Trying to decide between SWGS or Fantasmic show - opinions?

[MammaMoe48]

I booked the Fantasmic! dinner package a few months ago so we would have guaranteed seating for the show but now DS said he wants to see the Galactic Spectacular. Of course the shows are only 30 minutes apart so there's no way we could make it from F! to GS in that time and there certainly won't be any place for us to stand to watch GS. I saw that GS offers a dessert party that gets you into the VIP area so while there's no seating, we would still be able to have a guaranteed space from where we can see the show. So now I'm wondering which one we should do.

I don't care so much about cost, it's a one time thing that I don't mind splurging on. DS of course would much rather see Star Wars, DH doesn't care either way so he's no help. I'm leaning toward SWGS but want to know if it is a better show. And of course, while you're really paying for the VIP passes, are the desserts worth the price too?

 

[CAS239]

You can see both and you don't need the F! Dining package or Star Wars dessert party to see either.

I personally don't think any fireworks dessert parties are worth the price

 

[yulilin3]

I booked the Fantasmic! dinner package a few months ago so we would have guaranteed seating for the show but now DS said he wants to see the Galactic Spectacular. Of course the shows are only 30 minutes apart so there's no way we could make it from F! to GS in that time and there certainly won't be any place for us to stand to watch GS. I saw that GS offers a dessert party that gets you into the VIP area so while there's no seating, we would still be able to have a guaranteed space from where we can see the show. So now I'm wondering which one we should do.

I don't care so much about cost, it's a one time thing that I don't mind splurging on. DS of course would much rather see Star Wars, DH doesn't care either way so he's no help. I'm leaning toward SWGS but want to know if it is a better show. And of course, while you're really paying for the VIP passes, are the desserts worth the price too?

On the star wars thread, first page, there's a post with all the reviews, so far, from fellow dissers. Link in my signature. We are also discussing the party there

 

[yulilin3]

You can see both and you don't need the F! Dining package or Star Wars dessert party to see either.

I personally don't think any fireworks dessert parties are worth the price

There's no way to do both on the same night

 

[MammaMoe48]

There's no way to do both on the same night

I was thinking more like when F! is done, as we are walking back toward Animation Courtyard and the exit, we might be able to stop and see whatever we can see of GS as we are heading out.

 

[MammaMoe48]

You can see both and you don't need the F! Dining package or Star Wars dessert party to see either.

I personally don't think any fireworks dessert parties are worth the price

For me, I'd rather pay for the dinner or dessert party if that means that I will have a guaranteed spot to view the show and not have to get there 60-90 minutes early just to have some idiot come pushing past me 10 minutes before showtime.

 

[CAS239]

There's no way to do both on the same night

If f! starts right on time, you sit near the top or head out 30 seconds or so before the end and beat the crowd..why couldn't both be seen if Star Wars starts 30 min after F!?

 

[yulilin3]

If f! starts right on time, you sit near the top or head out 30 seconds or so before the end and beat the crowd..why couldn't both be seen if Star Wars starts 30 min after F!?

F! is starting at 9pm and SWaGS starts at 9:30pm. And to be able to see SWaGS you have to be around center stage or else you will miss the fireworks and parts of the projections

 

[CAS239]

For me, I'd rather pay for the dinner or dessert party if that means that I will have a guaranteed spot to view the show and not have to get there 60-90 minutes early just to have some idiot come pushing past me 10 minutes before showtime.

With the dining package, FP, or standby, it's still strongly recommended you arrive 45-60 min prior to showtime. On busy nights it's not uncommon for the dining section to be filled 30 min prior. And shortly before the show if there's still enough people coming in, they sometimes open all areas to everyone. So if you do the dining package, just realize you still need to show up with adequate time. Some think they can show up 5 min before and are shocked

 

[Keyser]

I posted this somewhere previously, but when we were there pretty recenlty, the times were 9:00 for Fantasmic and 9:30 for the Star Wars fireworks. As CAS239 said, If you sat at the back, hurried out, and really booked it, you could probably get to Hollywood Blvd. just about at the start of the fireworks. However, you will not have a great view, and chances are you will miss the first few minutes of the fireworks show. It is a much worse situation than it was 1 month+ ago, when there was more time between the two (the fireworks would start at 9:45) and you could potentially see both in full. If you care only about the fireworks (and not the rest of the Star Wars show), you can see those from other places in DHS, but I'm assuming you'd want to see the show (projections, lasers, pyrotechnics, etc.). So, you can do it, but realize you are going to have to really get a move after Fanstasmic, and your view will be less than ideal.

Still, if I had to choose, I'd pick Fantasmic. That's our favorite thing in the parks overall, so we wouldn't miss it. The Star Wars spectacular is indeed very good, and if you could make it there two nights, do that (skip the Jungle Book show, if you have the choice there - really). But, if like us you can't get to DHS two nights, I'd pick Fantasmic, and then (like we did) would hurry out to see as much of the fireworks as possible.

 

[soniam]

The Star Wars nighttime show really isn't a fireworks show anymore. There are some fireworks, but it's primarily a projection show. I have done both from the dessert party viewing area. It was much easier to see the fireworks show from many places in the park and have a great view. The new projection show is much harder to see well, even from certain small areas of the dessert viewing area. I have also seen Fantasmic several times. I guess you need to ask yourself what interests your family more: Star Wars and lights or Disney characters and singing. We think the Star Wars show will be around for a while, but there's no guarantee. Fantasmic on the other hand, exists in two parks, WDW and Disneyland, and has been going for a very long time and probably will continue to do so.

As for the dessert party, we have done Wishes, Illuminations, and Star Wars. The Star Wars one is the only one that we have done twice. We really enjoy it. I wouldn't do the Wishes one probably ever again. The Illuminations one is iffy. I liked the original desserts better, but it still has sparkling wine and a pretty low price, which is all good. However, the Star Wars one is the best one in my opinion.

 

[TellTheHubbyLater]

I was in the same boat.
Two days ago, I finally just did it. I canceled our H&V F! package.
Friends of ours were there and said seeing SWGS from center stage was great!
(We have seen F! many times before)

 

[whiporee]

I was there last week and thought the desert party was great. The fireworks show was a lot of projection, and the fireworks themselves weren't overly amazing. But I liked it much better than Fantasmic, and if you had to to choose, I'd do the party and fireworks over Fantasmic and dining.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I was there last week and thought the desert party was great. The fireworks show was a lot of projection, and the fireworks themselves weren't overly amazing. But I liked it much better than Fantasmic, and if you had to to choose, I'd do the party and fireworks over Fantasmic and dining.

I have the dessert party booked but was planning to cancel. I don't know how the kids can eat without have a table and chairs. Did you have small children with you?

 

[yulilin3]

I have the dessert party booked but was planning to cancel. I don't know how the kids can eat without have a table and chairs. Did you have small children with you?

inside Launch Bay there are benches along the walls, there are 3 by the meet and greets and about 5 inside the game area. You could grab your food and take it there and eat.

 

[whiporee]

I have the dessert party booked but was planning to cancel. I don't know how the kids can eat without have a table and chairs. Did you have small children with you?

9, 9 and 12. Not having seats wasn't an issue -- the tables were low enough and they could sit on the floor if they wanted. Plenty did. The deserts were good -- the drinks were also good. I thought the deserts were better than the Wishes party. It was a bit of a pain to have to then go to the fireworks instead of just sitting there like at Wishes, but there was also a lot to do at Launch Bay and it was pretty deserted, because people who want to see the show are already lining up. You're connected to Launch Bay, so all that stuff is available to you. Chewy and Kilo were 3 minute waits (Kilo does a great job. Stared my 12-year-old daughter down the whole time.) The bread pudding and ice cream was especially solid, and my kids thought the quick freeze Nutella was fantastic.

I like desert parties, but I'd much rather do this than Fantasmic. And I'd do it again.

The only advice I'd give is to be near the front when it's time to leave. The whole viewing area is good, but the front is better. Also, they brought my (and other) kids to an area even-in-front-er so they wouldn't be blocked. Just the 9s, the 12 was too tall.

And forget the Chewbacca mugs they give out. Way to bulky to try to get home, both from the park and in your luggage

 

[DisneyFive]

If your son wants to do the Star Wars spectacular, I would probably recommend that. Both shows are pretty awesome the first time seeing them. There is no need for the dessert party. Just find a seat about an hour before the show in front of the stage and you are all set. Perfect viewing. We did this last night and it was awesome.

We also loved fantasmic the first time we did it years ago.

Dan