Is it possible to get into Fantasmic without a Fastpass

[Claudia McDermott]

I'm wondering if it's possible to get into Fantasmic without a Fastpass for it. Do they still have two shows a night?

Thanks

 

[CAS239]

Yes, easily. There's never been a show where you've NEEDED a fast pass to see Fantasmic.

As long as you show up early enough you have tons of seats to choose from. The only difference between fast pass and standby is fast pass is reserved for a section of seats. This as well doesn't mean that standby seats are bad either.

Whether you're standby, fast pass, or dining package...it's recommended you show up 45min-1 hour prior to show start time. We show up an hour before start because we like to be first row and as close to the middle as possible.

On the flip side, if you try to show up 5-10 min before show starts and it's a busy night, you might not get a seat. And that goes for fast pass and dining package seating as well. Seats are not reserved once it's near showtime.

So as long as you show up 30 min or more ahead of time, you'll be fine. You can show up closer to showtime but they open the doors about 60 minutes prior to showtime and people will be filling in during that hour.

And Fantasmic is done nightly..sometimes it's 2 shows, sometimes it's 1

 

[THKKPorter]

You can get in without a fastpass but be mindful of when you're going. During the holidays the parks are much busier and most people plan to end their night with Fantasmic. It also depends on the day for one or two showings. A trick for us is to get something to eat and take that to the entrance to wait (about 45-60 minutes prior to the show).

 

[Claudia McDermott]

Thank you

 

[CAS239]

Also keep in mind that you don't wait in line (unless you want to show up more than an hour ahead). If you show up for the first showing an hour ahead of schedule, they have the arena open and you sit in your seats. You're not standing in line waiting for it to start. And if you want food/beverages they have multiple concession stands selling nachos, beer, soda, popcorn, etc

 

[BrianL]

Also, Fantasmic! is reasonably easy to snag as a 4th FP of the day, since so many are given out. Basically what that will do is let you sit on either side of the auditorium, the FP section or the Standby (should you spot some seats you prefer on that side). I would not use one of my 3 pre-booked FPs on Fantasmic! though as it's really not needed.

 

[ErinsMommy]

We had FP and we're all the way in the farthest part to the left - total waste of FP IMO

 

[Dan Murphy]

Keep in mind also that almost every seat, if not all of them, are good seats in the theater. With the triple water screens, you can see well from anywhere. The only marginal seating are the close up front rows, maybe the first half dozen. They are subject to water overspray from the waterscreens. Depending on the direction of the wind, you may get damp, or soaked. Maybe nice on a hot July or August evening but not so much on a cold Dec or Jan evening.

 

[North of Mouse]

We've never used FP's for Fantasmic. Sometimes there's a wait, but we get in. But, we never go to WDW during major holidays.

 

[CAS239]

We had FP and we're all the way in the farthest part to the left - total waste of FP IMO

Did you show up right near showtime? The FP section is right next to the dining package section and if you get the end of the row it's basically the center.

Closer to showtime if they still have a bunch of people coming in they open up all sections (including FP and dining) to everyone.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Did you show up right near showtime? The FP section is right next to the dining package section and if you get the end of the row it's basically the center.

Closer to showtime if they still have a bunch of people coming in they open up all sections (including FP and dining) to everyone.

Yes got there about 15 minutes prior

 

[stenmarks]

I'm wondering if it's possible to get into Fantasmic without a Fastpass for it. Do they still have two shows a night?

Thanks

We never use a Fastpass for this, and have always been pleased with our seat.

 

[Robo]

What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.



If you DO get a F! FP+, 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 gat 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 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.



There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

-------------------------------------------------------------------



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.)

--------------------------------------

 

[dreiwhit]

Yes, you can get in without a FP. We didn't have FPs for Fantasmic when we saw it back in March. We sat in the Ursula section near the top, and didn't have a problem seeing everything.

 

[Gillbob316]

About what time has Fantasmic been reaching capacity lately?

I'll be there solo Saturday, and I'm going try to see both Jingle Bells, Jingle Bam! (6:45) and Fantasmic (7:00). Plan is to high tail it down the street as soon as JBJB ends and hope they’ll still let me into Fantasmic. I realize if the theater fills in before I arrive, I may not succeed.

I'm told Fantasmic is the better of the two shows, but I’ve seen Fantasmic before, and I haven’t seen JBJB, so that’s where I’m placing my priority. If I make it to both great, if I miss Fantasmic, it will still be there next time I return to the park. But all the same, I’d like to see both, so I plan to attempt to. Just trying to gauge what my odds of success will be. I found another post in another thread where a party of five succeeded in what I’m attempting and only arrived at Fantasmic just after it started… so hey, fingers crossed.

I expect Fantasmic to be standing room only by the time I arrive, if they let me in at all, but I’m okay with it since I’m alone. Just hoping to be let in.

 

[Klayfish]

Haven't been to WDW since July, but it doesn't really reach capacity until the show starts. We saw people show up very last second. They certainly don't get the "prime" viewing spots, but they still got admitted in. YMMV depending on how crowded it is that night.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I'll be there solo Saturday, and I'm going try to see both Jingle Bells, Jingle Bam! (6:45) and Fantasmic (7:00). Plan is to high tail it down the street as soon as JBJB ends and hope they’ll still let me into Fantasmic. I realize if the theater fills in before I arrive, I may not succeed.

JBJB ends 1 minute before F! starts, and F! fills up nightly when there is only one showing. I would not plan on being able to see both in the same night

 

[Gillbob316]

I thought I was fairly clear about the fact that I was merely attempting it, not counting on it.

If I get into both I see both. If I get barred at the gate for Fantasmic, the park is open for 2 more hours and my schedule is now wide open for any number of other things. I made it clear that JBJB was my priority. I'm only there for one day, it's not like I have a better option for seeing both on the table. As I said, I found one report in another thread of a party of 5 succeeding in making it to both, but I'm aware my mileage may vary.

 

[DaisyD3]

In all my years I'd never been to Fantasmic so we went on our most recent trip. At the last minute I was worried we might not get a decent seat or seat at all so we raced over at about 6-615, grabbing dinner on the way. We got there and it was just starting to fill. We found what I thought were good seats and sat down and relaxed while we ate our dinner and waited for the show to start! We were definitely part of the early crowd, but it was worth it for such good seats!