Who else isn't thrilled with Fantasmic?

[NCDisneyMom]

Add me to the list of those not thrilled with Fantasmic. We saw it not long after it first debuted at MGM. Perhaps it was all the hype over it, but we were expecting to be blown away. It wasn't bad, by any means, but we didn't feel it was anything special, either.

I do hope Wishes holds up to it's hype when I see it for the first time in a couple of weeks! lol

Diana

 

[Sandyincanada]

We were disappointed too. I think it was the build up from this website, I was expecting alot more than what we got. I try not to read too many reviews on any show or ride now, rather be surprised.

 

[DVC Jen]

The first time we saw it I left totally grossed out. We were so excited and did the dinner show thing.. we got there early sat right in front and then when the water shoots up into that screen.. the wind blew a fine mist of that water all over us for a good portion of the show. Well I am not sure what they put in the water to make it catch on fire..but we left feeling very greasy and gross.

We weren't going to go back, but our two DDs liked it.. so we tried it again. The second time I did enjoy it more (sat much further back) but I still can't say I love it or have a desire to see it again any time soon.

 

[Micca]

Fun show, but we hate sitting around for something to happen. I don't care to wait over 30 minutes for it.

 

[iceskatejen]

They don't put anything in the water to make the fire, at least not at DL. There are pipes that let loose Carbon Dioxide at certain moments of the show so that there can be fire. But I know at DL there's a "thickening agent" in the water. BTW, at DL you can sit right up front and not get wet. I think I've only gotten a little wet once or twice. I was pretty wet sitting in the third row at MGM.

 

[Kitster]

Aimeedyan, I agree with you wholeheartedly. We saw the WDW version of Fantasmic once and left saying "What does Pocohontas have to do with Mickey's dream ????" And we missed the Mark Twain at the end, and the Columbia for the Peter Pan, Hook and Tic Toc segment. The only thing I liked better at WDW was their dragon. Maleficent looked much more evil......until the last rehab at DLR. Now WE have their dragon AND the better show. Many's the time we've claimed a spot on the sidewalk next to Rivers of America at 7-7:30 pm for the 9:30 show......and the 10:30 show

iceskatejen - Unless they changed sometihing that I don't know about, DLR does have flames on the water. They're created using natural gas pipelines under the water and nozzles at the surface. It's been that way for several years now.

 

[Jeanny]

I saw it a few years ago with some friends who absolutely love it and have to see it when they go every year. I wasn't overly impressed, we had seats way up towards the back, I could see the show through the camcorder viewer the guy in front of me was holding better! We may go see it next month if we have time, but I'm not planning on it right now.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

Wow - it feels really good to finally say that I don't really like Fantasmic either! I'm not sure I've ever even let myself acknowledge that before!!

Seriously though, my DH and I (who are FL residents and at Disney all the time) will only see Fantasmic once a year. I could watch Wishes and Illuminations every night of my life and still get chills! I get kind of bored with the water-spray-movie scenes. It's really not that exciting, especially after waiting there for an hour. And I agree that the whole storyline is a bit confusing (I second the question about what Pocahontas has to do with Mickey's dream??)

That said, I love the boat at the end with all the characters and Mickey triumphant on top of the mountain, but overall it just doesn't do it for me.

K

 

[LeftCoaster]

I love the DL version but hate WDW's version. For me, the highlight of the FL version was watching the snake (which is Kaa in DLs version) run into itself.

 

[Joyfulsnuff]

It's not our family's favorite, we all agreed we didnt even care if we went to Fantasmic this year. It was enjoyable the first couple of times and then we became bored with it. I'm not sure what it is about this show but it just doesnt leave me speechless like Illuminations does. We could view Illuminations every night and never tire of it. Everybody has there favorite and Fantasmic just is not ours.

 

[DisMN]

Originally posted by Sandyincanada
We were disappointed too. I think it was the build up from this website, I was expecting alot more than what we got. I try not to read too many reviews on any show or ride now, rather be surprised.

heh heh heh...yeah, that happens here doesn't it? We listened to all the rave reviews about the Electrical Water pageant so we planned a whole day around the end-of-the-evening pageant. A huge waste of time that one was too, probably more so than planning an evening around Fantasmic. LOL

Oh well.

 

[PKK/MJK]

For the DL fans--what is different about that show? I know you have to sit on the ground to watch it, that there is no Pocahantas scene and that there is a pirate boat. So what else is different ? You all seem to prefer the DL version--what is it that makes it so much better? What do they do that WDW doesn't do?(this is not a criticism of any kind--I'm just curious)

 

[pigby]

We have seen the show three times now and I can take it or leave it. Unfortunately though, my DD (10) says it's her favorite thing at WDW so we'll be going again this year (and booking the Fantasmic package at Brown Derby - well it's a great excuse to justify spending the $$ and trying that restaurant)

 

[Leota]

I saw it in 1999, when it was pretty new. The friend I was with wanted to "beat the crowds" out, so we left right before the finale. I wasn't that impressed.
I haven't been back since, although I have been to WDW 5 times since then. I can't see waiting all that time for it. That said, this coming April family trip, I was thinking of doing the FDP so we could try it again. Everyone raves about it & I thought the finale must have been really spectacular to give everyone such a different impression than I had.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Wow, what a response!

Originally posted by AladdinsPrincess
I could watch Wishes and Illuminations every night of my life and still get chills!

Mee too (sort of). I haven't seen Wishes yet, but I could go to IllumiNations every night at WDW and love every minute of it.

My DW hasn't seen Fantasmic yet. If my two older girls want to see it in January, I will graciously volunteer to take the baby for a walk!

 

[goofy4tink]

We've done it several times now. I have to say that we'll probably do it again but it certainly isn't a 'must do' anymore!! It's okay but like so many others I prefer IllumiNations and Wishes. Looks like I'll have to go to DL and see what the difference is!!!

 

[laurajetter]

I'd have to say it's just okay, but this is the first time I'm admitting it to anyone...as another poster mentioned so many others seem to be completely blown away by it, I'd feel like a party pooper to say I didn't enjoy quite as much as they did. I thought I was the only one who felt this way! I actually feel a little better now because at the time I saw it (mid-September) I just thought I didn't enjoy it as much because I was getting spoiled by being at Disney and was taking for granted things that should be considered a privilege...not everyone is lucky enough to be able to go to WDW and enjoy these types of things.

I think also it was hyped up way to much; a little hype from the disboards and A LOT from one of my friends in FL. She couldn't express to me enough how much she LOVED LOVED LOOOOVVVVED this show, and that I would, too. Oh well; I guess people just have different tastes!

-Laura

 

[KCMiller]

Mark me down as someone who's 'been there, done that'. I mean, it was nice and all, but it's an awful lot of standing in line and sitting on hard benches to see a show. Once was nice, but I doubt I'd want to spend the 2-3 hours of my day at MGM doing it again.


KC

 

[Cleokitty]

I took our girls last year (while hubby was in the room sick) and while it was entertaining, I wasn't really impressed. It frightened my younger child (5) and the smoke caused the older one to have an asthma attack! It was not a fun time and we'll probably skip it this year. As my 5 yo said, "I could have ridden Tower of Terror 10 times but instead I had to sit through that show." So, we'll probably opt for TOT and the lights this Dec.

DisMN, we also thought the Electrical Water Pageant was going to be an "event" to see and were disappointed by all the build-up. Had we not heard so much about it, it would have been a "treat" to see while at the Poly pool.

 

[Del]

I'll take the Spectro Magic parade at MK over Fantasmic any day!
I've seen it Fantasmic now--won't rush back. I'm glad i'm not the only one.

Del