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Fantasmic! is one of the most popular nighttime spectaculars at the Walt Disney World Resort, and Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios often make it a point to ensure a seat at the event to cap off a day in the Park.
As with Disney’s fireworks shows, a little bit of planning can go a long way when it comes to seeing Fantasmic!, and you’ll want to make a note of the Park’s latest update ahead of your next Disney vacation.
Credit: Disney
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Fantasmic! was one of the most highly anticipated attractions to return to Walt Disney World when the Resort was in the midst of reopening from its closure earlier in the pandemic. As parades and fireworks were able to return to Disney Parks when restrictions were lifted from 2020-2022, fans were left anxiously waiting to learn what would happen with this Disney’s Hollywood Studios staple.
Thankfully, Fantasmic! did return to the Disney Park in November 2022 with several exciting updates. The updates to the original nighttime spectacular include the additions of new scenes featuring Elsa from Frozen (2013), or more specifically for the show, Frozen 2 (2019), along with characters from Moana (2016), Aladdin (1992), and Mulan (1998).
The return of Fantasmic! came with a couple of more logistical changes to the show, however, and these updates along with the latest change from Disney are what you will want to consider ahead of your next trip.
Credit: Disney
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For much of Fantasmic!’s return to the Park, the show has been taking place with two nightly showtimes at 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. This is changing in the coming weeks, however, as Disney’s official website notes that the show is moving to one performance at 9:00 p.m. beginning Sunday, April 23, 2023.
This may not seem like a major change, but moving from two showtimes to one can actually make a big difference in your chances of getting into Fantasmic! and of getting a seat vs. arriving too late and having to watch from the standing pads.
As one of the most popular shows at Walt Disney World, it is not surprising for Fantasmic! to fill up. Typically we recommend seeing the second show (when two shows are offered) as both shows rarely fill up and you have a better chance of getting a seat for the second performance without having to arrive as early.
Credit: Matt Stroshane
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With no second show on the calendar from April 23 on, we do recommend arriving early to get a seat. Many Guests begin entering the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater for Fantasmic! about one hour prior to showtime, and with only one show scheduled, you will want to make your way down Sunset Boulevard with time to spare just to be safe.
In years past, Disney offered FastPasses for Fantasmic!, which also required Guests to arrive early but it gave Guests who used a FastPass on the show an advantage as they were able to enter the theater before everyone else. Since FastPass+ was reimagined into Disney Genie+/Lightning Lanes, Fantasmic! has not been offered as an option.
Another consideration to ensure that you get in and get a seat, would be to book the Fantasmic! dining package. This package allows you to enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the table-service restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios along with entry into a reserved seating area in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater. (Note: These are not reserved seats, but rather the middle two sections are reserved for anyone using the dining package.)
You can always find current showtimes for Fantasmic! and other live shows and entertainment around the Walt Disney World Resort in the My Disney Experience app. And, if you opt to purchase a dining package, be sure to make your reservations soon as space is limited.
