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Credit: DisneyFor decades, Fantasmic! has been one of Disney World’s most iconic nighttime spectaculars, blending fireworks, water effects, pyrotechnics, and live performers into a story pulled straight from Mickey’s imagination.
Guests have packed into the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to watch the show, and after a recent round of updates, Disney has now confirmed another big change—this time to the schedule.
Recent Updates to Fantasmic!
Over the past few years, Fantasmic! has undergone multiple adjustments to keep it fresh for audiences. When it returned from its long hiatus in 2022, Disney added brand-new sequences featuring characters like Elsa from Frozen 2 (2019) and Moana from Moana (2016), along with enhanced lighting and water projection upgrades. These updates modernized the show without losing the classic storyline that fans have loved for years.
This summer, the show has been operating smoothly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with showings drawing in massive crowds. For most of the season, the amphitheater has featured an 8:30 p.m. showing, with a second performance at 10 p.m. on busier nights. These later shows have been a welcome option for night owls, but the calendar now shows that this setup won’t last much longer.
September Brings New Showtimes
Disney has officially updated the calendar to reveal a change in schedule starting this September. The final 10 p.m. performance of Fantasmic! is currently listed for Friday, September 12. After that, the next scheduled performance is Thursday, September 18, when the new standard showtime of 9:30 p.m. takes effect.
From that point forward, the calendar through October 26 only shows one nightly performance, all beginning at 9:30. That means the 8:30 show will also fade away, consolidating everything into a single performance per evening.
What This Means for Guests
For visitors heading to Hollywood Studios this fall, the change is important to note. With only one nightly performance, demand for seats is likely to spike, especially on weekends and during peak vacation weeks. Guests will want to line up earlier than usual or take advantage of Disney’s seating options to make sure they don’t miss the show.
On the plus side, a 9:30 showtime can be a better fit for families who may have found the 10 p.m. slot too late, while still offering more time in the park compared to the early 8:30 performance. It’s a compromise that could work for many schedules, though it also means fewer opportunities overall to catch the show.
Looking Ahead
Disney has not announced whether the single 9:30 show will remain permanent or if the second show will return for the holiday season when crowds traditionally surge. For now, the calendar only extends through late October, so fans will need to keep an eye on updates as November and December dates are added.
One thing is certain: Fantasmic! remains a must-see experience at Disney World. With its refreshed scenes and streamlined schedule, Disney is clearly focused on keeping this classic spectacular both manageable for operations and magical for guests.