Talk to me about night time shows at WDW

[SFMommy]

Planning our first visit to WDW for Easter 2016.

We are not late night people. Our DD8 is asleep every night at 7:30 at home. I can sometimes stretch it to 9:00 when we go to DLR. And don't even think of asking her to take a nap...she just can't do it!

So when we go to DLR, we are at the parks super early, leave around 2:00. And sometimes pop back in for dinner and a few more attractions. And then back to the hotel for bed by 8:00. We have never seen Fantasmic or WOC because they are just too late. And we've only seen the fireworks once.

So what is the deal with night time shows in WDW. Illuminations is at EP, Fireworks at MK and Fantastmic at HS? What are the usual times of the shows? What are the best dinner/dessert packages?

Thanks for any tips and advice!

 

[sharonabe]

Sounds like you're a west coast family, so one thing in your favor is the time difference. That 7:30 bed time will be 10:30 on the east coast. Now, that means you might not be able to get up as early as well, so you may need to plan a little differently.

The only one that will be completely different from DLR is Illuminations at EP. I would do my best to fit this one in perhaps on your first or second night when your bodies are still mostly on west coast time.

We love the fireworks at MK, but if do Illuminations and find it's just not going to work, then I would skip the other two until she's older and can stay up later. You are already talking about a year later, so she may be able to stay up later by then anyway.

 

[chartle]

Of all of them I would skip Fantastmic. It just doesn't do anything for me and its the only show were its in a outdoor theater (different then at DLR) and you sometimes have to get there hours early for a good or any seat.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am also not a fan of Fantasmic. It is my husband's favorite.

I love the MSEP. The fireworks are lovely.

Illuminations is at 9 every night, do not too late. Depending -- you may be able to book a view of this and catch it on your balcony (though you won't get the full show) if you are staying at the EPCOT resorts.

 

[W.E.D.]

Illuminations is our favorite--you'll get a different answer from everyone here on that--so I would suggest trying to make it up for that if you can. I think its really worth trying to stay awake for it, especially if you've never seen it before.

 

[HydroGuy]

Planning our first visit to WDW for Easter 2016.

We are not late night people. Our DD8 is asleep every night at 7:30 at home. I can sometimes stretch it to 9:00 when we go to DLR. And don't even think of asking her to take a nap...she just can't do it!

So when we go to DLR, we are at the parks super early, leave around 2:00. And sometimes pop back in for dinner and a few more attractions. And then back to the hotel for bed by 8:00. We have never seen Fantasmic or WOC because they are just too late. And we've only seen the fireworks once.

So what is the deal with night time shows in WDW. Illuminations is at EP, Fireworks at MK and Fantastmic at HS? What are the usual times of the shows? What are the best dinner/dessert packages?

Thanks for any tips and advice!

I replied in another thread you started before seeing this. Here is what I wrote...

Other quick advice is to skip Fantasmic! It just can't compare with DL's version. But do plan to see Illuminations at Epcot. Shows I would also recommend are Festival of the Lion King and Flights of Wonder at AK, and Light, Motor, Action at DHS.

If you are coming from the West Coast, here are some other tips...

1. If you fly to Orlando and then next day is a park day (without other days in between to adjust to time zone), make your first park day an easy day or half day where you can get a late start and adjust to the time change more.

I come from two time zones away in Colorado and I always do that. If possible I always try and do AK the first day because it usually has the shortest park hours and if you skip a few secondary things you can usually be done by 4-5PM.

If you cannot do AK on day 1 then DHS is another park with shorter hours usually.

2. Not sure what your lodging budget is but I have come to really like staying in the general area known as the Boardwalk. Specifically we have stayed at Swan and Dolphin but I have seen some really good deals lately for the Boardwalk Villas and have been tempted. The YC and BC resorts are nice but quite pricey - especially if you have a bigger group like we do and usually need to get two rooms.

The advantage of the Boardwalk area is easy access to two of the four parks - Epcot and DHS. Then you have to take a bus (or drive your car) to MK and AK.

Staying in the Boardwalk area gives you these advantages regarding afternoon breaks - easy access to Epcot and DHS (as already stated) and also with AK being something you can finish by say 4PM then you can get an early day out of there as well. The only park that becomes harder to experience is MK as it will be quite time consuming to do a mid day break.

 

[Dis703]

My absolute favorite of all the evening shows is Fantasmic in HS. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this one and so does everyone in our family. We try to see each show once on each trip but if there is a do not miss one, this is it. Illuminations is great as well. Wishes we like but it doesn't compare to the other two for us.

As for times it varies widely by time of year.

I also agree with pp that if it's in your budget staying in an Epcot area resort makes a big difference with being able to walk right back after the shows instead of waiting with the crowds for buses.

ETA: And I've never had to be to Fantasmic hours before it started to get a seat. Maybe the busiest week of the year that happens but otherwise I've only ever gone 30 minutes to an hour ahead and we get snacks and sit and wind down and enjoy the preshow entertainment.

 

[DizDaD7]

Once again as others have stated. Get acclimated to the time zone...It is in your favor for late nights shows though.

I personally wouldn't miss any of them...You've stated that you think this will be your first & only visit to WDW, so I'd see all that I can see.

2ndly The dinner package /or dessert package is way different than at DLR, & IMHO more budget friendly by far....The brown Derby is a real fine placeto eat at in HS, and will get you ideal seating for Fantasmic...It's just about the same show, but from a different perspective than what you are used too. ( cool to see the differences.)

Wishes & the EP are 2 of the Better not Misses at MK. Try for a FP+, and it'll get you front & center... We did this , just this past Nov. & it was perfect for when Elsa Froze the castle.... Illuminations at Epcot, you can basically see from anywhere around the countries, but I personally enjoy it from both TS restaurants..in UK. & in Mexico....If just standing it's also nice on or near thr bridge from France to UK. Another can't miss IMO.

AK hasn't been completed yet, but may & Should be by the time you go next year...It'll be a new show, so it'll be fresh for everyone, including us..

We've been to WDW 10 times & I still don't like missing things, even though we've seen them a bunch of times..LoL..

 

[think-like-tink]

I think they are not to be missed. We LOVE them all. Fantasmic is my fave.

 

[jon18uk]

I love Fantasmic, but I agree with others, it is just as good if not better in California. The must-do would be Illuminations and the good thing with that show is you don't need to secure a spot too early as the lagoon is huge so there are plenty of good spots.

As you suggested, do a morning, relax at your resort and then head to Epcot for dinner and Illuminations.

 

[HCinKC]

Fantasmic is probably my least favorite. I like Illuminations a lot. I cannot recall Wishes, so I suppose that means I don't care for it? LOL. We are taking our first family trip this spring. I don't want late nights every night, so we will do the special Star Wars Weekend fireworks one night, Electrical Parade, and possibly Illuminations. I happen to have EP towards the front of our week and Ill towards the end, just a loose itinerary. IF ODS is up for it in terms of energy and interest, we will do Illimunations. If not, I will likely head over to watch it solo. DH doesn't care about anything except Star Wars stuff.

I was having a lot of trouble deciding. I have never been to WDW or DL with kids, so I really had trouble deciding on the late night shows. I ended up going on YouTube and watching bits and pieces with ODS in mind. While I think he would enjoy Fantasmic, I think he would enjoy the others more. I have also not totally ruled out watching the second Fantasmic show after the Star Wars fireworks. DH will likley be happy to take the baby back to the hotel solo. I have us doing that the night before our AK day. That way we can take the morning slow if need be.

Which actually...someone else can probably say if this is possible...you could probably do Ill and walk over to HS for the second Fantasmic show? On a different night you could do EP and Wishes at MK. That would make a couple of late nights rather than several.

 

[JRawkSteady]

IllumiNations is my favorite. Experiencing it live is always an actual emotional process for DW and I. I say it's a MUST DO. Honestly, I think I like Wishes the least...mostly because to any Disney Fireworks fan it's same old, same old for the Magic Kingdom/DL. But I still love them all and would try to hit each an every one if possible.

 

[DOOM1001]

Illuminations is my favorite,I've literally Seen it around 150 times and I dont get tired of it,the music is what makes the Show my favorite.Wishes is close behind and also a must.Fantasmic is my least favorite,I only See it occasionally,its too long and those water screens get boring,but its still worth seeing,it may become your favorite.

 

[DizDaD7]

Just wait till the similar type World of color show arrives in AK...Now that will be awesome...

 

[richmo]

Agree with another poster that for the first part of your trip, the time zone change may work in your favor. If the nighttime shows are a priority, the longer you can stay on west coast time, the better.

Illuminations is almost always at 9:00.

At MK, it depends on if you're there at a busy period or not. They'll sometimes do the Electrical Parade twice and Wishes once. For example, MSEP may be at 9:00 and 11:00, with Wishes at 10:00. During quiet periods, I think Wishes may not go every night and MSEP may be a little earlier, if winter. Neither happens unless its really night time.

Same with Fantasmic at DHS. Sometimes they'll have two shows, often 8:30 and 10:30 or 11:00. In the winter, they may go a little earlier.

Once you know your plans, look up the actual times. Sometimes they'll add more in as your trip gets closer.

 

[hoosll]

If you like dinner shows, I recommend Hoop-de-doo at Fort Wilderness which is just a short boat ride from the Magic Kingdom. The is okay and the show is corny but for me it is pure Disney entertainment.

I would think that with the time zone adjustment that you will be staying up later so you can enjoy the fireworks at MK - my favorite with Celebrate the Magic light show on the castle.