Star Wars Fireworks & Fantasmic!

[StirlingSilver83]

Do the Star Wars Fireworks & Fantasmic! run on the same night? If so how do you handle that with timing wise? We are only planning 1 day to Hollywood Studios and my MIL is a total Star Wars fan so I know she will want to see the new Star Wars Fireworks but how does that leave doing Fantasmic!?

 

[oktxregulators]

We did the Star Works Fireworks at 9:45 on opening night and then scampered to see Fantasmic at 10:30 because Epcot EMH that night.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Following because we are wondering the same thing. One day at DHS but hope to see both Fantasmic and Galactic Spectacular. Going in Jan. If we have to choose, I'm leaning towards Galactic Spectacular. It will be our first time to DHS, so we've never seen either.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

So I looked it up on the Disney website and for the night of 7/31 (I just chose a random date) it said Fantasmic was at 9:00, Star Wars 9:30, and then Fantasmic again at 10:30...so I think it will be doable if you do the Star Wars at 9:30 and then Fantasmic at 10:30, but thats a SUPER late night (I turn into a pumpkin at 10, LOL)...and those hours will more than likely change for the winter/early spring months

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Thanks, SS83! Two Fantasmic showings would help. We were thinking of doing the fireworks dessert party, so if there are two Fantasmic shows, we might still be able to do that.

 

[Accident]

EDITED TO REMOVE:

Originally I confused the epcot illuminations with a second star wars showing during fantasmic. removed to not confuse anyone.

 

[Keyser]

I was at hollywood studios tonight and caught fantasmic... First, it was a tuesday with a 10pm close so I wasn't expecting much. There was an overlapping star wars fireworks and fantasmic and shortly after fantasmic ended a second fireworks showing..

Interesting. The official schedule for tonight shows just one fireworks show at 9:45 (after Fantasmic at 9:00). So, you're saying they had another (unannounced) fireworks show at 9:00 also? Just to be clear - are you sure there really was another fireworks show at that time (how did you see it if you were at Fantasmic?)? If so, that's a very good sign that Disney had two of them - I didn't think they ever ran two fireworks shows in the same night.

For the earlier posters, though:
Starting this weekend, though, Disney has scheduled the fireworks at 9:30 instead of 9:45. That means you won't be able to see both the 9:00 Fantasmic and the Star Wars fireworks. If you happen to be there on a 2-Fantasmic night, then you should not have any trouble seeing the fireworks and then the second Fantasmic (it will just be a late night). But, if you are there on a night that has just one Fantasmic showing - tough luck, you have to choose between them. For those of you going well in the future, at least you have some warning and can make your plans appropriately - don't plan on being able to do both in the same night (unless they change plans again, of course). For those of us going next week, they only announced the time last week, and so we're just stuck. Really really annoying (and yes, if anyone else is bothered by this, I'd encourage you to complain about this to them - email: WDW.Guest.Communications@disneyworld.com - it's the only possible chance that they will change it or at least not repeat the late notice like this in the future).

 

[Accident]

hmm checking a map, it might have been the epcot fireworks I saw based on where I was sitting and were I could see them through the trees..

I guess i'm wrong ;( I couldn't see them well but I heard the bangs and could see the were fireworks going off to the side. I was telling my daughter I found it weird they could reload that fast.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Thanks for the reports, oktxregulators, Accident, and Keyser. Since there might be just one show each in the winter, would you go with Fantasmic or Galactic?

 

[Accident]

Since there might be just one show each in the winter, would you go with Fantasmic or Galactic?

I love fireworks, if the choice is fireworks and something else that will always be my answer. i'm not a huge fantasmic fan. I can't put my finger on why but I find it boring.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

I love fireworks, if the choice is fireworks and something else that will always be my answer. i'm not a huge fantasmic fan. I can't put my finger on why but I find it boring.

Thanks! I'm a big fan of fireworks, too, but didn't know if Fantasmic was just super fabulous and not-to-be-missed. Sounds like maybe not.

 

[Accident]

Thanks! I'm a big fan of fireworks, too, but didn't know if Fantasmic was just super fabulous and not-to-be-missed. Sounds like maybe not.

If you've never seen it, I would go see it.. I know disneylands version is suppose to be better but unclear why. Some people this is their show and they won't miss it. For me, I like big badda booms.

 

[Keyser]

I haven't seen the Star Wars fireworks, so I can't really compare. But, I will say that Fantasmic is the big show for our family. My kids have the soundtrack memorized from listening to it at home a million times. It's fun, but I expect there are going to be plenty of people who like the fireworks better. I've seen the Disneyland version, also - there are some parts that are better (they use the sailing ship for a Peter Pan sequence that is really good), but overall I think the WDW version is just as good.

We're still trying to figure out if there is a way to see the Star Wars fireworks (which we've heard are extremely good) in addition to Fantasmic when we go. But, that will mean missing Illuminations (not our favorite show) or Jungle Book (which we've heard is not so great), in addition to paying an extra $75 per person for Park Hopper addons that we had not planned on. That seems like it's probably too high a cost.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Wow! All this good information! We have seen fantasmic and it honestly freaked my older son
Out...I guess if we have to choose I will let my mother in law choose since she hasn't been to Disney and we've already seen fantasmic...my hubby already said for most nights he's planning on taking our youngest back to the resort so don't need to worry about them lol

 

[cleophus12]

The Star Wars fireworks are not to be missed IMO. Disney has pulled out all the stops with this one. Fireworks, lasers, projection, smoke, lighted trees. It is amazing. And of course the music is terrific. Make sure you do whatever you must to see this one.

 

[Xclusive2WDW]

Going in November. . . I'm hoping they will show these at times when you can catch both, but I have 2 nights planned at DHS so that we can see both.

 

[Lisa F]

I'm going in December but I'm thinking with the current rumors that RoL is going to be a bust that I might be able to swap out my AK night for star wars fireworks instead (we have parkhoppers). I'm hoping to do the dessert party actually. I don't think these are timed so that you can do both F! and the fireworks WELL in one night. It seems like the new show has specific viewing areas that are great and then you can see the fireworks from other places but you won't get the full effect of the show.

 

[AngiTN]

hmm checking a map, it might have been the epcot fireworks I saw based on where I was sitting and were I could see them through the trees..

I guess i'm wrong ;( I couldn't see them well but I heard the bangs and could see the were fireworks going off to the side. I was telling my daughter I found it weird they could reload that fast.

Yeah, they don't do 2 of the same Fireworks shows. Too much effort needed to reset them. You can see Illuminations from HS and you can see Star Wars fireworks from Epcot.

Sadly, the way they have the timing, right now, you have to choose if there is only 1 F! showing. If there are 2, you can make the 2nd one. Before the new show you could hightail it out to the street and catch the fireworks and see it all well enough. But with the new show and the need to get up close to the Theater it's just not possible to get there from F! stadium. It would be nice if they didn't force the guests to pick like that.

 

[Klayfish]

We're here now and were just in HS on Monday night. F! was at 9:00pm as I recall and StarWars at 9:45. With that schedule, it's unquestionably possible to make both of them. If StarWars is moved to 9:30, it'd be really tight. If that's the case, I'd suggest having a F! seat near the exit and bolting out right at 9:25 (I forget exactly how long F! is). Star Wars is crowded, but you CAN get a decent viewing spot last minute. It may not be up front by the Theatre, but good enough to see. On Monday, my kids decided to bag F!, as we've seen it many times and do a few rides. We walked up to the Theatre at 9:37pm and still got a decent spot in front...if you're looking at the Theatre, we were to the right. Easy peasy.

 

[PabloMax]

Is the SW fireworks a nightly event? On the day we are scheduled to be at DHS in late August, the Fantasmic show is listed at 8:30 but the fireworks show is not listed at all.