Hi there, Kirstin!
I'm so glad you stopped by planDisney to discuss my very favorite entertainment offering in all of
Walt Disney World Resort,
Fantasmic! With its colorful cast of characters, familiar soundtrack, and iconic Mickey moments (and outfits), it consistently tops the list of my magical must-dos each trip. In fact, I was happily cheering Mickey's imagination on just this week!
I know that it can be a bit confusing to see a
nighttime spectacular scheduled after the time of theme park closing, Kirstin. Happily, this just means you'll have more time to enjoy all of the attractions that Disney's Hollywood Studios has to offer before heading over to the Hollywood Hills Amphitheatre for Fantasmic! While the lines for attractions will close at 9:00 PM, all Guests will still be welcome to enjoy Fantasmic! at 9:30.
The amphitheater will open 90 minutes before the show begins (or once Guests from the first showing have exited if there are two scheduled that evening), but some Guests will choose to wait until the park is closed to grab a seat. Please keep in mind that the middle sections of the amphitheater are reserved for Guests who have purchased a
Fantasmic! Dining Package for the day, so if you are not planning to purchase a package but want to secure a seat in one of the adjacent sections, you'll need to arrive at least 45 minutes early depending on the day's crowd levels. I typically purchase a waffle bowl from
Fairfax Faire and head into the amphitheater to enjoy my dinner as I wait. If your main concern is simply securing a seat in any location, you should be fine arriving no less than 15 minutes before the show begins. There is a bit of a walk between the entrance to the amphitheater itself, so you'll want to allow a cushion for that as well.
If you find yourself in a theme park with
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for Deluxe Resort hotel Guests you will not be rushed out of the theme park when it closes for the day. Typically, Walt Disney World Resort theme parks allow Guests to access main areas (such as Main Street, U.S.A. and Hollywood Boulevard) for a bit even after the park is officially closed. This is a great time to capture a few photos and make some final purchases as the crowds trickle out of the theme park. All of this remains true on evenings of Extended Evening Theme Park Hours with the addition of Cast Members scanning Magic Bands of Guests hoping to access attractions and areas exclusively open to those eligible for the Extended Evening Hours. Happily, Fantasmic! is not one of these exclusive areas and will remain open for all Guests.
I hope this was helpful, Kirstin, and that your upcoming magical vacation is
practically perfect! If you have any additional questions feel free to stop back by.
I'm always happy to help!
Thinking Happy Thoughts,
Lizzie