Walt Disney World has added Fantasmic showtime at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with two performances scheduled each night for many dates through Winter 2023. this holiday season.
You may recall that Fantasmic had two performances scheduled for the first few nights, but only one performance after that. To no one’s surprise (seemingly) except for Walt Disney World management, the crowds continued and a second showtime was added to the schedule until the New Year to absorb the peak season crowds. .
Previously, the second showtime was scheduled to end after the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon.We’ve repeatedly pointed to that weekend, and the following Monday, when local schools resume classes following the end of winter break, as the end of the peak holiday season at Walt Disney World. It’s actually somewhat surprising that Disney World is adding more Fantasmic second run times rear that.
We’ve got more information about the new addition of Fantasmic Showtime at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in mid-January 2023. According to the online show schedule on disneyworld.com and the My Disney Experience app, show times will be as follows:
December 28, 2022 to January 14, 2023
January 15 – February 26, 2023
For most nights in Winter 2023, Fantasmic will run at 9:30 PM, which is after Disney’s Hollywood Studios closing time of 9:00 PM. This may indicate that park hours will be extended, but don’t count on it.
Historically, it’s not uncommon for one of Disney’s Hollywood Studios nighttime spectacles to take place at or 30 minutes after the park closes. This would effectively allow Disney to extend the closing time over his one hour (given the duration of Fantasmic and the longer it takes to clear the parks after closing), but without it Running ride in between.
This is a smart strategy and one that we hope will continue to evolve. It also allows Walt Disney World to offer more ADRs, which is a revenue-generating advantage and good for guests who want to eat late or were previously unable to find a reservation. .
When Walt Disney World added a second showtime to the holiday season, they applauded the move, noting that it’s necessary for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and marathon weekends. They’re all busy dates, each filled with fresh tourists, or people who haven’t seen Fantasmic in at least three years.
In short, there was enough demand for a second Showtime on those dates that Fantasmic’s one performance just couldn’t cut it. Many guests were locked out during the only showtime, and reports online only exacerbated the congestion on Sunset Boulevard as people lined up faster and faster to secure their seats.
However, such an increase in attendance after January 9, 2023 is unlikely. Even if this winter has been above-average crowds, it certainly doesn’t compare to the busier days of this holiday season. The worst is likely to be comparable to the crowds of mid-November and his early December, or shoulder season.
We did Fantasmic multiple times this month (all before the week of Christmas) and got to see a second show. Spectacular seat. The first performance (which we also saw on several nights) was usually pretty busy and almost full, but rarely the second. That’s what to expect for the Winter 2023 date, when a second screening of Fantasmic has been added.
So you might think it’s “best” to see a second screening of Fantasmic. If excellent views from one of his in the center section matter most, that absolutely applies. These areas are reserved for the Fantasmic Dining Package on the first showtime, but are usually open on his second showtime. (At least, so far, but that could change in 2023.)
You can line up up to 90 minutes early to see Fantasmic, but that’s overkill 95% of the time, especially for the second show. Arrive about 30 minutes before showtime to ensure a relatively central location and close to the stage.This is pretty conservative and not ours real advice.
Rather, on nights when Fantasmic has two screenings, I recommend seeing the first screening. Many of his usual DHS strategies can be explained as follows. jiggling when zigzagging and defy common sense. This is the opposite…Zag with the masses or go with the flow?
Again, the first Fantasmic is always the more crowded of the two, usually by a good margin. Our advice acknowledges it, and despite its reality, we recommend seeing the first screening, while other planning resources recommend seeing his second show for exactly the same reasons. Recommended. the second show everytime Not very popular. This is a “wise” move when considering Fantasmic in isolation.
However, Fantasmic does not exist in isolation, the rest of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Significantly Less crowded at the end of the night. Seeing the first performance knocks out the main attractions with minimal waiting time after the end. The posted wait times for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash are less than an hour for him, and the actual wait times are usually about half the posted times.
Aside from Tower of Terror, the end-of-the-night experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been incredibly positive since Fantasmic’s return. We were worried that the low crowds would be over when the night spectacle returned, but that wasn’t the case. I was even able to pull it off (don’t expect it to reproduce unless you’re lucky with crowds and weather/temperature).
If you choose to see the first performance of Fantasmic on these nights, which have two showtimes, 30 minutes early is sufficient regardless of crowds. Depending on overall congestion, arriving 20 minutes early may not be a problem.
If you choose to ignore our advice and watch a second show, more can often arrive at the last minute. Most recently, we arrived 10-15 minutes early and still got great seats. Note that this is not always possible. Less time is sufficient on weekdays during the holiday season and not during busy periods or on weekends. The busier you are, the earlier you need to arrive!
That being said, I have yet another piece of advice. first, Radical strategy. On the evening when the second Fantasmic takes place after closing, enjoy the attractions until the last minute before heading to the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater just before the clock strikes 9:30pm.
This is exactly what we’ve been doing since Fantasmic’s second showtime moved to 9:30pm. The only downside is the risk, especially if you’re watching Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance after 8:45pm or doing something right before the park closes. I cut the beginning of Fantasmic too much and missed it. We’ve seen the new version of the show so many times already that it’s no big deal for us.
Next is the Fantasmic Dining Package. This is the exact opposite of the recommendations above. Because you pay a premium for safety net or guaranteed (good) seat security.We’re risk takers who like the first approach (to the extent that’s a fair description of theme park strategy), but it’s not the ideal strategy for first-timers or infrequent visitors. we I strongly recommend it make a reservation Cheapest Fantasmic Dining Package That way you guarantee yourself a great seat!
Finally, you can consult us Walt Disney World Fantasmic Viewing Guide For all the tips to get the best seats without paying extra for your package.It also explains which sections are best for those who are very good at especially About having the best view.
Ultimately, Walt Disney World adding a second run time for Fantasmic in winter 2023 is great news, with no real downsides.this is No Indicates a larger crowd or unprecedented demand. I know a lot of people are fed up with everything Walt Disney World is doing these days, but this is a definite positive. No catch!
This should help you plan your strategy for Disney’s Hollywood Studios and reassure those who weren’t able to take advantage of the Fantasmic Dining Package. These are a good safety net or insurance, but totally unnecessary on a normal night with his two performances of Fantasmic. Beyond that, this makes it easier to hit the headliners during the evening hours and lessens the need to purchase Genie+ service with DHS.
That said, it will be interesting to see if Walt Disney World continues Fantasmic’s second showtime throughout 2023. There are several possibilities here. is to end just before the winter holidays (MLK Day, Lunar New Year, Presidents Day, Mardi Gras), recognizing that there isn’t enough demand to justify Disney continuing this.
This doesn’t surprise me. Many fans overestimate Disney when it comes to using data to allocate resources and predict audience numbers. A number of scheduling decisions (including his second screening of Disney’s Enchanted Fireworks last July… rear summer peak congestion).
Another option is for Walt Disney World to begin removing second showtimes on winter weekdays and other dates that are less likely to be crowded, but leave weekends and holidays alone.Disney, albeit reactionary should do it We have ample booking data to show that the weeks following the aforementioned holidays, especially President’s Day, will be busy.
Finally, Walt Disney World may already know that two showtimes for Fantasmic aren’t strictly “required”, but one showtime isn’t enough. The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater is huge and perfect for accommodating most of the DHS guests who want to see Fantasmic. Still, sometimes one showtime isn’t enough. Too much or too little showtime is a matter of mistake, as there is no “in-between” option.
It remains to be seen if Walt Disney World will add Fantasmic to its Genie+ service. If Disney Wants to “Load Balance” Lightning Lane Availability When If Fantasmic is in high demand, the best option is to provide access to Lightning Lane only for the second screening of Fantasmic, keeping only the first standby.
It is also possible that the logistics and staffing required to enter Fantasmic’s Lightning Lane is currently very difficult. Or it could be waiting until 2023 for Disney to introduce access to Lightning Lane. Especially now it has become clear that in most cases there is sufficient standby availability.Anyway, the second Showtime will be Fantasmic many Easier to see.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Find out more about the hotel on our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews page. Read our review of Walt Disney World Restaurants for where to eat. To save money on tickets and help you decide which ticket type to buy, check out our post on tips for saving on Walt Disney World tickets. In our post on what to pack for your Disney trip, we take a unique look at smart packing. The Walt Disney World Ride Guide will help you with what to do and when.For comprehensive advice, first consult our Walt Disney World Travel Planning Guide For all you need to know!
your thoughts
What are your thoughts on Walt Disney World adding a second showtime for Fantasmic in winter 2023? How do you feel about crowds at Showtime 2? What about wait times around DHS for the last ~2 hours of the night? Agree or disagree with our assessment? What’s your question? Even if you don’t agree with us, it’s interesting for us and useful for other readers to hear your feedback. So share your thoughts in the comments below!
