Do you need FP for Fantasmic?

[westie55]

Or is it easy enough to get a seat standby?

 

[caliope]

We've never had a problem getting a seat standby. We go all different times of year. The sections are different (FP versus standby) but our view has been fine.

 

[MarkS2112]

It all depends on when you go and how crowded it is. Sometimes of the year they run 2 shows. At the 2nd it is not needed. FP is good to grab if available late in the day so you don't have to get in there early and wait. You can get there much later. But again it depends on how busy the park is that day. Right now HS is pretty busy on normal days and a zoo in crowded times, so take that into consideration.

 

[Robo]

What a FastPass for Fantasmic! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

If you DO get a F! FastPass, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater) or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)
So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.
Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.

There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.) On many nights, it is possible that you can get a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.

As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.
Even WITH having a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.
If the park is unusually busy (that's been the case, lately) you want to go into the theater even earlier than "usuual."


On busy nights, the CMs can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests. So, having a FP does not guarantee entry.

Guests who learn how to take advantage of the various available "tools" and timing strategies will be able to take more control over their WDW experiences.
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Map Below-
Arrows indicate the center of the seating.
Shaded areas:
(First or Only F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red= Dining Package Reserved
Blue= FP+ Reserved
Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.

(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved
(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)