Villains Unleashed Fantasmic - What would you do??

[Wendybird55]

Just curious what do you think is better strategy regarding Villains Unleashed event...

DS loves Villains and wants to meet as many as he can. Looking at the info. available about the event I see there is a Fantasmic show with a special 25 min preshow and there most likely will be more people at the event then the Fantasmic theater can hold. So here's the question....

Would you get on line early enough to get into Fantasmic show OR opt out of going to Fantasmic in hopes of lower crowds during show so maybe you can get on some rides (like TSMM) or get in more Villain M&Gs?

On one hand - we've seen Fantasmic and can see it another night during our stay so why waste event time waiting on line to get seat. With a 25min pre-show added, we could have a good amount of lower crowd time to enjoy some of the special events that will only happen that night, meet some more Villains and ride some rides.

On the other hand...The pre-show could be GREAT! Something you won't want to miss. There may not be as many Villains out to meet because if they are part of the show they won't be around for M&Gs (or will they?).

So, what would be your strategy...Fantasmic or no Fantasmic and why at Villains Unleashed??

 

[pjpoppins]

I'm trying to figure this out myself. In 4 trips to WDW we have never seen Fantasmic but we are seeing it the following night with the dinner package. I'm tempted to skip it but I don't know if there will be less M&G's going on during it? You may want to check out Kenny the Pirate's site (or FB is even better). I'm trying to get his opinion as we speak (or type I guess)

 

[Missyrose]

Just curious what do you think is better strategy regarding Villains Unleashed event...

DS loves Villains and wants to meet as many as he can. Looking at the info. available about the event I see there is a Fantasmic show with a special 25 min preshow and there most likely will be more people at the event then the Fantasmic theater can hold. So here's the question....

Would you get on line early enough to get into Fantasmic show OR opt out of going to Fantasmic in hopes of lower crowds during show so maybe you can get on some rides (like TSMM) or get in more Villain M&Gs?

On one hand - we've seen Fantasmic and can see it another night during our stay so why waste event time waiting on line to get seat. With a 25min pre-show added, we could have a good amount of lower crowd time to enjoy some of the special events that will only happen that night, meet some more Villains and ride some rides.

On the other hand...The pre-show could be GREAT! Something you won't want to miss. There may not be as many Villains out to meet because if they are part of the show they won't be around for M&Gs (or will they?).

So, what would be your strategy...Fantasmic or no Fantasmic and why at Villains Unleashed??

Personally, I'm not planning on Fantasmic. Sure, the preshow could be cool, but I'd rather sneak in another M&G or two, or maybe one of the Villains Unleashed-specific shows.

 

[Kevin1986]

We are trying to figure out our game plan today. We have AP's so we'll at DHS at opening for rides/ Frozen then going to AK, then back to DHS for the Frozen show and then Villains. Fantasmic is def. going to be in our plan because it is one of my favorite shows on property. I told my friend to pick three-four villains she wants to meet- so far we have Maleficent, the witch, Cruella, the hyenas and the stepsisters. We also plan to ride TOT and Star Wars... not sure about Oogie Boogie show yet.. it may be a 10 min before thing. I am not sure what time to get Fantasmic- 8:30?

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I would make a list of all the villains you guys want to meet in order of importance. Once the time comes to line up for Fantasmic, look at your list and make a judgement call. Did you already meet most of your must dos? In that case, might as well see Fantasmic. I wouldn't worry about rides one bit. You can do those on any Disney vacation.

 

[Wendybird55]

It's a tough one...I think we'll probably go for meeting as many Villains as possible as DS wants to meet them all! The only Villains he's not very interested in are the Star Wars villains and Barbossa...otherwise, if it's a Villain, he wants to meet them.

Rides are bottom priority as the only one he would really like to ride is TSM and we have FP+ for that ride that afternoon and other days of our trip.
He likes Ooogie Boogie so we would like to see what that show is all about. And of course Hades is one of his top Villains so we would have to see that.

Face painting never interested him so we will skip that.
He has gift cards all ready to buy the special merchandise...definitely t-shirt and any special collectors pins.

I want to see the fireworks...if it's anything like the ones I saw on youtube from last year's Villains event, it will be awesome...

So depending upon how busy and crazy it is we'll probably skip Fantasmic. Though it's not a definite as if we get a lot done and can get in we may want to.

DS is sooo excited about this event...he's been talking about it a lot the past couple of days and was on KennythePirate last night looking for pictures of rare characters. So my main goal for that day is to let him sleep in a bit in the morning and rest until we head over to DHS late afternoon. We have FP+ for some rides, 4:55 dinner at Mama Melrose then it's time to get ready to party and he wants to stay up for entire event. Next day we have no morning plans.

This is one definite plus to FP+...I can plan some late-start days knowing I have FP+ for the rides we enjoy most.

 

[Disney Dad 88]

We are planning on meeting as many characters as possible. They are so many and they are all over the park. No autographs so the lines should move quickly. If there is time we want to catch the Oogie Boogie show before Fantasmic. Now if the rain will just cooperate!

 

[Wendybird55]

We are planning on meeting as many characters as possible. They are so many and they are all over the park. No autographs so the lines should move quickly. If there is time we want to catch the Oogie Boogie show before Fantasmic. Now if the rain will just cooperate!

Rain?!?! What Rain?! It doesn't rain on Villains (fingers crossed) So far 10 day forecast looks OK - typical scattered / isolated showers predicted. So lets hope Hades burns away any possible rain.

I agree - meet as many Villains as possible. Hades hangout and streest of America seem like 2 good areas. DS is disappointed no autographs...he so wants villains autographs...the only ones he has is Hook, Smee, Evil Queen, Lady Tremaine and step sisters. Hopefully they will have autograph cards to hand out.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Rain?!?! What Rain?! It doesn't rain on Villains (fingers crossed) So far 10 day forecast looks OK - typical scattered / isolated showers predicted. So lets hope Hades burns away any possible rain.

I agree - meet as many Villains as possible. Hades hangout and streest of America seem like 2 good areas. DS is disappointed no autographs...he so wants villains autographs...the only ones he has is Hook, Smee, Evil Queen, Lady Tremaine and step sisters. Hopefully they will have autograph cards to hand out.

I have my fingers crossed that they will have those autograph cards. I did the long lost friends weekend at DLR two years ago and loved meeting the rare characters and getting their "autographs".

 

[pjpoppins]

Kenny the Pirate is stating that they will have autograph cards. I'm actually happy about this as they will be cool souvenirs (so are autograph books) but it will keep the lines moving. It takes long enough with all the different electronic devices people use for pictures. I sometimes wanna yell "Just take one pic with one phone and send it via text!!!"

 

[Wendybird55]

Kenny the Pirate is stating that they will have autograph cards. I'm actually happy about this as they will be cool souvenirs (so are autograph books) but it will keep the lines moving. It takes long enough with all the different electronic devices people use for pictures. I sometimes wanna yell "Just take one pic with one phone and send it via text!!!"

I agree..autograph cards sound good to me...autograph book will be one less thing I have to carry around and take in and out of my bag. Hopefully there will be some photopass folks around as well. I still bring my digital camera for photos...easy to use, small and why waste phone battery for photos when I need it for communication and checking MDE to check FP+ and ADR times.

 

[Disney Dad 88]

My guess is that the set characters will have the autograph cards while the roving characters may not. Hopefully, with the number of characters out that no character will have huge lines. Talking to my kids and it's hard to choose a strategy, so many characters and not enough time, but let's see how many we can get!