What time to line up for Fantasmic!?

[4butlers]

Last time we had the dining package and pretty much walked right in. But this time, I'm trying to decide whether we want to get the dining package or not. How far ahead of time would we need to get in line? We're planning on going Oct. 28.

 

[Shanan]

If there is only 1 show that night then we normally line up at least 1 hour before (sometimes 1 1/2 hours prior). If there are 2 shows then go to the second one.

 

[Emma1987]

If there is only 1 show that night then we normally line up at least 1 hour before (sometimes 1 1/2 hours prior). If there are 2 shows then go to the second one.

Ditto.
Personally I wouldn't bother with the dining package. The seats aren't great at all! You're better off getting in line and getting a good seat that's not completely off to one side. You don't get the full effect from the show I don't think.
Plus, it's fun waiting in line with everyone else!

 

[GAN]

We've seen it a few times now and have tried both the dinner package and waiting in line for an hour. This year I'm not worrying about "good" seats and plan to line up no sooner than 30mins before if at all -we'll take whatever is left.

 

[LifeIsDis]

If you want to get good seats and not be with the crowd in the standing room only section, get there 1 hour - 1 1/2 hours ahead of time to stand in line. Some people show up 10 minutes before the show starts and expect to find a good seat. Don't be one of those people!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

If there is only 1 show that night then we normally line up at least 1 hour before (sometimes 1 1/2 hours prior). If there are 2 shows then go to the second one.

I would agree. Although in late October, you can get away with 60 minutes. In the summer, 90.

 

[jesswindsor]

I usually just line up when I see everyone else in line usually an hour or an hour and a half before they let you in. But then you have to wait that hour before the show starts.

 

[MrRob]

Some people show up 10 minutes before the show starts and expect to find a good seat. Don't be one of those people!

Except sometimes that is the case, depending on the crowds that night.

My friends and I went last week and we got "in line" about 15 minutes before it started. I quote "in line" because by that point they had seated most of the people so there wasn't much of a line left.

We got pretty great seats.

However we also noticed that the park emptied up a bit that night as there was a 15 minute rain earlier in the evening.

 

[nkereina]

We were there late September when it's low crowds. It was also raining the night we went. We showed up about a half hour before the show started and it was standing room only. If having a seat is important to you, line up a good hour-hour and a half before the show.

I will say that the standing room section worked well for us. We sat on the step until the show started and then the show is only 20-25 mins. As the show was ending, we made our way to the exit. We weren't stuck in a row of bleachers. We'd probably do standing room again just so we don't have to wait in line for that long.

 

[Greenfield1984]

We usually line up about an hour ahead of time. We bring supper in with us and eat it while we wait.

 

[iamadisneynut]

We saw it in the summer and waited for maybe 20 mins in line? This was late August.

We saw it in March and walked right in about 50 mins before, there was no line yet.

Both times we were right down front and centre.

 

[Robo]

No one can predict exactly how large the crowds will be or how early you should go to find a seat for Fantasmic! on any given day.
It has totally to do with the whim of the crowd at DHS on that day, and the general crowd levels.
How much time you wish to "invest" in waiting is a personal decision. We have never done the F! Dinner Package, and have always seen the show (dozens of times).

(Take all of these as "average" numbers, sometimes the crowd will be MUCH greater and the theater can fill up much sooner.)

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-120 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45-60 minutes before: Outside seats likely still available.
30-40 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Yes, the lines can start forming over 2 hours before the show-time on a very busy day.

At about 90-120 min. before show-time, they will open the gates and begin allowing guests in line to approach the theater seating.

(See my maps. It is a very long ramp.)

They will continue with the lines of guests walking in until the theater is completely filled or the show begins, whichever comes first.

They will "hold open" the Dining Pkg. seating area ONLY for guests who have the Dining Pkg. voucher.

BUT, if the theater is over-crowded
then, at about 30-35 min. before show-time,
the CM's will cease holding the DP area open for DP voucher guests
and, at that time, begin to allow ANYONE
who still needs a seat to sit in (any seats left) the DP area.


Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-120 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
60 minutes before: Good seats
25-35 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests. (The crowd of "last-minute" arrivals can be slow to get seated before show-time.)

Off-Season (not busy days):
You should be OK to enter by 30-50 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

Dining Package:
New Dining Pkg. Entrance was added in mid-Sept. 2009.
If you do the Fantasmic! Dinner Pkg. you still SHOULD enter by AT LEAST 35-45 minutes ("safer" at 45 minutes) before show-time and still be guaranteed "pretty good" seats (not my "first choice" area, but fine), regardless of crowd-levels. Remember, the DP is only valid for the first show of the evening, if there are 2 or more. If you do have DP and you spy some seats outside the DP "reserved" area, you are free to choose to sit anywhere outside that area you like, no problem.

If there are TWO Fantasmic! shows in one evening, the second one will have lower crowd level than the first one. You can arrive a bit later (generally, 45-60 minutes) and still find a seat.
(Some say less advance time will be needed, but I'm cautious.)


Be aware that the second show waiting area will LOOK like the show is "too crowded".
That's because they HOLD the 2nd crowd outside the theater while the CMs CLEAN it after the first crowd has exited.

Then, they will let those waiting together in that big group IN... all at once, and there will be PLENTY of room.

(The theater seats over 7,000 guests.)

When you enter the theater, there will be CMs along the way directing the flow of traffic, but you may (if you are early enough to have a choice) simply choose any open seats in the theater to be your own.
If you want to exit more quickly, choose a seat farther back and to towards audience-right.
If you want to be immersed in the show (and sometimes, immersed in water-mist, if the wind is blowing "in") choose a seat towards the front.

We like to eat our evening meal while waiting for Fantasmic! to start.
You can bring in items from the counter-service places in DHS, or they DO have concession stands at the rear of the theater serving "baseball stadium-type" food and drinks. Yes, even beer, sold strictly ONE-at-a-time, one-only-to-a-person, so a single person can't go and buy beer for other members of a group... all guests wanting to buy a beer must be present in-person at the counter.
We have a hot dog, maybe a pretzel, later some popcorn or cotton candy (Disney Health Food).
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_fan.htm
Click above for the "menu."

But, nothing ALWAYS happens the same way at WDW.
I would be cautious about assuming anything, as WDW has been experiencing
unpredictable (sometimes record-breaking) crowds even over the past couple of years.

If its IMPORTANT to see a particular show, arriving a bit too early will be better than arriving a bit late.

If its not a really big deal to see a particular show, you may certainly arrive closer to show-time and just see if you get lucky.
Many folks do.

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[joshstamp]

We turned up 20 mins before in February and ended up being stood at the back of the arena i'll know for next time

 

[4butlers]

Thank you everyone for all your replies. And thank you Robo for all the great detail you supplied! We may be rethinking our plans for that day!

 

[FaunaFairy]

It depends on which show you go to. Usually, arriving 30 minutes before the show isn't a bad idea. Although, on my last trip, we wound up going 45 minutes before the 10:30 show and sitting on the ground and eating delicious funnel cake.

 

[kaligal]

Ugh. I was recently dragged to Fantasmic again. We got there after everyone else went in and still claimed excellent seats...but we were two people. There wasn't a crowd. The seats that would have been occupied by Dining Package peeps were totally empty.

We stopped by early, saw there was no real crowd and went to ride ToT. Then we went back.

It really depends on the night.

That should do me on Fantasmic for life, because IMO it's a bad show.

I wouldn't do a dining package because those seats are the worst possible seats. If you MUST see the show, at least get yourself a good seat. In October, I can't imagine needing to be there mor than 45 minutes early.

Grab seats, send someone for snacks, wait and watch. That's my advice...if you MUST go.