On Friday night, the banks of the Rivers of America were packed with guests who were eagerly awaiting the return of Fantasmic! This long-running nighttime spectacular had been on hiatus for a year. After being announced that it would be returning, fans were ecstatic and park reservations were hard to come by. By the day of its return, the anticipation had grown, as had the excitement.
Fantasmic! Viewing Areas
Shortly after 6:30 PM, the standby viewing areas began to open up and guests rushed in to get their spot. Soon the entire viewing area was full, other than the space that was reserved. A little before 8:00, the reserved sections began to open and soon those areas were full as well. The energy was festive as guests enjoyed waiting for this beloved show. Cheers could be heard from different viewing areas as the show drew closer to starting. By the time the last announcement was made saying the show would beginning in a few minutes, the area was packed and the the excitement was electric. Guests began cheering as the area music ended and silence loomed before the iconic phrase, “welcome to Fantasmic!” was heard. At this point, the cheering got much louder!
Some Imagination, Huh?
The show itself was full of magic. The opening night crowd cheered throughout different parts of the show. There were some enhanced effects, slight changes, and of course significant changes. One of the big changes was the return of the Peter Pan segment. This time around, some of the Lost Boys now joined Peter Pan and Wendy in fighting Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and the rest of the pirates. The crowd really loved this part of the show.
Another significant change in the show was in the climactic battle at the end between Mickey Mouse and Maleficent. There is no dragon here anymore. However, Maleficent has some new magical tricks and effects up her sleeve for the battle.
The conclusion of the show is as magical as it always has been. The Mark Twain with Steamboat Willie and a host of Disney characters waved at guests as they were surrounded by colorful lights, fountains, and fireworks. It all culminated with Mickey showing off the full power of his imagination and asking, “some imagination, huh?” At this point, the fireworks and crowd both erupted!
After the show, the traditional exit music again was played and guests were encouraged to stand where they were because the lights would be turned off in the area. Within minutes of the fireworks ending, the viewing was were packed once again for the next show.
Seeing Fantasmic!
The return of Fantasmic! to Disneyland comes as The Happiest Place on Earth kicks off its summer season. Summer nights and Fantasmic! are a perfect pairing. The return of the longest running Disney nighttime spectacular is a very welcome return she will be enjoyed by many. It will be offered throughout the summer at 9:00 PM and 10:30 PM. In general, standby viewing opens between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM it appears. Definitely check with a cast member to confirm when standby viewing opens. There are also several dining options that include reserved seating. For the opening night, the Daps Magic team experienced the dining package at Rancho Del Zocalo Restaurante. A full review is coming, but in short, we loved it!
The Daps Magic team also filmed from multiple locations the first showing of Fantasmic! You can watch it here:
Fantasmic! | Opening Night | 3 Cameras
What do you think of the return of this iconic show? What is your favorite part of it? Where do you like to watch from? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
