To Fantasmic or Not? Please Help?

[OatsZoo]

I was just wondering about any updated info on Fantasmic! I have been reading nightmare stories on the DIS boards about not being able to see Fantasmic and having to showing up 3hrs early. I also read about someone who had the Fantasmic Dinner Pkg and showed up the recommended 45 mins in advance and was turned away, stating that the reserved area was filling up with regular people not ones from the pkg. I make my ADR's tomorrow and am wondering about getting the Fantasmic pkg or even seeing Fantasmic at all. Should I go to Disney Studios on a Fantasmic day or try to avoid the Studios on that day? I heard that Fantasmic days can be a nightmare. Any recent vacation returners have an opinion?

 

[mwatson011]

Good questions, I would like to know this too...

 

[cassandrap83]

I have no desire to see Fantasmic. My kids are little (2 1/2 & 4 at the time of trip) and I live in Pittsburgh and we see fireworks...etc like every other day in the summer. They just don't wow me anymore.

So, we're going to Hollywood Studios on a non-Fantasmic day and will *hopefully* be enjoying the lower crowds!

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I can't imagine going to WDW and not going to F! It's a spectacular show with so much more than fireworks. The water laser part is great. We were there in Jan right after they cut back on shows and we went by about an hour before the first show and knew we couldn't get in. So we went about 20 minutes before the second show and got great seats. Most nights will have 2 shows if they have one. It's cheaper than doing one show 2 nights. And the second is always much easier to get in for.

 

[loperella]

I'd like to know about this too. 1st time disney-ers here and would love to see F! I guess we'll try and reserve this as we want to eat at MM's anyway. Hopefully we'll get to see the show w/o too many probs/waits.

 

[katytrott]

We were there end of May and this was our experience:

We had a park hopper with 14 day pass (for UK guests only), so had plenty of days to play with, so we went 2 days for the day touring on a non Fantasmic day. My dh and I left kids with grandparents and went into HS on another evening just to watch Fantasmic.

We actually arrived at the park gates at 8:40pm and made it down to Fantasmic entrance by 8:45pm. There were still people pouring in despite announcements and CMs shouting that it was standing room only. We went in ourselves and found people standing at the top of the auditorium behind the seats. This was 4/5 people thick so me, being short of stature, figured it wasn't worth staying, but thankfully, we did (we also had our hopes raised briefly went we copied others by jumping up and sitting on a high wall right at the back, which had great views - we were told to get down from there!).

Everyone who was standing at the back were then sent down the stairs to the front and we were confused as to where we were going to go, but when we got to the bottom, we discovered everyone already sitting, were being told to fill all available space to allow more seating, which worked, and everyone was found a seat right at the front with great views. By the time we were seated it was 8:50pm and we only had 10 min to wait which was perfect.

I think those that came in even later then us were sent to the official standing area which I think, was over to the far left. A CM did say that it still had good views as it was on different levels,

In consequence, I think it worked out really well for us and we probably would risk that time scale again (we hadn't intended to on this occasion). The seats that became available would only hold 2/3 in one row (maybe 4 if small kids), but I saw plenty of larger families getting seats where they 2/3 in one row and the rest directly behind or in front. On our last trip we got there 45 mins before and it was a nightmare entertaining toddlers and keeping our behinds pain free on the hard benches - I don't think it is worth that.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

I have no desire to see Fantasmic. My kids are little (2 1/2 & 4 at the time of trip) and I live in Pittsburgh and we see fireworks...etc like every other day in the summer. They just don't wow me anymore.

So, we're going to Hollywood Studios on a non-Fantasmic day and will *hopefully* be enjoying the lower crowds!

*cringes!*

You are missing out, Fantasmic is not a Fireworks show. There are some here and there, but I assure you Pittsburgh has NOTHING like Fantasmic at all.

 

[CoffeeCup]

We had the dinner package for Fantasmic last week and were told to report at the main gate 90 min. before the 9:00 show. We were told they would open the preferred seating area up to the general public 60-45 min. before the show. We arrived 90 min. early and had to stand in a huge crowd of people since you can't show anyone your preferred seating voucher until you get to the back of the theater. We got great seats, but sitting there for 90 min. was really boring. A few minutes before the show started, CMs came through and made everyone move to the center and squeeze together so the general publicwho had arrived only minutes before could take the seats we had arrived so early to get. The show was fantastic, as always, but it defeats the purpose of getting the dinner package and arriving 90 min. early if we have to give up our seats just before the show starts. On the more positive side, dinner at Mama Melrose was very good, and if you have the package and are on the dining plan, you get an appetizer you wouldn't get without the Fantasmic package. The negative to dinner was that when I called for reservations 90 days ahead of time, the only time available was 3:30. We enjoyed dinner/lunch and the show, but I doubt we'll do it again until they tweak the system to make it more convenient. If you've never seen Fantasmic, it's worth seeing.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

I have no desire to see Fantasmic. My kids are little (2 1/2 & 4 at the time of trip) and I live in Pittsburgh and we see fireworks...etc like every other day in the summer. They just don't wow me anymore.

So, we're going to Hollywood Studios on a non-Fantasmic day and will *hopefully* be enjoying the lower crowds!

Fantasmic isn't fireworks. It's an amazing show, not to be missed!!!

To the OP, if there is 2 shows on one night, then I'd strongely advise you to go to the second show, it's so much quieter. Other than that, I would recommend you do the dinner package. Some people think that the dinner package seating area isn't as good because it's not in the centre, but you get a good view anywhere in the stadium. Make sure you don't miss it!!!

 

[Aliceacc]

I have no desire to see Fantasmic. My kids are little (2 1/2 & 4 at the time of trip) and I live in Pittsburgh and we see fireworks...etc like every other day in the summer. They just don't wow me anymore.

So, we're going to Hollywood Studios on a non-Fantasmic day and will *hopefully* be enjoying the lower crowds!

Fantasmic is a wonderful show!!!

But I must admit that my 2 daughters were terrifed. (As in crying, needed to be taken out.)

So while I think it's a shame that you'll miss Fantasmic, we're not seeing it this year either. When the kids are older, we'll get back to WDW and see it. But not this year.

 

[ZoZo]

This is just me . . . but I didn't enjoy Fantasmic very much. We did the whole Fantasmic dinner package, and although our meal was good, Fantasmic was sort of disappointing to me. [But there are tons of people who just love it!]

To me, it wasn't worth all of the time it took. If I had just been able to walk in and sit down, it might have been worth it, but I feel like I wasted a whole evening.

Give it a try, you may love it!

 

[loperella]

Confused here...

Is the dinner package 1 or 2 credits? Or, does it depend on which restaurant you choose? I'd like to try MM anyway, but not if it's two credits.

 

[MarkinNM]

I have no desire to see Fantasmic. My kids are little (2 1/2 & 4 at the time of trip) and I live in Pittsburgh and we see fireworks...etc like every other day in the summer. They just don't wow me anymore.

So, we're going to Hollywood Studios on a non-Fantasmic day and will *hopefully* be enjoying the lower crowds!

Fireworks???

Fantasmic???

WRONG SHOW!!!!! Fantasmic is MUCH more then fireworks.....

Oh well that will leave seats for someone else............

 

[Scott MC]

I'm guessing that the OP has never seen Fantasmic before. I think it's an amazing show, but it does eat up a lot of time and patience. You really must get there a minimum of 1 hour before the show if you even hope to get a seat. If you don't you'll be forced to stand and be at the mercy of tall people who will stand in front of you.
After the show, it is an all-out stampede to get out of the arena. It's pretty scary.
Personally, I think that once you've seen it, you've seen it. I much prefer Spectromagic, Wishes, and Illuminations.
If you've not seen it before, and you have a lot of time at WDW, I say go for it, get there 2 hours early, and enjoy. Then you'll have done it. You really need to give up 3-4 hours of your time at The World for this one 30 minute show. It's worth it, but only once.

 

[katytrott]

I'm guessing that the OP has never seen Fantasmic before. I think it's an amazing show, but it does eat up a lot of time and patience. You really must get there a minimum of 1 hour before the show if you even hope to get a seat. If you don't you'll be forced to stand and be at the mercy of tall people who will stand in front of you.
After the show, it is an all-out stampede to get out of the arena. It's pretty scary.
Personally, I think that once you've seen it, you've seen it. I much prefer Spectromagic, Wishes, and Illuminations.
If you've not seen it before, and you have a lot of time at WDW, I say go for it, get there 2 hours early, and enjoy. Then you'll have done it. You really need to give up 3-4 hours of your time at The World for this one 30 minute show. It's worth it, but only once.

Actually, I would refer you to my previous post (no.6). We really did turn up 15mins before the show and got much better seats then we have ever got in the past when we have turned up 1 hour before. As I said, and another poster mentioned, they do get people to move up closer to each other close to show time, so, as far as I could tell, most people who arrived 15/10 mins before the show got fantastic seats. Yes, those who arrived just before it started did have to stand, but the area was graded and I was assured by a CM I asked that it would be easy to see (can't guarantee that - didn't need to find out).

I would also point out that this was the busier first show of the two that evening, and when the Star Wars weekend was on.

I really think there is no need to be there 2 hours before. You just cannot guarantee you will keep those good seats you have sat in for 2 hours when you get asked to move up. It's very much like the 3D shows - the number of times you see a family race to be the first in when the doors open to grab the middle seats, only to be then moved right to the end of the row!

From experience, when we arrived 1 hour before, the stress, boredom and sore butts left us not fully appreciating the show and a bit deflated. We very nearly didn't bother with it on this trip, but as we only had 10min to wait, which was just right, we had totally different experience and came away completely wowed