No Fantasmic in April 2016??

[adear11]

I was reading Josh's April 2016 crowd calendar over at easywdw.com. He has this note at the top of the calendar page:

"Note: Fantasmic is not currently scheduled. If Disney adds it, expect Hollywood Studios’ close to be extended to at least 8pm with the show scheduled at 8:30pm. If Disney doesn’t add Fantasmic, the recommendations should stay the same as the lack of the show won’t affect how crowds flow much other than potentially fewer people visiting the Studios."​

So, my question to you all is is this usual? Does Disney have times when Fantasmic doesn't play or do they just not schedule it this far in advance?

Today is 180 days from trip, and I was working on getting all my ADRs. I wanted to schedule a H&V Fantasmic dinner package for our DHS day, and noticed there was no availability for the date I needed. I called Disney Dinning, and the CM I spoke said that Fantasmic wasn't playing that week. We're going to be at WDW 04/04/16 - 04/12/16, and I'll be so disappointed if it isn't playing while we're there.

 

[hsmamainva]

We're going in March and there are no listings for Fantasmic either.

Now someone mentioned that February just added Fantasmic times so maybe they're just being slow to come out??

 

[adear11]

That's what I'm hoping is going on here. If that schedule holds true, they won't release a Fantasmic schedule for April until around January.

Incidentally, I tried to just book a regular dinner reservation at H&V for 04/09 and there was zero availability so I went ahead and booked at MM. If/when the fantasmic packages are released, I'll change that reservation to be a Fantasmic dinner package if I can.

 

[momof2n2]

That's what I'm hoping is going on here. If that schedule holds true, they won't release a Fantasmic schedule for April until around January.

Incidentally, I tried to just book a regular dinner reservation at H&V for 04/09 and there was zero availability so I went ahead and booked at MM. If/when the fantasmic packages are released, I'll change that reservation to be a Fantasmic dinner package if I can.

That's what I will do if the same thing happens for May.

 

[hiroMYhero]

That's what I'm hoping is going on here. If that schedule holds true, they won't release a Fantasmic schedule for April until around January.

Incidentally, I tried to just book a regular dinner reservation at H&V for 04/09 and there was zero availability so I went ahead and booked at MM. If/when the fantasmic packages are released, I'll change that reservation to be a Fantasmic dinner package if I can.

H&V shows "no availability" for dinner beginning in January. The speculation on the SW thread is that Disney is waiting to finalize what will happen dining-wise during SW Season of the Force - SotF should begin in early January.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

Oh gosh, why wouldn't Fantasmic be playing? Would they be renovating the area? I would think they would want it open for the Spring Break rush, and especially with all the closures already. I am hoping it is open because there is a possibility I will be going in the beginning of March. I guess we will just have to wait and see what they say...

 

[Quellman]

Fantasmic is going down for refurb. When it re-opens they may also offer a daytime version of the show.

-So says this random internet guy.

 

[hiroMYhero]

The rumors are that it will be a Villain-based daytime show in the Fant theater. Could it be as early as Spring?

 

[yulilin3]

that's interesting, they were auditioning for Dr. Facilier and dancers for a villains show at DHS earlier last month

 

[adear11]

Fantasmic is going down for refurb. When it re-opens they may also offer a daytime version of the show.

-So says this random internet guy.

My snark-o-meter may be broken. I can't tell if you're serious about that or not....

 

[Quellman]

My snark-o-meter may be broken. I can't tell if you're serious about that or not....

It's just the rumblings I heard on my recent trip down there, but oddly enough not from a bus driver. Also, Light Motors Action will do an extra show to try and absorb some of the crowd displaced by no fantasmic (like that makes sense)

If you look at it, you can see how this would make some sense. The dragon has not been updated to match California. The rock work probably needs work, and then there was a report about a month ago that the steamboat had suffered some damage from a bad firework explosion.

As for making a daytime show, I would venture to say that it may be a different show and not 'fantasmic light'. A lot of effects won't work in the day time, and why cannibalize the only nighttime offering?

The struggle to increase guest retention in a park that is already feeling the crunch of a low level of attractions is real. If Lights Motors action is going to close to make way for expansion projects, there needs to be something else during the day to absorb the crowd. a day show would certainly help, especially for guests who have already seen Indiana Jones and Beauty and the Beast multiple times since they debuted forever ago.

 

[mom4fun]

February package came out toward the end of September so I'm thinking March will come out at the end of this month. That's my hope.

 

[DisneySOS]

With so much closing and many people already calling it a half day park, if this goes down for a long time attendance will really take a nose dive!
I'm hoping for the best as my family loves this park, we plan to start off our vacation with it and we don't have park hoppers.

 

[adear11]

Just wanted to give a quick update to this.

I was able to book a Fantasmic dinner package today at Mama Melrose for April 9, 2016. I got a 5:15 reservation for the first Fantasmic show that day.

Yay!!!!!

 

[DebbieB]

that's interesting, they were auditioning for Dr. Facilier and dancers for a villains show at DHS earlier last month

I heard the Villains show will be in the new theater behind Tower of Terror.

Edit - read it on the rumors board: http://www.disboards.com/threads/club-villain-coming-to-the-new-sunset-showcase-at-dhs.3459418/