Overall Rating: 4 StarsThe return of the classic is drawing near - and we got priority seats for the soft opening! The new show keeps all the same flavour and love of the original classic while adding in spectacular new effects and never-before-seen characters. Mickey is back and his imagination is bigger than ever! |
Atmosphere: 3 Stars
All viewing areas are along the Rivers of America stretching from the Harbor Galley at the far end of New Orleans Square to just shy of the docks in Frontierland. Before the show begins, there is nothing particularly fascinating about the area, but it feels much more enveloping as it progresses and you really can't imagine a better place for Fantasmic! Where else can you have live performers on stationary and moving stages, ships, boats, water and fire all in one place? There aren't really any terrible seats, either. Some are better than others but you can still see everything you need to from anywhere you can find room.
Entertainment Quality: 4 Stars
Fantasmic! has always been unusual because it's the only nighttime spectacular that is actually a pageant where actors pantomime with recorded dialogue, even those not in masks. Normally pageants are less intriguing, but this is a non-stop parade of beloved Disney moments and the overwhelming possibilities of the imagination. There's also something for everyone to enjoy: princesses, pirates, monkeys, villains, romance, and Mickey himself!
Changes for this installment include scenes from Aladdin, The Lion King, Tangled, Finding Nemo, and Pirates of the Caribbean - one change that some fans have been somewhat skeptical on since it replaces Peter Pan and Hook's fight aboard the Columbia. For this Fantasmic!, the Columbia is transformed into the Black Pearl and skeletal pirates wreak havoc on deck. The effect is astounding! |
Time Commitment: 4 Stars
Typically, waits for good seats should take no more than 30-45 minutes. It's assumed that FastPasses will be distributed again for priority seating on the banks of the Rivers of America, meaning you don't have to wait long at all for a great spot if you get FastPasses early in the day. Multiple shows each night also improve guest chances of getting good seats. The show itself is about 20 minutes, but you end feeling like you could have used a lot more! That's always a good sign. Make sure to check out the new and improved Fantasmic! after it's official premiere on 17 July 2017!