Welcome back to planDisney, Jennifer!
I'm so excited that you're so excited about one of my favorite Walt Disney World Resort experiences,
Fantasmic! My husband and I just returned home from a magical birthday and Spring Break-ation in which I clapped, cheered, and cried (happy tears, of course) as I marveled at the powers of Mickey's imagination three times over the span of five days. There's just something about the unbridled optimism and joy of the nighttime spectacular that never ceases to inspire me.
First, let's talk
Fantasmic! Dining Package:
- Reservations: The dining package is available at a variety of restaurants in Disney's Hollywood Studios and offers guaranteed seating for Fantasmic! the same night. Because the dining package can be redeemed for table-service credits on the Disney Dining Plan, these reservations often fill up quickly, so if you choose to go this route I suggest making the reservation as soon as your dining window opens. In the event you are unable to secure your desired reservation when your window opens, or you change your mind about the package as your trip approaches, keep checking. In my experience, reservations often become available periodically as people alter their plans, especially in the days leading up to your departure.
- Reserved Seating: The Fantasmic! Dining Package currently offers Guests reserved seating for the first scheduled showing of the evening. While individual seats are not assigned, the middle section of the amphitheater is reserved specifically for the Guests using the dining package. To access this section, you will need to present the vouchers given to you at your meal at the dining package-specific entrance (look for signage next to the general entrance) and arrive no less than 25 minutes before the show is scheduled to begin.
Next, showtimes:
- Initially, when your vacation dates populate on the
Hours & Events Calendar, you will likely only see one scheduled Fantasmic! performance per day.
- Depending on projected crowd levels, Walt Disney World sometimes adds a second nightly performance to the calendar. During our recent vacation, a second 10 PM performance was added a few weeks in advance.
- My husband and I travel without children and typically don't eat two full entrees at meals, so we usually forego the dining package and opt for the typically less-crowded second showtime when possible. On our recent vacation, my husband and I were able to enjoy front-row seats by entering the queue at 9:30 for a 10 PM show. On another occasion, we arrived just before the second showing started and had no trouble finding higher seating in the center section.
- If there is only one show, or you plan on attending the first showtime regardless, I definitely think the Fantasmic! Dining Package is the way to go as it guarantees an excellent view and saves you at least an hour since the amphitheater opens 90 minutes before each showtime.
Finally, when deciding if you would like to sit in the upper or lower portion of the amphitheater, consider that the lower seats provide a more direct (and potentially damp) view of the action on the water, while the higher seats will give you a better vantage point of the epic grand finale.
I hope this was helpful, Jennifer. As you can tell, I could talk about Fantasmic! endlessly, so if you have any additional questions, please feel free to stop back by! I'm always happy to help!
See ya real soon,
Lizzie