Journey into WDW

The final nighttime spectacular is Fantasmic! which occurs nightly at Hollywood Studios. The show lasts about 30 minutes and has one or two showings a night, depending on the season. The projections on water mist was actually first invented for Illuminations! This technology paved the way for shows like Fantasmic!

 

The original Fantasmic! premiered in Disneyland in 1992, and then opened here in WDW in 1998! There also was a version at Tokyo Disney Sea for a time (opened in 2011 and closed in 2020). The original WDW Fantasmic! 1.0 was very similar to the Disneyland version with only a few changes (the addition of Aladdin and changing the DL’s Peter Pan boat scene with a scene from Pocahontas being the two big differences). As much as I liked WDW Fantasmic! 1.0 I was very happy with the revamped version that premiered in WDW in 2022 (It was closed in 2020 for refurbishment and then extended closing due to the pandemic). 

There’s a lot of good things to say about WDW Fantasmic! 2.0, such as there’s a lot of new characters from Disney franchises that people really like (Elsa, Mulan, Moana, Rafiki). Pocahontas still gets her moment atop the mountain (without the very long drawn out canoe scene). Not to mention I feel like Fantasmic! 2.0 at WDW utilizes the space better. It really gives them the ability to really go for it with effects and other technical features. To put it into perspective I think there’s just more of everything overall in the WDW Fantasmic! 2.0, truly an amazing show!

(The Editor) really loves the Disneyland version of Fantasmic!, but there are drawbacks to it. Both a pro and con is the location. It’s shown on the equivalent of Tom Sawyer’s Island in Magic Kingdom and the only viewing areas are in front of that guard rail around it. Not to mention you’re a lot closer to the action than WDW. It’s a con because if you’re holding your spot at DL for over an hour you’re sitting on hot concrete which is extremely uncomfortable. But there’s many reasons to love DL’s Fantasmic! The use of the Columbia in the show is incredible! Both the Pirates and Peter Pan section of Disneyland’s Fantasmic! is genuinely jaw dropping. I think DL’s Fantasmic! continues to update and improve over the years. I’d also like to say they make better use of the technology, the way the projections are used on stage, Mickey is actually speaking to the water projections, the Jasmine and Aladdin scene there is so cool when they literally appear on a flying carpet! Once (if ever) they bring the dragon back to DL (RIP Murphy) the trio is going to DL and getting the dining package for a front row view of this fantastic show!

(The Editor) has gushed a lot about DL’s Fantasmic!, but with the improvements in Fantasmic! 2.0 WDW is it’s own beauty. I think there’s something purely about the scale of everything. Since WDW’s Fantasmic! came after DL’s I think they took in the issues with DL’s Fantasmic! (seating and size of stage being two big cons) and improved upon it. I feel instead of comparing the two, I treat them both as their own shows. (The Editor) loves DL’s Fantasmic!, but also will drop everything to see WDW’s Fantasmic! any chance they can get. I just felt it was important to talk about the differences between the two shows in this article. But we are going to focus mainly on WDW’s Fantasmic! 2.0 as that is the current show running at Hollywood Studios.

Now onto more detail about WDW’s Fantasmic! (it will be refrenced just as Fantasmic! for the rest of this article)

Fantasmic! brings the audience on a journey into Mickey’s imagination, where we can see different scenes of his friends, and some of his foes from other Disney movies. Of course the villains are up to no good and they turn Mickey’s dream into a “Nightmare Fantasmic!”. We must watch and see if Mickey can overcome his fears and vanquish these villains invading his dreams.

This is a star studded show! Not only do you get the Main Cheese himself, but we also see Aladdin, Moana, pant-suit Elsa, along with many characters from other popular Disney franchises. There is a little something for everyone! Whether you like Princesses, fun animal features (I love that Rafiki is getting his moment here), or if you’re a villains fan, legit everyone is here!

 

 

 

 

There’s a huge dragon that appears at one point, a big snake (Micky seems very scared of large reptiles), special effects, the aforementioned water projections! The ending with the awesomeness of the show, and fireworks just makes this an amazing nighttime spectacular. There is so much going on that I still notice something new every time I go!

 

Fantasmic! is shown in an outdoor amphitheater behind Hollywood Studios. It’s a bit of a hike to get there, and it can seat up to 10,000 guests. I must say as a warning some seats may be in the splash zone, so do beware (we have been absolutely soaked before).

During the busy season there are two shows, usually one occurs at 8:00 pm and the next at 9:30 pm. The second show is about 30 minutes after park close. I would recommend going to the second showing, since most people try to attend the earlier one. This allows for you to get some last minute rides in while the first show is going on and then line up to go in by the time the park has closed.

Another nice part about Fantasmic! is the fact that there are concession stands up in the amphitheater allowing you to grab some popcorns and drinks if you couldn’t grab one beforehand.

I would love to say that there is no bad seat in the house, but there are indeed some very bad seats. There are a lot of pole structures which could cause some interference or if you get seated in the extended seating you may not see all the water elements. Also due to the bench seating there are times where you may be seated next to families you do not know. They’re trying to get as many people in the amphitheater as possible, which means it can be very tight quarters if you’re in the middle of one of the sections.

Very similar to Happily Ever After, there is also a grand exit after Fantasmic! The entire amphitheater must exit through one of two (very small) exits. The cast members do their best to ensure that this is done safely, but it is important for our friends who may get a bit anxious in the crowd to know that it will be okay to wait until the crowd dies down for them to start making their way out.

This show is definitely a great pick for families, since there are two showings and you can schedule it around what would work best for your plans. On the upside it’s the only nighttime show with actual seating (a rare commodity at Disney). It’s important to note that some anxiety might arise especially since strollers must be parked outside of the amphitheater. Despite some of the downsides this show is so entertaining that it may just become a new tradition for your family whether you are a regular or a local.

All of the nighttime entertainment at Walt Disney World is wonderful and can be enjoyed by all. Whether you are here on your once in a lifetime vacation, here for your annual vacation, or are a passholder looking for an extra dose of magic. The nighttime entertainment is something that I would recommend for everyone!

Which would be right for you? Will it be the iconic fireworks with projections on Cinderella’s Castle? Would you prefer a story of unity brought to us through song, fire works and water elements? Maybe you want to watch a Mouse live his dreams and conquer his nightmares? No matter what you pick it will be a great option, however just ensure that this is the best option for your plans and for your travel party!

Please comment any other questions below and I can always try to help you decide what would be best for your group! Or just go to them all, It is Disney after all!!