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 by way of Winter 2023. Here’s a full rundown of efficiency occasions and what to anticipate by way of crowds primarily based on our experiences with the second displaying this vacation season.
You may recall that Fantasmic was scheduled for 2 performances its first few nights again, however solely a single displaying thereafter. To the shock of completely nobody, besides (seemingly) Walt Disney World administration, excessive crowds continued and second showtimes have been added to the schedule by way of New Year’s to assist take up the height season crowds.
Previously, the second showtime was scheduled to finish following the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon. We’ve repeatedly pointed to that weekend–and the next Monday when native faculties return into session following the tip of their winter breaks–because the conclusion of the height vacation season at Walt Disney World. So it’s really considerably stunning that Walt Disney World is including much more second showtimes for Fantasmic after that.
Now, we’ve got extra details about the newly-added Fantasmic showtimes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for mid-January 2023. According to the web present schedule on disneyworld.com and within the My Disney Experience app, showtimes can be as follows:
December 28, 2022 to January 14, 2023
January 15 to February 26, 2023
Note that on most nights in Winter 2023, the showtime for Fantasmic is at 9:30 pm, which is after the 9 pm park closing time for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This might be indicative that park hours can be prolonged, however 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 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 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.
When Walt Disney World added second showtimes for the vacation season, we praised the transfer, noting that it might be vital for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Marathon Weekend. Those are all busy dates, every full of recent vacationers, or individuals who haven’t seen Fantasmic in at the least 3 years, if ever.
In brief, there was greater than sufficient demand for a second showtime these dates, and just one efficiency of Fantasmic wouldn’t have minimize it. Tons of company would’ve been shut out of the one showtime, and on-line studies of that may’ve solely exacerbated the crowding on Sunset Boulevard as folks would’ve lined up earlier and earlier to make sure they received a seat.
However, it’s unlikely that’ll be the attendance dynamic beginning January 9, 2023. Even if this winter is one other above-average one crowd-wise, it undoubtedly won’t be on par with the busier dates this vacation season. At worst, it’ll doubtless be extra similar to shoulder season or what crowds have been like in mid-November and early December.
We did Fantasmic a number of occasions this month (all previous to Christmas week), and managed to see the second present from spectacular seats. While the primary efficiency (which we additionally noticed on some nights) was normally fairly busy and near full, that was seldom the case for the second showtimes. That’s what we’d anticipate for these Winter 2023 dates when second showings of Fantasmic have been added.
You thus may assume it’s “best” to see the second displaying of Fantasmic. If having a superb view from one of many middle sections is of paramount significance, that’s completely the case. Those areas are put aside for the Fantasmic Dining Packages throughout the first showtime, whereas they’re usually open for the second showtime. (At least, that has been the case thus far–nevertheless it may change in 2023.)
You can line as much as see Fantasmic as much as 90 minutes prematurely, however that’s overkill about 95% of the time–particularly for the second present. By arriving ~half-hour earlier than showtime, you need to get a spot that’s comparatively centered and near the stage. This is fairly conservative, and never our precise recommendation.
Rather, on evenings with two showings of Fantasmic, our recommendation is to see the primary displaying! Quite a lot of our regular DHS technique will be described as zigging once they zag and bucking typical knowledge. This is the other of that…zagging with the plenty or going with the circulate, I suppose?
Again, the primary Fantasmic is at all times the extra crowded of the 2 and normally by a substantial margin. Our recommendation acknowledges that and we advocate seeing the primary displaying despite that actuality. Other planning sources are going to advocate seeing the second present for the very same cause–the second displaying is at all times much less in style. That’s the “smart” transfer when contemplating Fantasmic in a vacuum.
However, Fantasmic doesn’t exist in a vacuum and the remainder of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is considerably much less crowded on the finish of the night time. Seeing its first efficiency means that you can knock out headliner points of interest with minimal wait after its over. We’re speaking posted wait occasions below an hour for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash, with precise wait occasions usually round half of what’s posted.
Aside from Tower of Terror, our expertise with the tip of the night time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been extremely constructive since Fantasmic returned. We feared the low crowd evenings would finish with the return of the nighttime spectacular, however that hasn’t been the case. We’ve even managed to do Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance as a close to walk-on as soon as (don’t anticipate to copy that until you get fortunate with crowds and climate/temperatures).
If you decide to see the primary efficiency of Fantasmic on these nights when there are 2 showtimes, arriving half-hour prematurely ought to suffice regardless of the gang stage. You may even be fantastic displaying up 20 minutes forward of time, relying upon total crowd ranges.
If you select to ignore our recommendation and see the second present, you may typically arrive much more final minute. Recently, we’ve proven up 10-Quarter-hour prematurely and nonetheless gotten stellar seats. Keep in thoughts that this won’t at all times be attainable. If it’s merely a weekday throughout the vacation season–however not a peak week or weekend–much less time will suffice. The busier the date, the sooner it’s essential to arrive!
With that mentioned, we do have much more various recommendation. First, is the excessive technique. On nights when the second Fantasmic is after park closing, do points of interest till the final minute, after which race to the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater proper earlier than the clock strikes 9:30 pm.
This is definitely what we’ve been doing for the reason that second showtime of Fantasmic moved to 9:30 pm. The solely draw back is that it’s dangerous, particularly in the event you’re lining up for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at 8:45 pm or later–or doing something proper earlier than park closing. We’ve missed the beginning of Fantasmic by slicing it too shut. No huge deal to us, as we’ve seen the brand new model of the present a number of occasions already. Obviously, your circumstances in all probability differ.
Second, there’s the Fantasmic Dining Package. This is just about the other of the above advice, as you’re paying a premium for the protection web or safety of a assured (good) seat. Although we’re risk-takers (to the extent that’s a good description for theme park technique) who like the primary method, that’s not going to be the perfect technique for first-timers or rare guests. For what it’s value, we extremely advocate reserving the most cost-effective Fantasmic Dining Package and guaranteeing your self an incredible seat that approach!
Finally, you may seek the advice of our Viewing Guide for Fantasmic at Walt Disney World for all of our tricks to get the very best seats with out paying further for the package deal. That additionally covers which sections are the very best for many who are very explicit about having the optimum view.
Ultimately, Walt Disney World including second showtimes of Fantasmic in Winter 2023 is nice information, with no actual draw back. This is not indicative of bigger crowds or unprecedented demand. I do know lots of you might be weary of every little thing Walt Disney World does today, however that is an unequivocal constructive. There is not any catch!
This makes strategizing for Disney’s Hollywood Studios simpler, and needs to be a aid for these of you who have been shut out of the Fantasmic Dining Packages. While these are a pleasant security web or insurance coverage coverage, they’re completely pointless on regular nights when there are two performances of Fantasmic. Beyond that, this makes it simpler to perform headliners within the night hours, making it much less ‘essential’ to buy the Genie+ service at DHS.
With all of that mentioned, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see whether or not Walt Disney World retains doing second showtimes of Fantasmic all through 2023. There are a couple of potentialities right here. The first is that Disney will see there isn’t ample demand to justify persevering with to do that, and it’ll finish proper earlier than the winter holidays (MLK Day, Lunar New Year, Presidents’ Day & Mardi Gras) spike crowds once more.
This wouldn’t shock me. Many followers give Disney far an excessive amount of credit score in terms of utilizing knowledge for useful resource allocation and crowd forecasting. They’re much more reactionary than you may assume, as evidenced by many scheduling selections (together with final July’s second displaying of the Disney Enchantment fireworks…starting after the height of summer time crowds).
Another various is that Walt Disney World will begin eliminating the second showtimes for winter weekdays and different dates which might be much less more likely to have giant crowds, however preserve them for weekends and holidays. Although reactionary, Disney ought to have sufficient reserving knowledge to point that the aforementioned holidays–particularly the week following Presidents’ Day–can be busy.
Finally, it’s attainable that Walt Disney World already is aware of 2 showtimes of Fantasmic aren’t strictly “necessary” for many days, however 1 showtime is inadequate. The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater is gigantic, and nice at accommodating a big share of company in DHS who wish to see Fantasmic. Still, that may not be sufficient for just one showtime. Since there is no such thing as a “in-between” possibility, it’s a matter of erring on the facet of too many or too few showtimes–and Disney could be inclined to easily select too many.
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 is able to happen, and are truthfully shocked that it hasn’t occurred but. If Disney needed to ‘load balance’ Lightning Lane availability and demand for Fantasmic, the best choice would offer Lightning Lane entry for under the second displaying of Fantasmic and preserving the primary standby solely.
It’s additionally attainable that the logistics or staffing calls for of a Lightning Lane entrance for Fantasmic are too tough proper now–or that Disney is ready earlier than introducing Lightning Lane entry till 2023. As we’ve mentioned earlier than, we expect Genie+ for Fantasmic is the “correct” plan of action, particularly now that it’s evident that there’s ample standby availability more often than not. Regardless, the second showtime makes Fantasmic a lot simpler to see.
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Your Thoughts
What are your ideas on Walt Disney World including a second showtime for Fantasmic throughout Winter 2023? Have you skilled the reimagined Fantasmic since its return? Thoughts on crowds for the first v. 2nd showtimes? What about wait occasions round DHS over the last ~2 hours of the night time? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!