When Is Fan-Favorite Fantasmic! Returning to Walt Disney World?

It’s got fireworks. It’s got Mickey Mouse. It’s got a steamboat filled with characters and “some imagination”

Yes, you guessed it. Disney Guests everywhere are continuously wondering when the popular nighttime spectacular Fantasmic! will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year, along with its new sequences and surprises.

Fantasmic! is one of Disney’s most beloved shows, featuring characters like Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Maleficent, Tinker Bell, and more. We at Disney Tips are definitely missing the tear-jerking brilliance that is Fantasmic!, and have compiled an update on what we know so far about its 2022 grand return.

What do we know about Fantasmic!’s return?

At Destination D23 back in November 2021, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro revealed that Fantasmic! will be returning to both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland in Anaheim in 2022.

D’Amaro announced that more entertainment would return to the Disney Parks this year, including World of Color at Disney’s California Adventure as well as the beloved Hollywood Studios show, Fantasmic! following the debut of Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom and Harmonious at EPCOT.

Though he did not specify exactly when Guests will be able to see the show again, having confirmation that Fantasmic! will return to the theme park is exciting news in itself, especially seeing the Fantasmic! lagoon drained for over a year.

What changes will Fantasmic! have when it returns?

This year when the show returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, it seems new characters will be joining Mickey in his dream.

Disney Parks Blog writes:

As Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, announced earlier today, “Fantasmic!” will also be returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2022. When this incredible spectacular reopens next year, it will incorporate an all-new sequence featuring live performers, stunts, special effects and more!

If you look closely at the new poster above, it seems this new sequence will involve characters and scenes from Disney’s Moana (2016), Frozen (2013), and Aladdin (1992).

What does the Fantasmic! venue look like right now?

The nighttime spectacular has been undergoing some major refurbishments during its pandemic closure and we recently got a glimpse of how the construction is going.

@Bioreconstruct posted an aerial photo this week of the refurbishments happening at Fantasmic!

Aerial look at the refurbishment of Fantasmic. Right arrow at athletes in #WDWMarathon course entering Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Left arrow is the course near mile 23.

Aerial look at the refurbishment of Fantasmic.

Right arrow at athletes in #WDWMarathon course entering Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Left arrow is the course near mile 23. pic.twitter.com/Xs8FgLA8XC

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) January 9, 2022

As you can see, the pond surrounding the stage area is still drained, but there appear to be some updates to the rigging as well as some updated technology. It is yet to be known if the show’s famous pyrotechnics and projectors have been majorly altered.

Judging by this photo, we imagine there are still a few months to go before we can expect the big return of Disney’s Fantasmic! and Mickey’s imagination.

More on Fantasmic!

The official description of Walt Disney World’s famous nighttime spectacular reads: