Q about fantasmic

[Rlk1234]

hi! Going to hs In November ...anyone know about fantasmic? I see there is a possibly to do a lunch reservation and then special seating for the "first" show. Anyone know what time is the first show? Is that during the day right after lunch? Or at night?
Thanks in advance

 

[Chimaera]

Fantasmic is a night show, lots of fireworks, water projection etc that wouldn't work in daytime.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

It is at night - and we have found that you do not need a dining package to get it. You can if you want but it is not necessary. We have gone during busy times and didn't have a problem getting in. Even if we got on line late.

 

[Robo]

FANTASMIC!

Guests don't really wait in line for the first (or only) F! performance of the evening.
The CMs open the theater an hour or more before show-time.
Guests at that time will simply walk slowly through the very long pathways to the theater and file in to find a seat.

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.

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

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Fantasmic is my favorite show at Disney. I hope you really enjoy it.

We have seen it several times with the dining package, but only when we were on the dining plan. That is the only time the package really seems worth it. When I do have the dining plan, I typically choose a Fantasmic dinner package. It is a good value with the plan.

It is nice to see the show from the center section with the dining package, but I also like to try different viewing angles. We have shown up 15-20 minutes before showtime a couple of times without the package or a fastpass and gotten really good seats. That is a risk, though. I wouldn't do that if it were my first and only time to see the show, however. I have just done it because we have seen the show many times and I have two young girls- I would rather have a bad seat or miss the show entirely than sit with them for an hour and try to keep them entertained.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Fantasmic is my favorite show at Disney. I hope you really enjoy it.

We have seen it several times with the dining package, but only when we were on the dining plan. That is the only time the package really seems worth it. When I do have the dining plan, I typically choose a Fantasmic dinner package. It is a good value with the plan.

It is nice to see the show from the center section with the dining package, but I also like to try different viewing angles. We have shown up 15-20 minutes before showtime a couple of times without the package or a fastpass and gotten really good seats. That is a risk, though. I wouldn't do that if it were my first and only time to see the show, however. I have just done it because we have seen the show many times and I have two young girls- I would rather have a bad seat or miss the show entirely than sit with them for an hour and try to keep them entertained.

I agree with this, but I would add that the Brown Derby F! package is a good value OOP, when you consider the menu prices there. With Appetizer, entrée, beverage, and dessert included, it is actually pretty easy to come out "ahead" vs. eating there without the package.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

hi! Going to hs In November ...anyone know about fantasmic? I see there is a possibly to do a lunch reservation and then special seating for the "first" show. Anyone know what time is the first show? Is that during the day right after lunch? Or at night?
Thanks in advance

Oh- and the first show is usually around 9 pm. May be a little earlier in the winter months. I don't think there has even been a second show in the last year. Most of the time recently there has only been one show and it is right at park close, or maybe 30 minutes after scheduled park close.

I looked at a couple of park hours and showtimes in November and right now HS closes most nights at 8 pm and Fantasmic is scheduled for 8:30. That can always change and you can keep an eye on Disney's website. I don't think it will change much.