Viewing Guide for Fantasmic at Disney World

Participating eating places at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and eating bundle costs, which exclude tax and gratuity:

In the previous, we solely beneficial the Fantasmic Dining Package to these on the Disney Dining Plan, as there was no additional value for it. It was a “free” bonus for these on the DDP. However, that’s partly as a result of it was pretty simple to get a great place for Fantasmic by way of standby, or an ideal spot by way of the free FastPass+ service.

Unfortunately, the Disney Dining Plan remains to be briefly suspended (see When Will the Disney Dining Plan Return at Walt Disney World? for extra on after we’re anticipating it to return), so clearly it’s not potential to get the Fantasmic eating bundle for “free” with the DDP proper now. Moreover, FastPass+ has been completely retired–and Fantasmic doesn’t have a Genie+ Lightning Lane entrance (but), in order that’s additionally not an possibility.

All of this modifications the equation, and makes us way more inclined to suggest paying out of pocket for the Fantasmic Dining Package. As far as suggestions go, our largest recommendation is…NOT Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano!

Seriously, we actually like the entire Fantasmic Dining Package eating places besides Mama Melrose, and all for various causes. Hollywood Brown Derby is likely one of the few in-park Signature Restaurants, and it’s typically actually good. Of course, it’s additionally far and away the costliest, however that’s additionally true when paying out of pocket on the restaurant. So lengthy as you order one of many $40+ entrees, Brown Derby remains to be a fairly good worth by way of the Fantasmic Dining Package regardless of the upper value.

We additionally actually love each 50’s Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. As famous above, the latter is the most cost effective Fantasmic Dining Package, and the previous is just a few {dollars} costlier. We’ve mentioned for years that you need to disregard the damaging critiques, because the expertise at each eating places is the star of the present. Both serve fairly good consolation meals, too.

I’m inclined to select Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater over 50’s Prime Time Cafe, however different Walt Disney World followers favor 50’s. I can’t fault them for the choice–you actually can’t go improper, both manner. Both are among the many pinnacle of themed eating at Walt Disney World and are well-worth experiencing at the very least as soon as. (We’ve carried out each many, many extra instances than that!)

We additionally love the varied Minnie’s Seasonal Dine choices at Hollywood & Vine. While we cringe a bit at that $71 value for adults, we completely love Minnie’s Holiday Dine–in addition to the Spring Time and Halloween choices.

Hollywood & Dine is one other restaurant that will get combined critiques, with some Walt Disney World followers ardently against it. To ensure, this isn’t the peak of haute delicacies at Walt Disney World. It’s a personality buffet. The meals is acquainted and comforting, and on no account in any respect envelope-pushing, however typically good. We are massive followers. (Overall, I believe the desk service ‘scene’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios doesn’t get practically sufficient credit score. It’s no World Showcase, however nearly every part affords one thing worthwhile.)

Not everybody may have the holiday funds or time to do the Fantasmic Dining Package. Table service meals are costly and, equally as necessary, time-consuming. On high of that, availability is exceeding restricted for the Fantasmic Dining Package, with exponentially extra demand than there’s provide. As a consequence, many guests who do wish to guide the Fantasmic Dining Package will be unable to take action.

Which brings us to the opposite viewing choices for Fantasmic at Walt Disney World.

Let’s begin with whether or not you need to catch the primary or second efficiency of Fantasmic. On nights when there’s just one displaying of Fantasmic, that’s the one you’ll do (clearly). Pretty open and shut suggestion.

While you possibly can line as much as see Fantasmic as much as 90 minutes upfront, we suggest displaying up round 30-45 minutes upfront if there’s just one displaying of Fantasmic. You received’t get an ideal seat, however most views within the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater are “good enough.” By arriving at the very least half-hour earlier than showtime, you need to get a spot that isn’t within the far left or proper second. (During peak season journey dates–the weeks of Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Presidents’ Day, Mardi Gras, Easter, Spring Break, July 4th, and so on–think about arriving earlier.)

On evenings with two showings of Fantasmic, we’ve got some ‘contrarian’ recommendation for you: see the primary displaying! This is regardless of it all the time being the extra crowded of the 2. Other planning assets are going to suggest seeing the second present for the very same cause–the second displaying is all the time much less common.

During the second displaying of Fantasmic, the remainder of Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be considerably much less crowded. This permits you to knock out headliner sights with minimal wait–we’re speaking posted wait instances underneath an hour for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash, with precise wait instances usually round half of what’s posted.

If you choose to see the primary efficiency of Fantasmic on these nights when there are 2 showtimes, arriving half-hour upfront ought to suffice irrespective of the group degree. You would possibly even be high quality displaying up 20 minutes forward of time, relying upon total crowd ranges.

If you select to ignore our recommendation and see the second present, you possibly can usually arrive much more final minute. Recently, we’ve proven up 10-Quarter-hour upfront and nonetheless gotten stellar seats. Keep in thoughts that this is not going to all the time be potential. If it’s merely a weekday throughout the vacation season–however not a peak week or weekend–much less time will suffice. The busier the date, the sooner it’s essential arrive!

Now let’s flip to the place to sit down for one of the best view of Fantasmic. At Walt Disney World, that is fairly easy. Fantasmic’s viewing space is about up like a traditional stage present, with the motion happening totally on a stage, and within the water in entrance of that stage.

The seating space is actually an amphitheater, with benches for seating. My choice is as near middle as potential, and close to the entrance, however not all the way in which on the entrance. Roughly 3 to 10 rows again, give or take. Personally, I prefer to be a couple of rows again to have clearance over the handrail for images and in addition to be on a straight-plane with the primary stage. That’s in all probability splitting hairs a bit an excessive amount of, although.

I don’t like being a lot farther again than 10 rows. The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater is totally colossal, and the farther again you get, the extra impersonal the venue feels. Being nearer doesn’t simply put you nearer to the motion–it makes the present really feel extra immersive. This is likely one of the massive strengths of the Disneyland model, which is commonly described as intimate consequently. (Much just like the park itself.)

It’s not possible to copy that feeling at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, because the venue will not be an natural a part of the park. However, the upside is that it’s loads simpler to look at Fantasmic at DHS and the group for the nighttime spectacular doesn’t influence the remainder of the park. In my opinion, you possibly can come fairly near having that sense of intimacy and immersiveness by getting seat near middle stage.

Speaking of which, Hollywood Hills Amphitheater seats 6,900 visitors with extra standing room for about 3,000 visitors. That ought to put into context the dimensions of the venue, which is sort of a small (half) stadium.

The practically 10,000 particular person capability is huge quantity–bigger than what number of visitors can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from Main Street–and one that permits share of all visitors in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see Fantasmic–particularly when it has two nightly performances. By that point of the night time, there usually are usually not that many visitors nonetheless round in DHS, so the second present seldom fills up the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, entrance and middle needs to be fairly simple to find. Note that within the very entrance row will get you moist, and barely off-center isn’t any drawback. As of Fantasmic’s return in Late 2022, the Sorcerer Mickey and Scar sections are reserved for the Fantasmic Dining Packages. Without a doubt, these are one of the best views of the present.

However, they don’t seem to be the one nice views. Just pretty much as good because the Scar part is the Pocahontas part, particularly the seats in the direction of the Sorcerer Mickey aspect. The case could possibly be made that Pocahontas is ever-so-slightly superior to Scar by way of the view of center-stage.

It’s additionally value noting that not the entire motion happens on the center-stage. To the extent that there are off-center scenes, these happen disproportionately to the Sebastian part aspect. That additionally makes this an ideal part, particularly if you happen to’re a fan of Moana or need an ideal view of Mickey throughout the climactic battle sequence.

Honestly, although, don’t overthink it. These are my private preferences as an obsessive photographer who goals for the good circumstances and viewing angles. For 95% of visitors, any view goes to be an ideal view, and Fantasmic will impress regardless.

As such, my extra “mainstream” recommendation is to reach early sufficient so that you simply’re not seated far again, or within the far left or proper (Hades/Beast and Ursula/Witch) sections. Every different viewing space is nice, and I’d personally commerce a barely off-center view for a view that’s nearer to the stage.

Overall, Fantasmic is a superb nighttime spectacular and the proper strategy to finish a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It has all the time been a not-to-be-missed expertise at Walt Disney World, however that’s more true than ever because of the brand new heroes sequence and improved results. Even if it means spending extra for the eating bundle or committing time to securing a spot by way of standby, Fantasmic is value it.

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about resorts on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part it’s essential know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What’s your favourite viewing part for Fantasmic within the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater? Prefer Sorcerer Mickey, Scar, Pocahontas…or another part? Do you usually do the eating bundle, standby, or have a distinct technique for seeing the present? Bummed that there’s no digital queue or Genie+ for Fantasmic at DHS? Would or not it’s well worth the surcharge to ensure that you simply’ll have a great place within the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater to see Fantasmic? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!