After months of speculation and the reversal of seemingly every other pandemic-induced closure, Fantasmic! is officially returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 3! And it’s getting an update!
What is Fantasmic!? Fantasmic! is a nighttime spectacular featuring Disney characters, water effects and screens, props–including a moving steamboat and a larger-than-life Maleficent–and music, of course. The 25-minute show centers on Mickey Mouse’s dream as a sorcerer’s apprentice; a dream that could be turned into a nightmare by Disney Villains, forcing Mickey Mouse to harness the power of his imagination. Fantasmic! includes characters from Moana, Frozen 2, Mulan, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King.
Show Updates. According to Disney, the show will return with a brand-new sequence, where the heroes will need to find strength to push themselves in a spectacular way. The new sequence will include Aladdin in a chase stunt, a powerful scene where Elsa sings “Show Yourself”—a song that is far superior to “Into the Unknown,” in my opinion—and other moments with Moana, Milan, and Pocahontas.
Where Can I Watch Fantasmic!? Fantasmic! takes place at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is close to the Hollywood Tower of Terror down Sunset Boulevard. The amphitheater can seat close to 8,000 people, and guests can start entering up to 90 minutes before the shows.
Fantasmic! Dining Packages. Though Fantasmic! returns on November 3, Fantasmic! Dining Packages can be booked for shows on and after November 30. Fantasmic! Dining Packages grant you reserved seating at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater for a certain show time–this is important because, like most things at Walt Disney World, Fantasmic! is very popular and the amphitheater tends to fill up for each show.
The participating restaurants are:
- 50’s Prime Time Cafe
- Hollywood & Vine
- Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
- Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater Restaraunt
- The Hollywood Brown Derby
Though it is strongly recommended, it does not appear that an advanced dining reservation is strictly required to purchase a Fantasmic! Dining Package. (But you, being the Walt Disney World Pro you are, know the importance of making an advance dining reservation, right?) The voucher for reserved seating at Fantasmic! can be picked up when you eat, and the entrance for guests with reserved seating is adjacent to Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage.
Importantly, reserved seating does not mean that seats are assigned, but instead, they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To ensure you will be seated in the reserved section, you must arrive at least 25 minutes before the show time (after that Disney will likely start filling the section up with other guests without Fantasimc! Dining Packages). You can start making advanced dining reservations for the Fantasmic! Dining Package today, October 26, 2022.
Of course, do not forget that you need both a theme park ticket and a park pass reservation to enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Remember that you can check your MyDisneyExperience app when looking for the dining packages and showtimes.
Are you ready for Fantasmic!’s return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 3? Ready for the new sequence to the show? Sound off below.
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