Walt Disney World has added showtimes for Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with two performances per night now scheduled for a lot of dates through the vacation season and early 2023. Here’s a full rundown of efficiency occasions and what to anticipate by way of crowds.
You may recall that Fantasmic was scheduled for 2 performances its first few nights again, however solely a single exhibiting thereafter every night in November and December 2022. To the shock of completely nobody, besides (seemingly) Walt Disney World administration, demand and crowds have continued since, necessitating further showtimes being added to the schedule.
These Fantasmic has been standby-only for the reason that nighttime spectacular’s return, which is able to (presumably) proceed to be the case till Fantasmic Dining Packages–which provide assured seating in a reserved seating space–can be found for performances of Fantasmic beginning November 30, 2022 and past.
Now, we have now extra details about the newly-added Fantasmic showtimes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for mid-November 2022 by early January 2023. According to the web present schedule on disneyworld.com and within the My Disney Experience app, showtimes will probably be as follows:
November 14, 2022
November 15-16, 2022
November 17 to December 3, 2022
December 4, 2022
December 5-25, 2022
December 26, 2022 to January 7, 2023
January 8-12, 2023
If you’re visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the present day (November 13, 2022), don’t be stunned if there’s a “surprise” second efficiency. I’ve no inside data indicating that this can happen, however there was a last-minute second showtime for Annual Passholders final night time, and Fantasmic has been added to the schedule on different evenings this previous week.
It doesn’t make a ton of sense to do two performances on Monday night time, however not over the weekend. Then once more, it didn’t make sense to not schedule two per night time to start with, so who is aware of!
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 might be indicative that park hours will probably be prolonged, don’t rely on it.
Historically, it’s 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 lengthen the closing time by an hour or extra (given the length 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 going ahead. It additionally permits Walt Disney World to supply extra ADRs, which is revenue-generating upside that’s additionally good for company for wish to eat late and couldn’t discover reservations earlier.
As we identified beforehand, having two showtimes for under the primary 5 nights of Fantasmic’s return was not going to chop it. This was hardly a daring prediction–it ought to’ve been apparent to everybody that demand for Fantasmic could be excessive. It’s not simply amongst locals and Annual Passholders desirous to see the brand new present after it being gone for therefore lengthy.
It’s amongst all guests, who’re equally starved for good nighttime spectaculars at Walt Disney World–or simply night leisure normally.
Not having a number of showtimes of Fantasmic scheduled for the busy Veterans’ Day and Jersey Week timeframes was a mistake from the get-go. Had Tropical Storm Nicole not messed with crowd dynamics, the weekend after Fantasmic debuted would’ve been a lot, a lot busier than the weekend it debuted.
Although Veterans’ Day weekend nonetheless catches Walt Disney World followers abruptly because it’s not seen as a “major” vacation by lots of people, it’s similar to Columbus Day…and we simply noticed how that went with among the worst crowds of the 12 months throughout fall break. Disney’s inside forecasting undoubtedly displays the identical, which made scheduling just one exhibiting of Fantasmic per night time much more questionable.
The calendar for November and December 2022 is affected by dates that will probably be simply as busy–or worse–than the final couple of weeks. Each of those are full of contemporary vacationers, or individuals who haven’t seen Fantasmic in a minimum of 3 years, if ever. In brief, demand isn’t going to die down anytime quickly, and large crowds will proceed to descend on Sunset Boulevard.
Even although administration ought to’ve recognized this from the start, a minimum of they realized rapidly and are adjusting. Not a lot assist to those that visited within the final week or so, however nice going ahead. Running Fantasmic twice per night time will cut back the gang chaos that has ensued since Fantasmic returned. (It could be nice if Walt Disney World may discover a manner so as to add a 3rd exhibiting for peak vacation season dates, however I’m guessing that may be a problem from a performer perspective.)
As for a way early you need to queue up, it actually relies on which exhibiting you’re going to see and the way good of a spot you need. It’s additionally troublesome to say as a result of I feel we nonetheless haven’t seen the worst of the vacation season crowds. Walt Disney World “only” had 8/10 crowd ranges of the Veterans’ Day weekend, and I think that may’ve been worse (10/10) with out Tropical Storm Nicole disrupting the attendance dynamic.
In any case, my preliminary suggestion is round 60 to 90 minutes upfront for the primary present in the event you’re high quality with a mean spot, and about 45 to 60 minutes upfront for the second efficiency of Fantasmic for many ‘regular’ dates through the upcoming Christmas season. Even pre-closure, there have been occasions when folks lined up 2 hours upfront for Fantasmic. Granted, this was not most company–and it was normally attainable to get a seat inside half-hour of showtime.
There are a number of variations proper now as in comparison with pre-closure. First, Fantasmic has been reimagined and returned for the primary time in virtually 3 years, so there are a ton of regulars who would’ve skipped it earlier than however now wish to see it. Second, Fantasmic may have much more curiosity amongst informal company, because it’s being overestimated by Disney in advertising and marketing supplies.
Finally, there’s the Park Hopping issue. Animal Kingdom doesn’t have a nighttime spectacular, and other people will Park Hop from there to one of many different three parks. On prime of that, Harmonious and Disney Enchantment haven’t precisely scored nicely with company, they’ve simply been “popular” on account of lack of options. Fantasmic scored extremely nicely on visitor satisfaction surveys pre-closure, and there’s each motive to consider the reimagined model will do higher, not worse.
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. In brief, there’s a chance of heavy crowds for Fantasmic. Even with two nightly performances, you may wish to err on the aspect of lining up early–or shopping for a eating package deal.
Speaking of which, these further showtimes for mid-November 2022 by early January 2023 ought to have zero influence on Fantasmic Dining Package availability. This is for the easy motive that the limiting issue there may be accessible tables at eating places in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, not seats within the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater.
To the opposite, the venue seats 6,900 company with further standing room for about 3,000 company. That’s a large quantity, and Walt Disney World will solely have the ability to allocate a fraction of that to Fantasmic Dining Packages just by advantage of restaurant desk house (or lack thereof).
On the plus aspect, the wholesome capability of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater will allow a superb proportion of all company in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see Fantasmic–particularly when the nighttime spectacular has two performances per night this vacation season.
Nevertheless, it’s possible that demand will nonetheless exceed capability on many nights. The mixture of crowds, pent-up demand, and lack of options through the vacation season all however ensures it.
One factor that does stay to be seen is whether or not Walt Disney World will add Fantasmic to the Genie+ service. We beforehand predicted that this may happen, and are truthfully stunned that it hasn’t occurred but. That would possible assist with crowd management on Sunset Boulevard, as it might imply fewer folks lining up an hour or extra upfront and clogging up walkways. It’s attainable that that is nonetheless within the playing cards, and Walt Disney World doesn’t wish to implement this till the preliminary optimistic buzz from Fantasmic subsides.
It’s additionally attainable that the logistics or staffing calls for of a Lightning Lane entrance for Fantasmic are too troublesome proper now–or that Disney is completely content material with folks standing in line for an hour-plus for Fantasmic. As we’ve mentioned earlier than, we expect Genie+ or utilizing a digital queue for Fantasmic is the “correct” plan of action. I do know a lot of you hate them, however I feel that is one state of affairs the place a digital queue makes a number of sense. Perhaps Walt Disney World is trying to keep away from backlash and can simply keep on with standby for this one. Regardless, the second showtime makes Fantasmic a lot simpler to see on evenings all through the Christmas season.
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Your Thoughts
What are your ideas on Walt Disney World including a second showtime for Fantasmic throughout Christmas 2022 and early 2023? Have you skilled the reimagined Fantasmic since its return earlier this month? Thoughts on the Sunset Boulevard crowds and line? What concerning the substance of the present? Do you assume Fantasmic ought to use a digital queue or keep on with standby? Have you booked a Fantasmic eating package deal? 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? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!