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Walt Disney World has launched efficiency showtimes for Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios within the first two months of the nighttime spectacular’s return. Here’s a full rundown of efficiency occasions and what to anticipate by way of crowds and the way early it is best to line up earlier than the exhibits.
As a fast recap, Fantasmic is the ultimate nighttime spectacular returning to Walt Disney World, coming alive within the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater beginning November 3, 2022. This comes over a yr after EPCOT and Magic Kingdom had their fireworks exhibits return. (Rivers of Light has been completely retired, so Animal Kingdom solely has the Tree of Life Awakenings, that are cool, however undeserving of “spectacular” standing.)
Walt Disney World has additionally revealed that Fantasmic Dining Packages can be launched for breakfast, lunch & dinner at choose eating places, providing assured seating in a reserved seating space for the nighttime spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Fantasmic eating packages can be launched beginning on October 26, 2022. These eating packages will solely be obtainable for performances of Fantasmic beginning November 30, 2022 and past.
Now, we now have extra details about the Fantasmic showtimes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. According to the net present schedule on disneyworld.com and within the My Disney Experience app, showtimes can be as follows:
November 3-7, 2022
November 8-13, 2022
November 14 by way of December 31, 2022
Note that in some instances, the showtime for Fantasmic is at and even after the park closing time for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While this may very well be indicative that park hours can be prolonged, don’t depend on it.
In late 2019, it was 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 prolong 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 operating rides throughout that point. It’s a savvy technique and one we’re anticipating to see repeated right here. On the plus aspect, it may lead to restaurant hours being prolonged–extra possible, since they immediately generate income.
Now, let’s flip to commentary & suggestions…
Let’s begin on a optimistic be aware, applauding Walt Disney World’s choice to have two showtimes for Fantasmic to start out out.
We have been anxious that there would solely be one efficiency, both as a result of staffing shortages or just not eager to pay performers and different Cast Members to maintain Disney’s Hollywood Studios open (successfully) for one more hour or extra.
However, having two showtimes for less than the primary 5 nights isn’t going to chop it.
This appears to function underneath the belief that pent-up demand exists primarily amongst locals and Annual Passholders, and that their curiosity can be exhausted over the course of the opening weekend. In prior evaluation, we talked about that Fantasmic goes to see renewed curiosity amongst diehard Walt Disney World followers, lots of whom in all probability went years with out seeing the prior model. So that a lot is correct.
The notion that Annual Passholders will get their fill opening weekend is what’s inaccurate.
While Disney Park Pass reservations are “only” full for APs on November 3, that total weekend will possible replenish by the point these dates roll round. On high of that, it doesn’t actually matter what DHS reservations seem like, as folks could make a reservation for EPCOT or Animal Kingdom (that are reliably simpler to e book) and Park Hop over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
This isn’t like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or another attraction utilizing a digital queue. (Unless Fantasmic does find yourself utilizing a digital queue a la World of Color at Disney California Adventure, which may be the neatest transfer of all.)
What’s much more inaccurate is assuming that locals and Annual Passholders are the core demographic for Fantasmic. (Even at extra local-centric Disneyland, the twice-nightly performances of Fantasmic have been completely slammed for months since its return.)
When I noticed these showtimes posted, my first thought was that that is “Extra, Extra Magic Hours all over again.” For those that forgot or by no means skilled that “era” at Walt Disney World, it was an on-site visitor perk provided through the preliminary debut of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Fall 2019.
From August 29 by way of November 2, the parks opened at 6 am or 7 am each morning–to nearly nonexistent crowds through the low season. (I nonetheless have a backlog of empty park dawn pictures to course of from these superb mornings. The photograph under was taken within the morning, not at evening!)
Extra, Extra Magic Hours ended a couple of week earlier than Christmas crowds arrived in full pressure. The vacation season was completely slammed, with considerably increased attendance…and shorter hours!
The essential distinction right here is that Fantasmic received’t have low demand for November 3-7, 2022. It’ll even be unhealthy then. However, Fantasmic is notably concluding its twice-nightly showtimes proper earlier than the beginning of the busy Veterans’ Day and Jersey Week timeframes, and simply previous to Christmas season kicking off in earnest at Walt Disney World.
It’s hardly a daring prediction that the weekend after Fantasmic debuts can be busier than the weekend it debuts. Although Veterans’ Day weekend nonetheless catches Walt Disney World followers unexpectedly because it’s not seen as a “major” vacation by lots of people, it’s identical to Columbus Day…and we simply noticed how that went with a number of the worst crowds of the yr throughout fall break. Disney’s inside forecasting undoubtedly displays the identical, which makes this scheduling choice all of the extra curious.
That’s only one instance. The calendar for the rest of 2022 is affected by dates that can be busier than November 3-7. Each of those are crammed with contemporary vacationers, or individuals who haven’t seen Fantasmic in no less than 3 years, if ever.
On the plus aspect, showtimes are topic to alter.
Accordingly, our honest hope is that Walt Disney World rapidly sees that demand for Fantasmic far surpasses a single nightly showtime’s capability. Heck, Hollywood Studios may in all probability do 3 nightly performances of Fantasmic and nonetheless not accommodate everybody who needs to see the present. At least operating Fantasmic twice per evening would cut back a number of the crowd and chaos that may undoubtedly ensue with demand far outstripping capability.
As for a way early it is best to queue up…it’s actually troublesome to say at this level. Even pre-closure, there have been occasions when folks lined up 2 hours upfront for Fantasmic. Granted, this was not most friends–and it was normally potential to get a seat inside an hour of showtime–however the level is that Fantasmic has at all times been common with first-timers and rare guests.
Now, added to that blend can be extra Walt Disney World regulars who would possibly’ve skipped it earlier than. Fantasmic will in all probability have much more curiosity amongst informal friends, because it’ll be overvalued by Disney in advertising and marketing supplies. Animal Kingdom doesn’t have a nighttime spectacular, and folks will Park Hop from there to one of many different three parks.
There’s additionally the truth that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will displace hundreds of individuals per night it’s held, disproportionately inflicting crowding at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That’ll result in much more demand for Fantasmic through the first two months it’s again.
Then there’s the easy undeniable fact that the primary two months of Fantasmic will possible be the busiest stretch of the yr at Walt Disney World. Suffice to say, the celebs are aligned for Fantasmic to attract completely colossal crowds and lengthy traces in November and December 2022. We’ll know extra as soon as showtimes begin (actually, the primary weekend goes to be meaningless–it’s Veterans’ Day that I’ll be monitoring), however my preliminary suggestion is no less than 90 minutes upfront on these single showtime evenings.
Honestly, I don’t even understand how that’ll be potential. When there have been folks lining up 2 hours upfront, it was a small minority of friends. With the return, it’ll be lots of people eager to err on the aspect of warning. Walt Disney World nearly wants so as to add Fantasmic to Genie+ or use a digital queue simply to get rid of the road/crowding points on Sunset Boulevard.
These points with traces and crowds are all although the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater seats 6,900 friends with further standing room for about 3,000 friends. That’s a large quantity, and one which’ll permit proportion of all friends in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see Fantasmic–particularly if it has two nightly performances this vacation season, as anticipated.
It’s nonetheless a near-certainty that demand will exceed capability. That could be true whether or not Fantasmic have been to supply 1, 2, or 3 nightly showings. The mixture of crowds, pent-up demand, and lack of alternate options through the vacation season all however ensures it. The undeniable fact that there’ll solely be one showtime beginning November 8, 2022 solely exacerbates these issues.
Accordingly, it’s our suggestion that it is best to attempt to buy a Fantasmic eating bundle when you’re visiting after they’re obtainable. Your probabilities of success at shopping for these packages will possible be low, as restaurant capability can also be far under demand.
Failing that, or when you’re visiting previous to the eating packages being obtainable, we’d suggest buying the Genie+ service. This is often our recommendation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, nevertheless it’ll be doubly true as soon as Fantasmic returns–and that’s no matter whether or not the nighttime spectacular is included within the service. (It’s gotta be. It’ll be too chaotic with out it.)
With all of that mentioned, standby can be a viable different for Fantasmic. It’s undoubtedly not not our really useful route given the entire aforementioned points, however perhaps these traces received’t be as unhealthy as we’re fearing. Who is aware of…something is feasible. My hope is that it doesn’t come to that, and Walt Disney World acknowledges the diploma of demand right here and provides second nightly showtimes for November 8 by way of January 8, 2023. Beyond that, utilizing a digital queue for Fantasmic is the “correct” plan of action. I do know lots of you hate them, however I feel that is one situation the place a digital queue makes a whole lot of sense.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about motels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the pieces it’s essential know!
Your Thoughts
What are your ideas on showtimes for Fantasmic in November and December 2022? Think crowds and features can be as unhealthy as we concern, or is that this all exaggerated? Do you suppose Fantasmic ought to use a digital queue or keep on with standby? Will you be reserving a Fantasmic eating bundle? Is it definitely worth the surcharge to ensure that you simply’ll have a spot within the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater to see the nighttime spectacular? Have you carried out any of those eating packages previously? Was it definitely worth the cash? 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 under within the feedback!
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