring in items from the counter-service places in MGM, or they DO have concession stands at the rear of the theater serving "baseball stadium-type" food and drinks. Yes, even beer, sold strictly ONE-at-a-time, one-only-to-a-person, so a single person can't go and buy beer for other members of a group... all guests wanting to buy a beer must be present in-person at the counter.
We have a hot dog, maybe a pretzel, later some popcorn or cotton candy (Disney Health Food).

 

[QueenGoblin]

Great info! Thanks!

 

[bookworm61]

Thanks for all the replies. We are going for the week prior to Thanksgiving. I don't know how crowded it will be. So far as food, I don't really want a hot dog and a pretzel for dinner, especially since we will have DDP. Is there anything else to eat there? Or nearby?

 

[QueenGoblin]

It sounds like you can carry in CS from MGM. That might be a better bet than the stand that is in the stadium if you are looking for dinner. But I am just going by what others have said.

 

[Robo]

It sounds like you can carry in CS from MGM. That might be a better bet than the stand that is in the stadium if you are looking for dinner. But I am just going by what others have said.

Yes, you can carry in food to the theater.

Its a LONG walk, however.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We have only seen Fantasmic once. It was in March 2004. We arrived about an hour before the show time and had our pick of seats. We just hung out and ate some counter service as we waited. I would NOT wait that long for it again Fantasmic is a cute show and everything, but there are just too many other things I'd rather be doing. We are going to try and see it again on teh last Friday of October. My plan is to show up 20 minutes or so ahead of time and see what we can get. If its closed or SRO we'll enjoy the short lines for ToT.

 

[englishteacha]

We attended the second show when we were there in June. We spent the day at MGM, went back to the condo, relaxed a bit, had supper, and went back for 10:00 show. We got there as the first show let out, got some snacks, and got in line. We had terrific seats, and were way more energetic than anyone else there! I think we were there at 9, but didn't get in line until 9:20, and then they still hadn't let people into the ampitheater.

 

[Lindy Loo]

We plan to go on Tues 10th Oct, i THINK the show is at 7.30pm, only one?
Will this be ok, or should we try and go on a MNSSHP night ?

With DD4 45 mins is max wait !