In a word, it's Fantasmic!

Another dream comes true at Walt Disney World Resort, only this time it's Mickey Mouse's dream that comes to life in a brilliant display of lights, lasers, fireworks and water animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The 25-minute spectacular "Fantasmic!" features 50 performers and combines dazzling special effects, colorful pyrotechnic explosions, beloved Disney characters, animation and dancing waters synchronized to the melodies of timeless Disney classics. The presentation lights up the sky nightly above a new 6,900-seat amphitheater behind The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror off Sunset Boulevard. The specially designed amphitheater also can accommodate 3,000 standing guests.

The show takes guests inside the dreams of Mickey Mouse -- where his magic creates dancing waters, shooting comets, animated fountains, swirling stars, balls of fire and other amazing wonders. When Disney villains intrude on Mickey's fantasy and turn his dreams into nightmares, he uses the powers of good to triumph over evil.

The opening scene takes place on a darkened island surrounded by a 1.9-million-gallon moat. A faint musical note pierces the air as a brilliant cone of light reveals the star of the show, Mickey Mouse. Mickey's imagination brings the waters surrounding the island to life as he conducts the "Fantasmic!" musical score.

The music builds as animated comets soar across three giant water screens, sprinkling the night with twinkling stars. At the direction of Sorcerer Mickey, the stars dance in unison to the melody of "Sorcerer's Apprentice" while pyrotechnic comets soar across the water.

To the sounds of African drums and the chatter of wild animals, vividly costumed animal characters emerge from behind the water screens. They perform a wild, upbeat version of "I Just Can't Wait to be King" from "The Lion King" while animated characters Simba and Nala splash playfully in the water.

A cascade of bubbles fills the water screens as Disney characters dance to a medley of Disney favorites including "Under the Sea" and "Be Our Guest." More bubbles rise and guests discover Jiminy Cricket trapped inside a large rising bubble. Jiminy escapes the bubble only to find Monstro the whale in pursuit. Monstro's tremendous body sends waves crashing against the rocks and water onto guests seated in the front rows.

With the waters again calm, the silence is broken by the thunder of a cannon. The island transforms into the "New World" as scenes and music from Disney's "Pocahontas" fill the island. The action reaches a climax when Pocahontas abruptly stops a battle and appears face-to-face with John Smith as colored leaves whirl across water screens to the tune of "Colors of the Wind."

The leaves transform into puffy white clouds as the mood turns to love and romance. Disney character couples Cinderella and Prince Charming, Belle and Beast, Aladdin and Jasmine, Ariel and Eric, and Snow White and her Prince float above the water in a magical dream-like setting filled with twinkling lights and Disney love songs.

The merriment fades and the music becomes haunting as the Evil Queen from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" brews a magical spell to defeat Mickey Mouse amidst lightning, flares and smoke effects. She calls on villains including Ursula, Cruella, Scar, Frollo, Jafar, Maleficent and Hades to harness the positive energy Mickey possesses and make it evil. Mickey is terrified when Maleficent unexpectedly transforms into a ferocious 40-foot-tall dragon whose breath ignites the waterway with a sea of flames that overtakes the island.

Mickey pulls a magical sword out of the mountain and summons the waters, creating a giant curtain which surrounds the island. The fountains begin to dance again, smothering the fierce flames while Mickey defeats the dragon.

The mood brightens in the festive finale of fireworks, sparkling effects and a full orchestral score as favorite Disney characters sail past the audience aboard the Steamboat Willie River Boat in a celebration of Mickey's triumph over evil.

"Fantasmic!" is presented nightly with performance times varying based on park hours.

Duration - 25 minutes

Restrictions
Guests may remain in wheelchairs or ECVs to experience the attraction. Seats for wheelchair and ECV users are on the front row, and very back row.

Tips - The best views of Fantasmic are anywhere in the central area, especially at the front, although be prepared to get wet (a fine mist comes from the water screens on the lagoon, & by the end of the show you will find you are quite wet!).  
In order to get a good view you will need to start queueing about 2 hrs prior to show time. If there are 2 showings of Fantasmic on one night, go to the second show, as it will be less crowded. If you arrive less than 30 minutes before the show starts, expect there to be standing room only.
A Fantasmic lunch or dinner package is available, which includes lunch or dinner at Mama Melrose, Hollywood and Vine or the Brown Derby, & reserved seating at Fantasmic.

"Here's a tip for Fantasmic. Now as everyone knows, the show is so popular that seating is done 2 hours in advance. As you might expect this can be a major drag waiting for the show to start. What you also notice is that the amphitheatre is very uniformly curved. Therefore grab a few friends and try and start a Mexican Wave. If all goes well, the entire amphitheatre should be rippling nicely, giving you a unique video souvenir!!" Kevin

Facts/History
- "Fantasmic!" premiered at Disneyland in California in 1992. The Disney's Hollywood Studios production features many new show elements and incorporates scenes from recent animated releases such as "The Lion King," "Pocahontas," "Hercules" and "Mulan."
- To create a surface on which animation can be projected, water screens pump 2,400 gallons of water into the air every minute . . . and if called upon, could fill the 500,000-gallon Earffel Tower in less than three hours.
- In the grand finale, 26 Disney characters cruise across the moat aboard a replica of the Steamboat Willie boat. At 80 feet long, it's bigger than Christopher Columbus' Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria.
- Towering over the island is a 59-foot man-made mountain. . . making it the fourth highest "mountain" at the Walt Disney World Resort.
- The theater seats 6,900, with an additional 3,000 standing.
- The lagoon in front of the stage is only 1.5ft deep!

Rating - 5

Music
Fantasmic!
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Fantasmic!
Dancing Animals
I Just Can't Wait to Be King
Hakuna Matata
I Wanna Be Like You
Pink Elephants on Parade
Heigh-Ho
I'm Late
Zero to Hero
I've Got No Strings
Friend Like Me
I'll Make a Man Out of You
The Work Song
He's a Tramp
Dance of the Hours
Little April Shower
Be Our Guest
Under the Sea
Fantasmic!
Jiminy, Monstro Underscore
The Virginia Company
Steady as the Beating Drum
Mine Mine Mine
Steady as the Beating Drum
Savages
The Virginia Company
Listen to Your Heart
Colors of the Wind
Fantasmic!
Beauty and the Beast
Part of Your World
Someday My Prince Will Come
Beauty and the Beast
Transformation to Evil Underscore
Hellfire
Jafar's Theme
Cave of Wonders Theme
Mickey & The Lamp
Cave of Wonders Theme
Hades Theme
Fantasmic!

Reviews

"I took my two children to see Fantasmic in September 2002. It is now forever in my mind as one of my top memories, as well as a memory my children will never forget. We arrived 2 hrs before the show started and bagged central,front row seats, then we got food and souveniers from the concession stands and joined in mexican waves which swept across the amphitheatre,and basically enjoyed the atmosphere. The minute the show started we were in total awe, we can't even say exactly how we felt! definetly emotional! It truly is an attraction which needs to be seen 1st hand to truly appreciate. In my opinion this one show makes every penny you spend on your WDW visit worth it! Be prepared to wait a while. Do have cash with you for the food stands. Be prepared to have to leave at the last minute if the weather is bad as they will try their hardest to do the show, therefore they cancel;if needs must;at the last minute. Please do not boo, as did some people at a show we attended,this is totally uncalled for. This show is without doubt going to be one of your most treasured WDW memories. We give this show 11/10!!!!!!!!!" (8/03) Michelle

"I went to Disney World for four days in August 2002 and on the first day we went to MGM. It was a truly magical day and finishing it off with Fantasmic was the icing on the cake. We queued up really early and got fantastic seats right in the middle. We had to wait a long time while the rest of the theatre filled up but it was nice just to chat and buy things from the gift stalls etc. Also, the cast members who help to seat everyone were so friendly and one had giant Mickey Mouse hands on to guide people. It must be one of the most boring jobs at Disney but he made it look like fun, and certainly entertained everyone waiting. The show itself was truly awe inspiring. Absolutely amazing effects, great music- just really great. When Mickey appeared at the top of the mountain at the end I burst into tears! This show was my favourite moment of Disney World. You must see it if you visit MGM- it's really, really good. If we went again, I don't think I would worry about getting there so early. All the seats in the theatre seemed to have a great view. I give this attraction ten out of ten." (4/03) Louise

"I think this show is the greatest show ever. There was only a 20 minute wait, so it's not too long. If it's winter, bring a jacket because it will get chilly." (10/02) Cory Nelson

"There is only one word to describe this amazibg show: Fantasmic! Is is a TOTAL MUST SEE. Yes you do have to wait a while but boys is it worth it! Truly one of the best things I saw at Walt Disney World. 3 words: DON'T MISS IT!" (9/02) James Tuffin

"This is a definite MUST SEE show! Our family had heard such good things about this show that we decided to wait an extra long time to try and be right in the front row. Boy did it pay off! We waited for about 4 hours and were the first ones in line. We passed the time by taking turns using our fastpasses to ride different rides in the park, and by playing with small toys we had brought to keep the kids entertained (ages 3 and 7). When they began seating the cast member in charge came up and asked my daughter if she would like to be the Fantasmic princess for the night. She got to lead the entire crowd into the ampitheater while holding Mickey and Minnie's hands. She also got a crown and they gave her a free Mickey Mouse ice cream treat after she sat down! Needless to say that made her whole trip. The trip was two years ago and she is still talking about it! If that wasn't enough, while we were waiting for the show to start a cast member started a comedy routine to make the time pass faster. Being that we were in the front row he ended up picking my husband to be his helper for the entire show! By the end we were all laughing so hard that we almost fell out of our seats! This made the trip perfect for my husband! After all this the show just topped everything off! It was the most incredible show I have ever seen in Disney! The use of water and lasers was incredible! I would definitely give this an A++++++!!!!!" (8/02) Laura Rados

"This show is not to be missed! Even if you have to go late it is worth it. The light, and water effects are fantastic and it truly took my breath away seeing the images projected onto the mist. Definate must! Most people think that they will have great seats when they come half an hour early. This is not so. You should come at least an hour early and if you want to get great seats then come an hour and a half early." (7/02) Devon Davis

""Fantasmic" is wonderful, magical and a Disney World "Must See".We took the advice of others and arrived 2 hours before show time. It was worth every minute of the wait. Our seats were in the middle section abot 10 rows up. Whie we waited for the show to begin we had dinner ( I can't remember what we had) from the concession stands. The only advice that I could give about this show is that if you are sitting close and wear glasses be sure to bring along tissue or a towel to wipe off your glasses as alot of mist sometimes blows on you. My daughter had this problem. You don't get wet just a little misty." (6/02) Joan

"I think the show was fantastic! There you can see Mickey, Minnie, and most of the Disney characters you seen there all day. There was a long wait. We had to wait about a hour to get into our seats and 15 minutes to wait for the show. We didn't use a Fastpass. If you want a good seat, be there 15 minutes before they sit people down. If it's cold, skip Fantasmic! This is the only show you can see alot of characetrs in. I would give this (8-10)" (6/02) Cory Nelson

"Fantasmic is as it says totally fantasmic. There isn't a bad seat in the whole theatre, wether you up front, in the back, right or left the view is still the same. This is the first year that wewill be trying the dinner package and there will be 17 of our family and friends waiting for the experience. I'll review this part of the show after we try it this way." (5/02)

"I thought this was the best attraction at Disney. It was so colorful and the music was wonderful. I even bought the CD so I could listen to it all year long. We are going back this year and plan to listen to the CD all the way down." (2/02) Sue-Ann

"It was the best part of my Walt Disney visit. We arrived an 1.5 hours before it started. Had great seats!" (12/01) Kathy

"Fantasmic! is one of Disney's newest and best shows. Fantasmic! takes place nightly at Disney's Hollywood Studios behind the Tower of Terror. It is a 25-minute show that takes you into Mickey's imagination for a battle between good and evil. There are water fountains, characters, movies projected onto giant water screens, and fireworks. Those things come together to make an awesome show.
The show starts off as you can hear faint music playing in the background as spotlights reveal Mickey center stage. He conducts colorful water fountains to the music, which will be stuck in your head for days. Mickey then walks around and sticks his fingers in the air and sparks shoot out into the air. Then you see a comet shoot across the sky and you see scenes from Fantasia on the water screens. All the sudden you're put into the jungle with wild animals running all around on stage. The animals disappear to bubbles with all different Disney characters going by on the water screens. In the darkness you can see torches from boats in the water. All the sudden the stage lights up and you see a scene from Pocahontas. The Indians invade and a fight ensues. The scene fades to darkness and next lighted boats with Disney characters go by to the theme of Beauty and the Beast. The villains are trying to brew up a plan to destroy Mickey with Maleficent. The lagoon gets set on fire as Mickey and Maleficent duke it out. Mickey battles with Maleficent and I think you can figure out the ending. Everything goes black and all you see are stars like you're looking into the sky. To your right you can see sparks flying off a boat that is revealed by spotlights. The boat is a replica of Steamboat Willy Mickey himself driving. They boat is filled with characters as it drives by with every Disney character imaginable on it. They are all dancing to the music, and it is the best part of the show. The show ends with Sorcerer Mickey on top of the mountain directing the fireworks is they are set off. The show ends with the Mickey right where he started at, and that's Fantasmic!
Fantasmic! is Disney-MGM Studio's only nighttime entertainment and it gets very crowded very early. You will want to get a seat 1-2 hours prior to showtime. Any seat is good in the ampitheater, so don't worry too about it. Winds and rain will cancel the show because it is outdoors, and they don't announce if it's cancelled until a few minutes before showtime. Make sure you don't miss this show!!" by Kevin.

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