Walt Disney World has added showtimes for Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with two performances per night now scheduled for a lot of dates by Winter 2023. Here’s a full rundown of efficiency instances and what to anticipate when it comes to crowds primarily based on our experiences with the second exhibiting this vacation season.
You would possibly recall that Fantasmic was scheduled for 2 performances its first few nights again, however solely a single exhibiting thereafter. To the shock of completely nobody, besides (seemingly) Walt Disney World administration, excessive crowds continued and second showtimes had been added to the schedule by New Year’s to assist take in the height season crowds.
Previously, the second showtime was scheduled to finish following the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon. We’ve repeatedly pointed to that weekend–and the next Monday when native faculties return into session following the tip of their winter breaks–because the conclusion of the height vacation season at Walt Disney World. So it’s truly considerably shocking that Walt Disney World is including much more second showtimes for Fantasmic after that.
Now, we’ve got extra details about the newly-added Fantasmic showtimes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for mid-January 2023. According to the web present schedule on disneyworld.com and within the My Disney Experience app, showtimes shall be as follows:
December 28, 2022 to January 14, 2023
January 15 to February 26, 2023
Note that on most nights in Winter 2023, the showtime for Fantasmic is at 9:30 pm, which is after the 9 pm park closing time for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This could possibly be indicative that park hours shall be prolonged, however don’t depend on it.
Historically, it’s not unusual for one of many nighttime spectaculars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to happen at park closing or half-hour after. This permits Disney to successfully lengthen the closing time by an hour or extra (given the period of Fantasmic and longer time it takes to clear the park after it ends) however with out working rides throughout that point.
It’s a savvy technique and one we’re anticipating to see going ahead. It additionally permits Walt Disney World to supply extra ADRs, which is revenue-generating upside that’s additionally good for friends for wish to eat late and couldn’t discover reservations earlier.
When Walt Disney World added second showtimes for the vacation season, we praised the transfer, noting that it could be crucial for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Marathon Weekend. Those are all busy dates, every stuffed with contemporary vacationers, or individuals who haven’t seen Fantasmic in a minimum of 3 years, if ever.
In brief, there was greater than sufficient demand for a second showtime these dates, and just one efficiency of Fantasmic wouldn’t have reduce it. Tons of friends would’ve been shut out of the one showtime, and on-line studies of that may’ve solely exacerbated the crowding on Sunset Boulevard as individuals would’ve lined up earlier and earlier to make sure they obtained a seat.
However, it’s unlikely that’ll be the attendance dynamic beginning January 9, 2023. Even if this winter is one other above-average one crowd-wise, it undoubtedly is not going to be on par with the busier dates this vacation season. At worst, it’ll doubtless be extra similar to shoulder season or what crowds had been like in mid-November and early December.
We did Fantasmic a number of instances this month (all previous to Christmas week), and managed to see the second present from spectacular seats. While the primary efficiency (which we additionally noticed on some nights) was normally fairly busy and near full, that was seldom the case for the second showtimes. That’s what we’d count on for these Winter 2023 dates when second showings of Fantasmic have been added.
You thus would possibly assume it’s “best” to see the second exhibiting of Fantasmic. If having a superb view from one of many middle sections is of paramount significance, that’s completely the case. Those areas are put aside for the Fantasmic Dining Packages throughout the first showtime, whereas they’re sometimes open for the second showtime. (At least, that has been the case to date–however it might change in 2023.)
You can line as much as see Fantasmic as much as 90 minutes prematurely, however that’s overkill about 95% of the time–particularly for the second present. By arriving ~half-hour earlier than showtime, it’s best to get a spot that’s comparatively centered and near the stage. This is fairly conservative, and never our precise recommendation.
Rather, on evenings with two showings of Fantasmic, our recommendation is to see the primary exhibiting! A variety of our regular DHS technique will be described as zigging after they zag and bucking standard knowledge. This is the other of that…zagging with the plenty or going with the stream, I suppose?
Again, the primary Fantasmic is all the time the extra crowded of the 2 and normally by a substantial margin. Our recommendation acknowledges that and we suggest seeing the primary exhibiting despite that actuality. Other planning sources are going to suggest seeing the second present for the very same purpose–the second exhibiting is all the time much less common. That’s the “smart” transfer when contemplating Fantasmic in a vacuum.
However, Fantasmic doesn’t exist in a vacuum and the remainder of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is considerably much less crowded on the finish of the night time. Seeing its first efficiency means that you can knock out headliner sights with minimal wait after its over. We’re speaking posted wait instances beneath an hour for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash, with precise wait instances sometimes round half of what’s posted.
Aside from Tower of Terror, our expertise with the tip of the night time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been extremely constructive since Fantasmic returned. We feared the low crowd evenings would finish with the return of the nighttime spectacular, however that hasn’t been the case. We’ve even managed to do Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance as a close to walk-on as soon as (don’t count on to copy that until you get fortunate with crowds and climate/temperatures).
If you choose to see the primary efficiency of Fantasmic on these nights when there are 2 showtimes, arriving half-hour prematurely ought to suffice irrespective of the group stage. You would possibly even be high quality exhibiting up 20 minutes forward of time, relying upon general crowd ranges.
If you select to ignore our recommendation and see the second present, you’ll be able to usually arrive much more final minute. Recently, we’ve proven up 10-Quarter-hour prematurely and nonetheless gotten stellar seats. Keep in thoughts that this is not going to all the time be doable. 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 you have to arrive!
With that stated, we do have much more different recommendation. First, is the excessive technique. On nights when the second Fantasmic is after park closing, do sights till the final minute, after which race to the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater proper earlier than the clock strikes 9:30 pm.
This is definitely what we’ve been doing because the second showtime of Fantasmic moved to 9:30 pm. The solely draw back is that it’s dangerous, particularly in case you’re lining up for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at 8:45 pm or later–or doing something proper earlier than park closing. We’ve missed the beginning of Fantasmic by reducing it too shut. No massive deal to us, as we’ve seen the brand new model of the present a number of instances already. Obviously, your circumstances in all probability differ.
Second, there’s the Fantasmic Dining Package. This is just about the other of the above suggestion, as you’re paying a premium for the security web or safety of a assured (good) seat. Although we’re risk-takers (to the extent that’s a good description for theme park technique) who like the primary strategy, that’s not going to be the best technique for first-timers or rare guests. For what it’s price, we extremely suggest reserving the least expensive Fantasmic Dining Package and guaranteeing your self an important seat that manner!
Finally, you’ll be able to seek the advice of our Viewing Guide for Fantasmic at Walt Disney World for all of our tricks to get one of the best seats with out paying further for the package deal. That additionally covers which sections are one of the best for many who are very explicit about having the optimum view.
Ultimately, Walt Disney World including second showtimes of Fantasmic in Winter 2023 is nice information, with no actual draw back. This is not indicative of bigger crowds or unprecedented demand. I do know a lot of you’re weary of all the pieces Walt Disney World does nowadays, however that is an unequivocal constructive. There isn’t any catch!
This makes strategizing for Disney’s Hollywood Studios simpler, and ought to be a aid for these of you who had been shut out of the Fantasmic Dining Packages. While these are a pleasant security web or insurance coverage coverage, they’re completely pointless on regular nights when there are two performances of Fantasmic. Beyond that, this makes it simpler to perform headliners within the night hours, making it much less ‘essential’ to buy the Genie+ service at DHS.
With all of that stated, it’ll be fascinating to see whether or not Walt Disney World retains doing second showtimes of Fantasmic all through 2023. There are just a few prospects right here. The first is that Disney will see there isn’t ample demand to justify persevering with to do that, and it’ll finish proper earlier than the winter holidays (MLK Day, Lunar New Year, Presidents’ Day & Mardi Gras) spike crowds once more.
This wouldn’t shock me. Many followers give Disney far an excessive amount of credit score on the subject of utilizing knowledge for useful resource allocation and crowd forecasting. They’re way more reactionary than you would possibly suppose, as evidenced by many scheduling choices (together with final July’s second exhibiting of the Disney Enchantment fireworks…starting after the height of summer time crowds).
Another different is that Walt Disney World will begin eliminating the second showtimes for winter weekdays and different dates which can be much less more likely to have massive crowds, however maintain them for weekends and holidays. Although reactionary, Disney ought to have sufficient reserving knowledge to point that the aforementioned holidays–particularly the week following Presidents’ Day–shall be busy.
Finally, it’s doable that Walt Disney World already is aware of 2 showtimes of Fantasmic aren’t strictly “necessary” for many days, however 1 showtime is inadequate. The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater is gigantic, and nice at accommodating a big share of friends in DHS who wish to see Fantasmic. Still, which may not be sufficient for just one showtime. Since there is no such thing as a “in-between” possibility, it’s a matter of erring on the facet of too many or too few showtimes–and Disney is perhaps inclined to easily select too many.
One factor that does stay to be seen is whether or not Walt Disney World will add Fantasmic to the Genie+ service. We beforehand predicted that this could happen, and are truthfully stunned that it hasn’t occurred but. If Disney wished to ‘load balance’ Lightning Lane availability and demand for Fantasmic, the best choice would offer Lightning Lane entry for under the second exhibiting of Fantasmic and retaining the primary standby solely.
It’s additionally doable that the logistics or staffing calls for of a Lightning Lane entrance for Fantasmic are too troublesome proper now–or that Disney is ready earlier than introducing Lightning Lane entry till 2023. As we’ve stated earlier than, we predict Genie+ for Fantasmic is the “correct” plan of action, particularly now that it’s evident that there’s ample standby availability more often than not. Regardless, the second showtime makes Fantasmic a lot simpler to see.
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Your Thoughts
What are your ideas on Walt Disney World including a second showtime for Fantasmic throughout Winter 2023? Have you skilled the reimagined Fantasmic since its return? Thoughts on crowds for the first v. 2nd showtimes? What about wait instances round DHS over the last ~2 hours of the night time? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!