Likelihood of same day FP for night time fireworks/shows?

[ForEver2016]

What is the likelihood of snagging FP+ for Illuminations, Rivers of Light (first showing) and Fantasmic in the same day as a 4th+ FP? (We will be there during a “low crowd time,” but of course we know that crowd calendars are not a good predictor anymore).

 

[Robo]

What is the likelihood of snagging FP+ for Illuminations, Rivers of Light (first showing) and Fantasmic in the same day as a 4th+ FP? (We will be there during a “low crowd time,” but of course we know that crowd calendars are not a good predictor anymore).

Fantasmic!, very likely (almost assured.)

IllumiNations, maybe.

RoL, becoming a bit more likely as time goes by.


Something to note:
It's far better to not wait until the FP "return time" to enter the FP area.
Arriving earlier (45+ minutes before show time) will serve guests who want
a better choice is viewing location within the FP area.

 

[Robo]

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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 having 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.

Guests who learn how to take advantage of the various available "tools" and timing strategies will be able to take more control over their WDW experiences.
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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.)

 

[ITALIANNYC]

I’d say very likely you can get if it’s a small amount of people.

 

[Eccle]

Two weeks ago I got 8 FP for Fantasmic that night around lunchtime, and another night got 8 for Illuminations 1-2 hours before (searching in pairs). I didn't try RoL on the day, but from what I saw second show was easier to get than first

 

[Keels]

Illuminations has been available almost every day this week, usually around 4 or 5, I guess when people decide just to get a spot around World Showcase Lagoon and use the FP+ for something else. I got one last night at 8:15 p.m. for 9 p.m. Illuminations.

Fantasmic! is almost always available.

No help for RoL because I don't really pay attention to that ... if I'm there at night, I've just watched from the bridge.

 

[loveswdw]

I snagged RoL FP the afternoon of when we were there in December. Granted it was the 8:30 showing but that's what we wanted anyway. The pavilion was nowhere near filled. This just a few days before Christmas.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

I got fp for Illuminations 4 or 5 times as a 4th or even 5th fp of the day for 16 people during the Xmas and new year period just gone. It took a little bit of hard work and I found it easier to make them for just a few people initially and then add more people into the same time.

 

[imp&pixie]

I know that when we were there during Christmas week last year there were FastPasses available for the nighttime shows each day that I checked. I had already reserved dessert parties/dinner packages for the shows so I didn't need them, but I was surprised that they were available during the busiest time of the year.