Description And Comments

Fantasmic! is a mixed-media show presented one or more times each evening that the park is open late (10 p.m. or later). Staged at the end of Tom Sawyer Island opposite the Frontierland and New Orleans Square waterfronts, Fantasmic! is far and away the most extraordinary and ambitious outdoor spectacle ever attempted in any theme park. Starring Mickey Mouse in his role as the sorcerer’s apprentice from Fantasia, the production uses lasers, images projected on a shroud of mist, fireworks, lighting effects, and music in combinations so stunning that you can scarcely believe what you have seen.

The plot is simple: good versus evil. The story gets lost in all the special effects at times, but no matter—it is the spectacle, not the story line, that is so overpowering. It could be argued, with some validity, that Fantasmic! alone is worth the price of Disneyland Park admission. needless to say, we rate Fantasmic! as not to be missed.

Touring Tips

It is not easy to see Fantasmic! For the first show particularly, guests begin staking out prime viewing spots along the edge of the New Orleans Square and Frontierland waterfronts as much as 4 hours in advance. Similarly, good vantage points on raised walkways and terraces are also grabbed up early on. A mom from Lummi Island, Washington, dismantled her Disney stroller to make a nest:

We used the snap-off cover on the rental stroller to sit on during Fantasmic! since the ground was really cold.

Along similar lines, a middle-aged New York man wrote, saying:

Your excellent guidebook also served as a seat cushion while seated on the ground waiting for the show to begin. Make future editions thicker for greater comfort.

The best seats in the house are at the water’s edge. For adults, it is really not necessary to have an unobstructed view of the staging area because most of the action is high above the crowd. Children standing in the closely packed crowd, however, are able to catch only bits and pieces of the presentation. Note that in the center of the waterfront, you must sit to be in the section closest to the water's edge.

Probably the most painless strategy for seeing Fantasmic! is to attend the second show. Usually, the second performance follows the first performance by about an hour and a half. If you let the crowd for the first show clear out and then take up your position, you should be able to find a good vantage point. At the second Fantasmic! fewer people are in the park and viewing conditions are less crowded.

Rain and wind conditions sometimes cause Fantasmic! to be canceled. Unfortunately, Disney officials usually do not make a final decision about whether to proceed or cancel until just before showtime. We have seen guests wrapped in ponchos sit stoically in rain or drizzle for more than an hour with no assurance that their patience and sacrifice would be rewarded. Unless you can find a covered viewing spot, we do not recommend staking out vantage points on rainy or especially windy nights. On nights like these, pursue your own agenda until 10 minutes or so before showtime, and then head to the waterfront to see what happens.

You can view Fantasmic! from a special reserved viewing area located near the Tom Sawyer Island raft dock. To make reservations, call (714) 781-4400. The price for the dock-viewing area runs $59 for adults and $49 for children ages 3–9. A dessert box is included.

Special Comments

Make sure to hang on to children during Fantasmic! and to give them explicit instructions for regrouping in the event you are separated. Be especially vigilant when the crowd disperses after the show.

Special Needs

Other Attractions in Frontierland

Lands