For quite a while, the Studios were without any nighttime fireworks bonanza. The Magic Kingdom and Epcot had their wildly successful night shows and Hollywood Studios was labeled a day only park. Enter Fantasmic! Staged in a large amphitheater, which houses 10,000 people(6,900 seated, 3000 standing) right in back of the Tower of Terror. Disney set the theater around a lagoon which, like Illuminations in Epcot, uses the lagoon to make the show that much better. Fantasmic! stars none other than Mickey Mouse, who is in his Sorcerer's Apprentice character from the film Fantasia. Using a slew of advanced laser and fireworks and sound, you the guest are part of a huge spectacular that will leave you amazed. Although the plot of Fantasmic! is the overused good versus evil, nonetheless, Fantasmic! is spectacular.
Fantasmic! is much different than Illuminations or the evening parade at the Magic Kingdom. Rather than just razzle and dazzle the crowd with how great Disney lighting is, there is a loose story and a general storyline to Fantasmic! that someone who is not intimately familiar with the progressions can follow. Albeit, Fantasmic! is a bit over-zealous when it comes to the villains of the story. Using loud theme music to help "sell" the villains to the audience, many younger viewers may find it a bit frightening. To the rest of us, it's merely getting the idea that Mickey is in big trouble along. However, many feel that it's too big on the villains and not on the "good guys". Another problem with Fantasmic! is that it's tough to get a good seat. Although the ampitheater holds roughly 10,000 guests, if you arrive anytime before half an hour before the show, you'll either be sitting in horrible seats or standing. To be honest, you'll need anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes to get good seats, especially during high season. Sitting in one place for that long with no entertainment just stinks. Disney has sort of addressed the problem by allowing guests who dine at the Studio's finer dining places, Mama Melrose's Ristorante, Hollywood & Vine, and the Hollywood Brown Derby, to get reserved seats. However, many guest complain the seats they get are at the extreme sides of the theater and have a limited view. These issues aside, Fantasmic! is a wonderful show and should not be missed. If there are multiple shows of Fantasmic! in one evening(which is the case in high seasons and during the warmer months) try for the second or third showings as they are not as heavily packed. If you're going during low season, grab a seat 45 minutes before.