Just got back Highs and LOWS!!!!!!!!!!!FANTASMIC Cancelled!!!!!!!!!

[garrett79]

We planned are very large family over this weekend at All Star Movies. Well, here are the details ( with great focus on Fantasmic!).

Highs

1) Hollywood & Vine Character lunch. By far the best character meal I have ever had. Great show, great food by far A+

2) MGM Studios and Magic Kingdom. Always fun . A

3) The Wilderness Lodge. We had lunch there and I felt like we could live there. It is a great place to hang out, have lunch or anything else. I am glad we bought into the Villas there are love it as DVC members.A+

4) ESPN Club never disappoints.

LOWS:

1) Cancellation of Fantasmic mid-show. I spent weeks telling family coming in from all parts of the country that the highlight (IMO) of the nightime shows is Fantasmic! Well, we get there an hour early, get our seats, get our kids situated, and settle in to the show. Well, before the show began I noticed lightning off in the distance and , being from Florida, didnt pay any attention to it as there was no rain in sight.....Well, the show began and a few minutes into it the sound system failed and Mickey was left to command the water by himself without sound. Ok, minor glitches happen and a minute later everything was working again. Then , right as the villains take over, the lights come on and they announce that it is cancelled due to "inclement weather". Not a single drop of rain ever fell, there was not a sound of thunder all night. If they felt like lightning was the issue /threat why did they let a) everyone sit there waiting for the show or b) cancel the show entirely before starting it???????????????? The lightning in the distance was no worse then ( 10 minutes left in the show) than it was an hour before. I was absolutely embarassed and shocked by the decision. I know people will say that the show must be stopped if there are safety issues but I found it interesting that, as we were walking out, Illuminations was in full bore with all of the fireworks.............People operate that as well, correct? A very, very, very bad decision IMO.

2) Rainforest Cafe, bad food at poor prices.

 

[GoldenPrincess]

Illuminations was in full bore with all of the fireworks.............People operate that as well, correct?

Actually, I believe Illuminations is run by computer. And, Illuminations doesn't have performers on the water or climbing on a slippery "mountain."

It sounds as if Fantasmic was cancelled to protect the performers. Probably a sound decision under the circumstances. Granted, the decision maybe could have been made earlier, but maybe the powers that be didn't give the approval until the last second.

I know we were disappointed that we weren't able to see ToN on Saturday--it was the last opportunity we had to see it before the new one starts next month. The second show was cancelled due to inclement weather. It wasn't raining 15 minutes prior to the show, but it was POURING at what would have been five minutes into it! So it ended up being a good decision.

We may not like it, but someone needs to look out for the interests of the performers--and I'm glad someone is.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Sorry about the disappointment with Fantasmic being cancelled, obviously someone felt it best the performers not be put in jeopardy with a storm coming. I do understand your frustration.. another time.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Sorry Fantasmic was a bust. I would have been highly displeased as well. On the bright side, there is all the more reason to book another trip to the world!

 

[Jennyfyar]

I love Fantasmic too. I would have been disappointed also.

 

[lisapooh]

When thunder and lightening are within a certain distance of the an outside venue the performance will be cancelled for the safety of both the perfomers and the people attending. Bolts of lightening out of the clear blus sky are not an unusual occurance in Florida and they can kill. They have killed. I know you were disappointed but it must be.

 

[WDWguru]

Just curious which night Fantasmic was cancelled? I was there over the weekend too and I know I heard it going on from DtD on Saturday night just after it started raining. We were surprised it had still gone on.

 

[chrajeco]

The show was cancelled on Sunday night. We were disappointed, but have seen it before.

 

[luvmy2sams]

Sorry to hear about the cancellation of Fantasmic during your visit.

I love hearing good reviews of Wilderness Lodge...can't wait for our trip there next year!

 

[lisakay]

I was at MGM on 8/30 - did dinner at Mama Melrose's, got my special pass, we were seated and at 8:10 p.m. they canceled due to lightning - I was disappointed as I have never seen Fantasmic - but we were sitting on metal benches!!! I don't think it rained at all that night, but there was a chance someone could have been struck by a bolt - I can always see Fantasmic!

 

[swanmom]

FYI, we were at Fantasmic in late April (forget which night.) The weather was OK - a little overcast - but it had sprinkled that afternoon. A few minutes into the show, Mickey was
moving around at front of stage when he fell....and didn't get up. There were a few quiet moments when people weren't sure what was happening, then really nervous muttering in the audience. The stage and supporting lights went off, the stadium lights were turned up and people were asked to leave. It was really upsetting to our DD who kept asking if Mickey was 'hurt real bad.' Even with reassuring her that they cancelled the show so they could
take god care of Mickey, she was really shaken. I'm sure you were frustrated at the cancellation (we were, too) but having witnessed first hand what can happen, I'm glad they err on the side of caution.

 

[Mouse Doctor]

We were at DW in Sept 99. It rained a torrential downpour all the way through Fantasmic and they stopped it a couple times but resumed the show after polling the performers despite the continued downpour. There was no lightning which I would say is the difference here.

 

[elgerber]

lisakay,

We were there on 8/30 as well, and had done the dinner package. Did you know, having done that, you could have gotten another pass to come back Friday night? That is what we did. I am not sure if your schedule would have permitted, but it worked out well for us. I was extremely disappointed when it was cancelled, but very relieved when I got the rain check pass.

Erika

 

[Disneylvr]

One thing I have learned to do (and it took many many trips for me to learn this) is if a parade, or nightime show is very important to me or any member of my traveling party is to schedule an alternative day to see it and never leave it for the last day. I realize this isn't always possible with parades like Spectromagic only showing once a week at certain times during the year but Fantasmic and Illuminations are performed every night unless there is a technical or weather problem. I am sorry you didn't get to see it but it will be something new for your next trip to WDW.

 

[plutospup]

Sorry you missed Fantasmic. Central Florida certainly had a lot of evening thunderstorms last week. We ate at H&V Tuesday evening and proceeded to Fantasmic. Thousands of people sat there in there ponchos in the rain watching a "lightning show" in the distance. They announced several times that the show was "delayed and may be cancelled to protect the performers". While that's a nice gesture toward the performers, what about the folks sitting on metal bleachers close to the steel structures supporting the lights! lol! The show was canceled, and we came back the next night. It was a great show. Hopefully, you'll have another chance to see it.