Wishes, illuminations or fantasm?

[racheljl]

Will be at WDW next week with DH who doesn't have a lot of patience with waiting and crowds....good thing I found you guys! So I'm wondering which evening show might be the easiest to see. A few night that we're there Fantasm is shown twice -- the others only once. I'm an almost-newbie -- last visit to MK was while they were building Tomorrowland so I'm not sure which evening show we'd like the most.

Thanks.

 

[Robo]

I don't know which you'd like the most either.


We always see all three (multiple times each trip), and wouldn't miss ANY of them.
They are completely different and all wonderful in their own way.

 

[erikthewise]

There's no question that Fantasmic is the most difficult to see. You have to line up in advance to get a seat in the theatre. If you're not there an hour in advance you risk being in SRO or missing it altogether. Obviously this depends on season -- at slow times you may be able to get in with little wait (or not). To minimize hassle plan to see a second showing -- the theater may not even fill up.

Illuminations (my favorite) does have the issue of finding a good spot to watch from, and the best spots will be taken about 45-60 minutes in advance, again depending on season. But it's a good show from anywhere in World Showcase, and perfectly enjoyable with no waiting.

Wishes is the easiest -- all you have to do is be "in the park". Best and most crowded location is in front of the castle, but there's room there for a LOT of people, and just about anywhere in MK is OK.

Optional: if you catch an early showing of Fantasmic it is possible to see Illuminations the same evening if you have park hopper tickets. There are buses AND boats from MGM to Epcot, which may be swamped after Fantasmic lets out. Or (my favorite) there is a walking path that's about 1.25 miles gate to gate.

 

[mking624]

I agree in that Wishes will be the easiest to see. You can see the fireworks pretty well from anywhere.

Illuminations is best seen from a prime spot...which needs to be grabbed early. If you're behind a bunch of people, it's going to be hard to see the globe.

Fantasmic is a great show and in my opinion there really isn't a BAD spot....but if you want a really good spot, you're going to have to line up and wait awhile.

 

[shelleyr25]

Just wondering, we are doing the dinner package at Hollywood & Vine with the reserved seats for the Fantasmic show...how soon before the show starts do we need to be in our seats?? I realized that we will "get" seats but are some seats better than others??
OP, perhaps look into doing the package that way your dh wont have to deal with the crowds or having to get there early for a good spot.

 

[Robo]

Just wondering, we are doing the dinner package at Hollywood & Vine with the reserved seats for the Fantasmic show...how soon before the show starts do we need to be in our seats?? I realized that we will "get" seats but are some seats better than others??

Even with the "Dinner Pkg.", they still expect you to be in your seats about 30 minutes before show-time.
The "Dinner Pkg." seating is not "guaranteed" if you arrive too late.

The "Dinner Pkg." seats are not in the center section, but off to the side and about half-way "up" in the rows. So ANY of these "pkg." seats are all about as good a the others in that rather limited area.
These "pkg." seats are just fine, but not "prime" seats,
(We actually like to sit virtually dead-center and in the first 5 rows near the "stage/lake".)

But Fantasmic! is so HUGE a production, that most every seat will allow a nice view and good sound (except maybe for the "extreme" edges and "standing-room" area in the back).

You CAN enter with your "Dinner Pkg." voucher and NOT choose to sit in the roped-off "Dinner Pkg." area.
So if you see a seat or seats still available that you'd RATHER have, you may sit anywhere in the theater you choose.

So that's why we never bother with the "Dinner Pkg.", but just arrive an hour or so early, sit down in a great spot, eat our "snack dinner" from the in-theater consession stands, and wait for the show.