What *IS* Fantasmic and is it worth it?

[TheLittleRoo]

I've seen the posts on it, and from what I can gather, it seems to be some kind of an indoor theater light show? So you can't see it from outside like fireworks? We will have a baby, a 4 y/o, and an 11 y/o with us so getting there 90 mins early for a seat is not an option.

So, if this is a "can't miss" experience, is the best thing to book ADR's Fantasmic Dinner Package with Mama Melrose or H&V? If so, what time? Isn't the first show at 9:15? We're going in September. How will crowds be during the off season?

TIA for any help you can offer!

 

[Ragnrok23]

It's an outdoor show at MGM. If your going in September, I wouldn't worry about getting there 90 min. in advance. I would 30 minutes would be fine. However be prepared as the later you get in, the father from the only entrance/exit from the stadium you will be. It tend to be a madhouse getting out. It is my personal favorite nightime show at WDW, and the kids seem to love it.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

It is outdoor. You sit in an amphitheater. Across a lagoon is a stage where they have some stage show stuff. There's also stuff on the lagoon. Also, at 3 different spots in the amphitheater, there are water projecton screens. The water sprays up out of them and creates such a thick mist, an image can be projected onto them. Which of course means if the wind is blowing into your face when facing the screen, you're going to get wet, so sit toward the top rather than toward the water. Also sitting next to the water can be a hot experience and a wet one too. Let's just leave it at that.

IT IS A DO NOT MISS. Let me repeat that. IT IS A DO NOT MISS. If there are two shows, you do not need the package to go to the late one. You'll get seating. But if you want to go to the early one or there is only one show that day, I would suggest the package. People started lining up for our show about 2 hours prior. Good thing we had the package and could walk into the reserved section about 40 minutes before the show. The Package seats are on the far right CLOSEST TO THE EXIT. YEEEEHAWWW. BEAT EM OUT TO THE BUS. It is not important to be right in the middle for this show. What's more important is to not end up about halfway between two projectors.

 

[kj2mom]

I am going in October and I am planning to go to H&V and doing the dinner package (I have two 4 year olds) which it is recommended to be at the special gate 30-45 minutes or so before show time. I will be making my ADR's on Sunday and I am hoping for shortly after the parade, I will have to see what times they have to offer when I call.

I am not sure if I can add links yet but all ears does have an info page on Fantasmic that you can find here, http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/mgm/m_fantasmic.htm

 

[3mickeys&me]

It is a must see. Our family loved it, we have seen it 3 times!!

Its an awesome show and every kid (even the big ones) who have seen it have loved it.

 

[surfer_ed]

It is one of the best things in the "world". Do the Dinner package, we did H&V and Momma Melrose and both were great for different reasons.

 

[QuickGold]

This page should be helpful: http://www.mgmstudios.org/fantasmic.html

 

[Stitch's Boy]

It's one of my favorite shows at WDW. The finalie is the best scene when Mickey is on top of the mountain.

 

[jann1033]

every party has a pooper and i'm it in this case...i'd go see it once but imo it's not nearly as good as illuminations or wishes so i wouldn't go if it meant skipping them. some little ( toddler) kids were afraid( not sure if it's a combo of the noise, witches, dragon,fire ect being some what close and contained, more so at least than fireworkds would be) but a number left almost as soon as it started
we went in Jan and had no problem getting seats 1/2 hr prshow and smaller families could find seats pretty much up till show time...one whole section( far right, looking at stage ) was empty

 

[luvmyboys]

I have to agree with the other "DO NOT MISS IT" posters. We saw it twice last September, and would have seen it a third if Mother Nature hadn't had a nasty tantrum. I agreed to see it multiple times just for the look in DS' eyes. He was 6 at the time, and thought it was the greatest thing he had ever seen! I almost cried watching him. He still talks about it quite often. Lights, water show, music, fireworks, Mickey... how can you go wrong??

 

[bettyann29]

It is as everyone has described... I have been to WDW 4 times and I only saw it for the first time on our trip a few weeks ago.. Its awesome.. I wish I had done it before but glad that I did it with my children.. its not to be missed..

 

[ZoZo]

I didn't like Fantasmic at all (but I know lots of people love it). I was very disappointed after the wonderful reviews I had read on the DIS. I had even done the Fantasmic dinner package so I wouldn't have to wait in line so early for a seat. I enjoyed Mickey's Philharmagic much more.

I guess it just goes to show that not every attraction appeals to everyone.

 

[vacationwoman]

"didn't like Fantasmic at all (but I know lots of people love it). I was very disappointed "

DH and I also don't understand why Fantasmic is so popular. We go to WDW every year and of course try everything at least once when a new attraction opens. There are a few things we are not crazy about and Fantasmic is one of them. We were not impressed at all.

 

[yooperfan]

We will be going the third week of Jan., will it be a madhouse getting out then. I hate crowds at the end of the day and usually avoid them, but this is the one show we have never seen in the 23 yrs we have been going.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

I HATED Fantasmic. HATED. We're all adults, so it an issue of scared children...we just all felt like it was a HUGE WASTE of time (and we'd done the dinner package). The show was just kind of redundant and not enough in the way of fire works...too much of the stupid water screens. We could see bits of Illuminations over the top of the amphitheater and I became even more resentful of the show.
The best part was doing the wave before the show.
If it sounds like something that appeals to you, do it, but if the descriptions don't excite you, don't feel bad skipping it just because some people love it.

 

[DISUNC]

I've seen the posts on it, and from what I can gather, it seems to be some kind of an indoor theater light show? So you can't see it from outside like fireworks? We will have a baby, a 4 y/o, and an 11 y/o with us so getting there 90 mins early for a seat is not an option.

So, if this is a "can't miss" experience, is the best thing to book ADR's Fantasmic Dinner Package with Mama Melrose or H&V? If so, what time? Isn't the first show at 9:15? We're going in September. How will crowds be during the off season?

TIA for any help you can offer!

Been there! Saw that! AND IT WAS AWESOME EVERYTIME!

This is a Mickey vs the Disney Villians show, lots of noise, lights, water works(they show film clips right on the water falls...very pretty)

Here are some hints & personal observations.

No need to wait in line for the "GOOD" seats. Really! any seat is good.
Whenever we go we always wait until about 10 minutes to show time & walk right in. Usually this is the summer & the later show. But we dont really care where we sit. I don't believe you will have a problem in September.

Due to the noise, fireworks, etc. your younger children maybe a bit upset. It can be intense. I have seen little ones LOOSE IT, during the performance. How does your 4 yr old normally react to fireworks?

However, this is Disney at it FINEST and at the end all the good characters show up & Goodness prevails. So if you have a hysterical child, they probably will be calmer by the end.

I have booked the Mama Melrose package twice, and both times it RAINED & the show was cancelled. Yes I could of got another ticket for another night...but it is a hassle, and of course we already had other plans. But the food was good!

Really we never had a problem getting in at the last minute, during the summer months.

We once arrived 90 minutes early like some people suggest. It was HELL waiting in the crowded corridor with mobs of people (some of them were the infamous Brazilian teenage groups), in 95 degree weather, after a long day in the park....

I hope you go and enjoy!

 

[DISUNC]

We will be going the third week of Jan., will it be a madhouse getting out then. I hate crowds at the end of the day and usually avoid them, but this is the one show we have never seen in the 23 yrs we have been going.

The Time has Come!

 

[GGOOFY1]

IT IS A DO NOT MISS. Let me repeat that. IT IS A DO NOT MISS. If there are two shows, you do not need the package to go to the late one. You'll get seating. But if you want to go to the early one or there is only one show that day, I would suggest the package. People started lining up for our show about 2 hours prior. Good thing we had the package and could walk into the reserved section about 40 minutes before the show. The Package seats are on the far right CLOSEST TO THE EXIT. YEEEEHAWWW. BEAT EM OUT TO THE BUS. It is not important to be right in the middle for this show. What's more important is to not end up about halfway between two projectors.[/QUOTE]


I have to agree DO NOT MISS....