How early do you line up for Fantasmic?

Fantasmic is a blast. We always line up REALLY early, but I can't say I recommend it. We're kind of "worst case scenario" people, so we get there early "just in case." But we definitely could have shown up later in all the cases.

We usually get the fantasmic dinner package (I think they're offering lunch packages now, too) so that we have guaranteed seating. But even with that, we still go at least 45 minutes before the show.

Will you be attending the early show or the later show?

We usually hit the back of the queues with 30 minutes to show time and have always been seated with plenty of time to spare. We'd have to be a bit earlier to get the best seats though.

Typically the late show is markedly less crowded and is often the choice for Disney veterans. That said, our last trip was during the third week of September when crowds were relatively light. We went to the first show, got there less than 30min early (I'd guess more like 15) and sat front and center. By my estimation, the second show was much more crowded that day. May have only appeared that way as we walked through the throng of people lined up for the second showing, but it did seem there were significantly more people for the second showing that night. After the show, many families who watched the first show left and many more were in the second. The park was a ghost town; it was awesome!

Great tip, especially since Dana's going in early Sept!

This is a good point. How many of us have been since the number of shows has been cut. We didn't do Fantasmic when we went last time.

Well, that makes your decision a leeeetle bit easier Since there's only one show, you may want to get there 45min early or so. I wouldn't think it necessary to get there much earlier.

Agreed. 45 mins to an hour should work. I just don't think people line up any earlier than that.

We went 45 mins before on this recent trip and were told that it was already full.

Yes. And it was a night where there were two showings.

Welp -- there ya go! That's the most recent experience we've got!

Bummer! I'm pretty sure I couldn't wait longer than 45 mins for the show.

Maybe booking a fantasmic dinner/lunch package is the way to go.

Ditto..and if we don't have a dinner package we usually hit the later show.

We learned from experience on that one..we went down for Christmas one year and ended up waiting about two hours before the show started and our seats were crap-tastic.
We've done the dinner package or skipped it ever since.

I heard a lot of theories thrown about on this, but I never really have heard an answer I 100% buy. The most common answer was that it was American Idol related, but I don't really get that. Has anyone heard a good explanation other than just cost cutting?

Can't argue with experience, but it should be significantly less crowded in two weeks than it was for Jess. That said, since there's only one show the night you're there, there is nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution. When I've gone during the busy season (August), we always went 60-75 minutes before the show and have never been turned away. In fact, I don't recall ever having bad seats.

Always good to plan extra time to come back! I always have a "best case scenario" plan and always end up missing things because of it

I have to agree in two weeks crowds will be much lower since the kiddos will all be going back to school..so you will probably be okay. My experience was during Christmastime which was crowded!

Just plan well based on what you know and you should be OK. Unfortunately, sounds like there will be some waiting involved.

I have to mention- which I will in my trip report- if I ever finish it since I'm going away again- though I was there in August, the crowd levels were about a 5 to a 6. I did not wait on line for more than 15 minutes for anything the entire trip. I was worried about Disney and their income in fact and asked cast members if it had been this empty all summer! It was good for me but bad for them. I have been there early August many times and had never seen it like this. This is what partially prompted me to go only 45 mins early to the show! I guess everyone else went the same night!

I would venture to guess that it's not the economy that is keeping people away..I think people are coming..unfortunately that are all melting in the 100 heat and they evaporate into the solar system never to be seen again.
True story.

We lined up 90 minutes before the show last time, DAMN YOU, STAR WARS WEEKEND!

On the other hand, we got great seats...Actually, The three times I've seen it we had really good seats.

We do the Fantasmic Dinner package as well...you get reserved seating so we always head in 20 mins before with no problems.

Thats what we plan to do whenever we decide to do Fantasmic

In October, we lined up about 30 minutes before hand we were ok

One night was semi-busy and we lined up only a little bit ahead of time. We still got a seat, not the best one, but I didn't mind.