Disney World Fantasmic

The gates open to the huge Fantasmic Hollywood Hills Amphitheater 120 minutes before each show. The entrance is at the end of Hollywood Boulevard on the right hand side just before you reach the Tower of Terror.

Disney's Fantasmic used to be shown every evening at Hollywood Studios but recently the shows have been cut to 2 performances a week.

The huge stage is set. Mickey Mouse stands alone on the mountain surrounded by a moat of water.

Mickey Mouse's dream starts off calmly enough with him conducting the music in a happy mood. Screens of water emerge from the moat with scenes from Fantasia, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.

But Mickey's dream soon turns to a nightmare as Jimiyi Cricket becomes trapped in a water bubble. There follows live action with a battle scene from Disney's Pocahontas. Mickey encounters all your favorite DIsney villains - Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Scar, Frollo, Jafar, Maleficent and Hades all challenge our lovable Mouse.

Maleficent transforms to a 40 foot high fire breathing dragon. This spectacular transformation is a very impressive effect. Then prepare to get much warmer as Maleficent sets the moat on fire!

Of course Mickey triumphs over all the villains and ultimately good wins over evil. The finale returns the cheerful optimistic atmosphere as many of your favorite Disney characters board their own boats and Steamboat Willie with Mickey Mouse.

The amphitheater is huge - the biggest that Disney has ever built. The Imagineers learned from the experience at Disneyland where Fantasmic does not have a special theater - guests stand around a lagoon to watch the show. So this time they wanted to build something spectacular for Fantasmic - so they built an ampitheater which seats 6,900 guests and will accommodate up to 3,000 more standing,

So where are the best seats? Really this is not that difficult of a question as the majority of the seats give a really good view. I would choose the middle of the semicircle ideally about 10 to 15 rows back. I do not like to get too close. Not only does it feel a little too close but I don't like to be that near to the pyrotechnics. It gets pretty hot when the lake is on fire!

The seats themselves are not particularly comfortable. They are long rows of metal benches. It can get pretty uncomfortable out there - not something you really want to sit on for a couple of hours! I always take a sweater or blanket to sit on to numb some of the pain!

Photos used under Creative Commons from joshmcconnell

Fantasmic is a very popular show and even though the auditorium is huge you do have to arrive early for a seat.

One way you can cut down the time you have to sit waiting for quite as long is to book a Disney Fantasmic Dinner Experience. So what is this? You book a Fantasmic Dinner Experience package at one of the participating restaurants and you will then be able to enter the reserved seating area. This means that you can arrive at your seat approximately 30 minutes before the show instead of having to reserve your seat up to 2 hours ahead. You do still have to arrive 30 minutes ahead particularly at busy times as there are a lot of Dining Packages sold.

The seats are located on the right hand side of the amphitheater. You don't get a 'special' view, but most seats for Fantasmic are good. The reason why you book the Fantasmic Package is to not have to spend as long waiting - not to get a better seat.

The restaurants which offer the Fantasmic Package are Mama Melrose, Brown Derby and Hollywood and Vine. All of the restaurants offer a fixed price Fantasmic Dining Package dinner.

Hollywood and Vine is a buffet priced at $26.99 for adults and $13.99 for children aged 3 to 9. Mama Melrose is an Italian style restaurant - the fixed price dinner is priced at $32.99 and $11.99. Brown Derby is one of the best restaurants in Disney World and is well worth a visit. The fixed menu is $46.99 for adults and $11.99 for children.

You can use your credits from the Disney Dining Plan. The Brown Derby will take up 2 full service meal credits.

Make Advance Dining Reservations by calling 407 WDW DINE and specify that you want to book the Fantasmic Experience. You will give a credit card guarantee so remember that you must cancel at least 48 hours ahead to avoid being charged.

Is it worth it? I rarely see Fantasmic without booking the Dinner Experience as I just have seen it too many times to want to wait for a great deal of time! If you are going to eat in the park anyway then certainly it is a good idea - just remember to book ahead as they do sell out.

Photos used under Creative Commons from lemoncat1

Fantasmic has a very dramatic soundtrack featuring music from many different Disney movie favorites. It includes The Sorceror's Apprentice, music from The Lion King,Beauty and the Beast, Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas,Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid and Someday My Prince Will Come.

Photos used under Creative Commons from lemoncat1

The final of Fantasmic! is a great celebration featuring all your favorite characters including many of the Disney Princesses.

Getting out of the Fantasmic Hollywood Hills amphiteater is often time consuming! Imagine up to 10,000 people leaving the park at once and you have the right picture.
So crowds can move very slowly out of the park.

If you have a stroller then the parking area for them is rather dark. It is good idea to put some kind of bright colored scarf or even a balloon so that you can find it again (they are sometimes moved by Cast Members when guests don't park them particularly well)!

Always make sure that you have made a note of where you car is in the parking lot. It is not a great feeling to realize you have no idea where you vehicle is after a long day in the park - believe me I have done this more than once!

Photos used under Creative Commons from lemoncat1