Five Things to Know About Fantasmic!

Fantasmic! is to the Studios what Happily Ever After is to the Magic Kingdom. In other words, it’s a nighttime spectacular filled with classic storytelling and all the Disney magic you could hope for – and then some!! Read on to learn all about it, including the best places to sit and how early to get in line.

1. It’s all about the power of imagination.

Fantasmic! debuted at Disneyland in 1992, then came to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in October 1998. The plot is the classic tale of good versus evil. Mickey Mouse stars in his role as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia. As Disney puts it, “Fast asleep, Mickey Mouse dreams that he is a mighty sorcerer’s apprentice with the power to control water, color and magic. The Disney Villains—including Maleficent in the form of a towering, 40-foot-tall dragon—turn Mickey’s dream into a nightmare, but don’t underestimate the power of Mickey’s imagination!”

The storyline can get a little lost at times, but it’s the spectacle that’s powerful here. Fantasmic! is all about the power of imagination, and it shows! Over the course of the 29-minute presentation, you’ll see Disney characters from animated films including Frozen, Moana, Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Moana, and Aladdin – plus a few surprise guests!

2. It’s way more than a fireworks show!

When Disney said, “Mickey dreams that [he has] the power to control water, color, and magic,” they weren’t kidding. The show features water projections, pyrotechnics, and special effects that provide water, color, and magic to help tell the story. Plus talented live performers!

As the show begins, Mickey dreams he’s in a magical world. He sees friends from classic Disney films (some of them on parade-like floats), and the world seems like a pretty nice place.

But his dream takes a turn for the worse when Disney Villains begin appearing. Maleficent leads the onslaught, even transforming into a 40-foot-tall fire-breathing dragon who sets the waters ablaze in a climactic showdown. Mickey defeats her (of course) using the power of light and imagination.

In the finale, with peace restored in his dream world, a triumphant Mickey celebrates his victory with a procession of Disney characters aboard the 80-foot replica of the Steamboat Willie boat. Mickey’s last words, “Some imagination, huh?”, remind us that with a little imagination, anything is possible. You’ll leave with a smile, wondering how on earth the Imagineers created this spectacular presentation.

3. The music will move you, too.

The soundtrack of Fantasmic! is a blend of original compositions and beloved Disney songs, all woven together to create a moving background to the on-stage action. You’ll hear ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ (from Fantasia), ‘Colors of the Wind’ and ‘Just Around the Riverbend’ (Pocahontas), ‘Under the Sea’ (The Little Mermaid), ‘Be Prepared’ (The Lion King), ‘A Whole New World’ (Aladdin), ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ (The Little Mermaid), and even the Mickey Mouse March during the steamboat sequence.

The fireworks at the end are accompanied by a powerful orchestral medley of selections from the Disney songbook. Like every Disney spectacular, the music moves the story along and evokes a strong emotional response from the audience members every step of the way.

4. Funtastic bonus facts make Fantasmic! more fantastic!

⭐ The Maleficent Dragon weighs 16 tons and breathes real fire across the water. It comes from a propane-fueled system, carefully controlled for safety. The effect actually raises the temperature in the amphitheater!

⭐ The massive water screens that show animated Disney scenes use high-powered projectors hidden around the theater. They pump 2400 gallons of water per minute into the air! The mist from the screens can blow into the audience on windy nights, which is why the first few rows are sometimes called the “splash zone.”

⭐ If the Maleficent dragon malfunctions, there’s a backup sequence called “B-Mode.” In this version, Maleficent appears in her human form, and the fire-breathing effect is replaced with extra fireworks and lighting tricks.

⭐ Some 50 performers appear in the show, 26 or more appear on the Steamboat Willie boat during the finale.

⭐ Cast members undergo special safety and stunt training to handle the show’s intense sequences. Divers are also stationed underwater during the show to assist with technical elements or emergencies.

⭐ And yes, there are hidden Mickeys. There are some subtle hidden Mickey designs in the set and effects; check out the rock formations and the fireworks patterns.

5. Tips about how to watch.

The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater hosts the show, which you’ll find at the end of Sunset Boulevard. The theater seats about 6,900 guests, with standing room for another 3,000 people. It’s one of the largest outdoor theaters at Disney World, built specifically for Fantasmic! Even so, it runs out of space nearly every time the show is staged.

Fantasmic! is presented once or twice each night; you should verify show times before you go. On an evening with two shows, the second is always less crowded. If you go to the first (or only) performance, arrive at least an hour in advance; if you opt for the second, get there 45-50 minutes early. Now here’s the caveat: rain and wind sometimes cause Fantasmic! to be canceled. Sadly, Disney doesn’t decide whether or not to proceed until just before showtime. So we don’t recommend arriving more than 20 minutes before showtime on rainy or especially windy nights, which will tend to have lower attendance anyway.

If you’re going to eat at one of the restaurants that offers a Fantasmic! dining package anyway, it may be a smart choice to add the package. You’ll get a voucher to sit in a reserved section in the center. Seats are still first come, first served in this section, but this can save 30-90 minutes of waiting in the regular admission line. And if the show is canceled due to weather or other circumstances, you’ll get a voucher for another performance within five days. Our friend (and author of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World) Becky says, “My family used the Fantasmic! dining package with a meal at 50’s Prime Time Café in September 2023. The slight upcharge for the package earned us an extra 45 minutes in the parks, less time waiting in the amphitheater for the kids, and third-row seats for the show just barely 30 minutes before showtime.”

We haven’t heard much about young children being terrified by Fantasmic!, but it’s a good idea to spend some time talking with them about what they’ll see. The larger-than-life presentations can be a little startling, so it may help to sit a little further back from the stage. Once last word: hang on to your children after Fantasmic! and give them instructions for regrouping should you get separated. Leaving the stadium can be chaotic!

The Bottom Line.

We rate Fantasmic! as not to be missed. And FYI, Disney does occasionally update the show to keep it current. In 2022, new scenes from movies like Moana and Frozen 2 were added, while older segments were rejuvenated with new choreography and effects. So if you saw it before 2022, you’ve got a whole new experience waiting for you next time!

Let us know what you think of Fantastic! in the comments below!